Description: Normally when I get recommendations to eat during my trips, I try to avoid the touristy spots near downtown, but this time it was highly praised by the organizers of a festival we were working at, so I reluctantly agreed to go with the group. I was greatly surprised to find that the food and decorations are authentic!!!!
From outside (you walk from the Cathedral towards the West and at the corner of the main square go North) you find a plain wall with a simple arch and cast iron leters "El Fogón de Jovel", mhhhh, nothing really appealing, but once inside, after you pass a wrought iron entrance you see the real Chiapas: the marimba musicians right at the entrance, the lady producing hand made tortillas on the spot, the pots, jars, jugs that are used all over the zone, in the walls you see the mask used in festivals and religious ceremonies, in one word: Chiapas.
As a entree order tortillas with spicy salsas and guacamole and local cheese to calm your hunger, because, you should be warned: food takes it's time to prepare and in the menu there is an explanation about this: "if you are in a hurry and want your food quickly, sorry but this may not be the restaurant for you".
I had never tried "Sopa de pan" which is advertised in the menu as the soup of the city or "coleto soup" (Coleto is anything from San Cristobal de las Casas, in this context), and is a very thick soup of vegetables with bread and hard boiled egg. The flavor is amazing, very rich and you notice it has been boiling for many hours to get the essence of the chicken and the flavor of each veggie.
There are many dishes you can try, take a long look at the menu in their website, there are Spanish, English, French and German versions, but just take a look at the Spanish one because it has more pictures and a more elaborated introduction. Also take a look at their Virtual Tours as the halls are decorated with regional dresses and pictures of Chiapas.
This restaurant is a must if you visit San Cristobal. There are many small cafes and bistros, but this was the one that offers the real food of Chiapas. Buen Provecho
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