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.
Mercado de Coyoacan ★ 4.5
coyoacan · Ignacio Allende S/N, Del Carmen, Coyoacan, 04100 Ciudad de Mexico
Mercado de Coyoacan in Mexico City is the southern neighbourhood market on Ignacio Allende near the Frida Kahlo Museum, a 350-vendor traditional market with the yellow-and-orange Tostadas Coyoacan stalls at its core.
Esquites Don Fermin ★ 4.4
condesa · Calle Citlaltepetl s/n esq. Av. Insurgentes Sur, Hipodromo Condesa, Cuauhtemoc, 06170 Ciudad de Mexico
Esquites Don Fermin in Mexico City is the Hipodromo Condesa evening cart on Citlaltepetl at Insurgentes Sur, a long-running esquites stand that ladles styrofoam cups past 22:00 with the classic mayo, cotija, chile piquin and lime garnish.
Mercado Roma ★ 4.3
roma-norte · Queretaro 225, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
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, Japanese and Spanish kitchens plus a rooftop biergarten.
Mercado Jamaica ★ 4.3
venustiano-carranza · Guillermo Prieto S/N, Jamaica, Venustiano Carranza, 15800 Ciudad de Mexico
Mercado Jamaica in Mexico City is the 24-hour flower-and-food market east of the Centro, the 1957 institution with 1,100 vendors selling flowers, esquites, tamales and the city's deepest fresh-flower hall.