Where to Eat Safely in Mexico

Sanborns and their famous Mexican waitress uniforms

Eating in Mexico can be scary for the uninitiated. However, here are a few names of places where the food is perfectly safe:

Low Budget: MacDonalds or Burger King. For anyone living permanently in Mexico, I would advice you to stay away from these restaurants and try some local place that someone recommends. However, if you are on a medical trip, and you just want to avoid risks, these are good places to eat. The food will not be great, but it will be safe and economical. I would avoid Subway, since I know someone that got sick there, although one case is not a representative sample.

Medium Budget. Vips or El Porton. The food is good, although not great. There is way more variety than at a fast food restaurant. Prices are ok, and they are safe. Both of these are chains with presence all over the country. In my experience, you're much more likely to find Vips than El Porton, but that might be just me.

High Budget. Sanborns. Although I typed high budget, Sanborns is not that much more expensive than Vips or El Porton. Here you will find not only food, but also magazines, books, perfumes, electronics, DVDs and even HD televisions. It usually has a bar as well. I recommend the enchiladas suizas.

Regardless of where you eat, pay attention to the dietary restrictions for your specific procedure. It's better to ask your doctor in advance about what you can and can't eat.

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Robert Ervin is a freelancer who writes about healthcare, medical tourism, and living in Mexico.

If you're considering traveling to Mexico for healthcare or retiring in Mexico, you may want to  get yourself a copy of The English's Speaker's Guide to Doctors and Hospitals in Mexico in order to find a good doctor or hospital in the main towns and cities of Mexico, or The English Speaker's Guide to Medical Care in Mexico, to understand how the Mexican healthcare system works.