El Tizoncito in Mexico City is the 1966 Condesa taqueria on Tamaulipas that claims to have invented the modern tacos al pastor served on a small corn tortilla with pineapple shaved from the trompo.
Must order: Four tacos al pastor con pina; a side of grilled green onions.
Tip: The Tamaulipas original holds the strictest quality control; the sister branches scattered across Polanco and other neighbourhoods are looser.
Address: Tamaulipas 122, Condesa, Cuauhtemoc, 06140 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
El Califa in Mexico City is the Condesa taqueria chain on Altata since 1980, the late-night al carbon counter that runs to 04:00 and is the go-to Condesa post-bar stop.
Try: Tacos al carbon
Order: Tres tacos campechanos; one taco gaonera; a side of esquites.
Tip: Late night runs hot; the Altata flagship has the longest hours. El Califa de Leon on San Cosme is the sibling that earned a 2024 Michelin star.
El Vilsito in Mexico City is the Narvarte mechanic shop by day and taqueria by night on Peten, a Bib Gourmand spot where the al pastor trompo fires up at 19:00 and runs past 03:00.
Try: Tacos al pastor (night shift trompo)
Order: Five tacos al pastor with the house green and red salsas; a Coca-Cola in a glass bottle.
Tip: Open evenings only; the queue is real after midnight Friday and Saturday. Cash; metro Eugenia is the easiest arrival.
Los Cocuyos in Mexico City is the 24-hour Centro Historico taqueria on Bolivar since 1980, the Bib Gourmand counter known for melting suadero, longaniza, tripa and the after-cantina crowd.
Try: Suadero and tripa tacos
Order: Three suadero tacos with both salsas; a campechano (mixed suadero and longaniza).
Tip: Open 24 hours; a second annex three doors down has tables and is the quieter option after midnight.
El Califa in Mexico City is the Condesa taqueria chain on Altata since 1980, the late-night al carbon counter that runs to 04:00 and is the go-to Condesa post-bar stop.
Try: Tacos al carbon
Order: Tres tacos campechanos; one taco gaonera; a side of esquites.
Tip: Late night runs hot; the Altata flagship has the longest hours. El Califa de Leon on San Cosme is the sibling that earned a 2024 Michelin star.
Tacos El Califa de Leon in Mexico City is the San Rafael trompo-cut taqueria on Ribera de San Cosme, the world's first taqueria to earn a Michelin star in the 2024 Mexico guide.
Try: Taco gaonera
Order: The taco gaonera; the taco al pastor; the green and red house salsas.
Tip: Tiny standing counter; lines run two hours since the Michelin star landed. Cash only. Open lunch and into the evening.
Tlacoyos Dona Jose in Mexico City is the Roma Norte breakfast comal on Cordoba, the comal-griddle counter that puts out blue-corn tlacoyos filled with frijol or haba most weekday mornings.
Try: Tlacoyos
Order: Two tlacoyos de haba topped with nopales, queso fresco and salsa verde.
Tip: Cash only and weekday mornings only; the queue forms around 09:00 with neighbourhood regulars. Last sale is when the masa runs out.
Tamales Dona Emi in Mexico City is the Roma Norte morning tamal cart on the corner of Alvaro Obregon and Cordoba, the weekday breakfast stand that wraps verde, rojo, mole and sweet tamales by 11:00.
Try: Tamales and atole
Order: A guajolota (tamal in a torta) with atole de fresa; one tamal mole on the side.
Tip: Open until the masa is gone, usually by noon. Cash only; the regulars start queueing at 07:30 on weekdays.
