The Must-Eat Foodie Stops Of Mexico City

Although many people associate Mexico with all-inclusives, margaritas and beach life, that's the equivalent of typecasting the United States based on what you see in California. Mexico is a massive, diverse country with varying types of culture and cuisine and Mexico City is the happening hub in the heart of it. While it may not always get the acclaim, it's truly one of the culinary capitals of the world with bursting flavors at every turn. Even better is that based on exchange rates, it offers incredible food at incredible value for those visiting from the United States or Canada.

If you're visiting, here's a foodie itinerary for this trendy destination:

Casa Jacaranda

If you're a foodie who wants to learn about Mexican cuisine, the best lesson you'll get is at Casa Jacaranda. Start your day off with a market tour at Mercado Medellin in Roma Sur where you'll learn about different chiles, spices and fruit. Then you'll buy all of the necessary ingredients and head back to Casa Jacaranda where you'll put what the ingredients to work.

Jorge and Beto will demonstrate the laborious process of making mole from scratch and then guide you through the process. Along the way you'll also make from-scratch salsa, tamales gorditas and more. The best part is enjoying the fruits of your labor on their rooftop patio with mezcal cocktails and fine Mexican wine.

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Street Food

Street food in Mexico City is a must but the challenge is to find the right spots. One winner is the couple who runs the stand making blue corn tlacoyos. Each blue corn tortilla is stretched out by hand and filled with a fava bean puree (kind of like a hummus). On top you'll find various toppings depending on the day like fresh cheese, white onion, salsa, cilantro and nopales. There's a reason there's always a buzz around her stand: it's delicious. At about 75 cents an order, it's incredible value for the amount of work that she puts into each bite.

The challenge is finding her: while she's in the same spot every day, she doesn't actually have an address. Look for the Gimar convenience store near the southwest corner of Francisco Pimentel and Joaquín Vázquez de León, Colonia San Rafael.

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Pujol & Quintonil

What's incredible in Mexico City is how well you can eat for the price as a tourist. Restaurants like Pujol and Quintonil – both ranked highly on San Pellegrino's annual Top 50 Restaurants list – would easily cost double or triple the price if they were located in New York or Toronto. In Mexico City, you're looking at about $75-$100 to experience a world-class tasting menu at one of the best restaurants in the world. If you have been reticent to try this type of high-end, culinary creativity because of the price tag in your local country, this is the place to do it. And if you already love places like Steirereck, Amber and Arzak, this will be an experience on par with those.

Quintonil is now rated the No. 11 restaurant in the world and Pujol is No. 13, according to the 2018 World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

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Margaritas at San Angel Inn

One of the best places for a drink in Mexico City is the backyard garden at San Angel Inn. Bejeweled with all sorts of exotic flowers, it's a place you'll plant yourself for hours once you've found the ideal spot in the shade.

The signature drink at this joint is the margarita, which is among the purest renditions you'll find. Often times margaritas are doing the most with too much ice, lime or alcohol. This one is made slightly chilled – not overly icy – and is a harmonious balance of lime and liquor. Even better is the presentation, which can be seen below.

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Tortilla Soup At Azul y Oro

Azul y Oro is the labor of love of chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita. Not only are the menu options bursting with bold flavors, a focal point of the restaurant is to support everything local and Mexican, including the incredible plateware. Nowhere is that more evident than in their signature Tortilla Soup.

Served in what appears to be a queen statue from the Day of the Dead, the waiter then pulls off the top half to uncover a bowl of soup underneath. It's one of the most Instagrammable dishes you'll find in Mexico City.

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Tacos Al Pastor

If you want to start arguments, just ask locals for the best tacos al pastor and you'll be sure to get a few diverging opinions. Should it have the pineapple or not? The bottom line is when you're dealing with tacos filled shawarma-like pork shavings and fresh salsas dripped over top, you really can't go too wrong either way.

El Hueqito is a common spot where most tourist guidebooks will recommend and that's a good starting point. Since they are small, we recommend you try a few starting there but then also eating at Taquería Los Cocuyos and El Tizoncito to contrast the styles.

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Mercado San Juan (Ceviches)

Although Mexico City is landlocked, it's still one of the best places in the world to get fresh fish. Mercado San Juan is actually the second biggest fish market in the world next to Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan.

If you're a tourist, you're probably not going to be buying anything whole to take home but luckily there is Carpaccio, a small seafood restaurant in the market that offers fresh tastes. Order any of the ceviches and you'll be happy as a clam. And if they have fresh clams, try some on the half shell with lime for crisp taste of the sea.

El Molino El Pujol

Enrique Olvera, arguably the most famous chef in Mexico City, has opened up his second restaurant, which couldn't be more different than the critically acclaimed Pujol. While Pujol is world renowned as the No. 13 on the Top 50 Restaurants In The World, El Molino is a casual tortillera. Inside you'll find only about four or five menu options, all with an ode to one of Mexico's most prominent ingredients: corn. It's all corn everything in this shop from the delicate tortillas to the subtle tamales to the corn water and corn beer. The emphasis is quality over quantity as Olvera aims to highlight just how good a tortilla can be so that you know the difference when you try the average ones elsewhere.

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Quesadillas At El Bazaar Sabado S.A.

No one would blame you if you walked past the nondescript quesadilla place inside the El Bazaar Sábado – the Saturday market – but you'd be making a mistake. It might not have a proper name but this place is the real deal. The tortillas are pressed fresh, by hand, and filled with your choice of filling from wild mushrooms to zucchini blossoms to pulled chicken. Then Oaxaca cheese is eased in and melted beautifully. As a finishing touch, you're offered fresh handmade salsas and a few other condiments. Go for the green avocado salsa as it's the perfect complement – especially to the pulled chicken, pork or bean tacos.

Rosetta

Rosetta is a classy restaurant in Roma Norte that might shortly find itself earning accolades that Pujol and Quintonil enjoy. It's already rated as the No. 35 restaurant in Latin America by the same people who do the World's Top 50 list.

Chef Elena Reygadas, who won the 2014 Veuve Clicquot Prize for Latin America's Best Woman Chef, executes some daring dishes like the clam ceviche in a pomegranate juice. And she's quite skilled with international cuisines, which means her homemade pastas are fantastic and her fresh-baked breads are not to be missed.

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Mexico City is one of the most luxurious accommodations in town but even if you're not staying there, there are a couple of good reasons for foodies to swing by. The in-house restaurant, Zanaya, is recommended because they have a rare type of stove/oven inside called a Zarandeado, which is a 500-year-old grilling tradition where seafood is charcoal-broiled. Being indoors, they use different types of wood in lieu of charcoal to prepare fish, octopus and steak. Afterwards (or before), mosey over to Fifty Mils and wet your lips with cocktails made by a couple of the best bartenders in the country. French transplant, Mica Rousseau, and Fatima Leon, have both won bartending awards being recognized as the best in the country. Recommended is the Bugs Bunny– a Tanqueray Ten-carrot-lemongrass blend – or any drink that's served in their Day of the Dead skull glasses.

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Restaurante El Cardenal

Mexican breakfasts are a different experience than in the United States. In the U.S., we focus on breads and bacon, sweet and salty. Mexican breakfasts incorporate bolder flavors.

One place to experience that is at Restaurante El Cardenal. Enchiladas michoacanas, the red and green chilaquiles and the huevos rancheros are not to be missed. Those who are adventurous should go for the omelette with escamoles, which is ant larva. While it sounds a bit weird, it's a delicacy.

You're best bet at this place is to come with a group that's willing to share.

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