Mercado de Coyoacan ★ 4.5
Mercado de Coyoacan in Mexico City is the southern neighbourhood market on Ignacio Allende near the Frida Kahlo Museum, a 350-vendor traditional market.
Sweet white corn kernels boiled with epazote and salt, served in styrofoam cups with mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chile piquin powder, fresh lime juice and the smoky depth of charred kernel.
Esquites comes from the Nahuatl izquitl (toasted corn) and dates to Pre-Hispanic Mexico, where toasted maize was the traveller's food. The modern version uses fresh white corn boiled with the wild herb epazote and finished hot with mayonnaise, cotija and chile. The dish dominates the late afternoon and early evening across Mexico City sidewalks, from cart counters in Hipodromo Condesa to market vendors in Coyoacan, Roma and Jamaica.
4 editor picks for Esquites in Mexico City, ranked by editorial score. All Mexico City signature dishes · Esquites across every city.
Esquites Don Fermin ★ 4.4
Esquites Don Fermin in Mexico City is the Hipodromo Condesa evening cart on Citlaltepetl at Insurgentes Sur, a long-running esquites stand that ladles.
OrderEsquites with mayo, cotija, chile piquin and lime; an elote on the cob to go.
TipCash only; an esquite goes for about 40 pesos. The cart is mobile; check Instagram for the night's exact corner.
Mercado de la Merced ★ 4.4
Mercado de la Merced in Mexico City is the 1957 mega-market east of the Zocalo, the largest retail market in the city with 88,000 sq m and 5,525 vendors.
Mercado Roma ★ 4.3
Mercado Roma in Mexico City is the Roma Norte gourmet food hall on Queretaro, a three-floor market with 50-plus vendors covering Mexican, Italian, Venezuelan.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Esquites makes more sense with someone from Mexico City explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Book food experiences in Mexico City
Guided tour · 4 hours
Mexico City: Roma Norte Food Walking Tour
A mouthwatering walk of contemporary Mexican food. Taste the flavors that the chefs have created at some of Colonia Roma’s best specialty restaurants, sharing their st...
from$110 Check dates
Guided tour · 5 hours
Mexico City: Authentic Downtown Food Tour
Eat and walk through Downtown Mexico City, tasting the best traditional Mexican food whilst discovering foodie secret gems.
from$115 Check dates
6 hours
Mexico City: Cooking Class & Market Tour at Casa Jacaranda
Pioneers of Mexico City's original market tour & cooking experience. Professional chefs, authentic recipes, small groups, and the hospitality that makes Casa Jacaranda...
from$235 Check dates