Over 3,000 miles and a few plane rides away, Cabo San Lucas offers a great insight into the foods often enjoyed in Mexico by tourists and locals alike. Over winter break 2017, I spent my days popping in and out of restaurants with the bustling city streets as well as the dining options available back at my hotel. With so many options to consider, I decided to visit restaurants that had some culture in of them, as opposed to a common chain or familiar style of food back in New York.

Greeted by a Mariachi band and an array of decor, I knew that my first dinner choice was not a mistake. Mi Casa, located in the heart of Cabo San Lucas, seats over 200 guests at once with live music and a lengthy menu consisting of traditional Mexican dishes. With the knowledge from my years of taking Spanish classes, I was able to recognize many popular dishes and desserts including frijoles refritos (refried beans), beef tacos, and stuffed empanadas. After many rounds of dishes, including the classic salsa and guacamole appetizer, I was stuffed yet content with the great food offered at Mi Casa.

Similar to Mi Casa, an entertainment restaurant on the Pacific called The Office sparked everyone’s interest upon arrival. Here, the menu was in complete Spanish and gave prices in pesos, which was a great indication that the food wouldn’t be very Americanized. During the wait for the meal, another Mariachi band lit up the stage as the ocean breeze chilled the audience. The tables and chairs of the restaurant were in the sand – it literally couldn’t get any closer to the ocean. My party of 9 was quickly presented with huge circular dishes of tacos, burritos, and steak flanks surrounded by beans and rice. Overall, I was most impressed by the atmosphere and eats of The Office and would recommend it to any future visitors.

As a week filled with an unhealthy amount of Mexican food passed, I felt I had a pretty solid grip on the local cuisine around the town of Cabo. However, with a few nights left there, I searched for other kinds of restaurants that had a Mexican flare. Interestingly enough, an Asian restaurant at my hotel, Tazuna, integrated some Mexican style into their sushi and entree dishes! Initially, I was hesitant to order anything too out of the ordinary, but ultimately, I’m glad I had the experience. Tazuna did offer standard sushi rolls, but many came alongside a spicy Mexican sauce used in many classic dishes and were often topped with guacamole filled with diced vegetables and cilantro. Although some combinations appeared a bit odd, any dish brought to the table here was devoured and licked clean.

Needless to say, Mexico had the best Mexican food I’d tasted. While it’s jam-packed with historic sites and fascinating rock formations, be sure to stop by some authentic Mexican restaurants like Mi Casa, The Office, or even Tazuna (if you’re feeling adventurous) the next time you happen to be vacationing in the sunny Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.