Mexican-indian-east African FusionChef Norma Listman and Saqib Keval$$$$MXN 1,800juarezMon 09:00-13:00, Mon 13:30-17:00, Wed 09:00-13:00, Wed 13:30-17:00, Thu 09:00-13:00, Thu 13:30-17:00, Fri 09:00-13:00, Fri 13:30-17:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-17:00Book 2 weeks ahead
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, a kitchen that bridges Mexican.
Order: The garam masala mole; the plantain dosa.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; lunch only Sundays. Small dining room books out two weeks ahead via Resy.
Modern Baja California MexicanChef Jair Tellez$$$$MXN 1,650condesaBook 2 weeks ahead
Merotoro in Mexico City is chef Jair Tellez's Condesa room on Amsterdam, the Baja-California-rooted kitchen ranked on the Latin America 50 Best list.
Order: The whole grilled fish for two; a Valle de Guadalupe bottle from the wine list.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the bar counter facing the open kitchen books first.
Traditional MexicanChef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo$$$$MXN 1,200azcapotzalcoBook 1 week ahead
Nicos in Mexico City is chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo's family-run Azcapotzalco kitchen on Cuitlahuac, the slow-cook Mexican room ranked on the Latin America 50.
Order: The mole almendrado; the sopa seca de natas casserole.
Tip: Closed Sunday dinner and Monday; lunch is when the slow-cooked moles peak.
MexicanChef Paco Ruano$$$$MXN 2,000polancoBook 2 weeks ahead
Alcalde in Mexico City is chef Paco Ruano's Polanco room on Masaryk, the Guadalajara-import tasting kitchen that brought modern Jalisco cooking.
Order: The seasonal tasting; the chile en nogada when in season July to September.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The bar pours strong Mexican wine and mezcal; the open kitchen seats are the move.
Veracruz MexicanChef Alicia Gironella DAngeli$$$$MXN 1,400coyoacanBook 1 week ahead
El Tajin in Mexico City is the Centro Veracruzano Mexican kitchen inside the Centro Veracruzano on Miguel Angel de Quevedo in Coyoacan, the room that runs.
Order: The arroz a la tumbada; the mole xiqueño.
Tip: Closed Sundays after lunch. The garden patio is the seat; the Veracruz seafood menu changes weekly.
Contemporary MexicanChef Enrique Olvera$$$$MXN 4,500polancoBook 4 to 6 weeks ahead
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.
Order: The Mole Madre Mole Nuevo at the dining-room table; taco omakase at the bar.
Tip: Lunch is the easier service to land than dinner; the bar runs an a la carte taco omakase for walk-ins on quieter nights.