MEXICO — DINING

Restaurants and food trucks are plentiful in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., and Los Algodones, Baja Calif. — the two Mexican cities nearest to Yuma.

The food in both places isn’t wildly different from the Mexican food you can get in Yuma County,but the prices can be a bit cheaper depending on where you go, and there are often more options for sweets and candies.

Traditional Mexican fare like tacos, flautas, sopes and chiles rellenos — stuffed chiles — are available at most restaurants and many food trucks as well.

Like in the United States, it is not unusual for restaurants to offer complimentary tortilla chips that are often served with multiple salsas, pico de gallo, cucumber, cabbage and limes.

And given our area is about 60 miles from the Gulf of California, fish and other seafood is on the menu on many restaurants.

Panaderías in Mexico have all the favorite breads, cookies, cakes, donuts and pastries that you’d find in many bakeries on the U.S. side of the border, but often have a larger and more diverse selection.

Street vendors, however, tend to have the most unique selection of Mexican foods — mostly dulces (sweets).

Chili-covered lollipops, candied nuts and fresh honey are just a few of the sugary foods that are plentiful in many shops and along many streets.

Snow cones, fruit smoothies and various ice creams are also abundant with many different flavors to choose from.And,of course, there’s usually the option to add chili powder.