Mole poblano
Photo: jay galvin · CC BY 2.0

A complex Puebla-rooted sauce of 20-plus ingredients including chiles anchos, mulatos, pasilla and chipotle, almonds, peanuts, sesame, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, anise, plantain and Mexican chocolate.

Mole poblano was created in the 17th century by the nuns of the Convento de Santa Rosa in Puebla, when Sor Andrea de la Asuncion is said to have invented the dish to honour the visiting Archbishop. The Puebla original recipe runs about 30 ingredients and takes a day to make. The dish migrated to Mexico City through the colonial era and is now the canonical Sunday lunch across the capital. Azul Historico, Nicos and Cafe de Tacuba run some of the city's most respected versions.

4 editor picks for Mole poblano in Mexico City, ranked by editorial score. All Mexico City signature dishes · Mole poblano across every city.

Also in: Puebla, San Antonio.

Nicos ★ 4.6

$$$Traditional MexicanAzcapotzalco

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 Cardenal ★ 4.6

$$Traditional MexicanCentro Historico

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.

Azul Historico ★ 4.4

$$$Traditional MexicanCentro Historico

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.

Cafe de Tacuba ★ 4.3

$$Traditional MexicanCentro Historico

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.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Mole poblano makes more sense with someone from Mexico City explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

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