You can find some great food in Cozumel, and we're not just talking tacos!  But if you're not familiar with some of the foods and ingredients here, you might miss out on Cozumel's best and most popular dishes.  

Key ingredients of many Yucatecan dishes are sour orange juice (from a particular kind of green, thick-skinned orange found mainly in the Yucatan) and achiote, a spicy paste made from grinding achiote seeds with garlic, black pepper, cumin, oregano, cinnamon cloves and vinegar. 

Here are some popular dishes that you'll find in many Cozumel restaurants.  

Sopa de Lima -- Rich chicken stock with shredded chicken meat, onions, mild peppers and tomatoes, then seasoned with fresh lime juice which brings out the flavor of the broth.  Fried corn tortilla strips are added to the soup just before serving. 

Pozole -- A hominy chowder with shredded pork seasoned with oregano and other spices and served with radishes, shredded cabbage and onions.  Los Otates on 15 Avenida between 3rd and A.R. Salas has great pozole. 

Aguas Frescas -- Made with purified bottled water, these thrist-quenching fruit drinks are made by pureeing fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple or whatever other fruits are available, then blending with sugar and water and pouring over ice.  Please note that all restaurants in Cozumel use purified bottled water and ice. 

Huaraches -- A larger version of a taco, but it's in the shape of a shoe --  like the woven leather sandals.  Eat them wrapped around whatever you like, such as black beans, chicken, pork, sausage, potatoes, mushrooms, cheese, etc.  Try Huraraches at Chilangos on 30 Avenue between Salas and 3rd.

Tacos al Pastor -- Pastor tacos are a special kind of taco filling made from pork that’s been cut into thin strips, marinated in adobo sauce, then skewered on an upright spit and cooked over a low flame.  The thin slices are piled on soft tacos, topped with onions, cilantro -- and in Cozumel, chunks of pineapple.  Try out tacos al pastor at Los Otates or at Los Sera’s on 30 Avenida and Morelos. 

Empanadas -- These are tortillas folded over a filling of your choice, often cheese (queso) or chopped fish, then deep fried to a golden crisp.  

Tacos -- If you're looking for the crunchy folded over kind filled with hamburger, cheese, lettuce and tomato, you won't find it in Mexico. Here, the word "taco" refers to fresh, soft corn tortillas wrapped around any kind of filling you can imagine.    

Tortas -- Sandwiches made on soft bread rolls are served everywhere and are one of the most common pick-up breakfasts for Cozumelenos.  The roll is usually swiped with a paste of black beans and then stuffed with anything, such as chicken, ham & cheese, chopped pork or beef, or even seafood.   Try the tortas at El Sitio (it's just a stand on a vacant lot) on Calle 2 between 5 & 10 Ave, across from the taxi dispatch or at Super Hit, corner of 30 Ave and Calle 15.