4 Best Restaurants in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas and Tabasco

The presence of an authentic Argentine steak house confirms Tuxtla's status as a cosmopolitan city. The dark, elegant room is appropriate for the serious meat and wine list, which includes good Argentine and Mexican selections. Rich, tender mollejas (sweetbreads) are a good bet for starters. The steaks are grilled by parrilleros (grill masters) in the front of the restaurant.

Spanish dishes are the specialty at this lovely little restaurant west of the center. The most popular dish is lechón a la segoviana (succulent baby pig), which is considered a regional specialty, and this is a great place to try it. The wine list favors Spanish wines hard to find in Mexico City, let alone Chiapas. The restaurant itself is hard to find, as it's behind a bank.

The scent of sizzling steak wafts from the door of this open-air restaurant. Portions are huge; the mixed grill for two, four, or six people comes with beans, tortillas, and salsa—a super deal. A beautiful wooden staircase leads to the second-floor terrace that overlooks the marimba players who entertain most afternoons. To see the floor show on Friday and Saturday nights, make reservations in advance.

This downtown spot has an outstanding variety of regional dishes, including pechuga jacuané (chicken breast stuffed with black beans and smothered with an herb sauce). Red-sashed waiters hoot and holler when someone orders pompo, a punch made with mineral water, pineapple juice, lemon juice—and lots of vodka. The big draw is live marimba music in the afternoon and evening. From 9 pm to 10 pm on weekends folk dancers take to the floor.