Restaurante Labna

Restaurante Labna is a traditional Yucatecan restaurant in downtown Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at Calle Margaritas 29 in Supermanzana 22. It stands a short walk from Parque de las Palapas, in the El Centro district where most of the city's residents live and eat. The cuisine is the regional cooking of the Yucatan Peninsula, which is distinct from the generic Mexican menus common in resort areas. The kitchen is associated with the classics of the region: poc chuc, a marinated grilled pork dish served with onions and sour orange; cochinita pibil, pork slow-cooked in achiote; sopa de lima, a lime and chicken broth with fried tortilla; and sikil pak, a dip of ground pumpkin seeds and tomato eaten with tortilla chips. Together these make the menu a compact tour of Maya-influenced cooking, and each is considered emblematic of Yucatecan food. The dining room is decorated with a pre-Hispanic-style mural that gives the space a regional identity without turning it into a theme venue. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, suited to families, small groups and travellers who want a sit-down meal rather than a taco stand. Prices are mid-range, rated $$, which is moderate for a table-service restaurant in Mexico's Caribbean coast region and clearly below the Hotel Zone. Reservations are not normally needed, as the listing indicates walk-in service. Arriving at peak lunch time on weekends, or with a large party, may mean a short wait, and calling ahead is a courtesy in those cases. Visitors should look at the day's specials, as Yucatecan restaurants often vary dishes by day. Because it is only a few doors from La Habichuela on the same street, Labna works as a more casual and less expensive alternative for anyone comparing downtown options for regional food.