After spending a month in Mexico City, we are going to share with you our Top 5 Mexican taco spots and where to find them!
If you are reading this from the UK, you might be familiar with crunchy shell tacos sold at supermarkets where you can typically buy “Old El Paso” pre-packaged taco mixes. These boxes include an assortment of crunchy shell tacos, seasoning and salsa. All you need to add is your own choice of meat and vegetables. Although convenient for us Brits, this is not what an authentic Mexican taco is about and to my dismay, I (Micha) have spent 33 years of my existence never truly eating a "real" taco.
So when we first stepped out onto Mexico City streets, we were struck by the sheer amount of delicious tacos sold on every block. Each stall serving up warm and soft tortillas with chopped vegetables, an array of salsas (sauces) from scorching hot to just plain hot and a meat of your choice - usually pork, chicken or beef.
With the introductions out of the way, let's get into our Top 5 Taco List:
1. Taco al Pastor - Our Favourite Taco
Taco al pastor was invented by Lebanese immigrants who immigrated to Mexico in the 1930s. They tended to cook meat on a vertical rotisserie using hot charcoal (a similar cooking style to kebab).
Even though the word "pastor" translates to shepherd style, which may suggest the use of lamb - this taco consists of beautifully marinated pork, which is thinly cut onto a soft shell taco from a hot rotating spit. Served with cilantro/coriander, onions, salsa and slices of pineapple - adding that perfect amount of tanginess and flavour.
Nowadays, taco al pastor is the most popular taco in Mexico and has been adopted by many countries worldwide.
El Tizoncito restaurant opened its doors to the public in 1966 and claimed to be the creator of this succulent spit-roasted pork taco. You honestly can't miss this restaurant, which proudly showcases this accolade with a sign that reads "Los creadores del taco al pastor".
The price per taco ranges from $1.80 to $2.80
El Tizoncito
📍Av. Tamaulipas 122, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX
2. Chicharrón Tacos
At Taquería Orinoco you will find a chain of cool, hipster and almost diner-style restaurants selling the most mouth-watering tacos in the city. Their restaurants are always full, but the service is fast, so don’t be put off by the queue.
The menu is pretty simple to navigate (even as a foreigner), so you won't get overwhelmed. Their speciality is the chicharrón (pork rind) taco. It is the perfect blend of crispy and salty.
However, if you curious like us and want to try it all, you can try all three different types of tacos: al pastor (pork and pineapple), bistec (beefsteak), and chicharron. All tacos come with three types of
salsas, where you can decide your spice preference.
The price per taco ranges from $1.20 to $1.70
Taquería Orinoco
📍Av. Insurgentes Sur 253, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
3. Shrimp & Fish Tacos
You do not have to travel to Mexico's coast to indulge in fresh seafood with El Pescadito serving original fish taco recipes in the heart of Mexico City.
This popular restaurant offers a small but varied menu from seafood-stuffed peppers to spicy marlin fish. Our favourite taco is undoubtedly the taco de camaron (shrimp taco).
After ordering a taco, you get to dress it the way you like it. We always add a handful of coleslaw and salsa. These tacos are absolutely delicious and worth coming back for more!
The regular taco price is $2.50
El Pescadito 📍C. Atlixco 38, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
4. Vegetarian Tacos
La Pitahaya Vegana specialises in vegetarian and vegan tacos served on beautiful pink tortillas made from beetroot. If you are vegetarian, vegan or simply want to try alternative meat options, then this place is for you.
The taco combinations are intriguing, with cauliflower tacos served with coconut cheese and pineapple cream or avocado mousse served with cranberries. Our favourite tacos here were the homemade curry tacos with fresh spinach. It is something you do not see every day.
Great for those colourful Instagram pictures and even better for friendly staff, a cosy atmosphere and a guilt-free dining
experience.
A mixture of 3 tacos cost $7.80
La Pitahaya Vegana 📍 C. Querétaro 90, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
5. Carnitas "Little Meats" Tacos
Carnitas translates to "little meats" and this small taco vendor located in the finance and business district of Juárez is always packed with people during lunch hour.
Ricas Carnitas serves delicious and juicy pork tacos in which the meat is braised in liquid or fat - topped with onions and a variety of red (rojo) or green (verde) salsas.
The best part of ordering these tacos is admiring the street vendor chopping these "little meats" in front of you in an efficient yet meticulous way.
The usual price per taco is $1.00
Ricas Carnitas 📍Ricas Carnitas, Hamburgo 284, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Juárez, CDMX, Mexico
So this was the list of our Top 5 taco spots that you can find around Mexico City. Leave us a comment with your favourite spot for tacos, so that we can collectively stuff our faces and get fat together! 🌮
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