Traveling through Mexico: Cuautla – Have you ever eaten chicken legs?

Have you ever eaten chicken feet? How about barbecue chicken necks? What? I did not think. So while you are in Cuautla you will have your chance. Do not miss it! Now this is what you have to do:

Hotel Colon

Address: Main Square

Telephone: 352 – 2186

The main place to people watch right on the Zocalo. Meals are local fare and modestly priced. The day’s specials are written on a permanent menu posted right up front on the sidewalk with full prices. The wall-less dining area is just an extension of the Zócalo sidewalk, so you could spend hours here just sipping “Jamaica” and winking at passers-by. And there will be a lot. It is an excellent “first stop” on your tour of Cuautla. While you’re at it, pick up a copy of “THE NEWS,” Mexico’s leading English-language newspaper, or, in Spanish, “El Sol de Cuautla,” both on sale just a few steps away at the newsstand in front of the restaurant.

the gallant square

Address: at the corner of Los Bravos and Estrada Bollas

In this shopping plaza and arcade, there are a number of small, inexpensive restaurants offering everything from pizza to fried chicken and roast turkey. There are juice bars, ice cream parlors and a couple of discos for the little ones (called “coca-colos” in Spanish). If you’re not sure what you want to eat, or it’s late, just stop by and wander around until you find something you like. (EAT, that is!)

On Los Bravos, the street that leads north from the Zócalo to Plaza Galeana, there are also several shops and a couple of restaurants that are pretty good to tempt your palate.

Chicken Roaster

Address: Calle 2 de Mayo and Zemano

(half a block up the street from the Hotel España and one block from the Hotel Colon)

If you’ve never had chicken feet or roasted chicken necks, here’s the place to put that wrong right. Served piping hot straight from the grill, full of flavor and CHEAP at 10 pesos a dozen, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. It will be a great story to tell your grandchildren! “Did I ever tell you about the time I ate chicken legs in Cuautla? Zapata’s rebel forces had their headquarters just down the road you see, and…”

Juices And Cakes Alameda

Address: Galeano corner Ferraro

A vegetarian restaurant that serves such delicious specialties as “Omelet Huitlacoche” and Chilaquiles dishes, nopales (cactus) and a variety of “tortas” for 7 to 26 pesos. The servings are generous and tasty even for non-vegetarians like me. A selection of juices in combinations with medicinal properties is also offered. The juice combinations and their specific benefits are written on plaques hung on the restaurant’s walls.

The oasis

Address: Galeano between Ramírez and Ferrano

This restaurant is open late for party-goers and the late-night crowd and serves tempting meals at reasonable prices. There is Internet service on a bank of six computers in the back of the restaurant. Rates are 10 pesos per hour or 6 pesos for 30 minutes. Try their freshly whipped hot chocolate on a cool night in Cuautla for an uplifting pick-me-up.

Be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you want more information, have questions or comments, you can send an email to the author; see address below.