Archives February 2022

35 Taquerias to Visit for the Best Tacos in Mexico City

The humble taco is the most iconic Mexican food. It can be enjoyed in many forms throughout Mexico, but no city offers more variety than the country’s capital – Mexico City – and it isn’t even close. This massive city is home to a staggering number of taquerias serving every type of taco you can think of.

Are you in the mood for fish tacos? The nearest ocean is over 300 km away but that won’t be a problem. Do you want tacos filled with stewed meats and vegetables? Mexico City has plenty.

If you’re feeling hungry after a night of drinking in Roma-Condesa, then you can follow your nose and stumble to the nearest al pastor or suadero stand. Chances are, you won’t have to stumble too far. In some parts of the city, they seem to exist on nearly every block.

Simply put, Mexico City is a taco lover’s paradise. You’ll be spoilt for choice in the world’s taco capital but the sheer number of options, coupled with the city’s size, can be daunting. To help narrow down your search, we’ve scoured the internet, binge-watched Taco Chronicles, and sought the opinions of locals to come up with what we believe to be 35 of the absolute best tacos in Mexico City.

If you’re planning to visit Mexico City and love this iconic street food dish as much as we do, then this list will be very useful to you.

If you’d like to go on a food tour, be sure to check out our guide to the best food and taco tours in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY TACOS QUICK LINKS

To help you with your Mexico City trip planning, we’ve put together links to popular hotels, tours, and other travel-related services here.

HOTELS

Top-rated hotels in Roma-Condesa, one of the best neighborhoods to stay for first-time visitors to Mexico City.

  • Luxury: Andaz Mexico City Condesa
  • Midrange: Casa Comtesse
  • Budget: Fungi Hostal Condesa

TOURS

  • Sightseeing Tour: Historic Downtown Walking Tour
  • Xochimilco Tour: Xochimilco & Colonial Coyoacan Trip
  • Food Tours: Mexico City Foor Tours and Cooking Classes
  • Day Trip: Teotihuacan and Tlatelolco Day Trip by Van

OTHER SERVICES

  • Travel Insurance (with COVID cover)
  • Airport Transfer
  • Mexico SIM Card

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WHAT IS A TACO?

Before we dive into the best tacos in Mexico City, let’s quickly talk about what a taco is.

A taco is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of freshly made corn tortillas topped with a variety of fillings. Taco fillings can consist of anything from spit-grilled pork to stewed meats and vegetables to pit-cooked goat to battered fish and shrimp. The possibilities truly are endless.

If you’ve never been to Mexico and have eaten your fair share of Taco Bell, then you may be in for a surprise. The crispy taco isn’t the norm here. In Mexico, tacos are typically made with soft, palm-sized corn tortillas. Some taquerias will give you the option of having them with flour tortillas, though those are usually at least twice the price.

When you order a taco in Mexico, the server will ask if you’d like it topped with onions and cilantro. In the case of the popular taco al pastor, they may ask if you’d like it topped with pineapple as well. We always get them topped with everything so we say con todo or “with everything”.

Your tacos will be served with wedges of lime, pickled onions, and one or more salsas on the side – typically green (salsa verde), red (salsa rojo), and yellow (salsa amarillo). These will vary in spice level so be sure to try them first before putting them on your taco.

To eat, you simply pick up the soft corn tortillas by hand and bite into the taco. They’re typically small enough to be eaten in two or three bites.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TACOS IN MEXICO CITY?

Tacos can be made with pretty much anything but there are probably over two dozen varieties of traditional tacos made from different cuts of meat like bistec (beef steak), costilla (ribs), lengua (tongue), and chorizo (sausage).

You can find all types of traditional tacos in Mexico City, along with non-traditional versions like Peking duck tacos and iguana tacos. Described below are some of our favorites.

Tacos al Pastor

The taco al pastor is arguably the most popular type of taco in Mexico City. It refers to a taco made with marinated pork grilled on a vertical rotisserie. It’s a cousin of the Lebanese shawarma and Greek gyros, all of which are derived from the Turkish doner kebab.

To prepare, thin slices of pork are shaved from the vertical spit and served on corn tortillas, usually with small chunks of grilled pineapple.

You won’t have trouble finding good tacos al pastor in Mexico City. Personally, our favorites are El Vilsito, Tacos Los Güeros de Boturini, and Tacos Don Güero.

Tacos de Suadero

Thanks to Taco Chronicles on Netflix, this was the one taco that I was most excited to try in Mexico City. It refers to a type of taco made with meat cut from the area between the pig or cow’s belly and leg. Unlike carnitas or barbacoa which are stringier and more muscular in texture, suadero meat is smoother and fattier in texture.

Many taquerias in Mexico City serve suadero tacos only at night. Taco Chronicles described it as a sexy, late-night taco which it absolutely is. It’s one of my favorite tacos and something that you absolutely need to try when you visit Mexico City. We’ve had it at many taquerias and our hands-down favorite is Tacos Don Juan.

We’ve visited several cities in Mexico like Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Valladolid, and San Miguel de Allende, and for some reason, suadero doesn’t seem to be as popular outside of Mexico City. Do NOT miss it!

Tacos de Guisado

Like tacos al pastor, guisado tacos are among the most common types of tacos in Mexico City. Guisado means “stew” and refers to tacos made with a variety of stewed meats and vegetables. If you’re a vegetarian and meat tacos aren’t your thing, then tacos de guisado will be your best option.

We enjoyed tacos de guisado from many taquerias in Mexico City, but out favorites are definitely Tacos Hola El Güero and Taqueria La Hortaliza.

Tacos de Cabeza

If you’re an adventurous eater, then you need to try tacos de cabeza. Like suadero tacos, they’re among my favorite types of tacos in Mexico City.

Cabeza means “head” and refers to tacos made with meat from the cow or pig’s head. Taquerias that serve tacos de cabeza will typically also serve tacos made from specific cuts of head meat like lengua (tongue), ojo (eyes), seso (brain), and cachete (cheek). You can try them at Taqueria El Borrego Viudo or at any of the taquerias along Lorenzo Boturini Street.

I understand that cabeza tacos may not be for everyone but I strongly urge you to try them. They’re delicious. The meat is usually softer than more conventional cuts of meat like bistec or costilla.

Tacos de Tripa

We love what Western society deems as the “undesirable” cuts of meat, so it’s no surprise that tacos de tripa is another of our favorites. As you can probably guess, tripa literally means “tripe” but it refers to tacos made from the small intestines of a cow, pig, or goat.

If you can get past the thought of eating animal intestines, then I think you’ll find the texture to be quite wonderful. You can enjoy tacos de tripa at Taqueria El Torito in the Centro Historico area or at any of the taquerias along Lorenzo Boturini Street.

Tacos de Pescado / Tacos de Camaron

Tacos de pescado or fish tacos are a good gateway taco for people unaccustomed to eating authentic Mexican tacos. Originally from Baja California, it consists of grilled or battered and fried fish served with lettuce or cabbage, pico de gallo, and a citrus/mayonnaise or sour cream sauce.

Tacos de camaron are very similar to tacos de pescado, but instead of fish, they’re made with shrimp. El Pescadito serves amazing tacos made from either fish or shrimp. They serve the best seafood tacos I’ve had anywhere in Mexico, and that includes Puerto Vallarta.

Tacos de Canasta

Tacos de canasta are some of the cheapest and most unique tacos you’ll find in Mexico City. They’re also among the most delicious.

Also known as tacos al vapor (steamed tacos) or tacos sudado (sweaty tacos), tacos de canasta literally means “basket tacos” and refers to tacos filled with various stews and then bathed in oil or melted butter. Unlike other types of tacos that are assembled on the spot, they’re pre-made and typically sold from baskets to keep them warm, hence the name.

Los Especiales is a great place to try basket tacos in the Centro Histórico area. If you visit Coyoacan, then we recommend trying them at the Tacos de Canasta Beto stand.

Tacos de Barbacoa

Barbacoa refers to a style of cooking meat in Mexico. Typically enjoyed on weekends, it consists of a whole sheep or goat traditionally cooked for several hours in a pit covered with agave (maguey) leaves. Like carnitas, the meat is juicy and incredibly tender.

True to the barbacoa tradition, you can enjoy tacos de barbacoa over the weekends at El Hidalguense, one of the most popular restaurants in Mexico City to try this dish.

Tacos de Carnitas

Carnitas means “little meats” and refers to a pork dish from Michoacán. It’s made with pork that’s braised or simmered in lard or oil for several hours until the meat is juicy and fork tender.

We had carnitas a few times in Mexico City and the best were definitely from La Esquina del Sabor and Tacos Don Juan. Their carnitas tacos are incredibly delicious.

Tacos de Cochinita Pibil

Like tacos de carnitas, tacos de cochinita pibil are pork tacos. Originally from the Yucatán Peninsula, they’re made from pork that’s been marinated in a strongly acidic citrus juice. The marinated meat is then wrapped in banana leaves before being slow-roasted in a píib or traditional earthen oven.

Aside from being incredibly tender and juicy, this Yucatán specialty is citrusy in flavor and known for its burnt orange color derived from annatto seeds. The dish is traditionally associated with Merida and the Yucatán Peninsula but in Mexico City, one of the most popular places to try it is at Taqueria El Turix in Polanco.

Tacos Árabes

Tacos árabes is the predecessor of the al pastor. It’s originally from Puebla, the central Mexican state and city which welcomed a wave of Lebanese immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They brought with them their shawarma-making tradition which eventually became tacos árabes.

Tacos árabes are similar to pastor except the meat is flavored with Middle Eastern spices and indigenous central Mexican ingredients. Another key difference is that the grilled pork in tacos árabes is wrapped in pita bread (pan árabe) or flour tortillas, and it isn’t served with any pineapple.

Tacos árabes are the predominant type of taco in Puebla but you can also find it in Mexico City. We tried it at Taqueria El Greco in the Condesa neighborhood.

Tacos de Birria / Quesabirria

Birria is one of the signature dishes of Jalisco state and Guadalajara. It refers to a type of Mexican stew made from a spicy slow-cooked goat meat adobo with cumin, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves.

Tacos de birria is delicious on its own, but if you really want to kick it up a notch, then you need to try quesabirria. Originally from Tijuana, it refers to a version of birria tacos made with melted cheese. It’s so incredibly tasty.

If you’re in Mexico City over the weekend, then you can enjoy the most delicious quesabirria tacos at Tacos Don Juan.

THE BEST TACOS IN MEXICO CITY

Mexico City is huge. You may need Uber to get around so to help maximize each trip, we’ve organized this list of the best tacos in Mexico City by location. Click on a link to jump to any section of the guide.

  1. Centro
  2. Condesa-Roma
  3. Polanco
  4. Coyoacan
  5. Zona Rosa
  6. Del Valle – Narvarte
  7. Tacubaya
  8. Lorenzo Boturini

CENTRO

Most if not all cities in Mexico will have a zocalo or central plaza. They say that every first-time visit to any Mexican city should start in its zocalo. So should your quest for the best tacos in Mexico City.

1. Taqueria El Torito

There were three taquerias in the Centro Historico area featured on Taco Chronicles. Taqueria El Torito was one of them. Open since 1957, this humble taqueria offers just three things on their menu – suadero, tripa, and campechano.

I’ve briefly described the first two in the previous section but campechano refers to a taco topped with a mixture of meats like carne asada (grilled beef), longaniza (pork sausage), and chicharrónes (fried pork skin).

Pictured below are suadero and tripa tacos. We recommend trying both. These were our favorite tacos in the Centro Histórico area.

Like any popular taqueria in Mexico City, you can expect a line at El Torito at any time of the day. But no worries, orders are filled quickly.

El Torito has limited counter seating so be prepared to eat your tacos while standing outside the shop. Served on plastic-covered plates, this my friends is the true Mexico City street taco experience.

Taqueria El Torito

Address: Isabel la Católica 83 Local A PB, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06090 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 10AM-10PM, Mon-Sat / 10AM-8PM, Sun
What to Order: Suadero, tripa

2. El Buen Taco

El Buen Taco was another taqueria featured on Netflix. Unlike El Torito and Los Cocuyos (#3), it’s a proper restaurant with plenty of tables and seats. They offer different types of tacos but what they’re really known for is their pastor.

On my plate below is a delicious trio of pastor tacos. At the time of my visit, each taco goes for MXN 17 but you can order a set of three for just MXN 47.

We love the street food experience but we understand it isn’t for everyone. If you’d rather eat your tacos in a more comfortable setting, then El Buen Taco is a good choice in the Centro Historico area.

El Buen Taco

Address: Dolores 16-D, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 8AM-9:30PM, Mon-Fri / 8AM-10PM, Sat-Sun
What to Order: Pastor

3. Los Cocuyos

Los Cocuyos is arguably the most famous taqueria not just in Centro Historico, but in all of Mexico City. Not only was it featured on Taco Chronicles, but the late great Anthony Bourdain once paid a visit to this 24-hour taqueria on an episode of No Reservations. Today, it’s probably the longest wait you’ll need to make for tacos in Mexico City.

Los Cocuyos offers many different types of meat tacos like campechano, longaniza, cabeza, and tripa. One of their most popular is the suadero.

On my plate below are tacos de suadero, molleja (sweetbreads), and ojo (eyes). I’m all about texture so tacos made with offal and head meat are among my favorites. I find ojo to be especially delicious. It has a soft, gelatinous texture that’s unlike any other.

Los Cocuyos has no indoor seating so be prepared to eat your tacos on plastic stools or while standing. Their tacos are good but personally, I prefer El Torito. Do try both and let us know what you think.

I didn’t time it but I must have waited over 30 minutes to get my tacos at Los Cocuyos. This was easily the most popular taqueria we visited in Mexico City so be prepared for a wait no matter what time of day you go.

Los Cocuyos

Address: Calle de Bolívar 57, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: Open 24 hrs
What to Order: Suadero, cabeza

4. Taqueria Arandas

Like Los Cocuyos, Taqueria Arandas is a popular taqueria in the Centro area. They stay open 24/7 so if you ever wake up in a cold sweat craving for tacos al pastor, then this is a good place to go. I suggest getting them with cheese.

Taqueria Arandas offers tacos de cabeza de res and carnitas tacos as well. If I remember correctly, these were topped with ojo (eye) and cachete (cheek).

Taqueria Arandas is a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice awardee. It’s one of the most popular taquerias in the Centro area so expect a crowd at peak times.

Taqueria Aranadas

Address: Av. 5 de Mayo 46, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: Open 24 hrs
What to Order: Al pastor tacos, suadero, cabeza de res

5. Los Especiales

Tacos de canasta really surprised us. We weren’t as excited to try them but they turned out to be some of our favorite tacos in Mexico City. They’re soft and tasty and offer a different experience from other types of tacos.

Los Especiales is probably the most famous basket taco place in the Centro Historico area. The wait was almost as long as Los Cocuyos so I decided to get mine to go. Unlike other tacos that are best eaten on the spot, tacos de canasta get better if you let them sit for a while.

Pictured below is a set of five assorted basket tacos, each stuffed with a different filling. Common fillings include beans, chicharrón, chorizo, and potatoes.

They gave me a plastic bag with what seemed like way too much guacamole, but as it turned out, it was just right. These basket tacos were delicious on their own but the guacamole made them that much better.

Like Los Cocuyos, Los Especiales is immensely popular so expect a wait no matter what time of day you go. They have indoor seating but if you’d rather not wait, then you can get yours to go and eat them on a bench somewhere.

Los Especiales

Address: Av Francisco I. Madero 71, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 9AM-10PM, Mon-Sat / 9AM-6PM, Sun
What to Order: Canasta

ROMA – CONDESA

The Roma-Condesa area (Roma Norte / Roma Sur / La Condesa) is one of the most pleasant neighborhoods in Mexico City. Designated as a Barrio Mágico (magical neighborhood), it’s an upscale tree-lined area with plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars, and some of the very best tacos in Mexico City.

6. Don Juan (Best Suadero Tacos)

Don Juan was easily our favorite taqueria in Mexico City. We enjoyed this place so much that we wound up eating here five times in two weeks. In our opinion, they serve some of the absolute best tacos in Mexico City.

Don Juan serves many different types of meat tacos. Everything we had was delicious but one of our favorites was definitely the suadero. We love suadero anywhere but the offerings at Don Juan were by far our favorite. Not only do they offer the most meat, but the flavor and texture was always spot on – soft and tasty with bits of fat mixed in. They’re sooo good.

On my plate below are suadero and guisado tacos. The suadero is a constant on their menu but this particular guisado, made with lengua (tongue), was a daily special. More on their specials below.

Don Juan’s suadero is plenty delicious on its own, but throw in some grilled cheese and it goes to a whole different level. Known as the suaqueso or suadero con queso, this was one of my absolute favorite tacos in Mexico City.

To prepare, shreds of quesillo are thrown on the grill before the corn tortilla with suadero is placed meat-first on top of the cheese. The taco is left on the grill for a few seconds, just enough time to melt the mozzarella-like cheese.

Gooey, stringy, and a little crispy in parts, the creamy quesillo goes so well with the suadero meat. Trust us, you NEED this suaqueso in your life. Luckily, it’s available everyday at Don Juan.

Every Friday, Don Juan serves what has to be some of the best carnitas or pork tacos in Mexico City. They’re juicy, tender, and incredibly flavorful.

If you’re in Mexico City over the weekend, then you need to head over to Don Juan to try their quesabirria tacos. Judging by how crowded the restaurant gets on Saturdays and Sundays, this has to be one of the most popular items on their menu.

Filled with juicy birria meat and coated with crispy, gooey melted cheese, this could very well be one of the very best tacos in Mexico City. It’s insanely delicious.

Make sure to come early because they do run out of these quesabirria beauties. We got these two and then ordered a third, which turned out to be their last one. Lucky us!

This is the line at Don Juan on a regular day. On Saturdays and Sundays, it gets even more crowded. They only have a few seats but trust us, these are tacos worth waiting and standing for.

Don Juan

Address: Calle Juan Escutia 35, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 10AM-4:45PM, Mon-Fri / 10AM-3PM, Sat-Sun
What to Order: Suadero, quesabirria, carnitas

7. El Pescadito (The Best Fish Tacos!)

Located across the street from Don Juan is El Pescadito, a taqueria that serves some of the best Baja-style seafood tacos in Mexico City. Not only do they serve delicious fish and shrimp tacos, but theirs are some of the most loaded we’ve had anywhere in Mexico. They put so much fried shrimp and fish on their tacos that you almost need a fork to eat them!

This mound of tasty seafood-y goodness below is what they call the que-sotote, a taco filled with a shrimp- and cheese-stuffed chili pepper to go with even more shrimp and cheese. ¡Que maravilloso!

This is El Pescadito’s version of the campechano, but instead of pork and beef, they use shrimp and fish.

As described, El Pescadito is located across the street from Don Juan so you can easily visit both on the same day. I have a feeling you’ll go to both places more than once.

El Pescadito

Address: C. Atlixco 38, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 10AM-6PM, daily
What to Order: Pescado, camaron

8. Hola El Güero

If you want great tacos de guisado in Mexico City, then look no further than Hola El Güero. Located in La Condesa, it’s a small restaurant that was also featured on Taco Chronicles.

Hola El Güero offers many types of guisado tacos made with meat, seafood, and vegetable fillings like picadillo (hash), chicharrón (fried pork skin), sardina con atún (sardine with tuna), and calabazitas (pumpkin). They top them with beans and/or rice and crumbled cheese.

One of Hola El Güero’s bestsellers is the hígado or liver taco. Mineral-y but clean-tasting, it’s seriously delicious.

We enjoyed Hola El Güero so much that we wound up eating here twice. On the plate below are picadillo and liver tacos. You really need to try the hígado!

Pictured below are torta de camaron (shrimp cake) and chorizo con papa (cured sausage with potatoes) tacos. These were delicious as well.

Hola El Güero offers a true street food experience in classy Condesa. We stayed at an Airbnb near here and they were this crowded almost all the time.

Hola El Güero

Address: Amsterdam 135, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 9AM-9PM, Mon-Fri / 9AM-7PM, Sat / 8:30AM-3:30PM, Sun
What to Order: Guisado

9. Taqueria La Hortaliza

La Hortaliza shares many similarities with Hola El Güero. Both are located in Condesa, both were featured on Netflix, and both serve amazing tacos de guisado. It was impossible for us to choose which one we liked better so we wound up eating at both taquerias twice.

La Hortaliza offers fewer options than Hola El Güero but they served the best lengua tacos we had anywhere in Mexico City. Topped with hefty chunks of beef tongue, my god was this delicious!

Sitting behind the lengua below is a guisado taco filled with chicharrón. It was incredibly tasty as well so make sure to get both.

Pictured below are equally delicious guisado tacos filled with torta de pollo (breaded chicken) and chile relleno (stuffed chili pepper).

La Hortaliza is located near Bosque de Chapultapec so you can eat here on your way to or from the park.

Taqueria La Hortaliza

Address: Cto. Interior Mtro. José Vasconcelos 48, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 9:30AM-5PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Guisado

10. La Esquina del Sabor (Best Carnitas Tacos!)

This is probably one of the best Mexico City taquerias on this list that you’ve never heard of. Located in Roma Sur, La Esquina del Sabor serves some of the best tacos de carnitas we’ve had anywhere in Mexico City.

As you can see from this picture, they load up those tortillas with a generous amount of soft and juicy carnitas. If you like cilantro and onions, then be sure to ask for it “con todo”. My god were these delicious!

We must have tried every cut of carnitas on multiple visits but our favorites are lengua (tongue), oreja (ear), and buche (stomach).

You can’t tell from this rare quiet moment but La Esquina del Sabor is hugely popular with the locals in the area. This humble stall always had a line, but not to worry, it always moved pretty quickly.

Don’t miss this stand if you want some of the best tacos de carnitas in Mexico City.

La Esquina del Sabor

Address: Tuxpan 22, Roma Sur, Cuauhtémoc, 06760 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
What to Order: Carnitas

11. Chico Julio

Chico Julio is a proper sit-down restaurant that serves seafood dishes like ceviche, aguachile, tostadas, and fish and chips. We were here exclusively for the tacos so we tried this trio of shrimp and octopus tacos.

As you can see from this picture, they mix in bits of chorizo with the seafood to make them even tastier.

I’m usually happy with just lime juice and salsa but the condiments and sides at Chico Julio are next level. I think we used up all these condiments for just three tacos!

Chico Julio is a small but lovely restaurant in Roma Norte. You can’t really see it in this picture but they offer outdoor patio seating as well.

Chico Julio

Address: Jalapa 126, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 12NN-10PM, Wed-Sat / 12NN-8PM, Sun-Tue
What to Order: Seafood tacos

12. El Hidalguense

El Hidalguense is one of the most popular restaurants in the Roma neighborhood. They serve many dishes, including insects, but they’re best known for their barbacoa. They were also featured on Taco Chronicles and recommended in many food blogs.

El Hidalguense is a bit pricey but they do have a reputation for serving some of the best barbacoa in Mexico City. You may want to go there over the weekend to enjoy some barbacoa and other tasty Mexican dishes like mixiote (pit-barbecued meat), enmoladas (enchiladas with mole), and chilaquiles (corn tortilla breakfast dish).

If you’re an adventurous eater, then you may want to try their escamoles (ant larvae) and hormiga chicatana (leaf-cutter ants) as well.

As previously described, barbacoa is typically enjoyed only on weekends in Mexico so El Hidalguense only opens from Friday till Sunday. I initially thought the restaurant was located in Roma Norte but it’s actually in Roma Sur, right at the border with Roma Norte.

El Hidalguense

Address: Campeche 155, Roma Sur, Cuauhtémoc, 06760 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 7AM-6PM, Fri-Sun (closed Mon-Thurs)
What to Order: Barbacoa

13. Cariñito

Cariñito is one of the most interesting taqueries we’ve visited thus far in Mexico City. They basically offer just one thing on their menu – pork belly tacos – but they make them in four different ways.

Whoever came up with these inventive tacos was clearly inspired by his travels to Asia. Three of the four preparations were inspired by Asian flavors.

If I remember correctly, this one was the Cantones pork belly taco. Reminiscent of char siu, it’s meant to mimic the flavors of Hong Kong and Cantonese cuisine.

This one I believe, was the Thai pork belly taco. I think the sauce on the pork belly may have been Thai red or yellow curry.

This one was the most interesting and surprising. They call it Issan because it’s inspired by Issan cuisine in northern Thailand. Cariñito’s chef has probably traveled to northern Thai cities like Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, hence the inspiration for this taco.

Called Criollo, the last type of pork belly taco they serve is inspired by Criollo and Caribbean cuisine.

If you’d like something a little different from the usual al pastor taco, then head over to Cariñito in the Roam Norte neighborhood. This tiny taqueria seems to be a popular stop on many Mexico City taco tours.

Cariñito

Address: Guanajuato 53, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1-10PM, Mon-Sat / 1-8PM, Sun
What to Order: Pork belly tacos

14. El Autentico Pato Manila

El Autentico Pato Manila was one of the taquerias we were most curious to visit in Mexico City. We’re originally from the Philippines so we were intrigued with the taqueria’s name.

Pato means “duck” so that’s the protein they use in the two types of tacos on their menu – Tacos Manila and Tacos Kim. The tacos are tasty and interesting but we were confused by the taqueria’s concept.

Duck isn’t a commonly used ingredient in Filipino cuisine. To me, “Tacos Kim” is suggestive of a Korean-inspired taco but both of these tacos seem to have been inspired more by Chinese food rather than by Filipino or Korean cuisine. These Tacos Kim are clearly Mexican taco interpretations of Peking duck.

Pictured below are the Tacos Manila. Again, they were tasty but nothing about these tacos reminded me of Filipino food. Why do they call them “Tacos Manila?” Hardly anything “autentico” about these.

If I showed you these condiments without telling you what type of restaurant they’re from, what would you think? They definitely look and taste Chinese to me.

Regardless of the name, El Autentico Pato Manila does serve interesting tacos that you probably can’t find anywhere else in Mexico City. Pay them a visit if you want a break from suadero tacos.

El Autentico Pato Manila

Address: Culiacan 91, código 2, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 12NN-9PM, Sun-Wed / 12NN-10PM, Thurs-Sat
What to Order: Asian-Mexican fusion tacos

15. Takotl

Speaking of Asian-Mexican fusion tacos, if you like Japanese food, then you need to visit Takotl. They make unique tacos, some with an Asian twist.

The three dark tacos below are wrapped in nori (seaweed) while the light-colored one is wrapped in jicama. Very interesting!

Here’s a closer look at one of the nori-wrapped tacos. If I remember correctly, this one was called Takataka de Arrachera. It’s basically a skirt steak taco wrapped in nori with seasoned rice and deep-fried tempura greens.

Give it a spritz of lime juice and it really does feel like you’re eating a sushi taco hybrid. Delicious! I absolutely love the delicate crunch and umami-rich flavors of nori.

I’ve seen nori-wrapped tacos before but this was the first time I’ve ever seen one wrapped in jicama. I believe this one was the Tako Camaron Oriental or shirmp taco wrapped in thinly sliced turnip.

As god as their nori tacos are, this may have been my favorite taco from tonight’s set. It’s different and surprisingly delicious and refreshing.

The nori and jicama tacos are nice but Takotl does serve more conventional tacos as well, like this tasty Tako Suadero and Tako al Pastor estilo Takotl. Both are wrapped in blue corn tortillas.

Takotl is one of the most interesting taco restaurants we’ve been to in Mexico City thus far. Like Crudo in Oaxaca, they combine Mexican flavors with Japanese ingredients to come up with tasty fusion tacos that work. Mexicans in general don’t like raw food so Takotl’s nori tacos felt like a nice compromise.

A Traveler’s Choice awardee, Takotl is a Roma Norte restaurant and bar with a perfect 5-star rating on Tripadvisor. Aside from their inventive tacos, they offer a good range of cocktails as well.

Restaurante Takotl

Address: Av. Insurgentes Sur 275, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1-11PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Japanese-Mexican fusion tacos

16. Tizne Tacomotora

Tizne Tacomotora is another Mexico City taqueria in the Roma Norte neighborhood with interesting taco offerings. They have around eight tacos on their menu made with different cuts of meat like brisket, pork belly, and pulled pork al pastor. Artfully served on blue corn tortillas, these definitely don’t look like your everyday Mexico City tacos.

Pictured below is Tizne Tacomotora’s most creative taco – kalbi asada. Marinated in miso, garlic, and sesame oil, it’s the chef’s nod to Korean food. Kamsahamnida!

If I remember correctly, this one was the pork belly.

This quesabirria was a limited time special. ¡Riquisimo!

Like many Roma-Condesa taquerias, Tizne Tacomotora is another great place to visit for interesting tacos in Mexico City.

Tizne Tacomotora

Address: Guanajuato 27-B, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1-9PM, Mon-Sat / 12NN-6PM, Sun
What to Order: Pork belly tacos, kalbi asada tacos

17. Birria Estilo Jalisco

We had just finished brunch at popular Panaderia Rosetta in Roma Norte when we walked by this birria stall. Good birria isn’t something we can easily ignore so we sat down at this humble taco stall to have a second breakfast.

This piping hot cazuela of birria brought us right back to Guadalajara and Jalisco. ¡Que rico!

You can get birria already prepared in taco form, or you can have it served in a clay pot with fresh corn tortillas on the side. We prefer the latter because we enjoy making the tacos ourselves.

Now this is a real Mexican breakfast!

Don’t you just love Mexican street food? As described, this humble taco stall is located just a stone’s throw away from ultra popular Panderia Rosetta, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.

Birria Estilo Jalisco

Address: Colima 171, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
What to Order: Birria tacos

18. Taqueria El Greco

If you like al pastor meat, then you’ll probably enjoy tacos árabes as well. As previously described, it’s the predecessor of the pastor and differs in the type of marinade and bread used.

There are many taquerias that serve this popular Puebla dish in Mexico City but one of the most popular is Taqueria El Greco. They call their version tacos doneraky but I believe it’s the same thing as tacos árabes. If you like pastor and Lebanese shawarma, then you need to try this.

Renée got the taco doneraky while I stuffed my face with this much larger gringa doneraky with cheese and avocado. It’s delicious and something you should definitely try, just so you can compare it to the pastor and shawarma. You can almost taste the history and relationship between these three very similar but different dishes.

Taqueria El Greco is a small restaurant located in the trendy La Condesa neighborhood.

Taqueria El Greco

Address: Av Michoacán 54-Local B – 91 And 92, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 2:10-10:45PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Árabes

19. Taqueria Orinoco

Orinoco is a chain of taquerias with branches in Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and Zona Rosa. They pride themselves on serving Monterrey- or northern-style tacos which are heavier on the meats, especially beef, and often use flour instead of corn tortillas.

Orinoco specializes in three types of tacos – pastor, res (beef), and chicharrón – which you can get with either flour or corn tortillas. On the tray below are res and chicharron tacos topped with everything. The beef was juicy and tender and the chicharrón nice and crunchy.

Taqueria Orinoco has several branches but their most popular is in Roma Norte. Their shops have a more modern feel to them with their tiled walls and strong red and white branding.

Taqueria Orinoco

Address: Multiple branches
Operating Hours: Varies per branch
What to Order: Pastor, res, chicharron

20. Taqueria La Chiquita

We found these next two taquerias while exploring the Roma Sur neighbrhood. They’re located right next to each other and pretty much offer the same things – carnitas.

Here’s a plate of carnitas topped with different parts of the pig. Oh my!

This is Taqueria La Chiquita. On its right at the corner is the very similar Taqueria la Reyna. Both are excellent.

Taqueria La Chiquita

Address: C. Manzanillo 164, Roma Sur, Cuauhtémoc, 06760 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 10AM-10:30PM, daily
What to Order: Carnitas

21. Taqueria La Reyna

As described, Taqueria la Reyna has similar offerings as Taqueria la Chiquita. They specialize in carnitas but they offer canasta tacos and tacos al pastor as well.

Of course, we got the carnitas.

Can you see both restaurants’ names on the blue awning? Tacos are small so you can easily eat at both on the same trip.

Taqueria La Reyna

Address: C. Manzanillo 159, Roma Sur, Cuauhtémoc, 06760 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 10AM-11:30PM, Mon-Fri / 10AM-10:45PM, Sat-Sun
What to Order: Al pastor tacos, carnitas, canasta tacos

POLANCO

Polanco is often described as the “Beverly Hills of Mexico City”. It’s a swanky area with lots of upscale restaurants and bars. We didn’t think we’d find good street food here but we were wrong. Explore Polanco and you’ll find that it’s home to a good number of taquerias and street food stalls, just like any other neighborhood in Mexico City.

22. Taqueria El Turix

El Turix is one of the most well-known taquerias to try cochinita pibil in Mexico City. It’s the only thing they serve and you can have it in tacos, tortas (sandwiches), or panuchos.

As you can see below, they prepare their cochinita pibil tacos a little differently here. Instead of topping the tortillas with meat, they give them to you rolled up and slathered in sauce.

As previously described, cochinita pibil is marinated in strongly acidic citrus juices so that’s the first thing you’ll notice when you take a bite. They’re tangy, juicy, and delicious.

Taqueria El Turix is popular so expect a small crowd of hungry taco lovers no matter what time of day you visit.

Taqueria El Turix

Address: Av. Emilio Castelar 212, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 11:30AM-10PM, daily
What to Order: Cochinita pibil

COYOACÁN

Coyoacán is a lovely borough about 10 km (6.2 miles) south of the Centro area. It’s best known for its colonial architecture and the Frida Kahlo Museum but there’s plenty of good street food to be found here as well.

23. Tacos de Canasta Beto

We were waiting for our time slot to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum when we spotted this food stall on Google Maps. They’re located just a block away from the museum and serve only basket tacos. It’s a great place to try this tasty snack before or after visiting the museum.

Beto’s basket tacos are absolutely delicious. Had we not been so full from eating so many tostadas at Coyoacán Market, then we would have ordered more. They’re incredibly tasty.

From the looks of it, the Beto stall is a well-known stand in Coyoacán. People would drive by in their cars to pick up bags of their tasty basket tacos to go. You can check the map at the bottom of this article to see exactly where it is in Coyoacán.

Tacos de Canasta Beto

Address: 04100, Berlín 184, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, 04100 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 10AM-4PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)
What to Order: Canasta

ZONA ROSA

Zona Rosa refers to the neighborhood just north of Roma-Condesa and west of the Centro area. Similar in feel to La Condesa or Roma Norte, it’s a trendy area known for its gay community and many nightlife and shopping options.

24. Tacos Los Juanes

In Mexico, they say that the best tacos come out only at night. These next two taquerias are proof of that. Open only from 8PM and 10PM respectively, they serve some of the best tacos we’ve had anywhere in Mexico City.

Tacos Los Juanes is a humble street taqueria that sets up shop at 8PM on the corner of Puebla and Cozumel Streets. They offer tacos and tortas filled with the usual meats like suadero, bistec, campechano, and longaniza. We tried the pastor and cabeza and both were outstanding.

Pictured below are two pastor tacos. Their corn tortilla is a bit small but they do load them with lots of al pastor meat. Plus, they’re just MXN 10 apiece.

On this plate are two cabeza tacos. As you can see, the tortilla is practically overflowing with meaty goodness.

We arrived before 8PM while they were still setting up and there was already a small group of people waiting to get their hands on their delicious tacos. If you’re feeling hungry after a night of drinking in Roma Norte, then Los Juanes is a great place to go.

Tacos Los Juanes

Address: Puebla 326, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 8PM-3AM, Sun-Thurs / 8PM-5AM, Fri-Sat
What to Order: Pastor, cabeza

25. Tacos Don Güero

Tacos Don Güero is another late-night taqueria that was featured on Netflix. Open only from 10PM, they serve the usual taco meats like suadero, chuleta (chops), and pechuga (chicken breast). Taco Chronicles highlighted their pastor so that’s exactly what we came for.

The producers of that show really knew what they were doing because these pastor tacos turned out to be some of the best tacos we had anywhere in Mexico City. Smokey and charred in parts, they were absolutely delicious.

Here’s a shot of the al pastor man firing up that trompo. They blaze it up from time to time to give their pastor tacos that extra smokiness and char. So so good.

Tacos Don Güero

Address: Río Nilo 66, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 10PM-12MN, Sun-Fri / 10PM-4AM, Sat
What to Order: Pastor

DEL VALLE – NARVARTE

Del Valle and Narvarte are adjacent neighborhoods located in the Benito Juarez borough of Mexico City. This area doesn’t see as many tourists which is a shame because it’s home to many fantastic taquerias, including the one place that we believe serves the best pastor tacos in Mexico City.

It’s easy enough to visit Colonia Narvarte on your own, but if you’d to go on a guided tour, then you may be interested in this Narvarte night tour.

26. El Vilsito

El Vilsito is perhaps the one taqueria that I was most excited to visit in Mexico City. Like many of the taquerias on this list, we learned about it from Taco Chronicles on Netflix.

We were excited to try El Vilsito’s pastor tacos but I was also looking forward to the place itself. They set up early in the afternoon and share a space with an auto repair shop. It isn’t everyday that you find a taqueria in an auto repair shop so I thought that was super cool!

The novelty of the space is interesting but El Vilsito also serves some of the very best al pastor tacos in Mexico City. We visited many taquerias and these were some of our favorite tacos anywhere in CDMX. They’re absolutely delicious.

Traveleater Tip: Get a side of cebollitas (grilled green onions) to enjoy with your tacos. The chopped raw onions they usually put in your tacos are nice, but the sweetness from the caramelized green onions adds another layer of flavor to the dish. They’re so good!

El Vilsito could very well be home to the best tacos al pastor in Mexico City. You seriously need to visito El Vilsito. (sorry)

El Vilsito

Address: Petén 248 y, Avenida Universidad, Narvarte Poniente, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 2PM-3AM, Mon-Thurs / 2PM-5AM, Fri / 3PM-5AM, Sat / 3PM-12MN, Sun
What to Order: Pastor

27. Tacos Manolo

El Vilsito is arguably the most famous but the Narvarte neighborhood is home to many great taquerias. We loved Roma-Condesa but when it comes to tacos, I think Narvarte may have the slight edge. The taquerias here were less fancy and felt more authentic.

Tacos Manolo is one of the most famous taquerias in this neighborhood. Nothing fancy. Just the usual al pastor, suadero, and longaniza tacos, but done well.

I think these may have been longaniza and campechano tacos.

When you spot the naughty logo, then you’ll know you’re at Tacos Manolo.

Tacos Manolo

Address: Luz Saviñon 1305, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 2PM-12:30AM, Sun-Thurs / 2PM-2:30AM, Fri-Sat
What to Order: Suadero tacos, al pastor tacos

28. Taqueria Don Frank

Like Tacos Manolo, Taqueria Don Frank is a no-nonsese taco restaurant that serves simple but delicious food. They serve the usual taco offerings like suadero, al pastor, and tripa tacos.

Take a good look at the taco in the foreground. Do you recognize that cut? What you’re looking at is a slice of our favorite lengua (tongue).

At Taqueria Don Frank, you can get 60 gram (foreground) or smaller 30 gram tacos. This one was topped with longaniza.

Taqueria Don Frank is the big bright orange corner taqueria in Narvarte. You can’t miss it.

Taqueria Don Frank

Address: Torres Adalid 1353, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1:30PM-1AM, daily
What to Order: Al pastor tacos, suadero tacos

29. Taqueria los Pericos

Taqueria los Pericos is another popular taco restaurant in the up-and-coming Narvarte neighborhood.

Like the previous two taquerias, there’s nothing fancy here. Just basic tacos like cabeza, bistec, suadero (pictured below), and lengua, but done well.

Pericos means “parakeets” in Spanish, hence the taqueria’s logo.

Taqueria Los Pericos

Address: Enrique Rébsamen 701-A, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 12NN-12MN, daily
What to Order: Al pastor tacos, suadero tacos

30. Sonora Taco Steak

From a distance, we could already smell the meats roasting on a grill. We knew this place would be good and we were right.

As their name suggests, Sonora Taco Steak is a steak restaurant that serves tacos made with different cuts of meat like rib-eye, sirloin, and skirt steak. We got a few each of the rib-eye and sirloin and they may have been some of the best steak tacos we’ve had anywhere in Mexico. They were smokey, fatty, juicy, and just delicious.

If you want the taste of steak in your tacos, then Sonora Taco Steak is a great place to go in the Narvarte neighborhood.

Sonora Taco Steak

Address: Casa del Obrero Mundial 295, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 1-10PM, Tue-Sun / 1-6PM, Mon
What to Order: Steak tacos

31. Ceci la Cecina

It’s hard not to notice this fun taqueria in the Narvarte neighborhood that specializes in cecina tacos. Cecina refers to thin slices of beef that have been salted, marinated, and then left to dry in the sun.

At Ceci la Cecina, you can have tacos topped with cecina natural (pictured below) or cecina enchilada. A popular dish in Oaxaca, the latter refers to butterflied slices of pork coated in chili pepper.

On the left below is the Ceci, a house special taco topped with cecina natural, longanisa, and cheese.

And of course, don’t forget the condiments.

Colorful Ceci la Cecina will surely grab your attention in working-class Narvarte. We didn’t come across too many of these cecina taquerias in Mexico City.

Ceci la Cecina

Address: Anaxágoras 635, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Operating Hours: 9AM-5PM, Tue-Thurs, Sun / 9AM-9PM, Fri-Sat (closed Mondays)
What to Order: Cecina tacos

TACUBAYA

Tacubaya is a grittier working-class neighborhood located south of La Condesa. There isn’t much here for tourists but it is home to an interesting 24-hour drive-in taqueria.

32. Taqueria El Borrego Viudo

El Borrego Viudo is another taqueria that was featured on Taco Chronicles. It’s known for being a 24-hour taco restaurant that offers drive-in service. Many diners would drive in, park, and order and eat tacos from their cars. People love them because they can satisfy their taco cravings at any time of the day.

El Borrego Viudo offers the usual taqueria meats like pastor, suadero, longaniza, and cabeza. We tried almost everything on their menu, starting with these pastor tacos.

On the plate below are cabeza and ojo tacos.

The suadero is always a good choice at any taqueria in Mexico City.

Last but not least was this cachete or beef cheek taco. You seriously need to try tacos made with head meat in Mexico City. The texture of the meat is so enjoyable.

El Borrego Viudo caters to both drive-in and dine-in customers. It took us about half an hour to walk here from our Airbnb in La Condesa.

Taqueria El Borrego Viudo

Address: Av. Revolución 241, Tacubaya, Miguel Hidalgo, 11870 Mexico City, CDMX
Operating Hours: Open 24 hrs
What to Order: Pastor, suadero, cabeza

LORENZO BOTURINI

True taco Traveleaters need to make the trip to Lorenzo Boturini Street. Located about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) east of Roma Norte, this busy street with a cluster of taquerias has been called the “taco capital of Mexico City”. When you’re the taco capital of Mexico City, then you’re pretty much the taco capital of the world.

Every taqueria on Lorenzo Boturini serves the usual offerings like pastor, suadero, cabeza, bistec, and chuleta. You’ll find several taquerias along this street but we went to the three featured on Taco Chronicles.

Netflix highlighted their tacos al pastor so that’s what we ordered from all three taquerias to see which one we liked the best.

33. Tacos Los Güeros de Boturini

I’m not one to keep you in suspense so I’ll tell your straight up, the pastor from Los Güeros de Boturini was our favorite. I understand that taste is subjective but for us, theirs was the best. Not only were they the best along Lorenzo Boturini, but they were among the best pastor tacos we had anywhere in Mexico City. They were seriously delicious.

Of the three Lorenzo Boturini taquerias featured in this article, Los Güeros de Boturini opens the latest, at 4:30PM. They’re definitely worth the wait.

Tacos Los Güeros de Boturini

Address: Lorenzo Boturini 4354, Aeronáutica Militar, Venustiano Carranza, 15980 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 4:30PM-1AM, Mon-Thurs / 4:30PM-4:30AM, Fri-Sat / 4PM-1AM, Sun
What to Order: Pastor, suadero, cabeza, tripa

34. El Gabacho Taqueria

Los Güeros de Boturini may have been our favorite but El Gabacho wasn’t far behind. Taste truly is subjective so we highly recommend going to all three to see which one suits you the best.

One thing we really liked about El Gabacho is that they serve their pineapple as a condiment on your table so you’re free to add as much as you like. Their salsas were ferociously hot as well.

El Gabacho opens at 2:30PM everyday.

El Gabacho Taqueria

Address: Lorenzo Boturini 659, Jardín Balbuena, Venustiano Carranza, 15900 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 2:30PM-12MN, Thurs-Sun / 2:30-11:30PM, Mon-Wed
What to Order: Pastor, suadero, cabeza, tripa

35. El Pastorcito

The pastor tacos at El Pastorcito are delicious as well. Like El Gabacho, they offer their pineapple as a condiment on your table so you’re welcome to add as much as you like. The citrusy sweetness of the pineapple goes so well with the spiciness and smokiness of the pastor meat.

El Pastorcito is located right next to El Gabacho. They open the earliest at 1PM so we recommend taking an Uber to Lorenzo Boturini Street at around 3:30-4PM so you don’t have to wait too long to go to all three taquerias.

El Pastorcito

Address: Lorenzo Boturini 4503, Aeronáutica Militar, Venustiano Carranza, 15970 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Operating Hours: 1PM-2:30AM, Mon-Thurs / 1PM-4:30AM, Fri-Sat / 1PM-12MN, Sun
What to Order: Pastor, suadero, cabeza, tripa

MEXICO CITY TACO MAP

To help you navigate to these taquerias in Mexico City, I’ve pinned them all on the map below. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST TACOS IN MEXICO CITY

As you can probably tell from this guide, we LOVE tacos. We could eat them everyday which is practically what we did on our last trip to Mexico City. Bite-sized and with lots of variety, we could never grow tired of them.

We’ll be in Mexico for at least another year so chances are, we’ll be eating our way through Mexico City again soon. We’ll definitely update and refine this guide after every visit, though it probably won’t grow to more than 35 taquerias. The goal is to find the best tacos in Mexico City so quality, not quantity, is key.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading this guide as much as I enjoyed writing (and doing research for) it. If you’re from Mexico City and have suggestions on which taquerias to visit, then we’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading and have a delicious time eating the best tacos in Mexico City!

Disclosure

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22 Must-Visit Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

There’s no denying it. San Miguel de Allende is gorgeous. In some ways, it reminded me of Prague. It’s almost too pretty to be real.

This colonial-era city nestled in central Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains has been dubbed the “most charming small town in Mexico”, famous for its cobblestone streets, baroque architecture, and old world charm.

For the past fifty years or so, San Miguel de Allende has been a popular destination for American expats and tourists. It’s so accustomed to welcoming foreigners that an estimated 10% of its population isn’t Mexican. Some go so far as to describe it as “Mexico’s Disneyland for adults”. It’s a fairytale destination that oozes with charm though it can feel overly gentrified at times. This manifests itself in many ways, one of the most noticeable being the food.

While it isn’t hard to find upscale Mexican cuisine or boutique hotel restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, it’s a little harder to find good local food. The street food scene is nowhere near as gritty or exciting as Guadalajara or Mexico City, but if you look hard enough, then you’ll find the real San Miguel coexisting with the city’s many trendy restaurants and third wave coffee bar concepts. You’ll just have to stray farther from the city center to find them.

Anyone who knows us well knows that local food, especially street food, is what really turns us on about a new destination. Touristy restaurants don’t do it for us so we scoured the internet, asked locals, and did a lot of walking to find what we believe to be the best restaurants in San Miguel de Allende.

FOOD IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE QUICK LINKS

To help you plan your trip to San Miguel de Allende, we’ve compiled links to popular hotels, tours, and other travel services here.

HOTELS

Top-rated hotels in Centro, one of the most convenient areas to stay for people on their first trip to San Miguel de Allende.

  • Luxury: Hotel Casa Blanca 7
  • Midrange: Casa Quebrada Hotel Boutique
  • Budget: PATIO Alojamiento y Comida

TOURS

  • Sightseeing Tour: Downtown Walking Tour
  • Food Tour: Tacos and Tequilas Tour
  • Day Trip: Guanajuato City Day Trip
  • Cooking Classes: San Miguel de Allende Cooking Classes

OTHER SERVICES

  • Travel Insurance (with COVID cover)
  • Airport Transfer (from Guanajuato Airport, BJX)
  • Mexico SIM Card

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THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

To help organize this list of the best San Miguel de Allende restaurants, I’ve arranged them by category. Click on a link to jump to any section of the guide.

  1. Brunch
  2. Traditional Mexican Restaurants
  3. Street Tacos
  4. Food Halls / Markets

BRUNCH

Brunch is a thing in San Miguel de Allende. If that isn’t a sign of gentrification, then I don’t know what is. We aren’t big breakfast eaters but we do love good coffee. This city is a coffee lover’s paradise so we visited some of the best and most popular coffee shops in San Miguel de Allende, a few of which are known for serving good breakfast as well.

1. Ki’bok Coffee

National Geographic described this coffee shop as “a tiny cafe that serves some of the best coffee in the world.” That’s a bold statement and may be up for debate, but there’s no denying that Ki’bok is one of the most popular places in San Miguel de Allende to go for good coffee and a tasty Sunday brunch.

Ki’bok Coffee offers a few international dishes like pasta, hummus, and focaccia sandwiches to go with traditional Mexican dishes like enchiladas and sopa azteca. Pictured below is my delicious plate of chilaquiles verdes, a Mexican breakfast dish of lightly fried tortillas served with salsa and other ingredients like pulled chicken, queso fresco, crema, onions, and avocado.

Renée had this equally delicious plate of aguacate relleno, or oven-baked avocados stuffed with eggs and manchego cheese.

As described, Ki’bok is known for serving some of the best coffee in San Miguel de Allende. I suggest trying their Hemingway coffee. It’s their signature blend of Cuban cortado double espresso served with an infusion of brown sugar and topped with foam and powdered cinnamon.

If you’re a fan of coffee, then be sure to check out our guide on the best coffee shops in San Miguel de Allende.

Ki’bok Coffee is located near Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. If you’re a digital nomad, then this is a great place to work. Aside from serving great food and coffee, they have large tables and fast wifi as well.

Ki’bok Coffee

Address: Diez de Sollano y Dávalos #25, Cuadrante #1, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-7PM, daily
What to Order: Breakfast dishes

2. Lavanda Café de Especialidad y Desayuno

Lavanda Café is arguably the most popular coffee shop and brunch spot in San Miguel de Allende. We were here just for coffee and dessert but Lavanda does offer a full breakfast and lunch menu of Mexican and international favorites like french toast, waffles, chilaquiles, and fish tacos.

Lavanda Café offers two types of cake on their menu, this delicious guava and dulce de leche cake and a chocolate lavender cake. They also offer a few pastries like pecan sticky buns, Mexican corn cakes, almond banana bread, and pistachio brownies.

The best coffee beans in Mexico are produced in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas. Oaxaca beans are the best and most expensive. According to one coffee shop owner I spoke with, Lavanda Café is just one of two shops in San Miguel de Allende that serves coffee brewed from Oaxaca beans.

Of all the coffee shops we visited, Lavanda has the most extensive menu. They offer espressos, cold brew, and coffee infused with flowers. I asked our server for recommendations and she suggested the Mexican Geisha – a type of pour-over black coffee known for its distinctly floral and fruity flavor.

Lavanda Café is very popular so expect a wait when you go. We tried going on two occasions and both times, there was a half-hour wait. If you’d rather not wait, then it’s best to go shortly after they open at 8:30AM.

Lavanda Café de Especialidad y Desayuno

Address: Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 87, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-3:30PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Breakfast dishes

3. Cafe Oso Azul

When doing research for the best brunch and coffee shops in San Miguel de Allende, Cafe Oso Azul often came up. They offer an extensive menu of both Mexican and international breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, french toast, and hotcakes.

All breakfast dishes can be ordered a la carte or as part of a set meal with your choice of coffee and either a plate of fresh fruit or a glass of orange juice. Pictured below is my french toast smothered in syrup and topped with a small mound of sliced mangoes and strawberries.

If you’re a fan of smoked salmon, then we highly recommend getting the Jen’s Special. Served in a small skillet, it consists of home-cured salmon served with goat cheese, onions, and either scrambled or fried eggs.

Cafe Oso Azul is located on the next street parallel to Lavanda Café. It was one of our favorite places to have Sunday brunch in San Miguel de Allende.

Cafe Oso Azul

Address: Zacateros 17, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-9PM, daily
What to Order: Breakfast dishes

4. Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur

Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur may have been our favorite restaurant in San Miguel de Allende. This hidden gem of a restaurant located at the very end of an alleyway in Guadalupe is helmed by a husband and wife chef team from Acapulco. Open for breakfast or lunch (or an early dinner), they serve delicious and beautifully presented Mexican dishes, many of which are specialties from their home state of Guerrero.

From the food to the service to the space to the decor, we absolutely loved everything about this restaurant.

We ate here twice, once for lunch and another time for Sunday brunch. When we were here for brunch, they started us off with this incredibly delicious chargrilled bread with butter and their very own homemade guava jam. Man was this good!

Chef Daniela recommended that we get this dish called huevos motuleños. It’s a beautifully plated breakfast dish of fried eggs served with ham, beans, gouda, peas, plantains, salsa, and queso fresco. Delicious!

You can’t really tell from the picture but nestled between the fresh greens and the crusty bread are poached eggs. What you’re looking at is huevos benedictos – Hierba’s take on the classic eggs benedict.

Instead of english muffins, they use chargrilled crusty bread for the base and top it with poached eggs, bacon, hollandaise sauce, and hierba santa or the Mexican pepperleaf herb. Hierba santa has a unique flavor and is used as an essential ingredient in many Mexican dishes like tamales, pozole, and mole verde. If you like eggs benedict, then you need to try this.

Renée enjoyed lunch here on a different day and was served this starter of tortilla chips and their homemade salsa. According to her, this was the best salsa she’s ever had in her life.

Isn’t this stunning? What you’re looking at is an intriguing Mexican dish called mole de hormiga chicatana. Chicatana refers to a large species of Mexican leaf-cutter ant. They’re harvested just once a year, at the start of the rainy season, and are used as an ingredient in the cuisines of central and southern Mexican states like Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla.

According to Chef Daniela, it’s a meticulous dish to prepare because it entails cleaning and removing the inedible wings off of each ant by hand! I saw unprepared specimens for sale at Mercado de San Juan in Mexico City and they really are quite large, their abdomens about the size of small pearls.

To eat, you use the chargrilled vegetables as a spoon to scoop up the rich, complex-tasting mole. Beautifully plated and intriguing dishes like this one are proof that Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur is really a fine dining restaurant masquerading as a casual brunch spot. For us, it’s one of the best restaurants in San Miguel de Allende and a must-visit for anyone looking for interesting local food.

Located at the very end of La Plaza de Hacienda La Aurora, Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur is a casual restaurant that serves some of the best and most interesting food in San Miguel de Allende. Don’t miss it!

Hierba Santa Cocina de Sur isn’t visible from the main road so look out for this alley off Calzada de La Aurora. Located in the artsier part of town, it’s a little over a kilometer north of Jardín Allende and the city center. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur

Address: Calz de La Aurora 48A, Guadalupe, 37710 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 9AM-6PM, Mon, Wed-Sat / 10AM-2:30PM, Sun (closed Tuesdays)
What to Order: Breakfast and lunch dishes

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN RESTAURANTS

If you travel for food, then you’ll know that the best local restaurants are typically nowhere near a major tourist attraction. San Miguel de Allende is proof of that. While we did find a few good restaurants that serve Mexican specialties in downtown San Miguel, most will require you to do a bit of walking.

5. El Pato Barbacoa y Mixiotes

If you arrive in San Miguel de Allende by bus, then your first order of business should be to walk with your bags to this restaurant. Located right next to the Central de Autobuses terminal, El Pato serves some of the best barbacoa and mixiote we’ve had so far in Mexico.

As their name suggests, El Pato Barbacoa y Mixiotes specializes in two dishes.

Barbacoa refers to a type of Mexican barbecue. It consists of a whole sheep or goat that’s traditionally slow-cooked in an underground pit covered with maguey (agave) leaves. Known for its high fat content and strong flavor, the meat is typically served with fresh corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, and one or more salsas.

Barbacoa is enjoyed throughout Mexico, usually as a weekend dish. You can enjoy it from Wednesdays to Sundays at El Pato.

Similar to barbacoa, mixiote refers to a pit-barbecued meat dish popular in central Mexico.

Mixiote is made with cubed meat on the bone – typically mutton, rabbit, chicken, lamb, or pork – flavored with a host of herbs and spices like pasilla and guajillo chili peppers, garlic, cumin, cloves, thyme, marjoram, and bay leaves. The seasoned meat is then placed in the semi-transparent skin of maguey leaves – which in itself imparts a unique flavor – before being cooked in the pit.

Like barbacoa, mixiote is typically served with chopped onion and cilantro and eaten in freshly made corn tortillas with salsa.

Most meat dishes in Mexico are served with fresh corn tortillas. You fill the tortilla with meat, onions, cilantro, and salsa and you’re good to go. Delicious!

El Pato Barbacoa y Mixiotes is located right next to the main bus terminal in San Miguel de Allende. It’s hard to find local food this good in the city center so I strongly recommend eating here before taking an Uber or taxi to your hotel.

El Pato may not serve upscale Mexican cuisine but in our humble opinion, it’s still one of the best restaurants in San Miguel de Allende. Seriously, don’t miss it.

El Pato Barbacoa y Mixiotes

Address: Calz. de la Estación 121, Zona Centro, 37736 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-2PM, Wed-Sun (closed Mon-Tue)
What to Order: Barbacoa, mixiotes

6. Taqueria Zempoal

We asked Chef Daniela and her staff at Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur where to go for the best local food, and Taqueria Zempoal was one of the restaurants they recommended. Unsurprisingly, it’s located about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) south of the city center, in a more residential area that looks nothing like downtown San Miguel.

Taqueria Zempoal is a local favorite that serves typical taqueria food like tacos, quesadillas, carne asadas, alambres, and tortas. Pictured below is my tasty plate of volcanes topped with al pastor meat.

Volcanes are flattened rounds of masa dough that are cooked at low heat on a grill until their edges curl up and resemble a crater, hence the name volcanes. They’re toasty and crunchy, though not as crunchy as tostadas. They can be filled with your choice of meat like pastor, bistec (beef steak), pollo, chorizo, or costilla (ribs).

Like volcanes, alambres refer to another way of enjoying meat in Mexico. It consists of grilled meat like pastor, bistec, pollo, or costilla mixed with a variety of ingredients like bacon, onions, bell peppers, cheese, avocado, and salsa. They’re typically served with freshly made corn tortillas.

Taqueria Zempoal

Address: Salida a Celaya 25, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
What to Order: Typical taqueria Mexican food

7. Taqueria “El Maguey”

A bit farther down the road from Taqueria Zempoal is another traditional Mexican Taqueria called “El Maguey”. They offer a very similar menu as Zempoal and Brasimix (#8) so we suggest trying all three to see which restaurant you like the best.

The al pastor meat at El Maguey is shaved so thinly that it looks almost like Korean kimchi. We had tacos al pastor at many taquerias in San Miguel de Allende and for Renée, this one was the best.

Pictured below is my equally delicious quesadilla filled with juicy bistec meat. A quesadilla is basically a larger taco made with cheese.

Taqueria “El Maguey” is located about a 3-minute walk from Taqueria Zempoal.

Taqueria “El Maguey”

Address: 37700, Salida a Celaya 41, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 5PM-2AM, Wed-Mon (closed Tuesdays)
What to Order: Typical taqueria Mexican food

8. Brasimix

Brasimix is the third taqueria we visited in this part of town. Situated between Taqueria Zempoal and Taqueria “El Maguey”, it’s the biggest restaurant of the three and offers pretty much the same dishes.

In the foreground below is a trio of tacos filled with chorizo, bistec, and chuleta de cerdo (pork chop).

You can’t go to a taqueria without trying their al pastor, the king of all Mexican tacos. This was delicious too.

I ordered this michelada to wash down my trio of tasty tacos. A michelada is a traditional Mexican drink made with beer, lime juice, chili-based sauces, tomato juice, and peppers. Recipes can vary greatly from place to place with some versions being made with additional ingredients like Tajín, Worcestershire sauce, Maggi seasoning, and soy sauce.

As you can probably tell from its ingredients, the michelada is a savory drink that may not be for everyone. Served in a chilled, salt- and chili-rimmed glass or mug, you can think of it as the Mexican version of a bloody mary.

Brasimix and the previous two taquerias are located away from the city center so we suggest doing a taco crawl and visiting all three on the same day. Of the three, Taqueria “El Maguey” opens the latest, at 5PM, so it’s best to come here for dinner. Do let us know which one you like best!

Brasimix

Address: Salida a Celaya 20A, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 3:30-10PM, daily
What to Order: Typical taqueria Mexican food

9. Carnitas El Guero

If you’ve been to Guanajuato City, then you’ve probably enjoyed the incredible views from Monumento Al Pipila. I was expecting a similar experience from the mirador in San Miguel de Allende but that wasn’t the case. The view was underwhelming but it did lead me to Carnitas El Guero, a family-owned restaurant that serves great Mexican breakfast dishes and carnitas.

As their name suggests, El Guero specializes in carnitas – a Michoacán dish made with pork simmered or braised for hours in oil or lard. You can have them in tacos, tortas, or quesadillas, but I was here early in the morning so I wanted them with eggs.

Pictured below is my tasty plate of huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs) con carnitas. They were served with a side of beans and ham, salsa, and fresh corn tortillas. ¡Buenos dias!

As described, most meat dishes in Mexico are enjoyed with corn tortillas. It’s almost impossible to go a day here without eating corn in some form.

Carnitas El Guero is located across the street from the mirador. The view from the mirador may be underwhelming, but the same can’t be said about El Guero’s carnitas. They’re delicious.

Carnitas El Guero

Address: Salida Real a Querétaro 90, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 9AM-5PM, daily
What to Order: Carnitas, Mexican breakfast dishes

All located within downtown San Miguel, these next five restaurants are for people who want good food but aren’t willing to go the extra mile for it.

10. Los Burritos

Los Burritos is the closest thing we’ve had to a Mexican fast food chain. They specialize in burritacos, a tasty hybrid of burritos and tacos.

If you’ve eaten your way through Mexico City, then you’re probably familiar with tacos de guisados, those uber delicious tacos filled with different types of stew. That’s basically what these burritacos are except they’re made with flour tortillas. You can get them filled with various stews like mole rojo, pollo con chipotle, picadillo, and papas con chorizo.

To be honest, we weren’t expecting much from Los Burritos but these burritacos were incredibly tasty.

Los Burritos is a quick 5-minute walk from Jardín Allende and the city center.

Los Burritos

Address: Hidalgo 23, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 10:30AM-5:45PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Burritacos

11. Sabroso Taqueria

If you want modern tacos in an IG-worthy setting, then Sabroso Taqueria is the place to go in San Miguel de Allende. It’s a trendy Mexican restaurant that shares a space with two other restaurant/bar concepts – Chicago’s Stuffed Pizza and Raffaela Terraza.

Sabroso Taqueria makes more modern versions of traditional Mexican food like tacos and volcanes. They even offer vegetarian and vegan options. On the plate below are tacos filled with suadero meat and cochinita pibil.

Suadero refers to a thin slice of pork or beef cut from the area between the animal’s belly and leg. Cochinita pibil is a Yucatán dish made with pit-roasted pork marinated in strong citrus juices. You can think of it as the pork version of barbacoa. Both are delicious and must-try dishes in Mexico.

If you like trendy restaurants, then you’ll definitely enjoy Sabroso Taqueria. They’re all about the hashtag and IG-worthy food.

Sabroso Taqueria has ground floor seating but hardly anyone sits there. San Miguel de Allende is all about rooftop restaurants so everyone goes straight to the second floor.

Sabroso Taqueria shares a space with Raffaela Terraza, a trendy rooftop bar. It’s a great place to have beer or cocktails to go with your tasty tacos.

Choose a table near the edge of the rooftop terrace and you’ll be treated to this view. Rooftop restaurants are a thing in San Miguel de Allende so you can’t visit this city without going to at least one.

Did I say that Sabroso Taqueria is all about the Gram? Neon angel wings to spruce up your IG feed.

Sabroso Taqueria

Address: Zacateros 41, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 1-10:30PM, Wed-Thurs, Sun-Mon / 1PM-12:30AM, Fri-Sat (closed Tuesdays)
What to Order: Modern tacos

12. Chilli Billy

As you can probably guess from its name, Chilli Bily specializes in chili con carne, a popular Mexican-American stew made with chili peppers, ground beef, tomatoes, and kidney beans.

Like burritos, chili con carne is a dish that straddles the border between northern Mexico and the southern United States. Its exact origins are unclear but it’s often attributed to northern Mexican states like Nuevo León or to southern Texas.

Chilli Billy prides itself on making 100% homemade chili. The chef/owner’s name is Billy so I’m guessing they use a well-guarded family recipe. They offer a few chili-centric dishes like chili bowls, chili burgers, chili dogs, and chili fries. Pictured below is my tasty chili burger with a side of french fries.

I was chatting with Billy’s wife (or girlfriend) and she said that they had been open for just four months at the time of my visit. Business must be good based on their online reviews!

I was enjoying my coffee at nearby El Cafe de La Mancha when I saw a small group of people exiting the restaurant. Intrigued, I crossed the street to have lunch here. I’m happy that I did because their chili is delicious.

Chilli Billy

Address: C. Margarito Ledesma 2B, Zona Centro, Guadalupe, 37710 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 12NN-7PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mondays)
What to Order: Chili bowls, burgers, and hot dogs

13. Broaster To Go

I dare you to walk by this pollo frito (fried chicken) restaurant and not get hungry. We stayed at an AirBnB near here and every day, at least twice a day, we’d be subjected to the irresistible smells wafting from this place. I know other people felt the same way because heads would turn soon as they got a whiff of that heavenly fried chicken aroma.

We wound up getting takeaway here twice and their fried chicken is every bit as tasty as it smells. Light and crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside, their fried chicken is delicious.

As its name suggests, Broaster To Go offers takeout only. There’s usually a line at any time of the day but no worries, it moves quickly.

Broaster To Go

Address: 1, Calz de La Aurora, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 10AM-6PM, daily
What to Order: Fried chicken

14. Chocolates y Churros San Agustin

San Agustin is the most popular place to have churros and hot chocolate in San Miguel de Allende. They do offer a full menu of Mexican dishes and drinks but as their name suggests, their most popular item is their churros.

You can order regular churros or churros rellenos (stuffed churros). They offer churros stuffed with different fillings like chocolate, caramel, condensed milk, Nutella, or rompope. We tried the rompope which is the Mexican version of eggnog. Serious yum!

You can also order different types of hot chocolate to go with your churros like chocolate Español, chocolate Francés, and chocolate Mexicano. Chocolate Español tastes just like the hot chocolate you’d find at churrerias in Spain – bold and slightly bitter – while chocolate Mexicano tastes lighter and sweeter.

Chocolates y Churros San Agustin is located in the heart of downtown San Miguel, directly facing the small park next to Templo de San Francisco.

Chocolates y Churros San Agustin

Address: San Francisco 21, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-9PM, daily
What to Order: Churros con chocolate

STREET TACOS

There’s nothing I love more than street food. To me, it’s the most honest and unfiltered representation of a culture’s culinary identity. I find that to be especially true in Mexico. Restaurant food is fine but nothing beats the experience of eating tacos from a plastic-covered plate while standing.

While San Miguel de Allende is no Mexico City, you can find good street food here if you’re willing to walk far enough.

15. Tacos San Francisco

After Andy’s Taco Cart (#16), Tacos San Francisco is perhaps the most well-known taco stand in San Miguel de Allende. They open only at night and offer typical Mexican street food fare like tacos and quesadillas filled with different types of meat.

If you want to experience Mexican street food without walking too far, then this is one of the best stands you can visit.

You’ll typically find a small army of people gathered around the Tacos San Francisco stall at night. You can refer to the map at the bottom of this article to see exactly where it is.

Tacos San Francisco

Address: Mesones 48, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
What to Order: Typical street taco stand food

16. Andy’s Taco Cart

Do a Google search for street tacos in San Miguel de Allende and Andy’s Taco Cart will surely come up. It’s the oldest and arguably the most popular taco stand in the city. They have pretty much the same offerings as Tacos San Francisco and are just as good. Pictured below is a delicious pair of late-night suadero tacos.

Not only is Andy’s Taco Cart cheap and delicious, it’s also one of the most reliable. When every other taco stand in the city center was closed on a Tuesday night, Andy’s Taco Cart was the only stall that was open. Behold the pair of quesadillas that satiated my late-night cravings when no one else would.

Andy’s Taco Stand opens only at night on Avenida Insurgentes, around the corner from Los Burritos. Just look for the small army of hungry diners gathered around this cart.

Andy’s Taco Cart

Address: Insurgentes 85, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 6-11PM, daily
What to Order: Typical street taco stand food

17. Tacos Don Tomas (Taqueria San Francisco)

This is the third late-night taco stand you can visit in the city center. On Google Maps, it’s listed as Taqueria San Francisco because of its proximity to the church but I believe its real name is Tacos Don Tomas. At least that’s what it says on a small sign on the cart.

Whatever its real name, this humble cart opens only at night and serves the same delicious fare as the previous two taco stands.

There’s a saying that the best tacos come out only at night in Mexico. Tacos Don Tomas and the other street food stands in this guide are a testament to that.

Tacos Don Tomas (Taqueria San Francisco)

Address: San Francisco 17, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
What to Order: Typical street taco stand food

18. Exquisitos Tacos “Diana”

If you want the best tacos in San Miguel de Allende, then you need to wear good walking shoes. Located a little over a kilometer south of Jardín Allende, Exquisitos Tacos “Diana” is a true neighborhood stall that offers some of the best street food in the city. They serve the usual taqueria dishes like campechano (mixed meat), pastor, bistec, and chorizo.

Open only at night, Exquisitos Tacos “Diana” is a true neighborhood stand located in a more residential part of San Miguel de Allende. Because of its location, it doesn’t get as many foreign customers but it’s well worth the trek.

Exquisitos Tacos “Diana”

Address: Orizaba 18, San Antonio, 37750 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 7PM-12MN, Fri-Tue (closed Wed-Thurs)
What to Order: Typical street taco stand food

19. Tacos “Santos”

Located on the next street parallel to Exquisitos Tacos “Diana”, Tacos “Santos” may be my favorite taco stand in San Miguel de Allende. It’s my favorite not because their offerings are that much better than everyone else’s. I like them because they offer the most variety.

Tacos “Santos” is the only stall I found that offers tacos de cabeza – tacos made from different parts of the head. It’s my favorite type of taco meat and something that you should definitely try while in Mexico.

Underneath this forest of cilantro and onion are tacos filled with seso (brain), cachete (cheek), and ojo (eyes).

If you want truly interesting tacos in San Miguel de Allende, then you need to make the trek to Tacos “Santos”. You can visit Tacos “Santos” and Exquisitos Tacos “Diana” on the same night.

Tacos “Santos”

Address: Clavel 7, San Antonio, 37750 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 6PM-12MN, Wed-Mon (closed Tuesdays)
What to Order: Typical street taco stand food

20. Elotes y Esquites Don Pedro

When I first learned about this popular Mexican street food called elote, I thought it sounded gross. Corn on the cob slathered in mayonnaise and cheese didn’t appeal to my Asian taste buds, until I actually tried it.

I had my first taste of elote at this stall on the east side of Jardín Allende and it changed my mind forever. Elote isn’t gross at all. Buttery, sweet, and a little spicy, it’s absolutely delicious. Esquite is similar to elote except the corn kernels are removed from the cob and served in a cup.

I believe there are two elote stands around Jardín Allende. When you’re facing Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Elotes y Esquites Don Pedro is the one on the left side of the park.

Elotes y Esquites Don Pedro

Address: Jardin Allende, Principal 18, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
What to Order: Elotse, esquitas

FOOD HALLS / MARKETS

Like street food stands, mercados offer some of the best local food in Mexico. Markets provide a glimpse of the real San Miguel de Allende so be sure to visit at least one during your stay in the city.

21. Tortas Beltran (Ignacio Ramírez Market)

Ignacio Ramírez Market is probably the best mercado you can visit in the city center. It’s easy to get to and it’s home to around a dozen fondas.

A fonda is basically the Mexican version of a mom and pop restaurant. They’re typically open only for breakfast or lunch and are usually housed in a permanent structure like a mercado.

With so many to choose from, we looked for the fondas with the most customers and Tortas Beltran was one of them. As their name suggests, they specialize in tortas which are Mexican sandwiches served on soft bread rolls.

We asked our server for recommendations and one of the sandwiches he suggested was this torta de milanesa de pollo, or chicken milanesa sandwich.

Another sandwich he recommended was this torta de pierna. Pierna refers to pork leg and is one of the most commonly used ingredients in Mexican torta sandwiches.

When choosing between street food stalls in any country, always go for the one with the longest line of locals. The same rule applies in Mexico and it paid off again today. These tortas were delicious.

Tortas Beltran (Ignacio Ramírez Market)

Address: Ignacio Ramírez Market, Colegio s/n, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-7PM, daily
What to Order: Tortas

22. Alumia (Mercado del Carmen)

If mercados and street food stalls are a little too “local” for you, then Mercado del Carmen is right up your alley. It’s a trendy food hall that’s home to about ten restaurants, bars, and cafes.

We learned about Mercado del Carmen from Chef Daniela of Hierba Santa Cocina del Sur. This is where she likes to go with her husband when they aren’t cooking up fabulous Guerrero-inspired dishes at their restaurant. When a local chef tells you to go somewhere, you don’t ask any questions. You just go.

Chef Daniela and her husband like to go to the stall that serves Asian food (Chikatana) but Renée wanted Mexican so she went to Alumia instead. They serve traditional Mexican fare like this delicious carne asada taco.

Mercado del Carmen is located right next to Sabroso Taqueria. It’s a fun space with many food options so definitely check them out on your next trip to San Miguel de Allende.

Alumia (Mercado del Carmen)

Address: Mercado del Carmen, Pila Seca 19, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 1-9PM, Tue-Thurs / 1-11PM, Fri-Sat / 1-8PM, Sun (closed Mondays)
What to Order: Traditional Mexican dishes

LOCATION MAP

To help you navigate to these San Miguel de Allende restaurants, I’ve pinned them all on the map below. It includes a few other restaurants we had on our list but didn’t go to. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

San Miguel de Allende offers much in the way of fine dining restaurants and luxury accommodations. You can explore every rooftop restaurant and boutique hotel in the city but that doesn’t mean you’ll be experiencing the real San Miguel.

If experiencing the local food and culture is what interests you most about a trip, then we hope this list of (mostly) humble eateries leads you to many memorable meals in this charming, though sometimes Disneyland-like city.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this article on the best San Miguel de Allende restaurants are affiliate links. What that means is that we’ll get a small commission if you make a booking at no additional cost to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as this helps us make more of these free travel guides. ¡Muchas gracias!

The Best Coffee in San Miguel de Allende: 6 Cafes You Need to Visit

Before arriving in San Miguel de Allende, we had spent four weeks in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Tequila, and Guanajuato City. Maybe we were too focused on street food stalls and taquerias to notice but up to that point, we had little idea how important coffee was to Mexican culture.

True coffeehouses – like the kinds you find in Hanoi or Saigon – didn’t seem all that common in the Mexican cities we had visited. We were making do with the cheap instant coffee we had been buying from our local OXXO, until we arrived of course, in San Miguel de Allende.

After spending the first couple of days in this gorgeous colonial-era city in Mexico’s central highlands, it became clear that coffee is indeed a thing in Mexico, and some of the best can be found right here in San Miguel de Allende.

COFFEE IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE QUICK LINKS

Traveleating on your own is always fun, but if you really want to learn about the local cuisine, then it’s best to go on a guided food tour or join a cooking class. Check out these food tours and cooking classes in San Miguel de Allende.

TOURS

  • Food Tours: San Miguel de Allende Food and Drinking Tours
  • Cooking Classes: San Miguel de Allende Cooking Classes

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WHY IS SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE A COFFEE LOVER’S PARADISE?

Until I read this article on National Geographic, I didn’t realize that Mexico was a major coffee-producing country. I did some digging and according to the International Coffee Organization, Mexico is the 9th largest coffee-making country in the world, producing roughly 234,000 metric tons of coffee every year.

As I’d soon learn, not every major coffee-producing country in the world gets to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The majority of locals from top coffee producers like Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala are priced out of the most valuable beans which are typically reserved for export. Mexico – particularly in affluent cities like San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City – is an exception.

In San Miguel de Allende, locals get to enjoy the world-class brews that their country produces. Explore the town on foot and you’ll find amazing local cafes on almost every block. Most coffee shops abide by a fair-trade ethos and source their beans ethically and responsibly, mostly from Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz – the three Mexican states known for producing the best coffee beans in the country.

THE BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

While in San Miguel de Allende, I tried coffee made from beans produced in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas. For me, coffee made from Oaxacan beans are the best. They’re more robust and fuller in flavor. They’re also twice the price as beans produced in the other two states.

According to the National Geographic article, most cafes in San Miguel de Allende source their beans from Oaxaca. This seems to contradict what one coffee shop owner told me. According to him, only two shops in San Miguel de Allende brew their coffee with beans from Oaxaca. Keep reading to learn which ones.

1. Lavanda Café

According to the coffee shop owner and barista I had a long chat with, Lavanda Café is one of just two shops in San Miguel de Allende that serves coffee brewed from Oaxaca beans. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the most popular cafes in the city. There’s typically a half-hour wait so I suggest arriving early if you can.

Unlike some of the cafes on this list which serve only coffee, Lavanda serves delicious food to go with their excellent coffee. Lavanda is a popular breakfast and lunch spot with many offerings on their menu like waffles, poached eggs, baked goods, cakes, and Mexican favorites. Check out our San Miguel de Allende restaurant guide for more information.

As expected, Lavanda offers many different types of coffee, from espressos to cold brews to cups of joe infused with flowers. I had no idea what to get so I turned to our server for recommendations. She told us that they don’t serve super strong coffee but they do offer flavorful brews, one of the tastiest being a concoction they call the “Mexican Geisha”.

Here’s a shot of our server pouring me my cup of Mexican Geisha. It’s a type of pour-over black coffee that’s floral and fruity in flavor.

Don’t you just love the super cute presentation? The coffee cup and jar were served on a Japanese-like wooden tray with a card explaining the type of beans they use.

Renée wasn’t in the mood for something as frou-frou so she went with a standard cup of cappuccino. We enjoyed our coffee with a pistachio cinnamon bun and a slice of guava and dulce de leche cake.

Lavanda Café has a calming outdoor courtyard with a guitarist singing Mexican folk songs. It’s a fun place to enjoy a great breakfast and good coffee in San Miguel de Allende.

Lavanda Café de Especialidad y Desayuno

Address: Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 87, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-3:30PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)

2. La Ventana Coffee

If you want coffee on the go, then La Ventana is one of the best places to visit in San Miguel de Allende. As its name suggests, it’s a coffee shop that serves great coffee, mostly from a window on the side of a building. They do have indoor seating and a simple lunch menu with a few sandwich options, but most people just get coffee to go.

Here’s the window where you can order your coffee from. Entrance to the indoor seating space is around the corner.

Located near Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, La Ventana is a cute neighborhood spot that offers great coffee to go. Unlike Lavanda, they offer just the usual brews like cafe americano, espresso, cappuccino, and latte.

La Ventana Coffee

Address: Diez de Sollano y Dávalos 11, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-9PM, daily

3. Ki’bok Coffee

National Geographic described Ki’bok Coffee as a “tiny café that serves some of the best coffee in the world”. Ki’bok, in a Mayan language local to Tulum, where the shop originated from, means “good aromas”.

Like Lavanda, Ki’bok is a lovely cafe that serves delicious food to go with their great coffee. It’s a popular breakfast and lunch spot that offers international dishes like pasta, hummus, quinoa bowls, and focaccia sandwiches along with traditional Mexican food like chilaquiles and enchiladas.

Pictured below are two cups of their Hemingway coffee. It’s their signature blend of Cuban cortado double espresso served with an infusion of brown sugar and topped with foam and powdered cinnamon. It was delicious and one of the best cups of coffee we had in San Miguel de Allende.

Ki’bok is located up the street from La Ventana. If you’re a digital nomad, then this is a great place to work. They have decent-sized tables and aren’t nearly as busy as Lavanda so you can work undisturbed for many hours. They have a nice covered rooftop seating area as well.

Ki-bok Coffee

Address: Diez de Sollano y Dávalos #25, Cuadrante #1, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-7PM, daily

4. El Cafe de La Mancha

El Cafe de La Mancha is another cafe recommended by National Geographic. Located in a more residential neighborhood just outside the central tourist area, it’s a tiny coffee shop that offers almost a dozen ways to prepare your coffee.

With fancy names like Aeropress, V60, Chemex, and Origami, I was stumped on what to get so I asked the barista for recommendations. He suggested I get the Aeropress which is a modern, multi-step brew that culminated in him pouring the coffee from a beaker and into my cup. Fancy!

El Cafe de La Mancha makes good coffee but unfortunately, they don’t offer much in the way of food. They focus mainly on coffee so all they had at the time were some freshly baked cookies.

Luckily for us, El Cafe de La Mancha was located just a short walk from our AirBnB, so we could quickly pop in and get coffees to go.

As you can see from the picture below, El Cafe de La Mancha is tiny. The whole cafe basically consists of a counter, one table, and two small sofas with side tables. It’s a cute neighborhood cafe that seems to have a loyal following.

El Cafe de La Mancha

Address: Julián Carrillo 5b, Guadalupe, 37710 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-5PM, Mon-Sat / 10:30AM-4PM, Sun

5. Zenteno Cafe

Like El Cafe de La Mancha, Zenteno Café is a tiny coffee shop with just three or four tables. We were here just for the coffee but they do offer light meals like sandwiches and quiche and have a decent selection of pastries, cakes, and various fresh breads.

Pictured below is my frothy cup of cappuccino brewed from Veracruz coffee beans. Zenteno Café makes great coffee, some of the best we had in San Miguel de Allende. They’re about a 5-minute walk from Parque Benito Juárez and make for a great stop to or from the park.

Similar to El Cafe de La Mancha, Zenteno Café seems to have a loyal following. One customer was on a Zoom call while other regulars would pop in for a chat with the baristas before taking their coffees to go.

Zenteno Cafe

Address: Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 136, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-8PM, Wed-Sat / 9AM-6PM, Sun / 8AM-4:30PM, Mon-Tue

6. Cafe 20 Trece (Our Favorite Coffee Shop!)

This was our favorite coffee shop in San Miguel de Allende. This hidden gem located directly opposite the entrance to Ignacio Ramirez Market serves excellent coffee. We visited over ten of the most popular and recommended cafes in the city and this unassuming stall was our hands-down favorite.

Cafe 20 Trece serves gourmet coffee brewed from beans produced in Veracruz, Chiapas, and Oaxaca. When ordering my cup of joe, the owner asked if I wanted the strongest coffee or the best. I said the best so he proceeded to make me a cup of coffee brewed from Oaxaca beans. It was easily the best cup of coffee I had in San Miguel de Allende. It was balanced, it had body, and it wasn’t overly acidic or fruity.

This is what the Cafe 20 Trece stall looks like. They were barely three weeks open when I found them so they didn’t have a proper sign yet. It’s easy to miss so look for this stall opposite the entrance to Ignacio Ramirez Market.

I found Cafe 20 Trece by chance when I was looking for a cup of coffee shortly after sunrise. It was the first cup of quality coffee I had in Mexico so we spent the rest of our stay looking for something even better. We never found it.

Not only does Cafe 20 Trece serve great coffee, but it’s also the friendliest coffee shop we went to. Aarón, the owner, is a nice guy who genuinely loves what he does. He’ll gladly talk your ear off about all things coffee if you let him.

Cafe 20 Trece

Address: Across the street from Ignacio Ramirez Market
Operating Hours: Opens at 8AM

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST CAFES IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

Based on my conversations with Aarón, it seems that locally produced coffee is a source of pride only for some Mexicans. I asked him how many cups of coffee the average Mexican drinks and he said not enough. According to him, many Mexicans are happy with an average cup of coffee bought from the convenience store.

Coffee doesn’t seem to be a national obsession in Mexico the way it is in countries like Vietnam, but that’s something the coffee connoisseurs in San Miguel de Allende are rallying to change.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this article on the best coffee shops in San Miguel de Allende are affiliate links. What that means is that we’ll get a small commission if you make a booking at no additional cost to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as this helps us make more of these free travel guides. ¡Muchas gracias!

20 of the Best Korean Instant Noodles That You Need to Try

EDITOR’S NOTE: Who doesn’t love Korean instant noodles? Traveleater Jason is a Korean ramen expert and owner of a website about all things South Korea called The Korean Guide. In this article, he shares with us 20 of the best Korean ramen noodles that you absolutely must try.

When we think of Asian-style instant noodles, you might make the association that they come from China or Japan. After all, Japanese ramen is arguably the most famous Japanese dish. While that may be true, have you ever heard of Korean ramen? The list below describes twenty of the most popular brands and flavors from South Korea that anyone in the world has access to.

All these brands of Korean noodles are delicious, with some made with all-natural and organic ingredients that you can take comfort in. However, as a word of caution, anyone with food allergies to things like gluten, eggs, or nuts should avoid eating these.

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KOREAN INSTANT NOODLES OVERVIEW

  1. Samyang Buldak Stir-Fried Ramen Noodles – Super spicy chicken stir-fried ramen noodles.
  2. Nongshim Korean Shin Ramyun – Bold and spicy carrots, mushrooms, and peppers in a beef-flavored broth with soft, chewy noodles.
  3. Neoguri Spicy Seafood with Udon-Style Noodles – Seafood-flavored udon noodles with kelp.
  4. Jin Ramen Spicy Flavor – A spicy and rich mélange of velvety noodles with beef bone stock, kelp, red pepper, carrot, green onions, and mushrooms.
  5. Samyang Hot Chicken Carbo Ramen – Classic hot and spicy chicken ramen but made with Italian carbonara noodles instead.
  6. Samyang Buldak Chicken Jjajang Spicy – Spicy chicken that comes with a thick, chunky sauce that’s enjoyed as a topping rather than a soup.
  7. Nongshim Chapaguri Spicy Rom Don Jjajang – Another option for a thick, chunky sauce topping that features seafood.
  8. Paldo Fun & Yum Bibim Men Instant Cold Noodles – A sweet and spicy blend with classic Korean spices and a touch of apple juice.
  9. Kko Kko Myeon – All-natural ingredients are used to make these chewy and soft noodles with a spicy chicken broth, powdered egg, green onion flakes, pieces of chicken, and peppers.
  10. Nongshim Chapagetti Chajang Noodle – Ramen noodles that have a thick and chunky black bean sauce with carrot, meat flakes, and sweet onions.
  11. I’M E MinSaeng Ramen – Inspired by the convenience store, “I’m E” is a ramen soup with red pepper, artificial chicken flavor, onion, artificial beef flavor, and dried seaweed.
  12. Jin Ramen Korean Style Instant Noodle – Available in spicy or mild, this ramen soup combines a spicy broth with mushrooms, green onion, and carrot.
  13. Paldo Fun & Yum Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles – A sweet, savory, and spicy blend of thick black bean sauce and red chili pepper paste without any broth.
  14. Samyang Fire Hot Curry Flavored Chicken Ramen – Hot and spicy chicken broth with soft ramen noodles and a curry-flavored kick.
  15. Cheese Ramen, Korean Style Instant Noodle – Ramen noodles with a smooth and creamy cheese sauce combined with vegetables.
  16. Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup – 100% vegan-friendly ramen soup made with simple veggies and mildly flavored broth.
  17. Ottogi Sesame Flavor Ramen – Spicy but smooth ramen noodles featuring sesame seeds.
  18. Paldo Fun & Yum Gomtang Ramen – A mild-flavored beef with vegetables ramen soup.
  19. Paldo Fun & Yum Extra Hot Spicy Instant Noodles – Super hot and spicy Korean ramen soup.
  20. Nongshim Budae Jjigae Noodle Soup – Traditional “army base soup” made with spicy sausage, spam, ham, baked beans, kimchi, red chili paste, and noodles.

ABOUT KOREAN RAMEN NOODLES

Since the Korean War, ramyeon (or Korean ramen) became an inexpensive filler food. It helped keep bellies full when food like rice was scarce. Developed in 1963 by the Samyang Food Company (some instant ramen products from this brand are recommended below), it staved off starvation and famine. At the time, the situation was dire.

This came with the help of Japanese ramen, a reinterpretation of the original Chinese ramen noodle. They developed spice packages that provided a well-rounded mix of nutrients and minerals. Not only did this save Koreans, but it also became a worldwide phenomenon. Instant ramen surged in popularity in the 1980s and experienced a resurgence in the 2000s.

EXPORTS TO ASIA, EUROPE, AND BEYOND

China, Japan, and North Korea import boatloads of South Korean ramen noodles. It also has widespread fame in Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Britain, and even the United States. While there are many people in the US who have not heard of Korean-style ramen, there are others who clear it off the shelves.

K-FOOD

Today, Korean-style ramen noodles are part of an entire Korean food line called K-Food. Of course, this includes classic ramen and instant noodles but also barbecue, rice bowls, and other seafood delicacies. When Koreans are overseas, they always eat a bowl of ramen to remind them of the comforts of home.

TIPS & TECHNIQUES FOR THE BEST KOREAN NOODLES

The key to excellent Korean-style ramen is often up to the diner’s creativity and choice of supplemental ingredients. Including freshly grilled meat like chicken, pork, beef, or fish is always a good idea. This is especially true for specialty ramen soups that include shrimp or squid. Tofu is a good option for vegans and vegetarians.

Plus, you can add other things like hard-boiled eggs, fresh chopped green onions, or a plethora of vegetables to your liking. Baby corn, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, celery, and even cucumber will make excellent toppings. You can also mix two different flavors of ramen into one fabulous bowl.

The versatility doesn’t stop there. If you prefer, you can stick to a traditional-style ramen noodle soup. However, you can use the seasoning packets to create a sauce rather than just covering the noodles. Also, you have the option of frying the noodles to create even more flavor.

THE BEST KOREAN RAMEN BRANDS

Listed below are twenty of the best and most popular Korean ramen brands that you need to try. You can purchase any of these Korean instant noodles on Amazon (Please note that this article contains Amazon affiliate links).

1. Samyang Buldak Stir-Fried Ramen Noodles (Spicy Korean Ramen!)

If you enjoy a lot of heat in your food, then you’re going to love that we started this list with these Korean spicy noodles from Samyang.

Samyang is a K-Food brand that began back in 1961. But 1963 saw the birth of their instant noodle line, which was done in an effort to fight off food scarcity at the time. Ever since, ramen in general has been the second most popular Korean food.

Today, their Buldak Stir-Fried Korean Ramen Noodles – or Buldak-Bokkeum-Myeon (불닭볶음면) – is one of their most popular products. It’s a hot and spicy ramen with chicken flavor. Also known as “fire noodles”, these are some of the spiciest Korean ramen noodles you can find.

This brand of Samyang Ramen Korean instant noodles is so notoriously spicy that there’s a viral video challenge with people in South Korea and beyond trying to eat a bowl of these fiery noodles as fast as they can. If you’re a fan of spicy food, then you need to try this.

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2. Nongshim Shin Ramyun

Nongshim has one of the top-selling Korean ramen noodle products. It’s famous and enjoyed worldwide, especially in the United States. Their Shin Ramyun is a bold and spicy beef-flavored blend of chewy, soft noodles. It comes with carrots and mushrooms and features the world’s finest peppers.

Shin Ramyun is one of the first styles of ramen released in 1963. But, this is Nongshim’s take on the recipe. Regardless, people everywhere agree, Nongshim Shin Ramyun is one of the best Korean ramen noodles around.

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3. Neoguri Spicy Seafood with Udon-Style Noodles

Another legendary Korean ramen noodle from Nongshim, this debuted in 1982 and has been a hit ever since. It’s notorious for its thick, gooey, and chewy udon noodles with a seafood flavor that’s spicy and distinct. They make it with real ingredients, including various types of seafood and dried kelp.

What makes this so special are the udon noodles. These thick noodles make for a hearty type of Korean ramen.

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4. Jin Ramen Spicy Flavor

Jin Ramen, made by the Ottogi Company, packs a punch of spice in a fabulous Korean ramen soup. It’s made with a host of different ingredients. Aside from the soft, velvety noodles, there’s beef bone stock, red pepper, kelp extract, carrot, mushroom, and green onion, among others. The whole experience is rich and delicious.

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5. Samyang Hot Chicken Carbo Ramen

Returning to the 50-year-long trusted Korean ramen producer, Samyang, their Hot Chicken Carbo Ramen is something to really write home about. “Carbo” refers to the Italian carbonara noodles used in the recipe.

You can think of this as a fusion type of ramen that combines classic Korean ramen with a touch of Italy. They call this Carbonara-Buldak-Bokkeum-Myeon (까르보불닭볶음면). It’s incredibly spicy in the same way as the Buldak spicy noodles previously mentioned in this article.

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6. Samyang Buldak Chicken Jjajang Spicy

Another great flavor in the line of Samyang ramen instant noodles is the Buldak Chicken Jjajang Spicy. Otherwise known as Jjajang-Buldak-Bokkeum-Myeon (짜장불닭볶음면), it’s just like the other spicy Korean ramen chicken flavors they offer, but the sauce is thick and chunky.

It means this isn’t a Korean ramen soup per se. It’s a noodle dish that comes topped with a fried sauce. You can think of it as something like spaghetti but it’s made with entirely different ingredients.

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7. Nongshim Chapaguri Spicy Rom Don Jjajang

Nongshim also offers their own Korean ramen with Jjajang. Their Chapaguri Spicy Rom Don Jjajang features seafood. You add hot water to the spice packet and noodles which produce a rich and hot-tasting ramen that’s covered in spice rather than becoming a soup.

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8. Paldo Fun & Yum Bibim Men Instant Cold Noodles

Paldo Fun & Yum prides itself on providing healthy, delicious, and nutritious K-Food options to the public. Their Bibim Men Instant Cold Noodles brings an interesting twist to a Korean classic that’s famous across the western world.

This incorporates their signature Mukhang ramen noodles which you can use in any Korean dish you make at home. You can toss them with your favorite stir fry with any type of protein, topper, or veggie. The sauce is sweet and spicy with a hint of apple juice mixed with an array of classic Korean spices.

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9. Kko Kko Myeon

Another great product from Paldo Fun & Yum is their Kko Kko Myeon, also known as “kokomen.” This provides a chewy and soft noodle along with spicy chicken broth, green onion flakes, powdered egg, chicken pieces and pepper. The great thing is you can trust there are no artificial flavors or preservatives.

It makes a wonderful base to create your own Korean dish at home. It has versatile ingredients which allow for adding things like a boiled egg, pieces of chicken, or even pork.

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10. Nongshim Chapagetti Chajang Noodle

Chapagetti is Nongshim’s interpretation of a classic Korean staple dish called chajangmyun noodles. The Korean food developers at the company labored over the right combination of ingredients to ensure that it tastes just like what you would find at a Korean noodle shop.

It’s a thick and chunky black bean sauce that’s actually inspired by neighboring China. The soft and chewy noodles combine sweet onions, carrot, and meat flakes. Mix it with your own pickled yellow radish and crushed chili pepper powder for a bold and flavorful dining experience.

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11. I’M E MinSaeng Ramen

MinSaeng – a word that means “people’s livelihood” – is a ramen noodle company from South Korea. “I’m E” harkens back to a popular convenience store chain. They sell this specific type of noodles and spices that mimic the freshly made Korean dish. MinSaeng gets pretty close with this instant ramen version.

The soup is flavored with things like red pepper powder, onion, artificial chicken flavor, artificial beef flavor, and dried seaweed. You can cook it up according to the package directions, but you can also add additional ingredients.

Personally, I like kimchi flavor so I typically make it with kimchi, eggs, and green onion. These will liven up the soup and your taste buds will shimmy with delight.

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12. Jin Ramen Korean Style Instant Noodle

Ottogi’s Jin Ramen Korean Style Instant Noodle comes in two flavors – spicy or mild. The boullion-based spicy broth has plenty of vegetables like green onion, mushrooms, and carrots. The chewy noodles and quick cooking time means you can have a hot bowl of Korean ramen soup in minutes without even being in South Korea.

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13. Paldo Fun & Yum Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles

The Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles by Paldo Fun & Yum is a traditional and classic blend that doesn’t come with a broth. However, it has a sweet and addictive chili flavor with a savory, spicy kick from its black bean sauce.

The thick, syrupy consistency of this sauce isn’t overpowering in its spiciness or sweetness. Plus, it comes with a crunchy fried onion garnish that you can serve on the side or on top.

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14. Samyang Fire Hot Curry Flavored Chicken Ramen

The Fire Hot Curry Flavored Chicken Ramen by Samyang offers all the wonderful spiciness of their classic Hot Chicken Ramen. The difference is the addition of curry to the mix which creates a tasty variation. However, some people who are familiar with this brand say that the curry isn’t as hot as other styles they make.

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15. Cheese Ramen, Korean-Style Instant Noodle

For cheese lovers, the Cheese Ramen by Ottogi is sure to satisfy your cravings. The spice packet mixes with powdered cheese which, when you add water, gives the noodles a creamy and mild texture with a deliciously rich cheese flavor. These Korean-style instant ramen noodles are ideal for kids and vegetarians.

There’s no meat but it’s rich with veggies and cheddar cheese. This is probably Ottogi’s most popular ramen noodle, especially in the United States.

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16. Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup

Nongshim produces a ramen soup that’s perfect for vegans – the Soon Veggie Noodle Soup. It’s made with a host of different vegetables and other ingredients that are 100% free of animal byproducts. The vegetable broth is simple, yet delicious with a mild flavor.

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17. Ottogi Sesame Flavor Ramen

Another great ramen dish by Ottogi comes in sesame flavor. It has eggshell calcium, green tea, corn, red pepper, garlic, beef bone broth, roasted sesame seeds, and green onion. It has a rich and flavorful taste punctuated by whole sesame seeds.

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18. Paldo Fun & Yum Gomtang Ramen

This Gomtang Ramen by Paldo Fun & Yum is so popular that it clears shelves fast, especially in the United States. Enjoyed for its mild beef and vegetable flavor, this is an instant ramen version of a traditional Korean recipe that’s often made at home and served at noodle shops throughout the country.

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19. Paldo Fun & Yum Extra Hot Spicy Instant Noodles

Yet another fabulous ramen dish from Paldo Fun & Yum, these Extra Hot Spicy Instant Ramen Noodles are not for the faint of heart. If you have any aversion to hot and spicy food, then you may want to try another type of ramen until you can build up your tolerance.

Also called Teumsae ramyun (틈새라면), this is one of the most unique and spiciest sauces. You can prepare it as a soup but it’s most recommended as a sauce with noodles on the side. It will help quell the overwhelming burning sensation that you’ll get in your mouth.

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20. Nongshim Budae Jjigae Noodle Soup

For an authentic K-Food noodle stew, you have to try Nongshim’s Budae Jjigae. This is a traditional dish with a name that translates to “army base soup.” It typically consists of baked beans, ham, sausage, spam, kimchi, and of course, noodles. It’s also made with a red chili paste Koreans call gochujang.

While Nongshim’s version is an instant noodle, it’s quite comparable to what you’ll find at someone’s home or a noodle shop. It’s spicy, flavorful, and packed with nutrients.

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FINAL THOUGHTS ON KOREAN INSTANT NOODLES

Even though this is a huge list of Korean ramen noodles for you to start with, there are hundreds, if not thousands more. There are some that appeal to those with more adventurous palates, like versions made with squid.

Regardless, Korean instant noodles are delicious, fast, and easy to make. They’re certainly a nutritious way to get a fast meal, no matter where you are in the world.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this article on the best Korean ramen brands are affiliate links, meaning we’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as it helps us make more of these free travel and food guides. Thank you!

Cover photo by topntp via Depositphotos.

Guanajuato Food Guide: 18 Must-Visit Restaurants in Guanajuato, Mexico

Guanajuato City is gorgeous. This former silver mining town in central Mexico is famous for its colonial architecture, its narrow streets, and its labyrinthine network of alleyways and tunnels. The view from Monumento al Pípila is second to none and the callejoneadas serenading the town was something we looked forward to every night.

But as captivating as Guanajuato is, one thing it isn’t really known for is its food. At least not in the same way that Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico City, and Guadalajara are. Walk around Plaza de la Paz and most of the restaurants you’ll find are of the touristy variety, similar to San Miguel de Allende. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find great food in this city.

If you stray from the main tourist areas, I think you’ll find that Guanajuato has many hidden gems, local places that offer authentic versions of Mexican classics like enchiladas mineras, tacos al vapor, guacamaya, and tacos de cabeza. You just have to dig a little deeper to find them.

To help you in your search, we’ve come up with this list of 18 of the best restaurants and roadside stalls in Guanajuato. If finding authentic local food is what excites you most about a new city, then this list is definitely for you.

FOOD IN GUANAJUATO QUICK LINKS

To help you plan your visit to Guanajuato, we’ve put together links to recommended hotels, tours, and other travel-related services here.

HOTELS

Top-rated hotels in Centro Historico, one of the best areas to stay for first-time visitors to Guanajuato.

  • Luxury: 1850 Hotel Boutique
  • Midrange: El Meson de los Poetas
  • Budget: El Viejo Zaguan by Lunian

TOURS

  • Cooking Classes: Guanajuato Cooking Classes

OTHER SERVICES

  • Travel Insurance (with COVID cover)
  • Airport Transfer
  • Mexico SIM Card

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WHAT FOOD IS GUANAJUATO KNOWN FOR?

As described, Guanajuato isn’t really known to be a foodie destination like Oaxaca, Mexico City, Merida, or Puerto Vallarta, but there are a couple of regional Mexican specialties that you absolutely must try.

Enchiladas Mineras

This is the most famous regional Mexican dish from Guanajuato City. Being a former mining town, it only follows that its most famous dish is named after the people who used to work in those mines. Based on what I’ve read, the miners’ wives would often make them this dish at the end of each work day.

Enchiladas mineras translates to “miner’s enchiladas” and refers to a type of enchilada filled with cheese, onions, and a stew-like mix of potatoes and carrots. Typically served in portions of four, the enchiladas are baked and then served with a piece of grilled chicken, lettuce, salsa, cheese, and jalapeño peppers.

Guacamaya

Gucamaya is a type of torta or Mexican sandwich. Originally from the neighboring city of León, it’s sold as street food in Guanajuato City, usually from roadside stands or market stalls. It’s a beast of a sandwich made with a bolillo bread roll stuffed to the hilt with roast pork, chicharron, avocado, salsa, and lime juice.

THE BEST GUANAJUATO RESTAURANTS

To help organize this list of the best Guanajuato restaurants, I’ve arranged them by category. Click on a link to jump to any section of the guide.

  1. Guanajuato Specialties / Traditional Mexican Food
  2. Tacos / Street Food
  3. Snacks / Desserts / Drinks

GUANAJUATO SPECIALTIES / TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FOOD

In this section, you’ll find suggestions on where to find the best enchiladas mineras and guacamaya in Guanajuato. Restaurants that specialize in just one or two dishes aren’t as common in Guanajuato so most of these restaurants also serve traditional and authentic Mexican dishes like tlacoyos, gorditas, chilaquiles, and pozole.

1. Enchiladas de Lupe

Restaurants and roadside stalls that specialize in just one dish are my favorite places to eat. With so much experience making just that one dish, you’re almost guaranteed they’re going to be good. It’s for that reason why Enchiladas de Lupe, for me, is one of the best restaurants in Guanajuato.

As its name suggests, Enchiladas de Lupe is a Mexican restaurant that specializes in enchiladas mineras. It’s a small family-owned restaurant where one elderly woman – Doña Lupe I presume – does all the cooking. She does it in the room before the dining area so you can watch her make the enchiladas by hand. I don’t know when this restaurant opened but clearly, she’s been at this a long time because her enchiladas mineras are absolutely delicious.

Underneath this mound of deliciousness are four of the tastiest enchiladas in Guanajuato. This may have been the single best meal I had in the city. You can get their enchiladas mineras with or without chicken.

Enchiladas de Lupe is my absolute favorite restaurant in Guanajuato, largely because they make the best version of the one dish that this city is known for. Located near Callejón del Beso, it’s open nightly from 6-11PM. Don’t miss it.

Enchiladas de Lupe

Address: Antigua Pl. de Gallos, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 6-11PM, daily
What to Order: Enchiladas mineras

2. An’ca Carmen

Enchiladas de Lupe may have been my favorite, but for Ren, the enchiladas mineras at An’ca Carmen were the best. This family-owned restaurant near the Basilica serves tasty examples of Mexican classics like chilaquiles, molletes, flautas, and tetelas.

To be honest, we didn’t come here for the enchiladas mineras. We asked our server for recommendations and this was the first dish he recommended. Their version of Guanajauato’s famed regional dish is just as good as the enchiladas mineras at Enchiladas de Lupe so it’s all a matter of personal preference.

This may sound cheesy, but it’s clear that both versions of enchiladas mineras were made with love. It’s that one unquantifiable ingredient that makes good food great. You can’t measure or describe it but you know it when you taste it. I recommend trying both to see which you prefer.

The other dish our server recommended was this breakfast platter of chilaquiles. An’ca Carmen has an entire page of chilaquiles dishes on their menu but our server picked this one out for Ren, maybe because it’s called “Lady Chilaquiles“? Ha! Who knows. Whatever the reason, it was delicious.

If you’ve never had it before, chilaquiles is made with corn tortillas cooked in salsa and topped with cheese and other ingredients. An’ca Carmen offers over ten variations of this popular Mexican breakfast dish. This version was topped with the house salsa and served with a side of grilled chicken and refried beans.

Pro tip when ordering at restaurants in Mexico: One dish per person is usually enough. In our experience, servings at Mexican restaurants are fairly large and filling so there’s no need to order appetizers or anything else to go with your entree.

These tlacoyos go for just MXN 20 so I thought they’d be small, like tacos, but they turned out to be pretty big! If you have a taste for traditional food, then you need to try tlacoyos. Thicker than corn tortillas, it’s a pre-Hispanic Mexican dish made with masa stuffed with a variety of fillings like cheese, beans, mushrooms, and chicharron.

At An’ca Carmen, you’ll have several fillings to choose from. We went with mushroom and ropa vieja. Both were very good.

An’ca Carmen serves great food at very reasonable prices. When we were there, the restaurant was filled almost entirely with local Mexican families. It had that authentic local feel which we always look for when seeking out restaurants on trips.

In the picture below, you can see a table near the entrance of the restaurant where a woman, presumably the family’s matriarch, does some of the cooking. There are several pots with different fillings which she uses to stuff tlacoyos and other freshly made corn dishes. It was interesting to watch her work.

An’ca Carmen

Address: Calle de Alonso 53, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 9AM-5PM, daily
What to Order: Enchiladas mineras, chilaquiles

3. Los Huacales

Based on ratings alone, Los Huacalaes has to be one of the best restaurants in Guanajuato. It’s a traditional Mexican restaurant that serves good food in a relaxed, casual space.

I was here for the enchiladas mineras, which our server was quick to describe as an “excellent choice”, but they do offer an extensive menu of traditional Mexican dishes like molcajete, milanesa, chile relleno, and enfrijoladas.

These beautifully plated enchiladas mineras are what turned us on to this Guanajuato specialty. The flavor from the stewed potatoes and carrots is what makes this rather iconic dish truly special.

Remember what I said about not overordering at Mexican restaurants? They always give you filling portions like this hearty bowl of sopa azteca.

Sopa azteca refers to a type of Mexican tortilla soup. It’s made with fried corn tortilla shreds served in a broth flavored with garlic, onion, tomato, chile de árbol, and epazote. Depending on the cook, it can be made with additional ingredients as well like chicharron, avocado, cubes of cheese, and sour cream.

As described, Los Huacales is one of the most highly-rated restaurants in Guanajuato, Mexico. It’s an unassuming little space tucked away behind the Basilica.

Los Huacales

Address: Subida de San José, Baratillo 14, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 9AM-6PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mondays)
What to Order: Enchiladas, molcajete, desayuno (breakfast)

4. Mercado Hidalgo

I was eavesdropping on a conversation between a cook and his customer and he was telling her that the best guacamayas in Guanajuato can be found at Mercado Hidalgo. It doesn’t matter which particular stall you visit because they’re all good.

When I first read about guacamaya, I was expecting something that looked like a typical submarine sandwich but what I got was something I had never seen before. The lady making our sandwich took a Mexican bolillo roll and stuffed it to the point of explosion with roast pork, chicharron, avocado, and salsa. It was incredible!

You can’t really tell just how big it is from this picture but keep scrolling to get a better sense of its size.

This picture gives you a better sense of how big this sandwich is but it still doesn’t do it justice. I’m not even sure it still qualifies as a sandwich since the filings looked like they were erupting out of the bread! The guacamaya is an absolute beast of a sandwich, and you can get one for just MXN 75.

Our favorite ingredient in the guacamaya is the chicharron. We’re used to eating deep-fried pork rinds in our home country but never like this. I didn’t take a picture but the lady was breaking off pieces from surfboard-sized sheets of chicharron that were crispy and much more delicate than regular chicharron.

We enjoyed it so much that we wanted to buy a whole chicharron surfboard to enjoy as a snack with beer. Ha!

If you’re looking for cheap authentic food in Guanajuato, then Mercado Hidalgo is a great place to go. It’s home to dozens of stalls selling prepared food, snacks, souvenirs, clothing, bags, and other Mexican knick-knacks.

I couldn’t find a name but we bought our guacamaya from this stall. It’s located right by one of the entrances to the market.

I don’t know if it’s part of the market but right next to Mercado Hidalgo is this separate building with two or three floors of food stalls. If you’re looking for cheap local food, then this would be a great place to explore as well.

Mercado Hidalgo

Address: Interior del Mercado Hidalgo local No. 145, Centro, 36000 Guanajuato
Operating Hours: Around 10AM-7PM, daily

5. Santo Café

We rarely eat breakfast but we’re always happy to make an exception if a restaurant offers something unique or special. Santo Café is that kind of restaurant in Guanajuato.

Santo Café offers a huge menu of both Mexican and international dishes, including good breakfast platters with eggs, pancakes, and omelettes. Normally, we’d steer clear of a place like this but we read about its unique bridge seating that offers overhead views of passing pedestrians. You’ll see what I mean in the following pictures.

For breakfast, I had this delicious plate of huevos aztecas. It consists of scrambled eggs served with spinach, onion, tomato, red bell pepper, ham, fried tortilla, and refried beans. All of Santo Café’s breakfast platters come with a cup of freshly made coffee and either a glass of orange juice or a fruit plate.

Ren had this equally delicious plate of huevos al gusto with chorizo and refried beans.

Santo Café serves good breakfast food but what makes this place truly special is that bridge. To get to Santo Café, you walk up this side ramp and cross a short bridge into the restaurant.

Isn’t this nice? If you’re lucky enough to be seated at one of Santo Café’s bridge tables, then you’ll have an overhead view of pedestrians walking under the bridge. It was a little chilly this early in the morning but the view and atmosphere were worth it.

If you’re looking to enjoy a nice breakfast with unique views in Guanajuato, then Santo Café is one of the best places to go. I suggest arriving early if you want to be seated on the bridge since there are just two small tables available.

Santo Café

Address: Campanero, Del Campanero 4, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 9AM-9:30PM, Wed-Mon / 2-7PM, Tue
What to Order: Breakfast

TACOS / STREET FOOD

Our very first meal in Guanajuato was at a decently rated restaurant around Plaza de San Fernando. We didn’t know it at the time but it turned out to be one of those touristy restaurants that serves a little bit of everything, both Mexican and international. Many restaurants in the central part of Guanajuato are like that. We hated it and vowed to avoid those types of restaurants for the remainder of our trip.

That night, I redid our eat-inerary and did my best to find the best local eateries and street food stands in Guanajuato. If you want all the tacos – all the BEST tacos in Guanajuato – then this section is for you.

6. Taquería Chela & Chuchita

Chela & Chuchita is one of the nicer taquerias on this list. Located just off the main plaza, it’s a small restaurant that serves traditional Mexican comfort food like tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and volcanes.

Chela & Chuchita offers daily promos. We ate here on a Monday so I got this tacos al pastor set with an agua fresca for just MXN 55.

As their name suggests, this taqueria specializes in chuchitas. According to their menu, a chuchita is a type of quesadilla made with flour tortillas, so I guess that makes it similar to gringas?

This is the only time we’ve encountered chuchitas thus far in Mexico so I don’t know if it’s a dish they came up with. In any case, it’s delicious. You can have it with different fillings like fish, beef, pork, or chicken.

What you’re looking at is a dish called papas asadas or roasted potatoes mixed with meat, cheese, and grilled onions. It’s served with corn tortillas and you can get it with fish, beef, chicken, pork, or just vegetables.

To eat, you fill a tortilla with the meat and potato mixture together with some cilantro, raw onions, salsa verde, and lime juice.

If you want to have tacos in Guanajuato but don’t want to eat at a roadside stall, then Taquería Chela & Chuchita is a good alternative.

Taquería Chela & Chuchita

Address: Calle de Alonso 29, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 3-10PM, Sun-Wed / 11AM-12MN, Thurs-Sat
What to Order: Tacos, chuchitas, volcanes, papas asadas

7. Tacos Tony

Located down the street from Chela & Chuchita is another taqueria – Tacos Tony. Like its neighbor, it’s a small restaurant that offers standard Mexican comfort food like tacos and quesadillas filled with different meats like pastor, bistec, chorizo, and costilla. Their menu lists taco de cabeza as well but unfortunately, they were sold out at the time.

Pictured below are four different types of tacos livened up with raw onions, cilantro, and a nice spicy salsa.

Like Chela & Chuchita, Tacos Tony is a good choice for people wanting to sink their teeth into authentic Mexican tacos without going to a true taco stand.

Tacos Tony

Address: C/ Galeana 379, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal.
Operating Hours: 8AM-9PM, daily
What to Order: Birria

8. La Vela

Most of the taquerias we went to in Guanajuato only offered tacos filled with meat. If you want seafood tacos, then the best place to go to is La Vela. It’s a fun seafood restaurant that offers Mexican dishes like tacos, tostadas, cocteles, and antojitos made with different types of seafood.

On my plate below is a delicious shrimp taco and an equally tasty marlin gordita. A gordita is a traditional Mexican dish made with masa stuffed with meat, cheese, and other fillings. Gordita stems from the word gordo, meaning “fat”.

Everything we ordered at La Vela was delicious, but our favorite dish may have been this empanada. They offer empanadas filled with cheese, marlin with cheese, shrimp, or octopus.

An inside look at our octopus empanada. La Vela’s empanadas are large and airy and filled with just the right amount of seafood. This was delicious.

The Instagrammers in us couldn’t resist this bottle of Dos Equis embellished with a skewer of shrimp, cucumber, and cocktail sauce. You can get it with a bottle or can of beer. La Vela serves fun versions of micheladas as well.

La Vela is a colorful, surfer-themed restaurant near the entrance to the funicular.

La Vela

Address: 36000, Constancia 6, Zona Centro, Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 11AM-7PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mondays)
What to Order: Tacos, tostadas, empanadas

9. Tacos “El Paisa II”

Walk farther away from the main plaza and you’ll notice something magical start to happen – the tacos get better. Tacos “El Paisa II” is a humble Mexican restaurant located just past Mercado Hidalgo, in an area of town that starts to feel more local and less touristy. In my opinion, this is where the real food in Guanajuato begins.

Tacos “El Paisa II” offers Mexican favorites like tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and tortas. You can get them filled with different types of meat like bistec, chorizo, costilla, and our all-time favorite – cabeza. Tacos de cabeza refers to tacos made with meat from the head.

If you’re feeling daring and want to dive into real Mexican cuisine, then you need to try tacos made with what Western society deems as the “less desirable” parts of the animal. Less desirable mi culo. Tacos de cabeza are seriously delicious.

I don’t remember exactly what this was, but it may have been the taco de adobada, or taco filled with pork marinated in spicy red chilis.

As much as I love the tacos in Mexico, I think I may enjoy quesadillas even more. The soft, gooey, and stringy cheese goes so well with the marinated meats. This incredibly delicious quesadilla was filled with a combination of chorizo and bistec.

We ate at Tacos “El Paisa II” but to its immediate left is Tacos “El Paisa I”. I don’t know what the story is but you can probably get the same food from either place.

Tacos “El Paisa II”

Address: Av. Benito Juárez 99, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 11AM-1AM, daily
What to Order: Tacos, quesadillas, tortas

10. Tacos al Vapor El Jaguar

This humble taco stand is one of the best places to try tacos al vapor in Guanajuato. Also known as tacos de canasta (“basket tacos”) or tacos sudados (“sweaty tacos”), tacos al vapor refers to a type of street taco filled with various meat stews and bathed in oil or melted butter.

Unlike regular tacos that are made to order, tacos al vapor are pre-made and kept in a basket or container to keep them moist and warm. Texturally, they’re softer and much more moist than freshly made tacos. They’re also cheaper. We’d typically pay between MXN 14-18 for a freshly made taco but these tacos al vapor went for just MXN 9 apiece.

On this plate are five tacos al vapor smothered in shredded cabbage, pickled vegetables, and salsa. The tacos are too moist to eat with your hands so they’ll give you a spoon. They’re delicious.

Tacos al Vapor El Jaguar is a humble but exceedingly popular stand located in a more residential part of Guanajuato. Click on the link to see exactly where it is on a map. They’re only open till 1PM from Monday to Saturday.

Tacos al Vapor El Jaguar

Address: Barrio de la Griteria, 36000 Guanajuato
Operating Hours: 8AM-1PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Tacos al vapor

11. Taqueria Rinconcito Mixe

I’ll never forget this taqueria. I thought I had to wait till Mexico City to try tacos de suadero but to my surprise, it was available here!

Rinconcity Mixe is a taqueria that offers tacos, quesadillas, alambres, and papas asadas filled with different types of meat like pastor, chorizo, costilla, and arrachera. When I saw the word “suadero” on their menu, I knew exactly what I was having.

Suadero refers to a thin cut of meat that’s sliced from the area between the animal’s belly and leg. It’s a fattier portion of meat that’s smoother and less stringy in texture. It’s absolutely delicious and one of my favorite cuts of meat for tacos.

I was so impressed with their tacos de suadero that I decided to follow them up with some tacos al pastor. These were delicious as well and one of the cheapest I had in Guanajuato. Each pastor taco at Rinconcito Mixe goes for just MXN 12 apiece.

If you’d like to go on a DIY street food tour, then you can start with Taqueria Rinconcito Mixe and visit the next four taquerias on this list. Visiting these five nighttime taquerias will give you a taste of the real Guanajuato.

Taqueria Rinconcito Mixe

Address: Plazuela del baratillo ext.#18 zona centro 36000, C. Alhóndiga #33a, Zona Centro, 36000 Mexico, Gto.
Operating Hours: 4PM-1AM, daily
What to Order: Tacos, quesadillas, alambres, papas asadas

12. Tacos El Campeon

I’ve read that the best tacos come out only at night in Mexico. If that were true, then these next four taco stands are definitely proof of that.

Tacos El Campeon is perhaps the most local taco stand I visited in Guanajuato. Located about a 5-minute walk from Taqueria Rinconcito Mixe, it’s located in a residential area rarely visited by tourists. By the time they opened at 8PM, the stand was already swarming with locals. If you want a true local taco experience in Guanajuato, then you need to make the trek to Tacos El Campeon.

I asked the server what they had and he started rattling off the usual meat fillings like bistec, costilla, and chorizo. When I heard him say “cabeza”, I knew exactly what to get. Pictured below is a scrumptious pair of tacos de cabeza smothered in red and green salsa. This is what Mexican street food is all about!

Tacos El Campeon is located at the mouth of Santa Fe Tunnel. Click on the link to see exactly where it is on a map.

Tacos El Campeon

Address: Sta. Fe Tunnel 76, San Clemente, 36010 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8PM-1AM, daily
What to Order: Tacos

13. Tacos Juan

Tacos Juan is another late night roadside stall that offers Mexican comfort food like tacos and quesadillas. If I remember correctly, this was the only stall we visited that offers tacos de lengua or tacos made with beef or pork tongue. Lengua is one of my absolute favorite cuts of meat and something that you need to try while in Mexico.

Lengua tacos are typically more expensive than tacos made from other parts of the head. While other types of head meat tacos go for about MXN 15 per piece, tacos de lengua sell for about MXN 20 per piece. They’re a little harder to find but definitely worth it.

Tacos Juan is located just a stone’s throw from Tacos al Vapor El Jaguar. While the latter is open only in the morning till 1PM, Tacos Juan opens only at night. Click on the link to see exactly where it is on a map.

Tacos Juan

Address: Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato
Operating Hours: Nighttime only
What to Order: Tacos, quesadillas

14. Tacos El Chino

How lucky were we? We stayed at an AirBnB within sniffing distance of these last two late night taco stands. Every night from 8PM, we’d get the irresistible aroma of grilled meats wafting into our apartment. Hungry or not, it was impossible to resist!

Located on the slope leading up from Plaza de Los Angeles, Tacos El Chino is known for serving tacos de tripa frita, or tacos filled with fried small intestines. I’m all about texture and these tacos were some of the best tacos I had in Guanajuato. They’re seriously delicious and not that easy to come by so don’t miss them.

Tacos El Chino is run by this cute elderly couple. It’s amazing how they can still manage to do this every night. Click on the link to see the stand’s exact location on a map.

Tacos El Chino

Address: 36000, Subida de La Mula 30, Zona Centro, Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8PM-12MN, daily
What to Order: Tacos de tripa frita

15. Taqueria Sugar Daddy

This taqueria is located just a few meters up the slope from Tacos El Chino. They offer the usual Mexican comfort fare like tacos, quesadillas, and tortas filled with pastor, chorizo, bistec, or costilla. If I remember correctly, they also offer tacos de tripa.

These tacos al pastor were the very reason why we were often enticed out of our AirBnB at night. The smell of that grilling cone of meat was irresistible!

This taqueria looks to be relatively new since it isn’t on Google Maps yet. I couldn’t find a name for the place so I asked the waitress. She said something that sounded like “Taqueria Xiura Dary”.

I couldn’t find anything about a Taqueria Xiura Dary online so Ren asked the al pastor cook. He said “Taqueria Sugar Daddy” and jokingly pointed to the callejoneadas enjoying his tacos. “Like them, sugar daddy”, he said. Ha!

Whatever its real name is, just look for this stall a few meters up from Tacos El Chino. You can easily eat at both stands on the same night.

Taqueria Sugar Daddy

Address: Just a few meters from Tacos El Chino
Operating Hours: Around 8PM-12MN
What to Order: Tacos, quesadillas

SNACKS / DESSERTS / DRINKS

16. Empanadas MiBu

If you’re looking for a filling snack in Guanajuato, then you may want to try these empanadas from MiBu. They make savory and sweet empanadas filled with a variety of ingredients like mole rojo, tinga, salchicha, arroz con leche, and Nutella.

The mole rojo empanada filled with pollo deshebrado or shredded chicken was delicious. The pastry was flaky and oozing with that tasty chicken with mole rojo filling.

Empanadas MiBu receives high praise from locals. To translate one person’s review: “Delicious!! Whenever we are in Guanajuato, it is a special stop. 100% recommended.”

Empanadas MiBu

Address: C. Pedro Lascurain de Retana #14 B, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 8AM-9PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sundays)
What to Order: Empanadas

17. Nieves Aguilar

We’ve been enjoying nieves de garrafa throughout central Mexico. Named after the big wooden bucket it’s made in (garrafa), it refers to a type of hand-churned Mexican ice cream made with fruit, sugar, and water. Similar to sorbet, it’s a deliciously light ice cream that isn’t excessively sweet.

You can have nieves de garrafa at large ice cream chains like La Michoacana, but in Guanajuato City, we recommend trying it at Nieves Aguilar. It’s a local shop that’s been churning out this delicious Mexican ice cream for over thirty years. They offer interesting flavors like guayaba (guava), taro, mamey (sapodilla), elote, and rompope (eggnog).

I believe there are two or three Nieves Aguilar branches in Guanajuato City. We regularly went to this one at Plaza de Los Angeles.

Nieves Aguilar

Address: Plaza de Los Angeles, Subida de La Mula, Zona Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: Around 12NN-7:30PM, daily
What to Order: Nieves de garrafa

18. La Clave Azul

If you’re looking for good happy hour deals, then look no further than La Clave Azul, a hidden gem just off Plaza de San Fernando. It’s a quirky bar/restaurant that offers free tapas with your drinks from 2-5:30PM, Tuesdays to Saturdays.

With our first round of margaritas, they gave us these roasted potatoes along with cucumbers and turnips seasoned with chili pepper. We went here shortly after arriving in Guanajuato so what a warm welcome this was! The owners are incredibly friendly as well.

We ordered palomas for our second round and with our cocktails came this plate of taquitos or flautas. Taquitos are crispy rolled-up tortillas filled with meat or cheese and topped with condiments like sour cream or guacamole. ¡Salud!

La Clave Azul has an interesting interior filled with old posters and photos. It’s a fun place to just kick back and enjoy a few drinks and tapas after a day of sightseeing in Guanajuato.

If you didn’t know to look, then you’d probably never know that through this alleyway off Plaza de San Fernando is one of the best happy hour deals in Guanajuato.

True to its name, at the end of the alleyway is this blue wall and La Clave Azul. La clave azul means “the blue key”. I believe one of the owners is a musician so you can expect good music to be playing here as well.

La Clave Azul

Address: Segunda De Cantaritos 31, Centro, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Operating Hours: 1:30-9PM, Tue-Thurs / 1:30-11PM, Fri-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)

LOCATION MAP

To help you navigate to these Guanajuato restaurants, I’ve pinned them all on the map below. It includes a few other restaurants we had on our list but didn’t go to. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST GUANAJUATO RESTAURANTS

This guide on Guanajuato restaurants focuses on local food but that doesn’t mean you can’t find upscale restaurants or international food in this city. On the contrary, the majority of restaurants around the main plaza are like that. However, none seem to be all that great based on their reviews. Restaurants near major tourist attractions usually aren’t.

One highly-rated restaurant we considered going to is La Virgen de la Cueva. About a 10-minute taxi ride from downtown Guanajuato, it may be worth the trip if you’re looking for a restaurant that serves gastronomic Mexican cuisine. Another option is Casa Mercedes. These are the two top-rated upscale restaurants in Guanajuato, and not coincidentally, neither is anywhere near the main plaza.

As for cocktails and coffee, Mezcalito has been described as a “really fantastic mezcal bar“ while Café Conquistador is said to roast some of the best coffee beans in Guanajuato. Personally, we didn’t experience amazing coffee in Guanajuato (San Miguel de Allende is better) but Conquistador (or Café Tal) is probably your best bet for a good cup of joe in this city.

And with that, I shall end this already lengthy guide and hope that it leads you to many memorable meals in Guanajuato. If you have any questions, then please let us know in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time eating your way through the beautiful city of Guanajuato!

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