Everyone knows that one of the best parts about a vacation in Mexico is the opportunity to try some authentic cuisine. While modified versions of dishes like burritos, quesadillas, and tacos have become quite popular around the world, nothing can compare to the real thing. Here are the top five authentic Mexican dishes you must try while on vacation in an all-inclusive like the Royal Solaris.

1. Tacos

It may seem impossible, but these fast food staples are indeed truly Mexican in origin, having been made since at least the Aztec and Maya empires. Grab a handmade tortilla which has been heated into shape right to order, and you’ll never be able to settle for store-bought shells again. Ask for variations like Al Pastor (flame-broiled pork steaks), de Cabeza (made of head meats from a cow) or de Pescado (grilled fish and pico de gallo).

2. Plain Cheese Quesadilla

The indigenous peoples of Mexico had no dairy products in their diet until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, and the quesadilla was developed during colonial times. A popular variety only has the plain local Oaxaca cheese as a filling; its delightfully stringy consistency is similar to mozzarella. True quesadillas are cooked on a hot comal griddle.

3. Tamales

Not the cinnamon-flavored candy, but rather the portable meal. Tamales consist of a variety of fillings, like pork and green salsa, which are stuffed into a dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed until they are firm enough to eat without utensils. The ancient civilizations sent their warriors into battle with the easy-to-eat tamale as sustenance.

4. Queso Fresco

This soft white cheese is made from a mixture of goat and cow milk. It’s often used to top very spicy dishes, as it gives them some balance. For cheese fans, this delicacy simply has to be tried to be believed! The simplicity of Queso Fresco’s taste has also allowed for many variations, like panela, to be derived from it.

5. Chayote

Also called the choko, this wrinkly, pear-shaped fruit is eaten just about every way you can imagine. It’s delicious raw, cooked, boiled, served over salad, or mixed into a pie. The chayote is known to be high in vitamin C and has some anti-inflammatory properties; tea made from the leaves of the plant is a popular home remedy for kidney stones.

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