Barbacoa El Mexiquense, Mexican barbecue restaurant in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico.
Barbacoa El Mexiquense is a barbecue restaurant that prepares lamb in underground ovens, first wrapped in maguey leaves and smoked with oak wood for deep flavor development. The cooking method creates meat that is tender and infused with the wood's natural essence.
The barbacoa cooking method dates to colonial times and first appeared in written records in the 16th century when Spanish colonizers encountered this technique in Mexico. The underground cooking practice had been established in the region long before European contact.
The use of maguey leaves during cooking reflects a cooking method that has shaped regional food culture for generations, connecting modern meals to traditional practices.
The establishment opens early on weekends and serves throughout most of the day, offering meat portions in different weights to suit individual appetites. Since the meat cooks slowly underground, it is prepared fresh to order, so planning ahead is helpful.
Each meat cut receives individual attention during cooking since shoulder, rib, leg, and spine pieces require different timing to reach their ideal doneness. This careful handling means each part achieves the right tenderness for its specific cut.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.