El Huequito ★ 4.7
El Huequito in Mexico City is the 1959 Centro Historico al pastor counter on Ayuntamiento, where three tacos with house salsa runs under 100 pesos for the city's defining street food canon.
Try: Three tacos al pastor
Eat well in Mexico City for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Cheap eats worth seeking out
Los Cocuyos ★ 4.6
Los Cocuyos in Mexico City is the 24-hour Centro taqueria on Bolivar where three tacos de suadero with cilantro and onion run under 80 pesos, served at any hour day or night.
Try: Three suadero tacos
Tortas El Cuadrilatero ★ 4.2
Tortas El Cuadrilatero in Mexico City is the Centro lucha-libre torta counter on Luis Moya, where a regular pierna torta with chipotle and queso Oaxaca runs about 110 pesos, served standing.
Try: Pierna torta with queso Oaxaca
Fonda Margarita ★ 4.5
Fonda Margarita in Mexico City is the Del Valle 1948 morning fonda where huevos con chorizo and frijoles puercos with raw-milk crema run about 120 pesos before 11:30.
Try: Huevos con chorizo with beans
Tostadas Coyoacan ★ 4.5
Tostadas Coyoacan in Mexico City is the Mercado de Coyoacan tostada stalls on Ignacio Allende where two large tostadas with tinga, pata or pulpo run about 140 pesos with a fresh agua.
Try: Two tostadas de tinga and pata
Esquites Don Fermin ★ 4.4
Esquites Don Fermin in Mexico City is the Condesa Citlaltepetl evening cart where an esquite with mayo, cotija, chile and lime runs about 50 to 60 pesos.
Try: Esquites cup with elote
El Pescadito Condesa ★ 4.3
El Pescadito in Mexico City is the Condesa Sonora-style fish-taco counter on Atlixco where two battered-fish tacos with salsa cremosa run about 130 pesos, standing room only.
Try: Two pescado capeado tacos
Casa de Tono ★ 4.0
Casa de Tono in Mexico City is the citywide pozole chain where a full bowl of pozole blanco with chicken, garnishes and a free atole de arroz runs about 130 pesos at the Londres Juarez branch and other locations.
Try: Pozole blanco with garnishes
El Vilsito ★ 4.7
El Vilsito in Mexico City is the Narvarte mechanic-shop taqueria where four tacos al pastor with consome run about 130 pesos past midnight on weekends.
Try: Four tacos al pastor
El Tizoncito ★ 4.4
El Tizoncito in Mexico City is the 1966 Condesa al pastor taqueria where four tacos with pineapple run about 140 pesos on the sidewalk tables along Tamaulipas.
Try: Four tacos al pastor with pina
Tamales Dona Emi ★ 4.2
Tamales Dona Emi in Mexico City is the Roma Norte morning corner cart where a guajolota (tamal in a torta) with atole de fresa runs about 35 pesos before 09:00.
Try: Guajolota with atole
Expendio de Maiz ★ 4.6
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is the Roma Norte heirloom-corn counter where a single blue-corn tlacoyo runs about 70 pesos, hand-pressed daily on a comal.
Try: Two blue-corn tlacoyos
Churreria El Moro ★ 4.4
Churreria El Moro in Mexico City is the 1935 24-hour Centro Historico churros counter where four hot churros with chocolate espanol run about 95 pesos, day or night.
Try: Four churros with chocolate
Budget Eats in Mexico City, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in Mexico City?
Peak food season in Mexico City is year-round.
What time do people eat in Mexico City?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in Mexico City?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in Mexico City?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Mexico City rewards trust.