La Chaya Maya ★ 4.4
La Chaya Maya on Santa Lucía in Mérida pours tortillas on a clay comal in the dining room and runs sopa de lima, poc chuc and panuchos seven days a week.
Signature: Sopa de lima, Poc chuc, Papadzules, Cochinita pibil
History
The dish is built around the Yucatán lima criolla (Citrus limetta), a sweet-sour citrus distinct from regular limes. Spanish citrus crossed with Mayan turkey broth and habanero produced the soup in the colonial era. Today's canonical version at La Tradición and La Chaya Maya runs Yucatán lima, achiote and turkey.
Common allergens: Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1.5L turkey or chicken broth, homemade
- 300g cooked shredded turkey breast
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Juice of 4 limas (or 3 limes + 1 sweet orange)
- 1 lima, sliced thin for garnish
- 4 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips and fried
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 habanero pepper, sliced (optional)
- Salt to taste
Method
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pot. Sauté onion until translucent, then add garlic and tomato. Cook 5 minutes.
- Add oregano and cumin, stir 30 seconds.
- Pour in broth and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in shredded turkey and lima juice. Simmer 5 more minutes. Season with salt.
- Ladle into bowls. Top with fried tortilla strips, diced avocado, a slice of fresh lima and habanero if using.
- Serve immediately while the tortilla strips are still crisp.
Tip from the editors. If you can't find Yucatán lima, blend regular lime juice with a touch of sweet orange juice for the closest approximation.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
Where to eat sopa de lima
Sopa de lima in Mérida
La Tradición ★ 4.3
La Tradición on Calle 60 in Mérida runs chef David Cetina's Yucatecan recados, poc chuc and queso relleno from a family kitchen of two decades.
Signature: Poc chuc, Queso relleno, Sopa de lima
Los Almendros ★ 4.0
Los Almendros on Parque de la Mejorada in Mérida runs the Yucatecan canon since 1972, claiming credit for putting poc chuc on the city's restaurant maps.
Signature: Poc chuc, Papadzules, Queso relleno, Sopa de lima
Eladio's Centro ★ 4.0
Eladio's Centro on Calle 59 Mérida runs the Yucatecan free-botanas-with-drinks tradition, with live trova and a sprawling cantina dining room.
Signature: Free botanas with drinks, Sopa de lima, Cochinita pibil
More cities are in research. Want sopa de lima covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.