8 Best Restaurants in Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico

There's something refreshing about this two-story corner café; maybe it's the doors flung open to catch the breeze, or the walls painted the colors of lemons and limes. Good choices include the pollo a la pasilla con nopales (boneless chicken breast cooked in a chili sauce and covered with bits of cactus) and the filete de res a la pimienta (beef simmered with peppers). Make sure to end your meal with a cup of organic coffee, the specialty of the house.

The name "Titanic" may refer to the amount of food you'll get at this restaurant on the edge of the city. Sit down and just say "surtido," and you'll be brought a sampling of obscure local specialties, often including unusual parts of the pig. The food doesn't stop coming. You'll enjoy multiple courses in rapid succession, ranging from lengua (tongue) to the more pedestrian pollo en mole (chicken in mole). If you’re feeling less adventurous, you can also just order off the menu. The out-of-the-way location has kept the place supremely local (you'll want to go by car or taxi), and you'll probably be the first foreign visitor in weeks.

This restaurant, with a balcony overlooking the central plaza, serves up hearty home-style cooking . Try the delicious caldo tlalpeño, a tasty broth with chicken, tortilla, avocado, and cheese, that comes with a plate of chili chipotle that you can use to spice up the soup. At dinner there's also a large plate—that's perfect for sharing—with grilled beef, fried chicken, fresh cheese, guacamole, and beans with tortilla chips.

In an old house with a pleasant patio, this vegetarian restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists. Almost everything on the menu is homemade, including the daily baked bread. For breakfast, don't miss the muffins and fruit salad with fresh yogurt. You also can't beat the fresh pastas and pizzas or their soups and salads. Going on a day trip? You can buy pizzas, breads, muffins, and preserves to go.

The scent of freshly baked bread is the first thing you'll notice, tempting you to skip the restaurant altogether and just grab a few of the warm rolls and a jar of locally made preserves. But the so-called "House of Bread" serves a fabulous, if leisurely, breakfast. For lunch, try the tasty tamales chiapanecos (with a spicy cheese filling) or the mild chilies stuffed with corn and herbs. Round out your meal with bean soup and one of the best salads in town.

The pizzas at this small, simple restaurant—half a block from the Convento de Santo Domingo—are tasty and hot out of a wood-burning oven. The margarita pizza, with Gouda, chihuahua, and manchego cheeses is excellent. Save room for the moist and delicious tiramisu.

The coffee is good at this sunny corner café, but it's also a great place to stop in for a meal. (Just be prepared for leisurely service.) The menu includes a wide variety of Mexican dishes, including the delicious sopa de ajo (garlic soup). The pechuga de pollo en chipotle al gratin (chicken breast with chipotle and topped with cheese) is also tasty, but if you're looking for a simpler dish, you can also order more American fare—including burgers and fries.

A sign in front trumpets that the place is "Economico," and, indeed, you will get a bargain meal here. This place is always packed, and usually with locals—a sign that the food is great. One woman makes tortillas at the entrance to the restaurant, while another slices fruit at a different station. A cheap 70-peso comida corrida (set-price lunch menu) is available. A torta (sandwich) of tender cochinita pibil (a pork dish) is excellent, and for breakfast, try the showstopping chilaquiles con carne.