$$$$
Traditional MexicanCentro Historico
Cafe de Tacuba in Mexico City is the Mollinedo family's 1912 Centro Historico room on Tacuba, the colonial-palace dining hall that defines traditional.
OrderThe enchiladas de mole; the tamales served with hot chocolate.
TipOpen daily 08:00-23:00. The Sunday strolling student trio singing Aztec songs starts around 13:00; mariachi runs evenings.
$$$$
Mexican SteakhousePolanco
Loma Linda in Mexico City is the 1924 Mexican steakhouse that claims first-charcoal-grill credit in the capital, with the Plaza Carso branch on Lago Zurich.
OrderThe cabreria; the molcajete-grilled arrachera with handmade tortillas.
TipPlaza Carso location runs daily 13:00-23:30; the original Avenida Insurgentes Sur branch is the older sister.
$$$$
French BistroJuarez
Havre 77 in Mexico City is Eduardo Lalo Garcia's classic French bistro in Juarez, the Maximo Bistrot sister room that pours natural wine and serves a plateau.
OrderThe steak frites; the plateau de fruits de mer to share, weekend lunch only.
TipClosed Mondays.
$$$$
Traditional MexicanCentro Historico
Azul Historico in Mexico City is chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita's traditional Mexican kitchen inside the courtyard of the Downtown Mexico hotel on Isabel la.
OrderThe mole negro from Oaxaca; the cochinita pibil tacos.
TipSit in the open courtyard under the Indian laurel; ask for the table closest to the fountain. Brunch lasts till 17:00 weekends.
$$$$
Veracruz MexicanPolanco
El Bajio in Mexico City is chef Carmen Titita Ramirez's Veracruz-rooted regional Mexican kitchen with locations across the city, with the Polanco branch.
OrderThe carnitas; the empanadas de platano with frijoles refritos.
TipOpen daily 09:00-22:00; the Azcapotzalco original opened 1972 and is the deeper room for connoisseurs.
$$$$
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.