Where to eat in Mexico City: Best foods and locations

What is Mexico City food like? 

Every Mexican region has its own culinary identity, influences, and traditions, many of which are represented in Mexico City (CDMX). The most popular foods in Mexico offer a diverse combination of bright, fresh, smoky, sweet, and savory ingredients, expertly crafted into dishes that often look as amazing as they taste. 

The best part is that great food in Mexico City is available at nearly every budget, from inexpensive antojitos (smaller bites) to high-end tasting menus. If you’re traveling to Mexico City, don’t forget to get a Saily eSIM for mobile data before your trip. Staying connected can make it easier to organize your Mexico City itinerary, find nearby restaurants, check opening hours, read reviews, and use maps and translation apps while exploring the city.

Best things for food lovers to eat in Mexico City

Luckily, nearly every corner in Mexico City has food to fit just about every taste. Seafood fan? CDMX offers some of the best. Looking for vegetarian or vegan food in Mexico City? It offers excellent options for those, too. But many people find that the best food in Mexico City is often the simplest — tamales, tortas, quesadillas, tacos, and antojitos served at markets, street stalls, casual fondas serving budget-friendly, multi-course lunch specials, and neighborhood restaurants. Explore some of the best foods to try while you’re in Mexico City.

• Tacos al pastor (street food/traditional dish). Mexico City is home to dozens of taco styles, but many locals and visitors agree that tacos al pastor are the city’s most famous. Marinated pork is slow cooked on a vertical spit, shaved to order, and served in small corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, cilantro, and salsa. And if you’re vegan, you’re in luck — taco stands and restaurants across the city are increasingly offering plant-based takes on al pastor and other classic dishes.

  

• Tlacoyos (street food/vegetarian). These masa cakes are an excellent vegetarian option. They’re typically filled with beans, cheese, or fava beans, then topped with salsa, nopales (cactus paddles), onions, and cheese. They’re filling, affordable, and easy to find at markets and street stalls.

  

• Tamales (street food/traditional dish). Another famous food in Mexico City, tamales are made from corn masa filled with ingredients such as chicken, pork, mole, cheese, vegetables, or sweet fillings and then steamed in corn husks or banana leaves. In Mexico City, they’re often eaten for breakfast with atole — a traditional, warm Mexican beverage thickened with corn masa, water or milk, unrefined cane sugar, and cinnamon.

  

• Chilaquiles (traditional breakfast/vegetarian). Chilaquiles, one of the most popular breakfast dishes in Mexico City, features tortilla chips simmered in red or green salsa, then topped with crema, cheese, onion, and sometimes eggs, chicken, or beans.

  

• Tortas (street food/casual dish). A torta is a Mexican sandwich served on a crusty roll and filled with ingredients such as ham, cheese, avocado, beans, chorizo, eggs, or milanesa — a thin slice of meat dipped in beaten eggs, seasoned, coated in breadcrumbs, and shallow-fried until golden and crispy. It’s a must-try food in Mexico City for those looking for a filling, quick, and widely available meal. 

  

• Quesadillas (street food/often vegetarian). A typical food in Mexico City, quesadillas are made with corn masa or tortillas and filled with ingredients such as cheese, mushrooms, squash blossoms, potatoes, chicharron, or huitlacoche — a highly prized corn fungus. Just note that in Mexico City, cheese isn’t always automatically added, so ask for it if you want it.

  

• Pescado a la talla or seafood tacos (pescatarian). Mexico City may be inland, but it has excellent seafood restaurants and markets. Grilled fish, shrimp tacos, ceviche, and seafood tostadas are good options for pescatarian visitors.

  

• Halal-friendly grilled meats or vegetarian dishes. Fully halal Mexican food may be limited, but Muslim travelers can look for seafood, vegetarian dishes, or vegan restaurants. Grilled meat options may be available at some restaurants, but you may want to confirm that the preparation methods and ingredients are halal compliant.

The best food places in Mexico City

Mexico City’s food scene is largely neighborhood based, and each area has its own atmosphere. Below are a few suggestions for must-try restaurants in Mexico City by area, along with what they’re known for, key dishes, price ranges, hours, and review scores. Keep in mind that hours, pricing, and review scores can change. To be prepared, double-check the info before you head to these places.

Central Mexico City restaurants

El Cardenal. Known for traditional Mexican cooking, El Cardenal is a good choice for travelers who want a sit-down meal in the Centro Histórico rather than a quick street-food stop.

🎯 Best for: Traditional food, breakfast, families, and first-time visitors

🍽 Key dishes: Enchiladas, chilaquiles, hot chocolate, pan dulce, and seasonal Mexican dishes

📌 Address: Calle de la Palma 23, Cuauhtémoc

⏰ Hours: 8 am-6:30 pm daily 

💰 Price range: $$-$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.6/5 (Tripadvisor)

Taquería Los Cocuyos. This classic Centro Histórico taco stop is known for meat cooked in its famous bubbling “meat jacuzzi.” It’s a strong pick for budget travelers and street food lovers.

🎯 Best for: Budget and late-night eats, street food lovers

🍽 Key dishes: Suadero, campechano, longaniza, and cabeza tacos

📌 Address: Simón Bolívar 59, Cuauhtémoc

⏰ Hours: Google lists the taquería as open 24 hours daily, but other listings show 10 am-5:30 am

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.3/5 (Tripadvisor)

Azul Histórico. Located in the Centro Histórico, Azul Histórico serves traditional Mexican dishes in an atmospheric courtyard setting. It works well for travelers who want to enjoy sit-down regional Mexican dishes.

🎯 Best for: Couples, nicer lunches or dinners with traditional Mexican food

🍽 Key dishes: Mole, guacamole, duck fritters, tacos, and seasonal Mexican dishes

📌 Address: Isabel La Católica 30, Cuauhtémoc

⏰ Hours: For breakfast — Monday-Sunday 9 am-12 pm. For lunch and dinner — Monday-Sunday 1-11 pm

💰 Price range: $$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.2/5 (Tripadvisor)

Roma and Condesa food locations

Contramar. One of Mexico City’s best-known seafood restaurants, Contramar is famous for tuna tostadas and whole grilled fish served with red and green sauces. It’s ideal for pescatarian travelers, seafood lovers, and anyone looking for a lively Roma lunch.

🎯 Best for: Pescatarians, seafood lovers, long lunches, groups

🍽 Key dishes: Seafood tostadas, pescado a la talla, and ceviche

📌 Address: Durango 200, Roma Norte

⏰ Hours: Monday-Friday 12 pm-8 pm and Saturday-Sunday 11 am-8 pm. It’s recommended to book ahead.

💰 Price range: $$-$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.5/5 (Tripadvisor)

Maizajo is a corn-focused taquería, tortillería, and restaurant known for creative Mexican cooking. It’s a good fit for travelers who want traditional ingredients served in an interesting way or vegetarian-friendly options.

🎯 Best for: Taco and masa fans as well as vegetarians

🍽 Key dishes: Traditional tacos, vegetarian taco de papa con queso, corn tamal, and seasonal masa dishes

📌 Address: Fernando Montes de Oca 113

⏰ Hours: Monday-Saturday 1-11 pm and Sunday 11 am-7 pm

💰 Price range: $$-$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.0/5 (Tripadvisor)

Por Siempre Vegana is a popular vegan taco spot in Roma Norte, known for plant-based versions of classic Mexico City street food.

🎯 Best for: Vegans, vegetarians, budget eats, and casual tacos

🍽 Key dishes: Plant-based street-food plates like vegan taco al pastor

📌 Address: Corner of Manzanillo and Chiapas

⏰ Hours: Monday-Saturday 5-11 am and closed on Sunday

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.5/5 (Tripadvisor)

Polanco food locations

Pujol is one of Mexico City’s most famous two-Michelin-starred fine-dining spots, known for contemporary Mexican cuisine and its signature mole madre. It’s best for travelers who want a splurge meal and are willing to book in advance.

🎯 Best for: Fine dining, special occasions, and tasting menus

🍽 Key dishes: Mole madre, refined tacos, and seasonal Mexican dishes

📌 Address: Tennyson 133

⏰ Hours: Monday-Saturday 1-10 pm and closed on Sundays

💰 Price range: $$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.2/5 (Tripadvisor)

Quintonil. It’s another two-Michelin-starred restaurant with a set tasting menu full of contemporary dishes rooted in Mexican ingredients, herbs, vegetables, insects, tacos, tamales, and pre-Hispanic flavors. It suits travelers looking for a world-class tasting-menu experience.

🎯 Best for: Fine dining, special occasions, and adventurous eaters

🍽 Key dishes: Tasting menu, herb-forward dishes, elevated tacos, tamales, and seasonal Mexican ingredients

📌 Address: Isaac Newton 55

⏰ Hours: Monday-Saturday 1 pm-12 am and closed on Sundays

💰 Price range: $$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.3/5 (Tripadvisor)

El Bajío Polanco. A sit-down restaurant with traditional Mexican dishes, El Bajío is a good middle-ground option for families, groups, and travelers who want classic flavors without a fine-dining tasting menu.

🎯 Best for: Families and groups, traditional Mexican food, breakfast and lunch 

🍽 Key dishes: Enchiladas, mole, tamales, carnitas, and regional Mexican dishes

📌 Address: Alejandro Dumas 7

⏰ Hours: 8 am-11 pm daily

💰 Price range: $$-$$$

⭐ Review score: 4.1/5 (Tripadvisor)

Coyoacán food locations

Tostadas de Coyoacán. A famous market stall inside Mercado Coyoacán, Tostadas de Coyoacán is known for generously topped tostadas. It’s great for budget travelers, street food lovers, pescatarians, and tourists pairing lunch with a visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum (one of the many fascinating things to do in Mexico).

🎯 Best for: Budget eats, market food, pescatarians, and casual lunch

🍽 Key dishes: Shrimp, octopus, tinga, and mushroom tostadas

📌 Address: Mercado Coyoacán, Ignacio Allende 49

⏰ Hours: 11 am-6 pm daily

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.5/5 (Tripadvisor)

Café El Jarocho is a long-running Coyoacán coffee spot known for affordable coffee drinks and quick snacks. It’s not a full meal destination, but it’s useful for a coffee break after market food or museum visits.

🎯 Best for: Budget travelers, quick stops, and dessert or snack breaks

🍽 Key dishes: Coffee, café de olla-style drinks, and pastries

📌 Address: Cuauhtémoc 134, near Ignacio Allende

⏰ Hours: 6 am-12 am daily

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.0/5 (Tripadvisor)

Reforma and Zona Rosa food locations

Taquería Gabriel. A casual taco spot near Zona Rosa known for affordable Mexican quick bites, Taquería Gabriel is great for travelers staying near Reforma who want tacos without having to cross town.

🎯 Best for: Budget or late-night meals

🍽 Key dishes: Suadero and campechano-style tacos as well as salsas

📌 Address: Río Sena 87

⏰ Hours: 12 pm-1:30 am daily

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.1/5 (Tripadvisor)

El Pescadito Zona Rosa. A casual seafood spot known for fish and shrimp tacos, El Pescadito is a good choice for pescatarians, budget-conscious travelers, and anyone wanting a quick meal near Zona Rosa.

🎯 Best for: Pescatarians, seafood tacos, and casual lunch

🍽 Key dishes: Fish, shrimp, and seafood tacos

📌 Address: Estocolmo 29, Juárez

⏰ Hours: 11 am-6 pm daily

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: 4.4/5 (Tripadvisor) 

Niddo. It’s a popular brunch and comfort-food spot with all-day breakfast options — less traditional than a taquería but convenient if you’re looking for a relaxed breakfast.

🎯 Best for: Breakfast or brunch

🍽 Key dishes: Pancakes, bagels with smoked salmon, breakfast sandwiches, coffee

📌 Address: Dresde 2, Juárez

⏰ Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm, Saturday-Sunday 8 am-5:30 pm

💰 Price range: $$-$$$

⭐ Review score: 3.5/5 (Tripadvisor)

Mercado food locations in Mexico City

Mercado de San Juan. A specialty food market in Centro known for gourmet ingredients, seafood, cheeses, exotic meats, and produce. Mercado de San Juan is specifically famous for its exotic meats (crocodile, wild boar, venison, and lion) and edible insects (chapulines, scorpions, and ant eggs). It’s a favorite among chefs and serious food lovers, making it better suited to curious eaters than to travelers looking for a basic taco stop.

🎯 Best for: Adventurous eaters, food tours, seafood, gourmet ingredients

🍽 Key dishes/foods: Seafood tostadas, cheeses, charcuterie, and chapulines

📌 Address: 2ᵃ Calle de Ernesto Pugibet 21

⏰ Hours: 8 am-5 pm daily

💰 Price range: Varies by stall ($-$$$) 

⭐ Review score: Varies by stall, but overall around 4.4/5 (Tripadvisor)

Mercado de Medellín. A Roma Sur market known for produce, local food stalls, and Latin American specialties, including Cuban, Colombian, Venezuelan, and other regional foods. 

🎯Best for: Budget eats, market food, Latin American specialties, and casual lunches

🍽 Key dishes: Arepas, Cuban ice cream, Venezuelan snacks, produce, and Mexican market meals

📌 Address: Campeche 101, Roma Sur

⏰ Hours: Vary by stall

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: Overall 4.4/5 (Tripadvisor)

Mercado Coyoacán. A classic neighborhood market and one of the easiest food markets to combine with sightseeing in southern Mexico City. 

🎯 Best for: Budget travelers, street food lovers, and families

🍽 Key dishes: Tostadas, quesadillas, tamales, elotes, esquites, and aguas frescas

📌 Address: Ignacio Allende 49

⏰ Hours: Vary by stall (typically Monday-Sunday 8 am-8 pm)

💰 Price range: $

⭐ Review score: Overall 4.4/5 (Tripadvisor)

Where can I find food tours in Mexico City? The best choices for your Mexico City itinerary

Food tours are a practical way for first-time visitors to explore markets, street stalls, and neighborhood food spots with local context. Prices vary by season and platform, so check current rates before booking.

• Mexico City Historical Center food tour with 7 authentic tastings. This highly rated, small-group walking tour focuses on the Centro Histórico and tastings around central landmarks. It typically lasts about three hours and is best for first-time visitors who want to combine food, history, and sightseeing. Pricing is usually from around US$78-83 per person, depending on the booking platform.

• Polanco food tour. Also top ranking, this walking tour explores Polanco, one of Mexico City’s most polished dining neighborhoods, with five to seven food stops over about three hours. Tastings may include Oaxacan, Yucatecan, and traditional Mexican dishes, plus chocolate or ice cream desserts. It’s best for travelers who want a comfortable, upscale neighborhood food walk rather than a street-food-heavy route. Prices are commonly listed from around US$113-120 per person.

• Coyoacán Market “Stories in Every Bite” food tour. This Coyoacán-focused tour centers on the neighborhood market and nearby food stops, with around seven tastings. It includes fruit, blue corn quesadillas, tacos al pastor, cacao, ice cream, and pre-Hispanic bites like insects (optional to try). Pricing is commonly listed from around US$90 per person, depending on the booking platform.

Top street food markets to visit in Mexico City

Street food markets are central to Mexico City’s food culture and some of the best places to eat well for less. Some markets where you can please your taste buds with tacos, tostadas, tamales, quesadillas, seafood, sweets, and regional Mexican specialties include:

• Mercado de la Merced. One of Mexico City’s largest and most traditional markets, with a long history as a major hub for food commerce. It’s known for produce, dried chiles, traditional sweets, regional ingredients, comida corrida, street snacks, and dense rows of food stalls. This is a busy, intense, local-feeling market that can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, so it may be best to explore it with a guide or on a food tour.

• Mercado Jamaica. Best known as Mexico City’s major flower market, but it’s also a worthwhile food stop, especially for snacks before or after browsing the flower stalls. Visitors can find tacos, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tamales, juices, sweets, and casual fonda-style meals. The atmosphere is colorful, busy, and very local, with the flower displays adding a different feel from the city’s more food-focused markets.

If you’re looking for a truly local experience, search for tianguis (residential neighborhood open-air street markets). These rotating markets often have excellent tacos, quesadillas, tlacoyos, barbacoa, carnitas, tamales, fruit, juices, and sweets. The atmosphere varies by neighborhood, but tianguis are usually busy, casual, affordable, and deeply rooted in everyday life in Mexico City. They’re best for travelers who are comfortable navigating crowds and ordering from informal stalls.

Best restaurants and food options in the Mexico City airport 

Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), offers a wide range of food options across terminals 1 and 2, including Mexican restaurants, cafés, bakeries, fast-food options, convenience stores, bars, and grab-and-go snacks. The airport’s official food-and-beverage directory lists providers by terminal and level, but travelers should check the current listings before flying, as locations and hours can change. 

Vuela Carmela is an elevated airport restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine with Tabascan roots from chef Gabriela Ruiz. It’s a good choice if you want something more distinctive than fast food in Mexico City Airport terminal 2. Key dishes may include chilaquiles, enchiladas, fideo seco, tostadas, and other modern Mexican plates.

📌 Location: Terminal 2, sala R

🎯 Best for: Travelers with extra time, Mexican food, sit-down meals

El Fogoncito is a casual Mexican chain known for tacos al pastor, alambres, sopes, and quesadillas. It’s one of the better-known options for travelers who want airport tacos that at least partially connect with Mexico City’s street-food culture.

📌 Location: Multiple locations for food in Mexico City Airport terminal 1 and 2

🎯 Best for: Taco cravings, casual meals, travelers who want something quick and Mexican

Maison Kayser is a bakery and café selling pastries, coffee, sandwiches, salads, crepes, and lighter meals. This is a practical airport choice if you want breakfast, a snack, or a coffee break.

📌 Location: Terminal 1 and 2

🎯 Best for: Coffee, breakfast, pastries, lighter meals

Toks is a familiar Mexican casual-dining chain serving breakfast plates, chilaquiles, eggs, soups, sandwiches, and comfort-food-style meals. It’s a convenient option if you want something predictable and easy.

📌 Location: Terminal 1 and 2

🎯 Best for: Breakfast, families, simple sit-down meals

Food safety in Mexico City 

Food in Mexico City is generally safe to eat, but many seasoned travelers recommend that, when in doubt, follow the crowds — a busy stall with quick turnover is typically a safer bet than an empty one. Choose vendors who handle money and food separately, use tongs or gloves, keep raw and cooked ingredients apart, and have a clean-looking prep area. Bottled or purified water is the safest choice for drinking, and travelers should be cautious with ice, raw produce washed in tap water, and drinks that may have been mixed with unfiltered water.

If you’re eating street food, the safest choices often include dishes with meat cooked in front of you, quesadillas made fresh on the comal, tamales served hot from a steamer, tlacoyos cooked to order, and grilled elotes. Foods to be more careful with include raw salsas that have been sitting out, unpeeled raw fruit, salads, undercooked meat or seafood, lukewarm buffet food, unpasteurized dairy products, and anything from a stall that looks slow, dirty, or poorly handled. 

What Mexican food is safe for GERD?

GERD, or acid reflux, can flare up easily when you’re traveling and eating unfamiliar foods, so it’s worth knowing what to reach for in Mexico City. Triggers vary from person to person, but you may be safest sticking with grilled chicken or fish (skip any heavy spices and raw onions), soft corn tortillas, plain white or brown rice, and mild guacamole. Ask for plain grilled meat with lettuce, mild avocado, and beans. Common problem foods include spicy dishes, fried or fatty foods, citrus, tomato-based sauces, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and large meals. To play it extra safe, speak with your doctor for the final word on what you should and shouldn’t eat before you go. 

Tips for enjoying food in Mexico City 

While Mexico City is one of the best places in the world to eat, a little planning may be in order to make the experience smoother. These practical tips can help you enjoy the city’s food scene with more confidence.

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  Carry cash for street food. Many restaurants accept cards, especially in tourist-friendly neighborhoods, but small taquerías, market stalls, and street vendors may be cash only. It helps to carry small bills and coins so you can pay fast and avoid making vendors break large notes.

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  Follow basic street food etiquette. Ordering street food in Mexico City is fast paced, especially at popular stalls. Don’t block the counter while deciding, avoid touching shared toppings with your hands, and move aside once you have your food. If there are salsas, limes, onions, cilantro, or napkins on the counter, they’re usually shared for customers.

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  Tip appropriately. At sit-down places, a 10-15% tip is typically considered adequate when service is good. Tipping is also appreciated in casual cafés, at bars, for food tours, and in hotel restaurants. Street food stalls usually don’t require tips, though rounding up or leaving a small amount of change can be a nice gesture.

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  Learn a few ordering phrases. Basic Spanish can make ordering easier, especially at markets and street stalls. Helpful phrases include “¿Cuánto cuesta?” for “How much does it cost?”, “sin picante” for “without spice,” “con queso” for “with cheese,” “para llevar” for “to go,” and “la cuenta, por favor” for “the bill, please.” 

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  Go easy on the salsa at first. Mexico City salsas can be much hotter than you may expect. Try a small amount before adding a lot to your tacos, quesadillas, tlacoyos, or tostadas. If you’re sensitive to spice or acidity, ask for it on the side.

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  Use food apps for convenience. Delivery and restaurant apps can be useful if you want a low-maintenance tool to compare your options. Apps like Uber Eats, Rappi, Google Maps, and restaurant booking platforms can help you find the best restaurants, check menus, read reviews, and order food to your hotel or apartment.

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  Plan meals by neighborhood. Mexico City is enormous, so try grouping your food stops by area. For example, you may plan for tacos and traditional restaurants in Centro Histórico, trendy restaurants in Roma and Condesa, fine dining in Polanco, markets in Coyoacán, and convenient hotel-area meals near Reforma and Zona Rosa. 

💡 Pro tip: The Mexico City metro can be useful for getting around major neighborhoods and food areas, though you may still want rideshares or taxis for late-night meals or less direct routes. For broader advice on staying safe while getting around, check our Mexico City safety guide. 

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  Make reservations for popular restaurants. Well-known restaurants, especially in Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, may book up in advance. If you’re interested in a specific place, reserve a table rather than relying on a walk-in table.

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  Be open to different meal times and formats. Mexico City food culture may feel different from what you’re used to. Breakfast can be hearty, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, and dinner may be lighter or later. You’ll also find plenty of quick snacks, pastries, tacos, and antojitos throughout the day.

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  Stay connected while exploring. Reliable data helps with maps, reviews, menus, rides, and reservations. A good connection makes it easier to compare transport options in Mexico City and move between neighborhoods. Internet coverage in Mexico is fairly dependable, especially in tourist areas and popular hotel zones. That said, public Wi-Fi can leave you exposed to hackers, so a local SIM card or a travel eSIM like Saily is a safer way to stay online while you eat your way through the city.