One of the most representative dishes of Xalapa are the "xalapeño chiles" stuffed with mutton or seafood mince, served with garnished carrots and pickled onions. However, it has a wide variety of typical dishes like: "huevos tirados", cooked with beans and served with cheese, tortilla chips, fried plantains and rice; “chileatole”, spicy broth seasoned with spices with corn, carrots, potatoes and green beans; the mushroom broth with oak, epazote and garlic; tamale with “izote” flower flavored with chili; the red “pipían” with epazote, chile ancho and dried chili; the green mole with pork or chicken, epazote and various vegetables; and a wide variety of fish and seafood dishes, like the Veracruz-style fish, absolutely delicious and not too spicy.

The local cuisine also includes a wide variety of Mexican “antojitos”, such as: tamales, “picadas” (small tortillas with a pinched-up rim around the edges to hold the filling), “molotes” (made with a mixture of nixtamalized corn masa and mashed potatoes and filled with meat) among others, all of them are prepared with the local flavor.

Xalapa offers delicious desserts most of them are related with the great variety of fruits of the region, prepared with sugar or with panela (piloncillo). You can try pumpkin, biznaga, chilacayote, plum, peach, etc., and the treat are know as " frutas cubiertas" (covered fruits). Also using the fruits are the jamoncillos with delicious fillings. Other common desserts are corn bread and “buñuelos” (thin, fried pastries with honey).

One of the most typical drink in Xalapa are the “Toritos”, a fruit flavor liquor elaborated with evaporated milk and cane liqueur. There are several options, guava, mango, peanut, coconut, strawberry and, of course, coffee.