Best Restaurants in Mexico City — CDMX's Top Taquerías, Cantinas & Fine Dining

Mexico City is one of the great food cities of the world, in a category with Tokyo, Paris, and Lima. The depth here goes beyond famous restaurants — the city’s taco culture alone could occupy a week of dedicated eating, and the spread from market breakfast to world-class tasting menu is navigated through neighbourhoods rather than a single district. Understanding where to go for what you want is the first step.

Street Food and Budget Eating

Mexico City’s street food operates at a level rarely found in cities of this size. The best stands develop loyal customer followings over generations, and the hygiene standards at the top places are consistently good.

El Turix in Colonia Polanco (Calle Emilio Castelar 212) is one of the city’s most respected cochinita pibil operations, despite its minimal setup of a few stools and a serving counter. Tacos cost approximately MXN 30–40 each and arrive with habanero salsa and pickled onion. The line forms early and the meat typically runs out by early afternoon.

Los Cocuyos near the Zócalo on Calle Moctezuma is the city’s most famous late-night offal taquería. Tongue, brain, buche (stomach), and tripe are the specialties, served until the early hours to a mix of taxi drivers, nightclub returnees, and deliberate food tourists. Tacos run approximately MXN 25–35 each.

Tortas de Canasta are a Mexico City institution — braised pork, refried bean, or potato-filled rolls kept warm in covered baskets by bicycle vendors around Insurgentes and in the Doctores neighbourhood. Price is approximately MXN 20–30 per torta.

El Moro on Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas is a 1930s churros and chocolate institution, open 24 hours. Churros with chocolate dipping sauce cost approximately MXN 80–100 for a portion, and the tiled dining room is a piece of the city’s visual history.

Mid-Range Restaurants

Contramar in Roma Norte (Durango 200) is arguably the city’s most reliably excellent mid-range restaurant. The seafood menu is strong on raw preparations, tostadas, and the signature red-and-green grilled tuna — mains run approximately MXN 250–400 and the terrace is pleasant. Arrive early or expect a wait; they don’t take reservations.

El Cardenal (multiple locations, the original near Palacio de Bellas Artes) serves traditional Mexican breakfast and lunch in a setting that feels unchanged from the 1960s. Breakfast plates — eggs with epazote, huevos divorciados, or chilaquiles — run approximately MXN 150–300. This is the restaurant for understanding what pre-globalization CDMX eating looked like.

Mercado Roma in Roma Norte is a covered market-hall with around 60 stalls covering every major Mexican regional cuisine alongside international options. Individual dishes at stalls run approximately MXN 80–150. The mezcal bar on the upper level is good for an afternoon drink before dinner.

Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre in Merced neighbourhood has no formal sign and operates as a community restaurant and cultural space focused entirely on native Mexican corn. The daily menu changes and is explained verbally; expect masa preparations, atole, and dishes based on pre-Hispanic techniques. Plates run approximately MXN 350–600. Booking in advance is necessary and the hours are limited — check current operation before visiting.

Fine Dining

Pujol (Francisco Petrarca 254, Polanco) is the flagship of chef Enrique Olvera and consistently appears in global restaurant rankings. The omakase menu covers contemporary Mexican cuisine in 8–10 courses, with the mole madre — a mole that has been continuously cooking and feeding for years — as the centrepiece. Price is approximately MXN 2,800–3,500 per person for the tasting menu as of 2026, excluding wine and drinks. Reservations are essential and should be made weeks ahead.

Quintonil (Newton 55, Polanco) offers a more seasonal and botanically-driven approach to Mexican fine dining from chef Jorge Vallejo. Mains in à la carte service run approximately MXN 600–1,000; the tasting menu is approximately MXN 2,200–2,800. Also requires advance reservations.

Rosetta in Roma Norte occupies a restored Porfirian mansion and blends Italian and Mexican influences with high technical precision. Mains approximately MXN 400–700, with pasta dishes as the standout. More accessible booking-wise than Pujol or Quintonil.

Mezcal and Drinks

La Botica in Condesa (multiple branches) operates as a mezcal pharmacy concept — hundreds of bottles behind a counter, dispensed by the glass in pharmacy shot glasses. Mezcal pours from approximately MXN 80–200 depending on the expression. An essential stop on any evening in Condesa.

In Situ Mezcalería in Polanco curates small-batch and ancestral mezcal, with a strong focus on regional diversity. Knowledgeable staff and a calmer atmosphere than La Botica make this better for serious exploration of the spirit.

Price Guide

Level	What to expect	Approximate cost per person
Street food	Tacos, tortas, churros from vendors and market stalls	MXN 50–120
Budget sit-down	Comida corrida, market restaurants	MXN 100–200
Mid-range	Roma, Condesa restaurants with service	MXN 300–600
Fine dining	Tasting menus, Polanco	MXN 1,500–3,500+

All prices are approximate as of 2026. Most mid-range and fine dining restaurants charge a 10–15% service charge; tipping an additional 5–10% is customary for exceptional service.

Neighbourhoods by Food Type

• Tacos and street food: Tepito, Doctores, Centro Histórico near Zócalo
• Breakfast and cafés: Roma Norte around Álvaro Obregón, Condesa
• Seafood: Contramar and Mercado de Mariscos in Roma
• Fine dining: Polanco (Presidente Masaryk corridor)
• Mezcal bars: Condesa and Roma Norte
• Regional Mexican: Coyoacán market, Mercado de Medellín