Anyone who know T and me, knows we love to eat and drink! Our list of places to try has long outgrown the number of meals we can consume. Mexico City has so many incredible options from my favorite, street-side mango, to extravagant tasting menus, and everything in between.  We eat everything and often joke about what a blessing that is because, quite honestly, we don’t always know exactly what we ordered (you can thank our bad Spanish and the uncommon-to-us cuts of meat for that!)

First a few thing and then my list:

Delicious food stands are everywhere and it’s hard to call out one as the best. There are lots of markets that pop up just one day a week or only on the weekends, as well as tons of individual stands on the side of the road. Anywhere that looks/smells good and has a little crowd is worth a stop!

I’ve found that food in general here isn’t that spicy but they don’t mess around w/ spicy salsa, so try a little first before loading it on.

The people who run stands and restaurants are really patient and kind with my bad Spanish, but make sure you know some of the basic phrases.

Also, carry cash in small bills for street food, vendors can’t take credit cards or break 500 pesos bills normally.

Okay enough blabbing!  Some of my very favorite stalls, restaurants and bars below!

To eat:

• Stands

• • Tacos Don Guero, on Rio Nilo – Al pastor and gringo tacos, open 24 hours.
  • Stand on corner of Colima and Merida – Quesadillas and tlacoyos, there is also a guy next to them with good Guisado style tacos.
  • Barbacoa y Consume on El Oro – Wednesdays and Saturdays only.
  • Birra Soup w/ fresh tortillas on the corner of Colima and Orizaba.
  • If you’re in Polanco, grab a panoche at El Turix.
  • All the fruit stands!
  • Def get some tamales for breakfast, there will be stands all over.

• Sit down restaurants:
  • La Docena – One of our favorite restaurants anywhere. Raw bar/seafood, tuna tostadas, oysters, giant shrimp, the best grilled veggies, and really good tequila/sangrita. They don’t take reservations, so go earlier if it’s a big group.
  • Contramar – Also seafood. Known for tuna tostadas, red and green grilled fish, and great desserts. They also make a killer michelada and good palomas. You will want a reservation!
  • Maximo Bistro – Another one of our very fav restaurants. The menu changes daily and it’s all good, just order one of everything.
  • Lalo! – Maximo Bistro’s little brother, great casual spot for breakfast or lunch.
  • Panaderia Rosetta – The best pastries! Besides the normal croissants (which are delicious) try a rol de guyaba and a bollo de romero. They’re like sweet rosemary dough balls, I love these things.
  • Cicatriz – FUN hipster natural wine bar, killer fried chicken sandwich. Closes at 11pm, so good for a few drinks and a snack earlier in the evening. They also do coffee and pastries in the morning.
  • Amaya – Natural wine, Baja cuisine, just an all around crowd pleaser. Took my parents and sister here and it was a great restaurant for our group!
  • El Pescadito – Super casual, just the best fried shrimp or fish tacos. Prob has a line, prob worth waiting in it.
  • Tres Galeones – Also super casual and a really good fish/shrimp taco. And a great michelada!
  • Taqueria Orinoco – More tacos (not seafood this time) I like the tacos chicharron.
  • Nicos, Café de Tacuba or El Cardinal – All three are all good for old school Mexican.
  • La Casa de Toño – Love this spot for pazole and flautas! It’s essentially fast food but delicious and a popular local chain – open 24/7, great for hangovers.
  • Izakaya Kura – Our favorite sushi (outside of the omakase at Rokai!)
  • Rokai – My third time trying an Omakase (one other in CDMX and one in NYC) and this is #1 so far.
  • Galanga – Really good thai food.
  • Pizza Felix – Neapolitan style pizza. The place has a backyard feel, down a little side alley off Av. Obregon.
  • Café Nin and Lardo – Go for a nicer breakfast (not that tamales on the street aren’t nice 😉 – Both are the same people as panaderia rosetta so you can get some of their the pastries, I definitely prefer Café Nin, but a lot of people rave about Lardo so figured I’d mention it as well.
  • Fonda Margarits – Classic, great fonda for breakfast. Go early.
  • El Morro – The classic churro spot!
  • La Pantera Fresca Some awesome ice cream.
• If you want a tasting menu, we like Maximo Bistrot and Quintonil over Pujol, but all three are a good experience!  Rokai is a great omakase.

Now for drinks! There are lots of options for craft beer and great cocktails. Mexico is also producing some great wine, I always look at the local options first. Also, if you like coffee, order a Carajillo after dinner. Seriously, you will not be disappointed. If they ask, you want it shakeado (shaken.)

• El Palenquito – A definite favorite for mezcal. This spot is small and chill, right next to La Docena.
• La Nacional – Love this bar! Extensive mezcal selection.
• Bosforo – Also mezcal and a great bar! Go earlier if you want some guidance from the bartenders, gets loud and busy later which is still fun, but makes it harder to ask questions about the selection.
• Pata Negra – There are multiple locations.  Solid place for drinks and tapas.
• Baltra – Small bar with fancy cocktails. I believe this is an offshoot of Limontour, so same attention to craft but in a smaller, cozier spot.
• Bar felix – Open late, good for a night cap!
• Pulqueria insurjentes – Our friend David A. showed us this spot (thanks David!) and it’s a great dive bar! Lots of nooks and crannies, live music some nights.  Go up to the roof.
• Le Tachinomi Desu – Oh gosh, another absolute favorite. Hard to explain, but it’s a tiny standing bar with sake, natural wine, the most delicious small plates.
• Hanky Panky – Speakeasy behind a taqueria, make a reso on their Facebook!
• Xaman – Kinda hidden, with a speakeasy feel. Usually has a vibey DJ and cool cocktails.
• Mama Rumba – Salsa! Live music, dancing, mojitos.
• Salon Tenampa – Mariachi, fun for a group!
• Patrick Miller – A little ridiculous, but fun. Only open on Fridays, worth going if it’s 80s/90s/00s night – they only serve beer and it’s not easy to get, so drink ahead of time.
• Liquoria Limontour – On the list for the worlds 50 best bars, not stuffy though. Good/fancy cocktails and a lively environment.
• Miralto – On the top floor of Torre Latinoamerica (It’s like going to the top of the Hancock building in Chicago, kinda cheezy.) Don’t eat here, but not a bad spot for a drink a city view!

Let me know if you have any great spots I’ve missed.

Let me finish by saying, if you are an interested and curious eater, you really can’t go wrong in Mexico City! Eat, enjoy! Buen provecho!