Mexico City (Ciudad de México, CDMX) is one of the largest and most vibrant metropolises in the world, serving as the political, cultural, and economic heart of Mexico. This ancient city, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, blends pre-Hispanic heritage with colonial architecture and ultramodern neighborhoods. From world-class museums and gourmet restaurants to bustling markets and stunning murals, Mexico City offers an unparalleled urban experience.
Mexico City's food scene is one of the richest and most diverse on the planet, ranging from humble street carts to globally ranked fine dining. Tacos al pastor — spit-roasted, chile-marinated pork shaved onto corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, and cilantro — are the city's defining street food, a legacy of Lebanese immigrants who introduced the vertical trompo spit in the early 20th century. Beyond tacos, the capital is a magnet for regional Mexican cooking: Oaxacan mole and tlayudas, Yucatecan cochinita pibil, and Northern-style arrachera all have dedicated followings here. The city's traditional mercados, such as Mercado de San Juan and Mercado Roma, showcase everything from exotic produce to prepared antojitos under one roof. At the other end of the spectrum, chef-driven restaurants like Pujol, Quintonil, and Rosetta have put Mexico City on the world's fine-dining map, reinterpreting indigenous ingredients — corn, chiles, insects, heirloom herbs — through a modern lens. Whether eating at a folding table on the sidewalk or a tasting counter in Polanco, visitors will find that Mexico City's food culture rewards curiosity at every price point.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Mexico City.
Tacos al pastor
Spit-roasted marinated pork on corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, and cilantro — Mexico City's most iconic street food
Chiles en nogada
Poblano chiles stuffed with picadillo (meat and fruit mixture), topped with walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds — seasonal August-September
Mole negro
Complex dark sauce made from dried chiles, chocolate, spices, and more — usually served over turkey or chicken
Pozole
Hearty hominy corn soup with pork, garnished with cabbage, radishes, oregano, and lime — red, green, or white versions
Tlayudas
Large crispy Oaxacan corn tortilla topped with beans, quesillo cheese, and meat — available throughout CDMX
Carnitas
Slow-cooked pork braised in lard until fall-apart tender, served in tacos or by weight
Tamales
Masa dough filled with cheese, meat, or chiles, wrapped in corn husks and steamed — perfect for breakfast with atole
Cochinita pibil
Yucatecan achiote-marinated slow-roasted pork — distinctly different from central Mexican carnitas
Enchiladas
Corn tortillas dipped in various chile sauces, filled with cheese or chicken, topped with crema and cheese
Tlacoyos
Thick oval masa cakes filled with beans or cheese, topped with nopales, salsa, and crema
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Pujol
Chef Enrique Olvera's flagship restaurant, consistently ranked among the world's 50 best restaurants. Pujol elevated Mexican cuisine to global recognition with boundary-pushing dishes like the legendary 'mole madre' aged over 1,500 days and a celebrated taco omakase featuring eight courses with rare ingredients like abalone and wagyu.
Tennyson 133, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City
Quintonil
Chef Jorge Vallejo's acclaimed restaurant ranked #3 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list. Quintonil focuses on indigenous Mexican ingredients prepared with modern techniques, exploring forgotten and underused herbs, vegetables, and proteins. The restaurant offers both tasting menus and à la carte options.
Isaac Newton 55, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City
Biko
The creative collaboration of Basque chefs Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso blends Mexican ingredients with Basque culinary techniques. Consistently rated among Mexico's best restaurants, Biko offers sophisticated tasting menus that respect both culinary traditions. The wine cellar is exceptional.
Presidente Masaryk 407, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City
Sud 777
Chef Edgar Núñez's acclaimed restaurant in the south of Mexico City, consistently featured among Latin America's best. Sud 777 showcases hyper-seasonal Mexican ingredients with French and global influences. The garden setting adds a magical quality to dining experiences.
Boulevard de la Luz 777, Jardines del Pedregal, Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City
Rosetta
Chef Elena Reygadas's gorgeous restaurant in a converted 19th-century Roma Norte mansion. Rosetta blends Italian and Mexican culinary traditions with seasonal local ingredients. Famous for its handmade pastas, exceptional bread (sold in the adjacent Panadería Rosetta), and light-filled interior courtyard.
Colima 166, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Dulce Patria
Chef Martha Ortiz's theatrical restaurant in the Las Alcobas hotel lobby, celebrating Mexico's culinary heritage with dramatic presentations and bold flavors. Dulce Patria is known for its striking visual aesthetic, incorporating folk art and tradition into every aspect of the dining experience.
Anatole France 100, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City
Contramar
One of Mexico City's most beloved institutions since 1998, Contramar is a seafood restaurant turned cultural landmark. The large, light-filled space is perpetually packed with Mexico City's socialites, artists, and visitors. Famous for its iconic red and green tuna tostadas, whole grilled fish (pescado a la talla), and consistently excellent service.
Durango 200, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
El Cardenal
A Mexico City institution for traditional Mexican cuisine since 1969, El Cardenal is celebrated for the best breakfasts and comida corrida in the Historic Center. The restaurant occupies a beautiful colonial building and is popular with families, politicians, and visitors alike. Known for its atole, tamales, and traditional mole.
Palma 23, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Mexican
Café de Tacuba
One of Mexico City's oldest and most famous restaurants, operating since 1912 in a beautiful colonial building in the Historic Center. Famous for its enchiladas tacubas, moles, and traditional antojitos. The interior features remarkable oil paintings, hand-painted tiles, and colonial décor. A living piece of Mexico City history.
Tacuba 28, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Azul Histórico
Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita's restaurant celebrating the diversity of Mexican regional cuisine. Set in the courtyard of the Downtown Hotel, Azul Histórico is a gem of traditional cooking — featuring dishes from all 32 Mexican states with seasonal, regional ingredients. A great introduction to Mexico's extraordinary culinary diversity.
Isabel La Católica 30, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
La Casa de Toño
A beloved Mexico City chain of casual restaurants specializing in hearty traditional Mexican comfort food. La Casa de Toño is famous for its generous bowls of pozole, tacos, quesadillas, and gorditas at very affordable prices. Always bustling with families and workers, it offers an authentic local dining experience.
Lorenzo Boturini 61, Centro, Venustiano Carranza, Mexico City (multiple locations)
Lardo
One of Mexico City's most popular brunch destinations by Chef Lalo García, serving Mediterranean-inspired breakfast and lunch in a beautiful Condesa setting. Lardo is famous for its extraordinary bread, huevos rancheros, avocado toast variations, and seasonal brunch dishes. Weekend queues are legendary.
Ámsterdam 107, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Café de Tacuba Breakfast
The famous 1912-established restaurant serves one of Mexico City's best traditional Mexican breakfasts including atole, tamales, enchiladas, and pan dulce in a stunning colonial setting.
Tacuba 28, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Huset
An imaginative Roma Norte restaurant blending Scandinavian minimalism with Mexican seafood ingredients. Huset is known for its innovative approach to raw fish preparations, chilled seafood, and Nordic-inspired dishes made with Mexican coastal ingredients. A beautiful, intimate space popular with food-forward locals.
Colima 256, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Tortas La Castellana
One of Roma Norte's best spots for tortas — Mexico's beloved stuffed sandwiches made on telera or bolillo rolls. La Castellana piles them high with carnitas, milanesa, jamón serrano, or pastor, topped with avocado, refried beans, chipotle, jalapeños, and pickled vegetables. A filling lunch for under $100 MXN.
Sonora 180, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
La Hermosa Hortensia
A historic pulquería in the centro serving the traditional fermented agave drink called pulque — an ancient beverage consumed in Mexico for over 2,000 years. La Hermosa Hortensia offers pulque natural and curado (flavored varieties like guava, celery, and oat) in a colorfully decorated traditional bar setting.
Mesones 93, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre
A celebrated 'no-name' restaurant championing Mexico's extraordinary indigenous corn varieties and their culinary traditions. The tiny restaurant serves a daily changing menu based on whatever heritage corn preparations the chef has crafted that day — tlayudas, tlacoyos, memelas, huaraches, and more. No written menu; staff will describe the day's offerings.
Mérida 54, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Restaurante El Mayor
A rooftop restaurant with some of the best views in Mexico City overlooking the Templo Mayor ruins and Zócalo. The food is solid traditional Mexican cooking — enchiladas, moles, and antojitos — but the view is the star. An unforgettable setting for lunch in the Historic Center.
República de Guatemala 30, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Baja
Taquería La Baja
Roma Norte's go-to spot for Baja California-style fish and shrimp tacos — battered and fried fish or shrimp served in corn tortillas with shredded cabbage, cream, pico de gallo, and chipotle sauce. Fresh, casual, and delicious at street food prices in one of the city's hippest neighborhoods.
Álvaro Obregón 100, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Baja California
Merotoro
Chef Jair Téllez brings the bold, fresh flavors of Baja California to Condesa, serving a menu inspired by the wines, olives, grapes, and seafood of the Baja peninsula. Merotoro is known for its exceptional charcuterie, raw bar, and wood-fired preparations. The wine list focuses on Mexican natural wines.
Ámsterdam 204, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Café And Breakfast
Café Toscano
A charming neighborhood café in Roma Norte with a loyal local following for its excellent drip coffee, strong espresso, and simple breakfast menu. Café Toscano is a neighborhood institution where residents gather daily for breakfasts of chilaquiles, enfrijoladas, and fresh fruit.
Orizaba 42, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Café And Light Meals
El Péndulo
A beloved Mexico City institution combining a cafe, bookstore, and cultural space. El Péndulo is a favorite among locals for breakfast, brunch, and casual lunches. Set among floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with live piano music at weekends, it serves excellent coffee, fresh juices, and a menu of light Mexican and international dishes.
Nuevo León 115, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Carnitas And Tacos
Porco Rosso
A beloved Condesa spot for carnitas — slow-cooked pork braised in lard until tender and crispy. Porco Rosso serves generously portioned carnitas by weight or in tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. The chicharrón (fried pork skin) is exceptional. A casual, always-busy neighborhood staple.
Nuevo León 68, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Churros And Hot Chocolate
Churrería El Moro
A Mexico City institution since 1935 serving freshly made churros and thick hot chocolate 24 hours a day. El Moro is a rite of passage for visitors, famous for its perfectly crispy churros dusted in sugar and cinnamon, served alongside four styles of hot chocolate — French, Spanish, Mexican, or special.
Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 42, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Cocktail Bar
Licorería Limantour
Consistently ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars, Licorería Limantour is Mexico City's finest cocktail bar. The creative team produces innovative cocktails using Mexican spirits and ingredients with global bar techniques. The food menu of small plates complements the cocktail program beautifully.
Álvaro Obregón 106, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Food Market
Mercado Roma
Mexico City's hippest gourmet food market, housed in a converted industrial building in Roma Norte. Mercado Roma features over 90 artisan food vendors offering everything from Mexican street food to Japanese ramen, craft beer, mezcal, artisan cheese, and gourmet tacos. Perfect for groups who can't agree on one cuisine.
Querétaro 225, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
French
Maximo Bistrot
Chef Eduardo García's French-inspired bistro using locally sourced Mexican ingredients. Maximo Bistrot is one of Roma Norte's most beloved restaurants — a farm-to-table pioneer in Mexico City that changes its menu daily based on what's available from local producers. Warm atmosphere, outstanding service.
Tonalá 133, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Gourmet Market
Mercado de San Juan
Mexico City's best gourmet market, operating since 1956 with stalls selling imported cheeses, charcuterie, fresh seafood, exotic fruits, Japanese ingredients, and Mexican specialty items. The market has evolved into a destination for food lovers with several small restaurants and sushi stands operating inside.
Ernesto Pugibet 21, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Gourmet Tamales
Tamales Madre
A Roma Norte spot specializing in elevated, artisan-style tamales using heirloom corn masa and interesting fillings far beyond the traditional. Offerings include mole negro, rajas con queso, chipotle chicken, and seasonal specials, all wrapped carefully and steamed to perfection.
Orizaba 80, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Japanese
Rokai Sushi
Mexico City has a significant Japanese population and excellent Japanese restaurants. Rokai is one of the city's top sushi spots, serving high-quality omakase and à la carte sushi with both traditional Japanese fish and excellent Mexican seafood. A testament to Mexico City's cosmopolitan dining scene.
Río Ebro 87, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Mezcalería
Bósforo
One of Mexico City's best-known mezcalerías, serving an extensive selection of artisanal mezcales from small Oaxacan, Guerrero, and Durango producers. Bósforo is beloved by mezcal aficionados for its educational approach, excellent botanas (bar snacks), and warm, knowledgeable staff.
Luis Moya 31, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Mezcalería With Food
La Clandestina
A legendary Roma Norte mezcalería operating from a narrow storefront on Álvaro Obregón. La Clandestina has an excellent selection of artisanal mezcals, serves Oaxacan-inspired small plates and tlayudas, and buzzes with energy on weekend nights. Standing room only but worth it.
Álvaro Obregón 298, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Modern Breakfast And Coffee
Café Nin
A stylish all-day café and breakfast restaurant in the Juárez neighborhood between Roma and Reforma. Café Nin serves high-quality coffee and a breakfast-brunch menu of Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Popular with remote workers, professionals, and the local creative community.
Havre 73, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Modern Oaxacan
Yuban
A Roma Norte restaurant celebrating the extraordinary cuisine of Oaxaca with modern presentation. Chef Marco García serves sophisticated versions of Oaxacan classics — complex moles, tasajo beef, black bean tlayudas — alongside mezcal pairings. A wonderful gateway to Oaxacan food culture without leaving CDMX.
Tonalá 33, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Seafood
La Docena
The definitive oyster bar and seafood restaurant of Mexico City, set in a beautiful converted Roma Norte mansion. La Docena serves the freshest oysters flown in from Baja California and Sinaloa, alongside exceptional ceviches, aguachiles, and grilled seafood. The bar scene is lively and the cocktails are excellent.
Álvaro Obregón 31, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Specialty Coffee
Blend Station
One of Mexico City's premier third-wave specialty coffee roasters and cafes in the heart of Roma Norte. Blend Station sources exceptional single-origin coffees from Mexican growers in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, offering pour-overs, aeropress, cold brew, and seasonal specials. A must for coffee enthusiasts.
Sonora 45, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Tacos Al Pastor
El Huequito
A legendary taquería serving tacos al pastor since 1959, widely considered one of the best in Mexico City. The pork is marinated in chiles and spices, then slowly roasted on a vertical spit (trompo), shaved into corn tortillas, and topped with pineapple, cilantro, and onion. El Huequito has barely changed in 60+ years.
Ayuntamiento 21, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Tacos De Canasta
Taquería Los Parados
One of Mexico City's best known purveyors of tacos de canasta — 'basket tacos' — small tacos that have been steamed in their own heat inside a large basket. These affordable, intensely flavored tacos are typically sold by bicycle vendors throughout the city but Los Parados is a fixed location serving them fresh.
Moctezuma 131, Venustiano Carranza, Mexico City
Tacos De Guisado
Los Cocuyos
A legendary late-night taco stand in the Historic Center, famous for offering adventurous offal tacos (tacos de cabeza) including lengua (tongue), cachete (cheek), ojos (eyes), and sesos (brain). Los Cocuyos operates from a large vat of slow-cooked beef head and is a rite of passage for serious Mexico City food lovers.
Bolívar 56, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Tacos Norteños
Taquería Orinoco
Serving tacos from Northern Mexico style — arrachera (skirt steak), suadero, and costilla cooked on a comal (flat griddle) and served in large flour tortillas alongside flour and corn options. Orinoco brings the flavors of Monterrey and the north to Roma Norte, and has lines out the door most nights.
Álvaro Obregón 25, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Yucatecan Tacos
El Turix
A famous tiny taco stand in Polanco serving Yucatecan specialties, particularly cochinita pibil — slow-roasted pork marinated in achiote paste and sour orange juice. El Turix is a beloved institution that attracts a long queue even in Mexico City's most upscale neighborhood.
Emilio Castelar 212, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City
Food tours & tastings in Mexico City
Eat your way through Mexico City with a guide.
Browse food experiences in Mexico CityWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Tacos al pastor
Chile- and achiote-marinated pork roasted on a vertical trompo spit, shaved thin, and served on corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. The city's most iconic street food.
Elote and esquites
Corn on the cob (elote) or corn kernels in a cup (esquites), slathered with mayonnaise, crema, cotija cheese, chile powder, and lime — sold from carts across the city, especially in parks.
Tamales
Corn masa filled with cheese, chiles, or meat, wrapped in corn husks and steamed. Sold from bicycle carts in the morning and paired with atole for a traditional breakfast.
Quesadillas
Handmade corn or flour tortillas folded over cheese, squash blossom, huitlacoche, or mushroom, then griddled or fried to order at street stalls and market comedores.
Tortas
Mexican sandwiches on telera or bolillo rolls, stuffed with carnitas, milanesa, or pastor and piled with avocado, refried beans, and pickled jalapeños.
Tacos de canasta
Small pre-made 'basket tacos' steamed in their own heat inside a covered basket, typically filled with potato, beans, or chicharrón. Sold by bicycle vendors and fixed stalls alike.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercado de San Juan
Premium gourmet market with imported cheeses, fresh seafood, Japanese ingredients
Hours: Daily 9am-8pm
Mercado Roma
Hip gourmet food hall with 90+ stalls and rooftop terrace
Hours: Daily 12pm-11pm
Mercado de la Merced
One of Latin America's largest traditional markets
Hours: Daily 7am-6pm
Mercado Jamaica
Legendary 24-hour flower market with food stalls
Hours: 24 hours
Mercado de Medellín
Neighborhood market with excellent fresh produce and prepared foods
Hours: Daily 7am-6pm
Mercado de Coyoacán
Colonial-era market in Coyoacán famous for tostadas
Hours: Daily 9am-6pm
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Comida (lunch) is the main meal in Mexico, typically eaten 2:00-5:00pm — many restaurants only open for lunch
Book fine dining restaurants (Pujol, Quintonil) 4-8 weeks in advance; they fill up fast
Street food is safe and delicious — look for busy stalls with high turnover
Tipping: 10-15% at restaurants; 5-10 MXN per taco at street stalls is appreciated
Many markets and street stalls are cash only
The Mexico City food scene is one of the world's best — explore beyond tacos
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |