Where to Find the Best Tacos in Mexico City

From late-night al pastor to chef-driven creations, here’s where to find the very best tacos in Mexico City — tried and true.

Mexico City is, without question, one of the most epic food destinations in the world — a place where street stalls and fine dining coexist in perfect, delicious chaos.

You can have a Michelin-starred tasting menu for lunch and still find yourself standing at a taco stand by midnight, balancing a paper plate and wondering why this one bite might be the best thing you’ve ever eaten.

When it comes to tacos, CDMX is in a league of its own. The city takes its tacos seriously — from the classic al pastor spinning on its trompo to smoky suadero, crispy tripa, or creative vegan twists that prove this dish has no limits. Every neighborhood has its own legends, every local their loyal favorite, and every visitor their “taco awakening” moment.

I go back to Mexico City often, and every trip turns into a taco pilgrimage — new spots, old favorites, and the occasional happy accident found by following the scent of grilled meat.

This guide pulls together the very best tacos in Mexico City — from late-night counters to polished sit-down spots — so you can eat your way through the capital like a local (and probably plan your next trip before you’ve even finished this one).

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The Taco Menu – Decoded

If it’s your first time in Mexico or Mexico City, you might need a little help when it comes to decoding a taqueria menu, because there really are so many different varieties. Mexico City has its own taco terminology, and knowing the basics makes all the difference when ordering.

Here’s a quick glossary to help you make sense of the menus (and impress the taquero while you’re at it). Beginning with the most popular and most common options you’ll see in Mexico City (know that they vary around the rest of the country):

Of course, in more modern taquerías in Mexico City, you’ll also find plenty of veggie and plant-based alternatives such as tacos with mushrooms, nopal (cactus paddle), roasted cauliflower, zucchini blossoms, grilled corn with esquites-style toppings, or even creative fillings like jackfruit “al pastor” and vegan chorizo made from soy or lentils.

The Best Taco Spots in Mexico City (My Favorites by Area)

To make this guide as useful as possible, I’ve broken down my favorite taco spots in Mexico City by neighborhood — because this sprawling metropolis isn’t exactly walkable from end to end.

We’ll start with the areas most travelers, digital nomads, and expats tend to base themselves in — Condesa, Roma, and Polanco — before moving into more local-loved corners like Centro, San Angel, and beyond.

Each neighborhood has its own taco personality: Roma and Condesa do chic, chef-driven interpretations, while spots like Narvarte are where the hardcore taco pilgrims go.

Wherever you find yourself (or your next craving), this list should help you navigate the city’s taco terrain like you’ve lived here for years.

Best Tacos in Rome Norte/Condesa

1. Taqueria Orinoco

Taquería Orinoco has become one of those go-to spots everyone seems to end up at in Mexico City — myself included. Originally from Monterrey, it’s known for being clean, consistent, and open late, serving a short, no-nonsense menu of tacos al pastor, res, and chicharrón, plus roasted potatoes and a solid lineup of salsas.

I’ve been going for years, and while locals will tell you it’s far from the best taquería in the city (and they’re right — the competition is fierce), Orinoco is a great introduction to the world of tacos in CDMX.

It’s easy to navigate, well-located in areas like Condesa and Roma, and everything tastes good. You can count on it to deliver exactly what you want: quick, flavorful tacos that never disappoint, day or night.

2. Tacos Hola El Güero

Tacos Hola El Güero is one of those no-frills neighborhood taquerías that’s been feeding Condesa locals for decades. You won’t find a pastor spinning on a trompo here — this place specializes in tacos de guisado, or stew tacos, which are fairly popular in the CDMX.

Behind the counter, you’ll see rows of steaming clay pots filled with home-style dishes like chicharrón en salsa verde, chicken tinga, rajas con crema, and refried beans. You just point to what you want, and they’ll scoop it into a warm tortilla, fold it up, and wrap it in paper to go.

It’s the kind of place that runs on routine — quick, cheap, satisfying — and while it’s not flashy, it’s a staple for anyone who lives or works nearby. I’ve been coming here for years, and it’s still one of my favorite lunch stops in Condesa when I want something comforting, quick, and authentically Mexican.

3. Taqueria El Greco

Taquería El Greco is a Condesa institution — small, no-frills, and always busy for a reason. It’s best known for its taco árabe, a nod to the Lebanese influence on Mexico’s taco culture.

The pork is marinated and cooked on a vertical spit, then served in pita-style bread instead of a tortilla, often with a layer of melted cheese if you order the “Gringa.”

It’s known for its solid, perfectly seasoned meat, quick service, and a few counter stools if you’re lucky enough to grab one. Locals will tell you it’s one of the best places in this part of the city for árabes, and they’re not wrong.

4. Taqueria El Califa

Taquería El Califa is one of Mexico City’s more polished taquerías — the kind of place you can walk into at midnight and still feel comfortable sitting down for a proper meal.

With multiple, modern locations around the city, it’s not exactly a hidden gem, but it’s a solid standby when you want reliable, good-quality tacos without the chaos of a street stand.

The menu covers all the basics — al pastor, bistec, costra (meat wrapped in a crust of melted cheese), and their famous taco Gaonera, made with thinly sliced steak cooked to order. The ingredients are top-notch, the tortillas are fresh, and everything hits the table fast.

5. Tacos El Gato Volador

Tacos El Gato Volador doesn’t look like much from the street — just a small stand with a handful of plastic stools — but it’s hands down the best spot in this part of the city for birria tacos.

The meat is tender, slow-cooked, and dripping with rich, spiced broth that makes every bite ridiculous in the best way. Order the tacos dorados de birria (crispy birria tacos) with a side of consomé for dipping — it’s messy, comforting, and exactly what you want after a long day (or night).

It’s one of my personal favorites, partly because it’s unpretentious and partly because they just do it right every single time. Excellent birria tacos served hot off the plancha with a squeeze of lime and a bit of salsa.

6. El Kalimán

El Kalimán is a low-key taquería in Condesa that’s earned a loyal following for its tacos al pastor. The setup is simple — a few tables, a trompo turning in the corner, and a steady stream of locals grabbing a quick bite.

The pastor here is solid: well-marinated, slightly crispy on the edges, and perfectly balanced with onion, cilantro, and pineapple. It’s a reliable neighborhood spot you end up at without planning to and then keep making plans to return.

7. Contramar

While Contramar isn’t a taquería in the traditional sense, it’s one of the best eats in Mexico City — and proof that exceptional tacos don’t just come from the street. Known for its relaxed, coastal vibe and flawless seafood, this is where I go for long, sunlit lunches and a reminder that simple can still be spectacular.

Their tacos de pescado al pastor are legendary — adobo-marinated fish grilled to perfection and topped with a touch of pineapple, a clever seafood twist on the city’s classic pork taco.

But the real winner might be their Baja-style fish tacos, inspired by Ensenada: crispy battered fish tucked into a soft tortilla with fresh slaw, creamy salsa, and just the right hit of lime.

Contramar isn’t about grab-and-go eating — it’s about sitting back with a glass of white wine (or a mezcal margarita), soaking up the atmosphere, and realizing that yes, some of the best tacos in CDMX are served in the city’s more elevated spots.

8. Mi Compra Chava

Mi Compra Chava is one of my favorite CDMX seafood spots, and while its dishes like aguachiles and tostadas get the attention, the tacos here rival the city’s best marisquerías without the fanfare. It’s casual, loud in the best way, and always smells faintly of lime and grilled fish.

The seafood taco selection here is impressive. The taco de ostión (oyster taco) is a must — lightly fried, briny, and perfectly balanced with a bit of spice and crunch. Then there’s the taco de botete, made with pufferfish — rich, buttery, and a little bit indulgent.

Don’t miss the quesadilla de birria de pescado, a creative twist that combines slow-cooked fish in adobo with melted cheese in a crispy tortilla — it’s messy, satisfying, and probably one of the best things on the menu.

They don’t take reservations, and the wait here is long, so make sure to head over early.

9. Por Siempre

Por Siempre has long held the title for the best vegan tacos in Mexico City — and for good reason. What started as a small street stand in Roma has become a local institution for plant-based eaters.

The menu recreates classic taco fillings with impressive precision: al pastor made from seitan, chorizo crafted from soy, and creamy cashew-based salsas that could fool even the most die-hard meat lover.

What makes Por Siempre stand out is how unapologetically “taquería” it still feels — the sizzling griddle, the quick service, the late-night crowd spilling onto the sidewalk. It’s vegan food without the preachiness, just great tacos that happen to be meat-free.

Location: The Original location is currently closed. Head to Por Siempre Vegan 2 instead at Coahuila 169, Roma Nte

Hours: 10 am – 11 pm

10. Gracias Madre

Gracias Madre is another solid contender for the best vegan tacos in Mexico City, but with a more polished, sit-down vibe than your average taquería.

Located in Roma Norte, it’s a stylish, plant-based restaurant that takes traditional Mexican flavors and reimagines them with a creative, modern twist.

The menu leans fresh and colorful with tacos de barbacoa made from mushrooms, tacos al pastor with marinated jackfruit, and inventive salsas that change with the season. Everything tastes thoughtfully made rather than substituted, which is why even non-vegans end up here.

11. Taquería El Borrego Viudo

Taquería El Borrego Viudo is one of Mexico City’s most famous taco joints — a true institution that’s been dishing out late-night tacos for decades. Open almost 24 hours a day, it’s a magnet for everyone from cab drivers to night-shift workers to people stumbling out of bars at 3 a.m.

The system is quick and efficient: order from your car or at the counter, and within moments, your tacos arrive piled high and piping hot.

The menu focuses on the essentials — suadero, bistec, longaniza, and pastor — all greasy in the best way and exactly what you want after midnight. Its fame has gone far beyond Mexico City, too; El Borrego Viudo was featured in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, cementing its status as one of the capital’s taco legends.

Located in Tabacuya, a little further south of Condesa, but well worth the trip.

12. Barbacoa Dani

Barbacoa Dani is a weekend staple in Mexico City, a place locals drive across town for on a Sunday morning. Specializing in traditional barbacoa de borrego (slow-cooked lamb), it serves tender, smoky meat wrapped in warm tortillas with a spoonful of rich consommé on the side.

Everything here is cooked the old-fashioned way: low and slow, wrapped in maguey leaves, and full of deep, earthy flavor.

It’s not fancy, but the food speaks for itself — comforting, authentic, and made for mornings when nothing else will do. If you’re hunting for the real deal barbacoa in CDMX, Dani delivers exactly that.

Best Tacos in Polanco

13. Taquería El Turix

Taquería El Turix in Polanco is one of the best tacos in Mexico City — a tiny, standing-room-only spot that’s been serving cochinita pibil for decades. The menu is basically one item, and that’s the beauty of it.

The Yucatán-style slow-roasted pork is marinated in achiote and sour orange, then piled into a tortilla or soft roll and topped with pickled red onions. It’s rich, tangy, and messy in the best way.

There’s nothing modern or reinvented here — just a single, perfectly executed specialty that locals swear by. You’ll spot suits from nearby offices shoulder to shoulder with delivery drivers, all quietly devouring their tacos in under two minutes.

14. La Casa del Pastor Masaryk

La Casa del Pastor on Masaryk is Polanco’s polished answer to the city’s street taco scene. It’s a sit-down taquería with table service, cold beer, and air conditioning — but the focus is still firmly on the tacos.

The al pastor here is excellent: thinly sliced, slightly caramelized around the edges, and perfectly balanced with pineapple, cilantro, and onion.

Unlike the grab-and-go stands around the city, this spot lets you slow down and enjoy the experience without sacrificing flavor. The menu expands beyond pastor — you’ll find suadero, bistec, and even costra (meat wrapped in a crispy cheese shell).

It’s a great choice when you want the quality of a good street taco but the comfort of sitting down in one of Polanco’s busiest dining zones.

15. Cuerno Masaryk

Cuerno Masaryk takes tacos to the upscale end of the spectrum — the kind you eat with a linen napkin and a mezcal cocktail in hand. This polished restaurant from the Cuerno group brings northern Mexican flavors to Polanco’s luxury dining strip, serving high-quality cuts of meat and refined takes on traditional dishes.

Their tacos are a highlight, I love, especially the taco de ribeye and taco de tuétano (bone marrow), both rich, smoky, and expertly executed.

Ingredients are treated with precision — handmade tortillas, well-sourced beef, and salsas that actually taste fresh, not bottled. It’s not your late-night taquería fix, but when you’re in the mood for a proper sit-down meal that still honors the spirit of a good taco, Cuerno nails it.

Best Tacos In Mexico City Centre (Centro Historico)

16. Taqueria Los Cocuyos

Taquería Los Cocuyos has been a cornerstone of Mexico City’s taco culture since the 1980s, and it remains one of the city’s most well-known taquerías. Situated in the Centro Histórico, it’s a lively, full-scale operation now, with tables always filled and a steady rhythm of tacos hitting the grill.

The menu covers all the classics — suadero, tripa, lengua, cabeza — each simmered in that famous vat of bubbling fat that gives Los Cocuyos its unmistakable flavor.

Service is fast, the atmosphere is chaotic in the best way, and the food never misses. Decades in, it still stands as one of Mexico City’s most essential taco experiences.

17. Tacos El Huequito

Tacos El Huequito has been serving al pastor in Mexico City since 1959, long before the dish became an international obsession.

What started as a tiny stand has grown into several locations across the city, all built around the same formula — thinly sliced, perfectly marinated pork carved from a vertical spit and stacked into soft tortillas with onion, cilantro, and a splash of their signature chipotle-infused sauce.

It’s a spot that’s earned global recognition — even Anthony Bourdain stopped by on his Parts Unknown trip to CDMX, calling it one of the city’s best. The secret is consistency: no gimmicks, no overstuffed tortillas, just perfectly balanced al pastor done the way it should be.

18. Tacos de Canasta Los Especiales

Tacos de Canasta Los Especiales is the city’s most famous stop for basket tacos — a downtown landmark that’s been feeding hungry office workers and curious travelers for decades.

Located near the Zócalo, it’s impossible to miss: a constant crowd spilling onto the sidewalk, staff moving at lightning speed, and a steady rhythm of tacos being handed out from the steamy baskets.

The menu sticks to tradition with fillings like papa con chorizo, frijoles, and chicharrón, each one soft, a little oily, and packed with flavor. You grab your tacos, lean against the counter, and eat fast before the salsa drips down your hand — exactly as intended.

19. Tacos Los Paisas

Tacos Los Paisas is one of those all-hours taquerías that seems to run entirely on adrenaline and the smell of grilled meat. With several locations across the city, it’s known for being reliable, fast, and packed with locals at just about any time of day or night.

Their al pastor is the star — carved straight off the trompo, crispy at the edges, and perfectly balanced with onion, cilantro, and a bit of pineapple.

But the menu goes deep, with costilla, suadero, longaniza, and bistec all worth a try. Service is quick, the portions are generous, and there’s always a sense of organized chaos.

Best Tacos in Narvarte

20. El Vilsito

El Vilsito is Narvarte’s most famous taquería — and for good reason. By day, it operates as a functioning auto repair shop, but once evening hits, the mechanics clear out, the grills fire up, and it turns into one of the city’s busiest late-night taco spots.

Featured in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, El Vilsito has earned legendary status for its tacos al pastor, often cited, and I can confirm they are among the best in Mexico City.

The atmosphere is pure CDMX energy — bright lights, sizzling meat, and taqueros slicing pastor straight off the trompo with surgical precision. Each taco is a perfect balance of juicy pork, pineapple, and spice, served fast and eaten even faster.

Whether you’re ending a night out or making a pilgrimage for the city’s most talked-about tacos, El Vilsito delivers every time.

21. Taquería Don Frank

Taquería Don Frank is one of Narvarte’s local favorites, a steady crowd-pleaser that’s earned a loyal following for its generous portions and well-executed classics.

The tacos al pastor are always on point — juicy, flavorful, and carved fresh off the trompo — but the costra de bistec (steak wrapped in a layer of crispy melted cheese) is what keeps me coming back.

It’s a bit more polished than your average corner stand but still keeps that casual, neighborhood feel. The staff move fast, the salsas have real kick, and the meat is consistently top-notch. Don Frank might not have the Netflix fame of El Vilsito, but among locals, it’s every bit as respected.

22. Los Pastorcitos de Sirloin

This is one of Narvarte’s under-the-radar gems — a taquería that’s all about quality meat and straightforward execution. As the name hints, their specialty is sirloin al pastor, a slightly leaner, beefier take on the city’s classic pork version.

The result is rich, smoky, and perfectly caramelized around the edges, with just enough fat to keep things flavorful. The setup is simple but efficient, with a few tables, fast-moving taqueros, and a steady local crowd that clearly knows this is one of the area’s best-kept secrets.

Order a few pastorcitos, add some grilled onions and salsa roja, and you’ll understand why Narvarte locals guard this spot like a secret.

23. Taquería Los Gueros

Taquería Los Güeros is one of those spots I go back to again and again when I’m in Narvarte. It’s busy, loud, and completely unapologetic about it — the kind of taquería where the line moves fast and the food comes out even faster.

The tacos al pastor here are top-tier — thin slices of pork straight off the trompo, perfectly seasoned and caramelized, with just enough pineapple to tie it all together. I’ve tried nearly everything on the menu, but the suadero and bistec are standouts too.

Other Top Taco Spots Worth a Mention

 24. El Califa de León

El Califa de León has achieved near-myth status in Mexico City’s taco world — and rightfully so. Hidden in the San Rafael neighborhood, this tiny taquería earned a Michelin star for its laser focus on doing one thing exceptionally well: tacos cooked over open flame with top-quality beef and handmade tortillas.

The taco de gaonera is the star attraction — thinly sliced steak grilled to perfection, tender and lightly charred, served simply with lime and salt. There’s no menu overload, no fancy sides, just pure skill and flavor.

It’s a short, standing-room-only experience that feels timeless, the kind of taco that proves excellence doesn’t need bells and whistles — just the right cut of meat and a taquero who knows exactly what they’re doing.

25. Taquería Los Parados

Taquería Los Parados in Roma Sur is one of the best tacos in Mexico City for grilled tacos done over open flame. You order right at the smoky grill — arrachera, costilla, bistec — and watch as they’re cooked to perfection.

The taco de arrachera is the star, but the costra with its layer of crispy cheese is just as good. With its late hours, quick service, and unbeatable salsa bar, Los Parados is one of those reliable CDMX taco spots that always hits the mark.

26. Corazón de Maguey

Corazón de Maguey sits right on Coyoacán’s main square and combines two things Mexico City does best — mezcal and tacos. It’s a sit-down spot with a polished vibe, ideal for when you want great food without the rush of a taquería.

The tacos are elevated but still true to their roots — barbacoa, cochinita pibil, and tinga de pollo are standouts — all made with quality ingredients and served with house-made salsas. Pair them with one of their mezcals or agave cocktails, and you’ve got a proper afternoon plan in one of CDMX’s most charming neighborhoods.

Mexico City Taco Tours

If you really want to understand Mexico City’s taco scene — not just eat your way through it — joining a taco tour is the way to go. The city’s food tours are run by locals who know exactly where to find the good stuff, from hole-in-the-wall taquerías in Narvarte to late-night pastor stands in Roma.

They’ll help you skip the tourist traps, teach you the regional differences between tacos, and probably introduce you to a few salsas you’ll still be thinking about weeks later.

Here are some of the best taco tours in Mexico City worth checking out:

Ready to dive into the best tacos in Mexico City? Share your questions and comments below—I’d love to hear from you!

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