Yucatán, Mexico — The Tren Maya has completed a real-world test of its onboard dining experience, running a full tasting of traditional Yucatecan dishes prepared by Chef David Cetina in the train’s new restaurant car, named Janal — the Maya word for ‘food.’
The test, held with tourism officials and company executives aboard, marks a step toward offering regional cuisine as part of the passenger experience. The final menu has not been announced, but the trial featured dishes from Cetina’s Mérida restaurant La Tradición, known for preserving classic Yucatecan recipes and techniques.
Attendees included Darío Flota Ocampo, Yucatán’s Secretary of Tourism Promotion; Raúl Alejandro Paz Noriega, Undersecretary of Sustainable Tourism Development; and Jordy Abraham Martínez, president of the Yucatán Tourism Business Council. The test was led by Tren Maya General Director Manuel Jaime Ramírez Camacho.
Janal is designed to be more than a standard dining car. The Tren Maya aims to make the journey itself a draw for tourists traveling between Cancún, Tulum, and Mérida — destinations already known for intense competition in hospitality and gastronomy. By involving local chefs in menu development, the railway hopes to create a culinary experience that stands out internationally.
A launch date for the Janal restaurant car service has not yet been confirmed.
