Mexican Snacks to Try at Yummi Yum in Puerto Aventuras
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When it comes to Mexican cuisine, most people think of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. And fair enough. They are all delicious! If you are a bonafide Mexophile like me, you may have even discovered the delights of mole, huitlacoche, chapulines and escamole.
But there’s a whole world of Mexican snacks, that locals love but are still flying under the radar with international visitors and residents. I consider myself pretty well-versed in Mexican cuisine but when it comes to this category of treats, even I can get a little turned around by the options.
With the opening of Yummi Yum in Puerto Aventuras, I thought it was the perfect time to expand my snacky repertoire and try some of these uniquely Mexican treats.
We turned up the day after their inauguration and business was just starting to get going. My “restaurant Spanish” is excellent but here I felt a little out of my comfort zone. Thank goodness, my daughter was more than happy to come along to help us work through the options.
I’ve seen most of these snacks before in festivals, fairs and in parks across Mexico. I have been a huge fan of esquites ever since I tried some from a street vendor in Coyocan after a few too many mezcals. Not sure if it was they were great esquites or if it was the mezcal talking but now, I will gladly drive out of my way to find an elote vendor selling boiled white corn out of a shabby old cooler.
I’ll never forget my first encounter at a Dori-Loco puesto in Guanajuato City. The vendor gleefully explained all the potential toppings I could choose from up. She seemed genuinely disappointed when I took a pass on the cueritos (pickled pork).
From savory to spicy to downright unexpected, here are some of the snacks that you can find on the Yummi Yum menu and how to order them.
Elotes and Esquites
Elotes are very common street food all over Mexico including the Puerto Aventuras pobado. You have probably seen this popular snack which is simply boiled white Mexican corn on the cob slathered with the traditional toppings of butter, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, lime, and chili powder.
Yummi Yum also offers variations like elote empanizado, where the corn is given a final coating of crushed Cheetos, regular cheese flavored or Flamin’ Hot! You can also try it chorreado, which is finished off with a drizzle of nacho cheese.
While I love the idea and the flavors of elotes, I am one of those weirdos that hates food getting stuck in her teeth and has to cut the corn off the cob. Good thing they also offer esquites!
Esquites are essentially the same white corn, sliced off the cob into a cup and mixed with mayonaisse, lime juice, cotija cheese, chili powder and optionally a squirt of good hot sauce. At Yummi Yum, you can order them with everything … “con todo” … or however you like. You can even ask for them with Takis or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for an extra kick and crunch!
Raspados
These simple shaved ice treats are typically offered by strolling vendors in towns and cities all over Mexico and Latin America. Traditional vendors will have a block of ice which they grate by hand into a cup and then fill with your choice of flavored syrups. The better raspado places have syrups that are all natural and may even have hunks of fruit for additional flavor and texture. Keep an eye out for these in your travels.
At Yummi Yum, they offer a few fruity flavors like mango, strawberry, and pineapple, or creamy options with chocolate, coconut and cajeta. I would describe the creamy options to be more of a licuado than a raspado but I’m still learning here. There are of course, a wide variety of candy toppings ranging from sweet to spicy to to take your raspado to the next level.
My daughter loved her mango raspado topped with chamoy, Miguelito, spicy candies and of course, a banderilla. I’m recommending the raspado especial, a creamy raspado loaded your choice of toppings like Oreos, Ferrero Roche, or Mazapán, adding a rich, indulgent flair to this refreshing treat.
Tosti Locos, Tosti Elotes and Tosti Nachos
If you have ever had Frito Chili Pie in a Bag or Walking Tacos, these will be very familiar to you. The presentation is exactly the same. What new are the toppings.
These Mexican snack classics, start with a bag of Tostitos, Doritos, Takis or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos cut open lengthwise and loaded up with toppings like peanuts, jícama, cueritos, lime, chamoy, and hot sauce. The Yummi Yum menu lists Clamato juice as an optional topping. Let me know if you try it.
Tosti-elotes are just as you might expect, chips of your choice with boiled white corn and the traditional elote toppings – mayonnaise, cotija cheese, lime, and chili powder. Tosti-nachos adds jalapeños and melted nacho cheese to the chips for a cheesy dip with a spicy kick.
You order which ever bag of chips you like and then the variation. For example Tosti-locos, Dori-locos, Tosti-nachos, Dori-elotes, Taki-locos …. Are you catching on?
Frutas con Crema
Sweet fruit puree and chunks of fresh berries are the star of this dessert, served with sweetened cream. At Yummi Yum, options range from the Clásica to the Yummi Fresas which invites you to add toppings of your choice. An indulgent treat and Jim’s top pick is the to the decadent variation topped with chunks of soft, creamy cheesecake. So good!
Aguas Frescas
You may have seen these before either from a puesto, a taqueria or in a casual dining restaurant. Aguas frescas are refreshing drinks commonly made from fresh fruit, water, and sugar. If you have had jamaica or horchata, these are also both aguas frescas. Yummi Yum’s generous one-liter options include a variety of tropical flavors perfect for cooling down in the Riviera Maya heat. Ask “¿que sabores tienen?” to see what’s available.
Paletas Preparadas
If you have ever stopped in to La Michoacana in the Chedraui Multiplaza you have definitely seen paletas. Mexico’s version of the popsicle comes in a dizzying array of flavors and may be filled with pieces of fruit, nuts or even hunks of chocolate bars.
While their selection does not rival that of La Michoacana, paletas at Yummi Yum get a fun upgrade with the option to order them as-is or preparada and kicked up with toppings like chamoy, chili powder, tamarind and your choice of candies for an extra layer of flavor and texture. They serve these in a little container to make them more manageable.
With all these fun mexican snack options, Yummi Yum promises to be a favorite with locals coming to and from the complex every day. Whether it takes off with international guests and residents is left to be seen.
Clamatos Preparados
Clamato juice mixed with lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings like Tajin becomes a hearty drink-snack hybrid. At Yummi Yum, it’s served with your choice of savory garnishes for a refreshing, zesty experience. I would ask for a banderilla! For me, the drink its not complete without one!
Clamatos preparados are commonly prepared with ice cold cerveza but Yummi Yum does not have a liquor license. The virgin version still hits the spot and if you get it para llevar, GoMart has all the beer you need to complete the picture.
Yummi Yum is located in the location previously occupied by Mamalona’s, just outside the gates. They are open daily 1PM – 10PM. I hope you will give it a try and take advantage of the opportunity to experiment with the sweet and savory flavors of Mexico.
Yummi Yum Menus
