Enchiladas Mineras in Guanajuato: What They Are and Where to Eat Them

Photo: Oescalona / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Guanajuato at sunset.

Jet Set LatAM · Food Guide

Every Mexican city has a dish that tells its story, and in Guanajuato it’s enchiladas mineras, miners’ enchiladas. Built to feed the men who worked the city’s silver mines, they’re hearty, cheap and deeply comforting: corn tortillas dipped in guajillo chile sauce, filled with cheese and onion, then piled with potatoes, carrots and often a piece of chicken.

Here’s what to know about enchiladas mineras and where to eat them in Guanajuato.

What’s on the plate

The tortillas are lightly fried in red chile sauce, folded around fresh cheese and onion, and topped with potatoes and carrots cooked in the same sauce, plus lettuce, cream and crumbled cheese. Chicken, often a fried piece of leg or thigh, makes it a full meal.

Where to eat them

Start at the Mercado Hidalgo, the 1910 iron-and-glass market, where food stalls on the upper level serve enchiladas mineras at lunch. In the old town, small family fondas and cenadurias serve them at dinner; look for places full of locals around the Jardín de la Unión and the side streets.

Make it a food walk

Pair enchiladas with Guanajuato’s sweets, such as charamuscas, twisted caramel candies, and a coffee on a terrace with a view of the domes. The city’s student population keeps prices reasonable everywhere.

Good to know

• Best time. Lunch at the market; dinner at old-town fondas.
• Spice level. Guajillo sauce is flavorful rather than very hot.
• Altitude. Guanajuato sits around 2,000 meters; pace yourself on the hills.

What to pack

• Leather loafers: for steep callejones
• Packing cubes: room for ceramics
• Our full travel collection on ShopMy ↗

Where to stay

Stay near the Jardín de la Unión or on the Paseo de la Presa. The flight search and live accommodation map below help you plan.

Frequently asked questions

What are enchiladas mineras?

Guanajuato’s signature dish: tortillas in guajillo chile sauce filled with cheese and onion, topped with potatoes, carrots and often chicken.

Where can I eat enchiladas mineras in Guanajuato?

At the food stalls of the Mercado Hidalgo and at family fondas in the old town.

Are enchiladas mineras spicy?

They’re usually flavorful rather than very spicy.

Keep reading

• Things to do in Guanajuato
• Quinta Las Acacias: a mansion hotel on the Paseo de la Presa
• Underrated Latin America: 22 destinations for your next trip

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