Loncheria El Pocito

Loncheria El Pocito is a small, inexpensive Yucatecan eatery in downtown Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at 31 Norte, Lote 23. A loncheria is a simple neighbourhood lunch spot, and this one follows the model: home-style daily specials, breakfast and midday meals at low prices, aimed mostly at local workers and residents rather than tourists. The cuisine is Yucatecan, the regional cooking of the Yucatan Peninsula. The dishes named for the restaurant show the range of that tradition. Queso relleno is a hollowed Edam-style cheese stuffed with seasoned ground pork and served in a sauce. Papadzules are tortillas rolled around hard-boiled egg and covered in a pumpkin-seed sauce. Black bean and pork tamales and sopa de lima, a lime and chicken soup, complete a menu that gives a fair picture of everyday food on the peninsula. These are dishes that many visitors only meet in formal restaurants at much higher prices, so a loncheria meal is a good-value way to try them. The dining room is plain and casual, with a quick turnover and no dress code. The atmosphere is that of a working lunch counter: functional, friendly and unhurried. Prices are rated $, among the lowest in the city for a sit-down meal. No reservations are taken, and the listing indicates walk-in service only. Because daily specials rotate, the exact dishes available vary, and visitors who want a specific plate such as queso relleno may need to ask or arrive earlier in the day before items sell out. The location in the 31 Norte area places it north of the main tourist corridors, so it works best as part of a downtown day, combined with a visit to nearby markets or Parque de las Palapas.