When I was planning my trip to Mexico City, everyone told me I'd enjoy the best foods at unique restaurants, and I did! Whether you're looking for healthy local foods, indulgent fine dining & cocktails, or budget friendly authentic street food, you'll find it--here's where to eat in Mexico City.
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Mexico City is known for world-class cuisine across a variety of cultures and price points, so there's something for everybody, whether you're looking for a Michelin star experience or traveling on a budget. From authentic Mexican street food to fusion concepts, I enjoyed a little bit of everything on my last Mexico City solo vacation--and I didn't forget dessert!
Tips for Dining in Mexico City
Most businesses are closed on Mondays, so take that into account when planning and making reservations.
Both Spanish and English are spoken widely in Mexico City but not every menu is available in English, so it's a good idea to learn a bit of Spanish and even look at the menus in advance, if possible. You can also ask your waiter to help translate or describe dishes in a pinch.
Ask for your check/bill. It's considered rude for the server to "rush" you or present the check unprompted, so just ask for la cuenta when you're ready.
Water does not come out standard with meals when dining in Mexico City. You'll need to order still, sparkling, or agua del filtro--the latter being filtered jug water.
Solo dining in Mexico City is perfectly acceptable and common, so don't feel at all embarrassed or that you must sit at the bar with a reservation for one.
Get into my guide to solo traveling for women!
8 Top Mexico City Restaurants
Here are my favorite places to eat in Mexico City, in no order other than alphabetical, with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and dessert!
Alba Cocina Local
Wondering where to eat in Juarez neighborhood? Alba Cocina Local is located in Juarez and a small and cozy farm-to-table concept offering beautifully presented dishes that emphasize local ingredients and fusion flavors. I enjoyed the heirloom tomato salad, roasted marrow, oxtail tapa, and a cocktail. Cash or card accepted.
Blanco Colima
And here's where to eat in Roma! Blanco Colima, in Roma Norte, requires reservations and can get booked up quickly so plan ahead if you want to go.
This is a great spot for date night or any nice dinner, and is upscale, so I definitely recommend getting dressed for a nice night out. I had dinner, cocktail, and dessert with incredible service and presentation for 1200 pesos.
And check out what to wear in Mexico City for different activities and sites!
Churrería El Moro
Churros are one of the best foods to eat in Mexico City, and El Moro has multiple locations throughout CDMX, so there's no excuse not to add it to your foodie itinerary. It can get busy, but there's plenty of indoor/outdoor seating and the churros are worth the wait.
I highly recommend getting cajeta and Mexican hot chocolate to dunk your churros in. This order cost me 122 pesos. Cash and cards are accepted here.
Madre Café
Madre Café is in Roma Norte and the perfect spot for brunch during your Mexico City vacation. It's very popular, so I recommend making a reservation or being patient for a potential wait time.
Despite being a busy spot, the service was great and they had lots of charming touches like mimosa bar, open kitchen, and assorted pan dulce--not complimentary. A French toast brunch with eggs, frijoles, matcha, and Topo Chico cost me 710 pesos--cash or card accepted.
Here's the travel credit card I recommend for earning points on dining for free flights!
Picnic Helados
Picnic Helados is an ice cream shop located in Coyoacan on Malintzin with a walk up window that can be easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled. The ice creams are made with natural, seasonal, local ingredients, and I highly recommend the mamey sapote sorbet, which was 55 pesos on a waffle cone--cash or card!
Here's my itinerary of the best things to do in while in Coyoacán, while you're there.
Pulqueria La Antigua Roma
Despite the name, Pulqueria la Antigua Roma is located near El Centro Historico, or Mexico City's downtown historic district. This tiny, colorful pulque spot is no frills, with a jukebox, a few places to sit, and a rotating selection of authentic pulque flavors available in different sizes.
Un vaso de pulque guayaba was 30 pesos at the time of my visit. Cash only!
Pulque is a fermented agave drink that you can only get in this region of Mexico, so it's a CDMX bucket list item for sure. If you enjoy fermented foods and drinks like kimchi or kombucha, I think you'll like it!
Street Vendors
Figuring out where to eat the best street food in Mexico City is easier when you build relationships with people who live there. Daniel put me onto this tamal after a Mexico City photoshoot and guided history tour of the Coyoacan neighborhood.
This tamal verde and a large cup of rice atole were just 40 pesos. Street vendors are typically cash only.
Taquería Orinoco
I couldn't leave without letting you know where to eat tacos in Mexico City! Located in Polanco, Taquería Orinoco served up my favorite street-style tacos of the trip, specifically tacos al pastor. And the guava hibiscus aguas fresca was top notch.
This is a great spot for solo dining and people watching in Mexico City because they have counter style seating facing the street window. It was easy to strike up conversation with another female solo traveler during dinner. They take cash or card, and a meal with three tacos and drink was under 150 pesos.
For more of my favorite tacos al pastor, check out my solo Cozumel itinerary for Los Sera's Taqueria and my solo Tulum itinerary for Antojitos La Chiapaneca!
Bonus: Mezcal Mixology Experience
While not technically a restaurant, the mezcal experience at Salón Rosario is not to be missed. Mexico City is the place for enjoying mezcal straight or mixed up in delicious cocktails, and this in-town excursion teaches you how to taste it as well as build quality drinks in a chic setting.
More Local Mezcal Experiences
More Favorite Foodie Destinations
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Now that your list of restaurants to visit in Mexico City is fleshed out, I'm wishing you a safe and delicious trip. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this guide over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
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