Let’s make no bones about this, Mexico City Street Food is not only damn awesome, but is so good to be one of the best street dining cities in the world.
And it is not just me that thinks this, with best street food city lists often ranking it first, with few not placing it in the top 5. For me personally I rank the street food of Mexico City as 2nd best on planet earth, only vaguely pipped by Da Lat.
The Mexico City Street Food Scene
Mexico City doesn’t mess around when it comes to eating on the street. This isn’t a novelty or some post-COVID hipster trend. Street food here is the backbone of the entire culinary scene. It’s where you go for lunch, dinner, and that 2am snack when you’ve had one too many micheladas. Everyone eats it, from suited-up office workers to taxi drivers, to broke travellers surviving on 20 pesos and vibes. And NO, this is not the culinary abortion that is Tex-Mex.
What makes it next-level is the sheer range. One street might have a taco cart, a churro guy, a woman steaming tamales, and a guy with a cooler full of tepache. Regional food from all corners of Mexico makes its way here, Oaxacan tlayudas, Yucatán-style cochinita, even Baja-style fish tacos. It’s cheap, tasty, unapologetically greasy at times, and you never have to walk more than 50 metres for your next fix. And man they even got chicken and chips!!!
Basically, if you go hungry in Mexico City, you are the problem, not Mexico City.
Where to Get Mexico City Street Food
It’s literally everywhere, but if you want to be clever about it, here’s a few spots that always deliver.
- El Huequito – Famous for tacos al pastor since the 1950s
- Taquería Los Cocuyos – Greasy, glorious late-night suadero in the Centro Histórico
- Mercado de San Juan – For wild stuff like insects, crocodile, and gourmet ceviche
- Calle Génova, Zona Rosa – Great at night when the bars kick out
- Churros El Moro – A Mexico City institution, open 24/7, dangerously addictive
- Coyoacán Market – Tostadas, aguas frescas, and mole — a solid food crawl
- Helados Siberia – Ice cream with bizarre flavours like cheese, avocado, or tequila
- Mercado Roma – Trendy food court with craft takes on street classics
- Outside Bellas Artes – Street tlacoyos with all the toppings
- The corner near wherever you’re standing right now – Trust the guy with a crowd
Photo: bwmayo/Estudios Culturales/Alejandro García
10 Must Try Mexico City Street Food Dishes
OK, so the food here and the drink is so epic I could do a top 50 Street food Mexico City dishes. That though would be silly, so instead I will whittle it down to a mere 10.
As always we count down to 1, the best of the best.
10. Chapulines
Crunchy little grasshoppers fried with chilli and lime. Perfect bar snack and surprisingly addictive. Try not to think too hard about the legs.
9. Tostadas de Ceviche
Raw fish, lime juice, onion, tomato, and a little avocado stacked on a crispy tortilla. One of the few things here that feels vaguely healthy.
8. Tlacoyos
Thick blue corn ovals stuffed with beans or cheese, grilled then topped with cactus, cheese and salsa. You’ll feel full after one. You’ll still order two.
7. Tamales
Corn dough steamed in a husk, stuffed with pork, mole, or even raisins if you’re unlucky. Breakfast of champions.
6. Gorditas
Basically stuffed corn pockets. Like if a taco and an empanada had a baby. Expect cheese, meat, and napkins that don’t do their job.
5. Quesadillas (With or Without Cheese)
Controversial one. In Mexico City, a quesadilla doesn’t have to have cheese. I don’t make the rules, but you’re allowed to ask for it anyway. You will though look like a tourist.
4. Tacos de Suadero
Thin, rich cuts of beef cooked in fat until stupidly tender. Often served at 2am with salsa and regret.
3. Esquites
Corn kernels in a cup with mayo, chilli, cheese and lime. It shouldn’t work but it does. Very well.
2. Tacos al Pastor
Spit-roasted pork, sliced into a tortilla with pineapple and onion. The most famous taco in town for good reason.
1. Churros from El Moro
Long, sugary fried sticks dipped in thick hot chocolate. They do fancy sauces too but you don’t need them. Just get extra churros. Always.
Conclusion on Mexico City Street Food
Considering the fast pace of growth in Mexico and of course its proximity to Uncle Sam you’d thing that this street food in Mexico City would have been gentrified, but no not at all. In fact the Mexico City street food scene is so ingrained in people lives everyone from millionaires to paupers eats it.
And they pretty much have it all and done authentically. Again this is the chips and salsa shit you get in western bastardizations of the cuisine. And Mexico City is just the start! In fact no matter where you go in this country you will not struggle to eat.
I have an island near Mexico City….