$$$$
Tasting MXN 4,500Contemporary MexicanPolancoChef Enrique Olvera
Pujol in Mexico City is Enrique Olvera's two-Michelin-star Polanco tasting room on Tennyson, the kitchen that built modern Mexican fine dining around mole.
OrderThe Mole Madre Mole Nuevo at the dining-room table; taco omakase at the bar.
Book4 to 6 weeks ahead
TipLunch is the easier service to land than dinner; the bar runs an a la carte taco omakase for walk-ins on quieter nights.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 3,900Contemporary MexicanPolancoChef Jorge Vallejo
Quintonil in Mexico City is Jorge Vallejo and Alejandra Flores' two-Michelin-star Polanco tasting room on Newton, the kitchen ranked number three.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the charred avocado tartare is the signature.
Book6 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 2,500Modern Mexican Vegetable-drivenPedregalChef Edgar Nunez
Sud 777 in Mexico City is Edgar Nunez's one-Michelin-star Pedregal kitchen on Boulevard de la Luz, the 12-course vegetable-driven Mexican tasting menu opened.
OrderThe 12-course tasting; the cactus and corn course from the in-house garden.
Book3 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays; worth the cab south from Polanco for the courtyard dining and the kitchen garden.
Em 1 ★ ★ 4.7
$$$$
Tasting MXN 2,800Contemporary Mexican With Japanese InfluenceRoma NorteChef Lucho Martinez
Em in Mexico City is chef Lucho Martinez's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte tasting room on Tonala, a contemporary Mexican kitchen with Japanese fermentation.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the smoked-fish course is the signature.
Book3 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays; tasting menu only. The 12-seat counter is the room.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 2,200Modern Mexican With French TechniqueRoma NorteChef Eduardo Lalo Garcia
Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, seasonal Mexican cooking with French bistro.
OrderThe seasonal tasting; whatever vegetable arrived that morning from the farm.
Book3 weeks ahead
TipClosed Mondays; the dining room moved to the larger Alvaro Obregon space in 2021. Book three weeks ahead.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 2,400Mexican-italianRoma NorteChef Elena Reygadas
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen that earned the World's Best Female.
OrderThe hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
Book4 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays; book the second-floor balcony tables. Sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 1,800Mexican-indian-east African FusionJuarezChef Norma Listman and Saqib Keval
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, a kitchen that bridges Mexican.
OrderThe garam masala mole; the plantain dosa.
Book2 weeks ahead
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays; lunch only Sundays. Small dining room books out two weeks ahead via Resy.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 1,650Modern Baja California MexicanCondesaChef Jair Tellez
Merotoro in Mexico City is chef Jair Tellez's Condesa room on Amsterdam, the Baja-California-rooted kitchen ranked on the Latin America 50 Best list.
OrderThe whole grilled fish for two; a Valle de Guadalupe bottle from the wine list.
Book2 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays; the bar counter facing the open kitchen books first.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 1,200Traditional MexicanAzcapotzalcoChef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo
Nicos in Mexico City is chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo's family-run Azcapotzalco kitchen on Cuitlahuac, the slow-cook Mexican room ranked on the Latin America 50.
OrderThe mole almendrado; the sopa seca de natas casserole.
Book1 week ahead
TipClosed Sunday dinner and Monday; lunch is when the slow-cooked moles peak.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 2,000MexicanPolancoChef Paco Ruano
Alcalde in Mexico City is chef Paco Ruano's Polanco room on Masaryk, the Guadalajara-import tasting kitchen that brought modern Jalisco cooking.
OrderThe seasonal tasting; the chile en nogada when in season July to September.
Book2 weeks ahead
TipClosed Sundays. The bar pours strong Mexican wine and mezcal; the open kitchen seats are the move.
$$$$
Tasting MXN 1,400Veracruz MexicanCoyoacanChef Alicia Gironella DAngeli
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.
Book1 week ahead
TipClosed Sundays after lunch. The garden patio is the seat; the Veracruz seafood menu changes weekly.