Tortas El Cuadrilatero in Mexico City is the Centro torta counter on Luis Moya owned by Super Astro the luchador, walls covered in masks and the menu built around the kilogram Gladiador torta challenge.
Must order: The Gladiador kilogram torta if you can; otherwise the regular Pierna with chipotle and queso Oaxaca.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the Gladiador is free if you finish in 15 minutes. Cash only and arrive hungry.
Address: Luis Moya 73, Colonia Centro, Cuauhtemoc, 06050 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
El Huequito in Mexico City is the 1959 Centro Historico al pastor stand on Ayuntamiento, one of the earliest taqueria operations to plate the trompo-cut pork that defines the city's signature taco.
Try: Tacos al pastor
Order: Three tacos al pastor with the house red salsa; a pina (pineapple) agua fresca on the side.
Tip: The original Ayuntamiento alley counter is barely a window in the wall; sit-down branches now run across the city but the original counter is the relic.
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.
Tostadas Coyoacan in Mexico City is the cluster of yellow-and-orange-signed tostada stalls inside Mercado de Coyoacan on Ignacio Allende, the city's most-photographed tostada counter near the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Try: Tostadas de mariscos and tinga
Order: One tostada de pulpo; one tostada de tinga; a tostada de pata.
Tip: Arrive before 14:00 for the freshest mariscos and to avoid the post-Frida crowd. Cash only; tostadas run 60 to 90 pesos each.
El Huequito in Mexico City is the 1959 Centro Historico al pastor stand on Ayuntamiento, one of the earliest taqueria operations to plate the trompo-cut pork that defines the city's signature taco.
Try: Tacos al pastor
Order: Three tacos al pastor with the house red salsa; a pina (pineapple) agua fresca on the side.
Tip: The original Ayuntamiento alley counter is barely a window in the wall; sit-down branches now run across the city but the original counter is the relic.
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.
Try: Tacos al pastor
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.
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.
