Taste Atlas Names Best Tamales in Mexico at Playa del Carmen Eatery

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Taste Atlas, the international food guide, has named Lonchería Doña Mary in Playa del Carmen as the best place to eat tamales in Mexico, awarding it a 4.1-star rating out of 5.

The eatery, located in this popular tourist destination, serves not only tamales but also other Mexican snacks such as panuchos, salbutes, empanadas, soups, tortas, and tostadas. Prices range from 35 to 110 pesos, making it accessible to both locals and visitors. No reservation is required.

The recognition underscores the global appeal of Mexican cuisine, with tamales being one of its most iconic dishes.

Varieties of Tamales Across Mexico

The word tamal comes from the Nahuatl “amalli,” meaning “wrapped.” According to records by Fray Bernardino de Sahagún, tamales have been part of Mexican culture for centuries, used in religious offerings and ceremonies, and consumed by nobles and priests.

Today, tamales are found throughout the country and come in countless regional varieties. In Chiapas, there are up to 100 different types, including the chipilín tamal made with a tropical herb. The tamal de bola features pork and spices.

In the Huasteca region and the Sierra of Hidalgo, the zacahuil can measure up to five meters long and requires 10 to 12 hours of cooking in a wood-fired oven. Michoacán and Guerrero offer uchepos, made with tender sweet corn, and triangular corundas served with salsa, cream, and cheese. Veracruz is known for tamales with mole and epazote, while Guanajuato prepares tamales de muerto with blue corn. Sinaloa features shrimp tamales with carrot, guajillo chili, and olives.

Sweet and Urban Tamales

Sweet tamales, such as canarios made with rice flour, egg yolks, dried fruits, and sometimes rum, are popular in Oaxaca, Querétaro, and Morelos. In Mexico City, corn husk tamales are a breakfast staple, available in flavors like rajas, mole, green salsa, or sweet versions. Eating a tamal stuffed inside a bolillo roll — known as a guajolota — is a common urban tradition.