Street food in Mexico City: The top dishes you need to try

Street food in Mexico City is a scene unto itself, and it’s one that you’ll want to dig into on your next visit to Mexico’s food-loving capital. Come hungry for juicy tacos al pastor topped with pineapple, mayo-slathered grilled corn, and steaming corn tamales wrapped in corn husks.

There are so many ways to enjoy the street food scene, like exploring stalls at vibrant markets or ordering from a food cart in must-visit neighborhoods like La Condesa and Coyoacán. No matter how you do it, enjoying traditional street food in Mexico City will be a highlight of your trip.

1. Tacos al pastor

Tacos al pastor are a much-loved, popular street food in Mexico City, as well as the rest of Mexico. The highlight is the marinated pork shaved off a vertical spit. It’s placed on corn tortillas, then garnished with pineapple, onion, and cilantro for a balance of savory, sweet, and aromatic. The origins of tacos al pastor trace back to Lebanese immigrants from the early 20th century who brought the tradition of marinated meat cooked on a vertical spit. The tacos are now beloved across the country.

How to eat the best tacos al pastor in Mexico City

Look for taqueros (vendors who prepare and serve tacos) slicing meat directly from a rotating trompo, a vertical spit. Tacos al pastor come topped with pineapple, but be sure to order “con todo” for the full experience: cilantro, onion, and salsa. Pro tip: Grab some extra napkins before you dig in.

2. Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a favorite in Mexico City, where you’ll see locals enjoying them day and night. But there may be a twist on what you’re used to: Quesadillas in CDMX typically come cheeseless. Instead, corn or wheat tortillas are filled with a variety of ingredients like nopal (prickly pear cactus), chorizo, ham, pumpkin flower, or chicharrón (crispy fried pork belly). It’s topped off with red or green salsa, or, if you want, both.

How to eat the best quesadillas in Mexico City

Look for quesadillas prepared fresh on a comal, a traditional flat griddle. And don’t worry: If you’re craving cheese in your quesadilla, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for it.

3. Churros

These fried dough sticks are perfect for those with a sweet tooth: They’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and served with thick, rich hot chocolate to dip them in.

How to eat the best churros in Mexico City

Look for food carts and stands that throw them in the fryer as each customer orders, versus vendors with premade ones sitting around. Locals eat these sugary treats any time of day, but they’re especially great for breakfast with a cup of hot chocolate for dipping.

4. Tlacoyos

Tlacoyos are thick corn cakes stuffed with beans, cheese, or meat, and topped with nopal, salsa, and cheese. The savory treats are cooked on a griddle until they develop a crispy exterior while remaining soft and chewy inside. Tlacoyos are also part of some of Mexico’s oldest food traditions: Hernán Cortés mentions an early version of these in his chronicles.

How to eat the best tlacoyos in Mexico City

For the best tlacoyos in Mexico City, head to Mercado de Coyoacán, or the canal-laced district of Xochimilco, where vendors have been grilling these with recipes passed on for generations. Visit early when locals grab breakfast and look for vendors using blue masa (dough made from ground corn).

5. Elote

Elote, one of the most popular street foods in Mexico, is a delicious mix of fat and char, spicy and citric. This grilled and skewered corn on the cob comes slathered with mayonnaise, sprinkled with chili powder, and topped with cheese and a squeeze of lime.

How to eat the best elote in Mexico City

Street vendors all over town sell elote as a tasty snack you can grab on the go: It’s affordable, delicious, and ideal for snacking while exploring. Look for a hot grill and mayo that’s been kept out of the sun.

6. Tlayudas

These rounds of crispy tortillas, often made from blue corn, are often referred to as “Oaxacan pizzas.” They’re served open-faced and hot off the grill, topped with stringy Oaxaca cheese, refried black beans, and salsa roja or salsa verde (or both). You’ll usually find options for meat like chorizo, cecina (dried beef), or tasajo (a type of dried and cured beef found in Oaxaca).

How to eat the best tlayudas in Mexico City

La Merced Market is a great bet: This massive market is a hotspot for vendors with traditional clay comals (charcoal grills) where large tortillas are prepared. Look for vendors displaying Oaxacan signage (a sign of top quality) who make fresh tortillas to order.

7. Tamales

Tamales are a popular street food in Mexico City, and their roots go back thousands of years to ancient Mesoamerica. These steamed, corn-husk-wrapped parcels are stuffed with corn dough as well as meats, cheese, or fruit. Both savory and sweet options exist, so try them both if you can.

How to eat the best tamales in Mexico City

Head to La Condesa early in the morning, when local food carts start making the day’s batches fresh. Another great option is in La Roma along Álvaro Obregón Avenue, where family-run operations serve up takes that have been refined for decades.

8. Esquites

Esquites are cup-based versions of the much-loved elote. Vendors shave corn kernels off the cob, cook them up with butter and herbs, then load them into a cup with mayo, lime juice, chili powder, and crumbly cheese on top. What makes esquites so special in CDMX is their connection to the city’s nocturnal food culture: They’re a favorite late-night food for Mexico City locals.

How to eat the best esquites in Mexico City

Check out food carts in Roma, Condesa, and the historic center, where locals line up at esquites carts well into the nocturnal hours.

9. Sopes and huaraches

Sopes originated in southern Mexico but are well-loved in CDMX. These little masa plates are loaded with a delicious mix of proteins and condiments: You’ll get yours topped with your choice of beans and meats such as chicken, beef, or pork, plus cheese and salsa. Similar to them is a huarache, which typically has a larger, more oblong shape, so keep an eye out for both.

Where to find the best sopes and huaraches in Mexico City

Head to the lively market of La Merced or the street corners in La Roma, where vendors craft these tasty treats for you. Sopes’ small size is perfect for when you’re feeling peckish but not quite ready for a full meal.

10. Gorditas

Gorditas are thick corn tortillas that are cooked until they hit the perfect balance of crispy on the outside and soft inside. They’re then split and stuffed with local favorites like chicharrón prensado (crispy pork skin), queso fresco (fresh cheese), or beans. Gorditas date back to Aztec times but were transformed through Spanish influences, and they continue to have regional variations: In CDMX, for example, they’re typically smaller and rounder than in the north.

How to find the best gorditas in Mexico City

Explore bustling street food markets like Mercado de Coyoacán or Mercado Roma, where vendors offer freshly made options. Joining a street food-focused tour is also a great way to have a local point you toward the best spots for gorditas and more.