The First Timer’s Guide to Eating In Mexico City

If you’re doing things right, you’ll eat a lot of tacos in Mexico City. And if you’re doing things really right, you’ll eat a bunch at Taquería Orinoco. Come after midnight on the weekend when it feels like an all-out party, and make friends while you wait in line. Start with a few tacos de chicharrón, and when your tray’s empty, flag down a waiter for a round of al pastor.

Despite being roughly four hours from the ocean, there’s a lot of great seafood in Mexico City. While there are big plates of fish all over town, the gargantuan tower of shrimp, octopus, tuna, and scallops at this bustling marisqueria is one of the most over-the-top ways to dive in

Siembra started as a beloved tortillería and taqueria, and last year, the owners added a full restaurant next door. And while the menu has expanded too, their masa is still the star of the show. Get the smoky pulpo zarandeado served with fresh tortillas, and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to stand up to eat with salsa dripping down your shirt.

Tortas de chilaquil is a staple Mexican breakfast of spicy chilaquiles stuffed into a fresh roll of bread. Conveniently, it’s also one of the best cures for a hangover. Join the line of locals at this Condesa food stand as you attempt to piece together last night’s mezcal-fueled timeline.

You’ll find some of Mexico City’s best restaurants in Roma, but this one should be at the top of your list. Nearly every dish is prepared in a wood-burning oven, and they make some of the best comfort-style food in the city. Get the grilled cheese with tomato soup, which—no offense to your parents—is definitely a lot better than what you ate on a sick day as a kid.

Juárez is filled with early-1900s architecture, trendy little shops, and buzzy restaurants, so there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up wandering around this neighborhood. Make a pit stop at Joe’s Gelato. Sure, you can play it safe with pistachio, but their funky, slightly-polarizing flavors are what make this place fun. If it’s on the menu, get the cilantro with wasabi and black garlic.

You met the love of your life last night at Jardín Paraíso. Now, it's time to meet in broad daylight. Head to Botanico for lunch, where, if all else fails, you and that person (whose name you definitely didn’t forget) can romantically gaze into the pond filled with ajolotes, Xochimilco’s native and very unusual amphibian.

This Michoacán-based pizza shop recently opened in CDMX, near one of the city’s most noteworthy monuments. Go see that, then grab a spritz and a Neapolitan-style pie at Mammut after. Our favorite is the Salchicha Diavola: it’s got a puffy, wood-fired crust that’s topped with spicy pepperoni, salami, sausage, and a secret cheese mix.

If you know anything about the restaurants here, you know Contramar. Yes, the seafood is great and worth the hype, but what really makes it fun is the crowd (and the waiters who won’t ever leave you alone with an empty glass). Go on a Friday for lunch, eat the most famous fish in town, and feel like you’re sitting in the center of the universe.

For decades, this address belonged to an old-school Chinese restaurant. Now, it’s a sceney Chinese-Mexican restaurant with a younger crowd, a louder soundtrack, and a menu unlike anything else in town. Start with the camarones chipotle and the spicy cucumber salad, order a few rounds of Tsingtaos, and see where the night takes you.

There aren’t many restaurants in the residential area surrounding Casa Barragan, but there is Comal Oculto: a tiny spot that serves one communal table on the sidewalk. Come for a lunch of traditional Mexican dishes like crispy and tender sopes, incredible quesadillas, and homemade mole enchiladas, and plan to get cozy with whoever you’re sitting next to.

If brunch is your thing, this NYC-style Jewish deli is your Sunday morning move. They do fantastic blintzes, house-cured lox, and bagels that just might rival those from New York.