Hi guys, my name is Anais and thanks for checking out my food guide to Mexico City. I was originally born in Mexico City but moved to Cuernavaca a few years later. When I was nine years old, I came back to Mexico City. So despite this break, I have always felt that CDMX was my home.
My family and I used to travel about twice a year to a different state in Mexico when I was young. My Grandad worked as a history teacher – so the trips would usually involve a visit to a historical archaeological site. Since then, I have always loved travelling to new places and learning about them.
Food is a passion that was instilled in me as a youngster as well. Growing up, I used to help out my Grandma in the kitchen and loved to experiment at breakfast which wasn’t always a good idea to be honest. Then I decided to go to Gastronomy University to learn about food and food science.
The program was so thorough that it took five years to complete. I guess you could say I have always been committed to food. And even though I never loved working in a kitchen, I have always loved the contact with customers and talking food – which is now what I do on a daily basis.
Eclectic Food Scene of Mexico City
Mexico City is an eclectic city where there is delicious food for every single mood or occasion that you are experiencing. We are lucky to have people from all over the country cook their local dishes here in an innovative way.
We have young chefs cooking dishes with a fresh twist, there are long-standing taquerias and food stands, you can find high end Japanese, and lately lots of expats have brought over new cuisines. There is something for everyone and the scouting for new foods and restaurants never ends.
City life is fast-paced and the people are always in a rush or heading off somewhere. Street food is a really big part of the culture. You can always find a tamale around the corner no matter how early you wake up, or you can always find tacos de suadero no matter how late you are out.
And if you are looking for a sit down meal – there are tons of fondas that offer 4-course meals that start with soup and give you all the homestyle flavors. I would say anything made with corn masa is my favorite dish. The ladies at the markets are so skilled and can come up with anything.
Best Restaurants of Mexico City
Without a doubt people should try Expendio de Maiz. Their creativity surrounding all corn based products combined with seasonal ingredients is amazing. It works as an “omakase” where there is no menu and you get food selected by the chef. You keep eating until you can’t eat anymore.
Right after that people should head to the not so touristy neighborhood of Portales. Here they will find a spot called Tierra Adentro. This place is full of wholesome flavors inspired by the different regions and cuisines of Mexico.
Restaurante Sin Nombre has been a staple for locals for years. They have always served amazing food at great prices. Located in the heart of the city in a busy backstreet, this unpretentious restaurant is commonly mistaken as Oaxacan – although it’s more southern Mexican in style.
Masala y Maiz is the perfect place for a meal if you wanted something fancier. It’s relaxed yet incredibly creative. Then there is Licoreria Limantour which has been on the top 10 best bars in the world list for many years now. They are still one of my favorite spots in town for cocktails.
Another couple of fantastic places for a cocktail are Baltra Bar and the Fifty Mills Bar inside the Four Seasons Hotel. You will certainly need to have a couple of nights bar hopping in Mexico City to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
For a perfect caffeine fix the guys at Almanegra Cafe have some of the best coffee around, including an amazing nitro cold-brew and delicious pastries. If you are more of a proper sit down breakfast kind of person then Cafe Nin in the Juarez neighborhood is the ultimate choice.
Street Food of Mexico City
In between eating out at the restaurants, I recommend venturing on a food tour to try all the different street food and meals from the various markets. There are plenty of great tour companies that will take you around – for the best food tours in Mexico City head to authenticfoodquest.com. This is one of the best ways to taste the real food that locals eat on a daily basis.
Go to as many markets, street food stalls and eateries as you can. They are all unique and offer something totally different. Try the tacos at El Vilsito for amazing pastor tacos (Mexico City specialty), Fonda Margarita for a traditional breakfast and Pasteleria Ideal for a pastry-crazed experience.
Need to Know Before you Go
Anything a Mexican tells you is not spicy will definitely be spicy. So if a local tells you something is spicy, be careful! Also, salsas are meant to have some kind of heat to them. Before covering your tacos with an innocent looking salsa, try it a few times and then decide whether you can handle it.
For Mexico City itself, remember that this place is just like any other metropolis. You have to be aware of your belongings and surroundings. Traffic is insane and will make no sense as we don’t follow the rules.
CDMX is quite a green place with lots of parks, boulevards and green areas where you can relax. There is no such thing as too many tacos in Mexico City – so get ready to be surprised by every single one you try.
Thanks for reading my food guide on Mexico City. I hope it has inspired you to eat your way through one of the most amazing cities on earth! Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or would like more info.
