Guy Fieri Takes Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to Mexico

While in Mexico, Guy breaks away from the tourist-filled resorts and ventures into the heart of town to soak up some local, authentic flavors of Mexico. 

Located in Nichupte, Mexico, El Rincon de los Antojos — which translates to "the corner of cravings" — offers three generations of Mexico City cuisine. Run by Carmen Giardiello, her daughter Barbara Guardiello and Carmen's granddaughter Fernanda Giardiello, this restaurant is your stop for grandma's cooking. 

First stripped of seeds and skin, the poblano peppers are filled with panela cheese. But it's the light, airy batter — made with whipped egg whites, yolks and corn flour — that makes this dish stand out. Once fried and coated in a tomato sauce, the relleno gets a topping true to that region of Mexico: a soft plantain.

Think of this sandwich as a deep-fried Mexican burger. First, the pork skin (chicharron) is ground and mixed with a guajillo chili sauce, then it is completely covered in dough. Once fried, the dough is cut open to reveal perfectly cooked meat. Sprinkle on toppings including onion, cilantro, queso fresco and crema, and you have Chicharron Gordita.  

If you're lucky enough to get into chef and owner Christian Rodriguez's Mexican oasis (entrance requires a password), you'll be greeted with eclectic decor, global cuisine and an ever-changing menu. What used to be Rodriguez's old home in Cancun has been transformed into an outdoor restaurant offering a mixture of Mexican, Asian and Italian cuisine.

Chef Rodriguez takes no shortcuts when it comes to this funky dish. Piled high with housemade mayonnaise, a cheese-covered pork and beef patty, sliced pork belly, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, caramelized onions, ketchup, and mustard, it's unlike anything you've tasted before.

In the words of Guy Fieri, "The little subtleties like the ... pepper with the grape tomatoes, with the sesame oil, with the yerba buena, is all over the map." It's Mexican, Mediterranean and, most importantly, delicious.

While in Mexico, you're guaranteed access to delicious street tacos, seafood and authentic Mexican cuisine. But what if you're craving nachos and some hot wings? Guy's new Fifth Avenue restaurant, which mixes Mexican ingredients with American flavors, is the answer. 

Acting as the perfect union of Mexican and American cuisine, these nachos are topped with smoked pork, melted cheese and beans. They are then packed tightly in a miniature trashcan with pico de gallo, sour cream, pickled onions, Cotija cheese and thinly sliced jalapeno peppers. Once they're revealed, you're left with, in Guy's words, “the nacho crown in the kingdom of Flavortown.” 

Available only at Guy's Playa Del Carmen location, these shrimp tacos, with lightly fried shrimp, pink peppercorn mayonnaise and citrus-dressed slaw, are good enough to still wow Guy.

The key to this delicious ceviche — which combines shrimp, pico de gallo and a tequila marinade — is slicing everything just small enough so that you get a little bit of everything in each bite.