by
Sheila Marikar
If you think a trip to Cancun means a week of Mexican
food, you're wrong. While Cancun boasts a wealth of restaurants dedicated to local
fare, cuisines from around the world are found in the resort's restaurants. With
over 1,200 eateries to choose from, you'll never tire of eating in Cancun . The
selection of restaurants depends on location: in the Zona Hotelera, many places
cater to an assumed tourist liking for a variety of different types of cuisine.
If you're in the mood for non-Mexican fare, the Zona Hotelera is the place to
go. Close to the Avalon
Grand Cancun sits Blue Bayou, Mexico 's first Cajun restaurant. Here, you
can listen to live jazz while enjoying the popular Cancun jambalaya, a Mexican
take on the Cajun staple. The Le
Meridien Resort and Spa is home to Aioli, a stylish restaurant that offers
a contemporary take on Moroccan cuisine. Aioli grills fresh fish to perfection
and has a wine list that can please even the most discriminating coinsurer. In
the vicinity of the Melia
Turquesa Cancun is the recently opened Italian outpost, Gustino Italian Beachside
Grill. A brick and wood interior gives the restaurant an old-world Italian atmosphere.
Savor forkfuls of al dente pasta in sweet pepper sauce while admiring the beach
and listening to soft violin music. For lighter entrees, try 100% Natural, a vegetarian
eatery near the Aquamarina
Beach Resort Cancun . The open-air restaurant features salads, soups, and
grilled specialties that keep beach-goers looking their best. Longing for American
cuisine after sampling fare from around the world? Visit Tony Roma's and enjoy
Caesar salads, juicy steaks, and baby-back ribs prepared the same way they are
in the States. Close to the Hotel
Sierra Cancun is the Studebaker Bar and Grill, another good choice for down-home
food. The 1950s-‘60s theme restaurant serves up classics like cheeseburgers and
thick milk shakes in a setting that easily passes for the inside of an American
diner. In Punta Cancun, the area at the end of the Zona
Hotelera island, well known Mexican restaurants flank luxury hotels. Enjoy an
extravagant meal of Mexican specialties inside the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral
. Beef medallions served with green cactus buds and a variety of hot chilies are
tempered by icy margaritas. Next to the Camino
Real Cancun sits Maria Bonita, a restaurant that resembles a traditional Mexican
hacienda. Classic Mexican fare, like steak on a banana leaf with guacamole, peppers,
and onions, rules the menu. Tex-Mex staples like fajitas and barbequed ribs are
also served. Downtown, authentic Mexican specialties
reign. Local eateries in the area are almost guaranteed to serve up tasty dishes,
many of which are reasonably priced. To enjoy local flavors while getting the
most value for your money, head into one of downtown's many markets. Mercado 28,
one of Cancun 's biggest markets, is located a few steps away from the Hotel
Plaza Kokai . Nestle into a table at a tiny restaurant or grab a bite to eat
from one of Mercado 28's many food stalls. Rosa Mexicano is one of Cancun 's best
colonial style restaurants. Piñatas hang from the ceiling and waiters dress
up as charros , Mexican cowboys. Rosa Mexicano's candlelit patio is a
romantic place to enjoy nopalitos , cactus strips sautéed with
corn, cilantro and cheese. Meat lovers should check out La Parilla, a popular
Mexican eatery that specializes in flame-grilled steaks and other prime cuts.
Nightly music combines with the sizzling of the grill to create a lively and fun
atmosphere. More-->> | 
