Mexico City - Local Gastronomy
There are 31 gastronomic regions across this country, making Mexican cuisine the second most varied in the world, right after the Chinese.
Each geographical region has its own specialities, ingredients and methods. A vast array of foods from other regions is widely available in Mexico City, and has blended with the food from the central region.
Typical food of Mexico City (central region) is mainly prepared with beef or pork, red or green tomatoes, fresh white cheese, sour cream, onion, garlic, cilantro, avocado and tortillas.
You will literally find hundreds of restaurants featuring Mexican food, and hundreds offering at least a couple of Mexican dishes in their otherwise international menus.
Some of the safest places to start your knowledge of Mexican cuisine are recommended below, but remember these are only a few from hundreds of possibilites!
La Valentina, in any of its three locations:
- Polanco
Tel: + 52 (55) 5282 2297/2514 - Insurgentes Sur
Tel: + 52 (55) 5662-0872/+ 52 (55) 5661-8401 - Interlomas
Tel: + 52 (55) 5290 3848/3858
Northern Mexico City
- Hacienda de los Morales
Tel: + 52 (55) 5281-4554 - Caballo Bayo
Tel: + 52 (55) 5589 3000/1384 - Tecamacharlie's
Tel: + 52 (55) 5293 0224/0366
Southern Mexico City
- San Angel Inn
Tel: + 52 (55) 5616 0973/1402 - El Candelero
Tel: + 52 (55) 5598-9008/9677
Historic Center, central Mexico
- Girasoles
Tolsa Plaza, a must-see square!
Tel: + 52 (55) 5510 0630 - Fonda El Refugio
Tel: + 52 (55) 5525 8128/+ 52 (55) 5207-2732 - La Opera
Tel: + 52 (55) 5512 8959
This is one of the best cantinas! - El Cardenal
Tel: + 52 (55) 5521 8815
Paguro recommends that you at least try a "Pollo con mole", which is chicken with a special spicy salsa containing over 50 ingredients.
Enchiladas, tacos (nothing similar to those sold by Taco Bell in the U. S.), tortas, carnitas or barbacoa are all great choices.
On a more informal side, there are the taquerias, featuring many kinds of tacos (rolled corn tortillas, stuffed with different ingredients), and typical Mexican soups and dishes. The "tacos al pastor" are native of Mexico City. These are rolled corn tortillas stuffed with marinated pork and pineapple, mmmmm!
You will see that "taquerias" are all over Mexico City. You will find tacos in chain restaurants like Taco Inn, El Tizoncito, El Charco de las Ranas, El Farolito, etc. These are good places to start getting acquainted with tacos and salsas.
But tacos are sold everywhere, even on street carts (just like hot dogs in New York!). However, be careful. DO NOT eat anything from street vendors, you might catch a horrible, horrible infection that could at the very least send you to the hospital.
For the latest, hottest and trendiest in restaurants in Mexico City, follow this link
http://www.sanbachs.net/cgi-bin/mexico/mexico4.cgi/City=MEX
