Food Lover's Guide to Mexico City

Food is such an important part of Mexico’s culture that Mexican cuisine has been named a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As the nation’s capital, Mexico City has a little bit of everything. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Must-Try Dishes

For lunch, visit a torteria or street food stall for a torta, a pressed sandwich filled with meat, onion, chilies, maybe avocado and tomato, or a variety of other ingredients. Stop by a taco stand for tacos al pastor, and marvel at the difference between the real thing and what you thought was the real thing back at your own local taco joint. For dinner, don’t miss the chance to try a dish with mole sauce, perhaps Mexico’s most iconic food item, traditionally made for special occasions.

Must-Do Experiences

• Explore some of Mexico City’s mercados (markets) on a tour with a guide who can help you navigate these bustling locations to find the best ingredients and dishes to try.

• Combine tacos with mescal to find out why this smoky liquor has become a hip beverage outside of Mexico.

• Participate in a cooking class to learn how to make Mexican dishes and take your skills back home to impress friends and family.

• Take a food tour of a specific neighborhood such as San Angel, Colonia Roma, or Polanco to get a glimpse of local life for Mexico City residents.