When you think of street food tours in Mexico City, thoughts of wandering around bustling markets and taquerias come to mind. But did you know that there are over 350 neighborhoods in the Mexican capital? Seeing them all on foot is impossible, and hiring a car or taking public transport is out of the question due to the traffic. However, there is another way to discover the most authentic boroughs in town: venturing on a bicycle!
This mode of transportation allows you to cover more distance and arrive at foodie hotspots that hardly any travelers know about. Locals love using a good old-fashioned bike to get from a to b – whether that’s to catch up with friends at the park or ride to their favorite restaurant on the other side of the city. CDMX, as Mexico City is otherwise called, is a fast-paced metropolis where people are always on the go. For that reason, street food is a big part of the culture. No matter the time, a taco or tamale is waiting!
Not all food is sold on the streets though. Because chefs from all corners of the country and globe flock to the city to share their innovative cuisines, everything from fondas (family-run restaurants serving home-style Mexican cooking) to high-end Japanese establishments can be found. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy, regardless of the mood or occasion!
Why Book with Food Hood Tours
If you like the idea of immersing yourself in the authentic culture and flamboyant gastronomy of Mexico City, then we highly recommend booking one of the incredible street food tours with Food Hood Tours. They take you on small group bike trips to places well off the typical tourist-trail where you can savor the most delicious flavors of Mexico. With more than 200 5-star reviews on Google and Tripadvisor, customers are continually delighted by the overall experience that Food Hood Tours provide!
The team consisting of Fer, Rigo, Mayito and Rulo (nicknames for Fernando, Rodrigo, Mario and Raul) are all locals from CDMX and are passionate about the city’s street food. With one of these friendly chaps as your guide, you will be able to tap into their wide range of interests which go well beyond food. The crew are also cycling enthusiasts, story-tellers, art and music lovers, nature-junkies and social butterflies – they love meeting new people from around the world and showing them a different side to CDMX.
On one of their tours you will get the opportunity to visit green parks, taste explosively good food at the stalls and stands, make new friends, learn fascinating facts about CDMX and see the locals go about their daily lives. The routes introduce you to hidden corners of the city where you can feast on delectable dishes that aren’t just limited to tacos. Below we cover the main tours with Food Hood and explain what makes each one so special.
Best Street Food Tours in Mexico City
1. Mexico is Not Only Tacos
This five hour tour, which can be done in either English or Spanish, takes you across 8 miles on comfortable and safe cruiser bikes. As the name suggests, all sorts of goodies are on the menu including quesadillas, tlacoyos, churros and micheladas. It begins in the Condesa neighborhood, known for its chic vibe with trees lining the avenues. The first stop is at a favorite local bakery for a dose of coffee and pan dulce. After the caffeine has kicked in, the group cycles through the hipster neighborhood of Roma.
There are some stunning public spaces to be checked out in Roma, but the highlight here is definitely sampling the mouthwatering tamales and heading inside a traditional market to pick up sweet treats. Then it’s back to Condesa to soak up the peaceful atmosphere of Parque Mexico and try even more scrumptious bites. Next on the itinerary is Chapultepec Forest which is home to impressive castles and city viewpoints. This stop gives you the chance to hear about Mexico City’s complex and intriguing history.
The cherry on top is eating churros at a famous churreria, before returning to Condesa for a drink at Parque Mexico – usually a michelada or mezcalita, two signature cocktails of Mexico. It’s important to remember that every type of diet can be catered for and the experience is all-inclusive. The tour includes food and drink, bike and helmet, and tour guide. You might just want to bring some cash in order to buy extras or tip the fantastic guides!
2. Mexico City Off the Beaten Track
What sets the Mexico City Off the Beaten Track tour apart is visiting two historic and overlooked neighborhoods: Santa Maria la Ribera and San Rafael. The tour is similar in duration and distance to the one mentioned above, but it dives deeper into the hidden gems of the city. As you explore these colonias by bike, historical tales and the local life unfold before your very eyes. Like all great mornings, the journey starts with a coffee and pastry while everyone in the group gets acquainted with each other.
The first neighborhood is San Rafael and the first major stop is at a street food stand popular with the locals. Enjoying a bite to eat as you take in the stunning architecture around you sets the tone for the day. Afterwards, you continue on to Santa Maria la Ribera to check out the main monument and take plenty of photos. On the food front in Santa Maria la Ribera, you will be sitting down in a restaurant to try the most traditional dish from Oaxaca – a southern state regarded as the culinary capital of Mexico.
Although you may be full, hopefully you have room to gulp down the ancestral drink called pulque on the next stop. Since pulque has alcohol in it, a light buzz will give you the energy to cycle to the final destination which is for a refreshing michelada. Capping off the tour by sharing a couple of cocktails with the group is a great way to make new friends. Who knows, you might be able to link up with them again in CDMX!
3. Night Street Food Bike Tour
Mexico City is a different beast at night, especially when it comes to food. The bright lights, in combination with the tour guide, lead you on your bike to one epic grazing session after another. Condesa is the first point of interest where you will munch on hearty tacos al pastor (Mexican-style pork tacos) and sip on classic “Mexican water” (pulque). Roma comes into frame next and in the evening this neighborhood has a different feel to it. The streets are busy with people absorbing the artsy and bohemian ambiance.
In Roma, guests swing by one of Food Hood’s favorite taco shops. They create tacos that mix Mexican flair with foreign styles. The end result is a fusion of flavor that never leaves the tongue! Once the tacos have settled, the group continues to the main avenue of Roma – Reforma. Here, elote (corn) gives you a taste of real Mexican street food. As if the night couldn’t get any better, your guide brings you back to Condesa to eat quesadillas with Oaxaca cheese and sour cream. Of course, there is time for a beer too!
The Night Street Food Bike Tour starts at 18:00 pm and lasts for 3.5 hours. It covers less distance than the day tours but the cycling is no less thrilling. The reason for the shorter duration is that travelers are likely to be tired from their day trips in the city or surroundings (like to Teotihuacan), so it might not be feasible to cycle for six hours at night after having walked for hours during the day. This tour is also perfect for those short on time who only have one night available to inspect Mexico City’s foodie culture.
Tips for Eating Street Food in Mexico City
- Take Care with your Belongings and Personal Safety: Mexico City is like any other concrete jungle on the planet. Some districts are extremely safe while others are quite dangerous. If you are heading to an edgy area, it’s best to go during the day and not bring any valuables that make you a target. Booking tours with Food Hood gives you that extra protection just in case things go wrong (which is very unlikely to happen anyway).
- Eat Spicy but Be Careful: You can’t travel all the way to Mexico and not eat spicy food. That would be like visiting Italy and not ordering pizza or pasta! That being said, you need to ease into the various chiles and salsas. As a general rule, if a local tells you the dish or sauce is spicy – believe them. You don’t want to be stuck on the toilet for days after making a fatal error. Gradually move from mild to medium until you are comfortable.
- Don’t Just Stick to Tacos: Yes, tacos are phenomenal but by no means are they the be all and end all of Mexican cuisine. Try eating a broad range of dishes on your visit to Mexico City such as chiles en nogada, esquites, enjitomatadas, huevos divorciados and pozole verde. If you love the western-style Mexican food served at home then you will absolutely fall head over heels for the authentic version in CDMX. This city is a culinary powerhouse and you will never forget your foodie adventures here!
