57 editor picks in Mexico City.
57 mexican places in Mexico City we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Mexico City | Mexican across every city.
Mexican cooking in the capital runs the full range, from heirloom-corn fondas to the seafood houses and the modern Roma Norte rooms. Contramar leads the seafood end and Rosetta the Mexican-Italian table, both in Roma Norte, with Maximo Bistrot nearby for French-inflected Mexican. The traditional line holds strong at El Cardenal, Cafe de Tacuba and Azul Historico in Centro Historico, while Nicos in Azcapotzalco and Fonda Margarita in Del Valle keep the long-running fonda tradition.
Contramar in Mexico City is Gabriela Camara's lunch-only Durango Street seafood room in Roma Norte since 1998, the kitchen that made the tuna tostada Mexico.
OrderThe tuna tostada and the pescado a la talla, split red and green down the middle.
TipOpen lunch only; arrive by 13:00 or expect a 45 minute wait. Half the dining room books out for the same lunch every Wednesday.
Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, the seasonal Mexican kitchen with a French.
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu; whatever vegetable arrives that morning from the chef's farm.
TipClosed Mondays; book three weeks ahead. The taller dining room moved to Alvaro Obregon in 2021 from the original Tonala location.
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen where Italian technique meets Mexican.
OrderThe hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
TipClosed Sundays; sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas. Reygadas was named World's Best Female Chef 2023.
Em in Mexico City is chef Luis Lucho Martinez's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte tasting room on Tonala, the contemporary Mexican kitchen with Japanese.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the wagyu carnitas course is the room's signature.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays; tasting menu only. Book three weeks ahead via OpenTable. Originally opened as Emilia in 2018 before relocating.
Sud 777 in Mexico City is chef Edgar Nunez's one-Michelin-star Pedregal room on Boulevard de la Luz, the vegetable-driven Mexican kitchen with a 12-course.
OrderThe 12-course tasting; the garden vegetable course built from the on-site greenhouse.
TipClosed Sundays; book three weeks ahead. Worth the ride south from Polanco for the courtyard dining room and the in-house farm.
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, the kitchen that bridges Mexican.
OrderThe garam masala mole; the plantain dosa to start.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays; the room is small and books out a week ahead via Resy.
Lardo in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' all-day Condesa room on Agustin Melgar, the Mediterranean wood-fired sister of Rosetta opened in 2015.
OrderThe wood-fired flatbread of the day; the brunch eggs with Roma garden tomatoes.
TipOpen all day from breakfast; the corner-window two-tops fill first. Walks-ins land best at 11:00 weekdays.
El Cardenal in Mexico City is the Briz family's 1969 Centro Historico room on Palma, the traditional Mexican breakfast institution where hot chocolate.
OrderThe hot chocolate with pan de nata; chiles en nogada when in season July to September.
TipOpen 08:00-18:00; the Centro location seats four floors and still queues by 09:30 on Sunday morning.
Cafe de Tacuba in Mexico City is the Mollinedo family's 1912 Centro Historico room on Tacuba, the colonial-palace dining hall that defines traditional.
OrderThe enchiladas de mole; the tamales served with hot chocolate.
TipOpen daily 08:00-23:00. The Sunday strolling student trio singing Aztec songs starts around 13:00; mariachi runs evenings.
Loma Linda in Mexico City is the 1924 Mexican steakhouse that claims first-charcoal-grill credit in the capital, with the Plaza Carso branch on Lago Zurich.
OrderThe cabreria; the molcajete-grilled arrachera with handmade tortillas.
TipPlaza Carso location runs daily 13:00-23:30; the original Avenida Insurgentes Sur branch is the older sister.
Azul Historico in Mexico City is chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita's traditional Mexican kitchen inside the courtyard of the Downtown Mexico hotel on Isabel la.
OrderThe mole negro from Oaxaca; the cochinita pibil tacos.
TipSit in the open courtyard under the Indian laurel; ask for the table closest to the fountain. Brunch lasts till 17:00 weekends.
El Bajio in Mexico City is chef Carmen Titita Ramirez's Veracruz-rooted regional Mexican kitchen with locations across the city, with the Polanco branch.
OrderThe carnitas; the empanadas de platano with frijoles refritos.
TipOpen daily 09:00-22:00; the Azcapotzalco original opened 1972 and is the deeper room for connoisseurs.
Nicos in Mexico City is Gerardo Vazquez Lugo's family-run Azcapotzalco room on Cuitlahuac, the traditional Mexican kitchen ranked on the Latin America 50.
OrderThe mole almendrado; the sopa seca de natas, a layered creamy casserole.
TipClosed Sunday dinner and Monday; the slow-cooked moles are the move at lunch. Worth the cab from Polanco for the home-cooking depth.
El Hidalguense in Mexico City is the Roma Sur weekend-only barbacoa pit on Campeche, the Hidalgo-style maguey-pit lamb that fills the room from Friday.
OrderThe barbacoa de borrego with consomé; the pancita stew on the side.
TipOpen Friday to Sunday only, 07:00-18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out by noon.
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is chef Jesus Salas' tiny no-reservations heirloom-corn counter on Yucatan in Roma Norte, the kitchen that built its name.
OrderWhatever the daily handwritten menu lists; the blue-corn tlacoyo with squash blossoms.
TipNo reservations; only ten counter seats. Open Wed-Sun 13:00-19:00; arrive at opening and bring cash.
San Angel Inn in Mexico City is the 1692 hacienda turned restaurant on Diego Rivera, a courtyard-and-garden colonial room in San Angel where the Margarita.
OrderChiles en nogada when in season July to September; the sopa de tortilla year round.
TipThe patio is the seat; book two weeks ahead for Saturday lunch under the bougainvillea. Mariachi runs Sunday afternoon.
Los Danzantes in Mexico City is the Coyoacan plaza-side Oaxacan kitchen on Jardin del Centenario, the room that pairs house-distilled Los Danzantes mezcal.
OrderThe mole negro with chicken; a flight of the house Espadin, Tobala and Madrecuixe mezcales.
TipTerrace seats face the plaza but get loud weekends; the upstairs interior is the quieter move. Open daily.
Merotoro in Mexico City is chef Jair Tellez's Condesa kitchen on Amsterdam, the Baja-California-rooted room that put Ensenada produce on the Mexico City.
OrderThe whole grilled fish for two; the seasonal Valle de Guadalupe wine list.
TipClosed Sundays; the high counter seats face the open kitchen and book first.
Contramar in Mexico City is the Gabriela Camara-run Durango Street seafood room in Roma Norte since 1998, the lunch-only kitchen that built its name.
OrderThe tuna tostada and the pescado a la talla, half red half green down the middle.
TipOpen lunch only; lines start at 13:00. Walk-ins land easier on Mondays than mid-week.
Lardo in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' Condesa room on Agustin Melgar since 2015, the Mediterranean wood-fired sister of Rosetta, open from breakfast.
OrderThe wood-fired flatbread of the day; the brunch eggs with Roma garden tomatoes.
TipOpen from breakfast; the corner-window two-tops fill first. Walks-ins easier at 11:00 weekdays than 14:00.
Meroma in Mexico City is Mercedes Bernal and Rodney Cusic's Roma Norte room on Calle Colima 150, a converted 1980s motel with oval windows and a rooftop.
OrderThe wood-fired short rib; a pasta plate; a cocktail on the rooftop terrace at golden hour.
TipClosed Mondays. Book ahead via OpenTable for the rooftop. The seasonal tasting changes monthly.
El Cardenal Centro in Mexico City is the Briz family's 1969 Centro Historico breakfast room on Palma, the Sunday-morning institution where hot chocolate.
OrderThe hot chocolate with pan de nata; chiles en nogada in season.
TipSunday brunch fills by 09:30; arrive at opening at 08:00 to avoid the wait. Three other branches across the city.
Azul Condesa in Mexico City is chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita's Condesa room on Nuevo Leon, the regional Mexican kitchen that tours a different Mexican state.
OrderThe mole negro de Oaxaca; whichever state is featured that month.
TipClosed Sunday dinner; the rotating monthly menu is announced on Instagram. Daughter of Azul Historico in Centro.
Fonda Margarita in Mexico City is the Del Valle morning fonda on Adolfo Prieto since 1948, the open-air breakfast counter that has fed cabbies.
OrderHuevos con chorizo; frijoles refritos con asiento; chilaquiles verdes.
TipOpen Tue-Sun 06:30-12:00, closed Mondays. Arrive before 09:00 or expect a 30 minute wait on the street.
Cafe de Tacuba in Mexico City is the Mollinedo family's 1912 Centro Historico room on Tacuba, the 17th-century palace dining hall that runs every traditional.
OrderEnchiladas de mole verde; tamales served with frothy chocolate caliente.
TipDaily 08:00-23:00; the strolling student trio on Sunday afternoons is the move for the room's full character.
Molino El Pujol in Mexico City is Enrique Olvera's Condesa heirloom-corn cafe on Sinaloa, the daytime molino that grinds native maize for tlacoyos.
OrderA tlacoyo de haba; a quesadilla de masa azul de huitlacoche; a torta of the day.
TipOpen daily 08:00-18:00. The blue-corn tortillas to take home are sold in stacks at the counter; the public is welcome to watch the milling.
Los Danzantes in Mexico City is the Coyoacan Jardin del Centenario Oaxacan kitchen, the plaza-side room that pairs house-distilled Los Danzantes mezcal.
OrderMole negro with chicken; a flight of the house Espadin, Tobala and Madrecuixe mezcales.
TipTerrace seats face the plaza but get loud weekends; the upstairs interior is the quieter move.
San Angel Inn in Mexico City is the 1692 hacienda turned restaurant on Diego Rivera, a courtyard-and-garden colonial room where the Margarita Sabra anchors.
OrderChiles en nogada (July to September); sopa de tortilla year round; the Margarita Sabra.
TipBook two weeks ahead for Saturday lunch on the patio. Mariachi runs Sunday afternoon.
El Bajio in Mexico City is chef Carmen Titita Ramirez's Veracruz-rooted regional Mexican kitchen with the Polanco branch on Alejandro Dumas.
OrderCarnitas; empanadas de platano relleno de frijol; tamal de mole.
TipOpen daily 09:00-22:00. The Azcapotzalco original is the deeper room for Veracruz regional depth.
El Parnita in Mexico City is the Roma Norte antojitos kitchen on Yucatan since 2010, a casual modern Mexican room with hand-rolled tortillas and a tight.
OrderTacos de pescado al chipotle; pulpo a la brasa; the tamal of the day.
TipClosed Sundays. Lunch service runs the heaviest; the patio is dog friendly. Walks-ins land most days.
El Hidalguense in Mexico City is the Roma Sur weekend barbacoa pit on Campeche, the maguey-pit lamb that fills the room from Friday through Sunday morning.
OrderBarbacoa de borrego with consomé and pancita on the side.
TipOpen Friday to Sunday only, 07:00-18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out before noon.
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is chef Jesus Salas' tiny no-reservations heirloom-corn counter in Roma Norte, the kitchen that built its name on native masa.
OrderThe daily handwritten menu; the blue-corn tlacoyo with squash blossoms.
TipTen counter seats; no reservations. Open Wed-Sun 13:00-19:00; arrive at opening with cash.
Casa de Tono in Mexico City is the citywide pozole and antojitos chain that opens daily and hands out free atole de arroz at the door; the Londres branch.
OrderA bowl of pozole blanco with all the garnishes; a tostada de tinga on the side.
TipOpen 24 hours at many branches; cash and card accepted. A reliable late-night pozole stop after a long Roma or Centro night.
Fonda Fina in Mexico City is the Roma Norte modern fonda on Medellin from chef Juan Cabrera, a daytime Mexican kitchen that updates traditional Mexico City.
OrderSopa de mariscos; whichever guisado fills the chef's plate that day; the daily mole.
TipLunch is the move; the dining room runs more festively on Saturdays. Closed Monday.
Azul Historico in Mexico City is chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita's Centro Historico courtyard kitchen at the Downtown Mexico hotel, the regional Mexican mole.
OrderMole negro from Oaxaca; cochinita pibil tacos; an agua fresca de la temporada.
TipThe open courtyard table closest to the fountain is the seat; brunch lasts till 17:00 weekends. Walk-ins land most weekdays.
Maque in Mexico City is the Condesa morning room on Ozuluama that pairs handmade pan dulce with chilaquiles and huevos divorciados, a regular Sunday brunch.
OrderChilaquiles verdes with chicken; a concha de vainilla; cafe de olla.
TipDaily 07:30-22:00. Walks-ins fill by 09:30 Sunday; arrive earlier or expect a 30 minute wait for the patio.
Sud 777 in Mexico City is Edgar Nunez's one-Michelin-star Pedregal kitchen on Boulevard de la Luz, the 12-course vegetable-driven Mexican tasting menu opened.
OrderThe 12-course tasting; the cactus and corn course from the in-house garden.
TipClosed Sundays; worth the cab south from Polanco for the courtyard dining and the kitchen garden.
Em in Mexico City is chef Lucho Martinez's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte tasting room on Tonala, a contemporary Mexican kitchen with Japanese fermentation.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the smoked-fish course is the signature.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays; tasting menu only. The 12-seat counter is the room.
Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, seasonal Mexican cooking with French bistro.
OrderThe seasonal tasting; whatever vegetable arrived that morning from the farm.
TipClosed Mondays; the dining room moved to the larger Alvaro Obregon space in 2021. Book three weeks ahead.
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen that earned the World's Best Female.
OrderThe hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
TipClosed Sundays; book the second-floor balcony tables. Sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas.
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, a kitchen that bridges Mexican.
OrderThe garam masala mole; the plantain dosa.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays; lunch only Sundays. Small dining room books out two weeks ahead via Resy.
Merotoro in Mexico City is chef Jair Tellez's Condesa room on Amsterdam, the Baja-California-rooted kitchen ranked on the Latin America 50 Best list.
OrderThe whole grilled fish for two; a Valle de Guadalupe bottle from the wine list.
TipClosed Sundays; the bar counter facing the open kitchen books first.
Nicos in Mexico City is chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo's family-run Azcapotzalco kitchen on Cuitlahuac, the slow-cook Mexican room ranked on the Latin America 50.
OrderThe mole almendrado; the sopa seca de natas casserole.
TipClosed Sunday dinner and Monday; lunch is when the slow-cooked moles peak.
Alcalde in Mexico City is chef Paco Ruano's Polanco room on Masaryk, the Guadalajara-import tasting kitchen that brought modern Jalisco cooking.
OrderThe seasonal tasting; the chile en nogada when in season July to September.
TipClosed Sundays. The bar pours strong Mexican wine and mezcal; the open kitchen seats are the move.
El Tajin in Mexico City is the Centro Veracruzano Mexican kitchen inside the Centro Veracruzano on Miguel Angel de Quevedo in Coyoacan, the room.
OrderThe arroz a la tumbada; the mole xiqueño.
TipClosed Sundays after lunch. The garden patio is the seat; the Veracruz seafood menu changes weekly.
Casa de Tono in Mexico City is the 24-hour pozole and antojitos chain; the Londres Juarez branch runs full service through the night with hot pozole at 03:00.
OrderPozole blanco
Salon Tenampa in Mexico City is the 1925 Plaza Garibaldi mariachi cantina that runs daily till 03:00, the antojitos and tequila room with live mariachi.
OrderCantina antojitos with mariachi
El Hidalguense in Mexico City: Weekend-only Roma Sur barbacoa pit from Hidalgo state, off the tourist map and out of consome by noon Sunday.
TipOpen Friday to Sunday only, 07:00-18:00; arrive by 09:30 Sunday before the consome runs out.
Cafe Avellaneda is seven-seat no-laptop coyoacan espresso bar on higuera that pulls some of the most precise mexican single-origin shots in the city.
TipThe room is no-laptop; arrive for an espresso flight and a conversation with barista Geovanni Salas.
Centro tortas counter on Luis Moya since 1992 from wrestler Super Astro Jr's family; 1.5kg Torta Gladiador free if finished in 15 minutes, lucha-libre decor.
TipClosed Sundays; the Gladiador is free if you finish it in 15 minutes. The walls are covered in lucha libre masks.
Roma Norte mezcaleria on Calle Cordoba serving small-batch Oaxacan agaves with antojito plates; intimate room, tahona-crushed espadin and tobala bottles.
TipThu-Sun 09:00-15:00 only; arrive at opening or call ahead. The loaves sell out by 13:00.
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.
OrderPierna torta with queso Oaxaca
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.
OrderHuevos con chorizo with beans
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.
OrderTwo tostadas de tinga and pata
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.
OrderPozole blanco with garnishes
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.
OrderGuajolota with atole
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.
OrderTwo blue-corn tlacoyos
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