Honestly any day you’re in town this is a great way to spend an afternoon. But if you’re looking for something chill and fun for your first day this is the Taco Tour for you! La Condesa is a super safe and really relaxing neighbourhood inside bustling Mexico City. This part of town eases you into the history and culture of Mexico City all through food!

About The Taco Stops

All the stops we’ll make along the are established restaurants, so you won’t need to flex any street food savvy just yet. While street food is incredible in Mexico City and something I really recommend everyone try, I realize on your first day you might want to start slow, with more easy-to-find and order at stops. A little bit of Spanish goes a long way as many of these shops don’t have servers that speak English. That being said, since we’re in a touristy area, a few of the restaurants actually have English menus.

DIY Taco Tour La Condesa Map

List of Restaurants:

1. Taquería Orinoco
2. El Pescadito
3. Tacos Don Juan
5. Taquería El Califa
6. Taqueria El Greco
7. Tacos Hola El Güero

Taquería Orinoco

We start our tour in the north of La Condesa, inside Taquería Orinoco. Taquería Orinoco serves up Northern-style tacos. Their menu is tiny, with three types of meat; trompo (al pastor pork), res (beef), and chicharron (fried pork skin). You can order each flavour on a maize (corn) or harina (flour) tortilla. Or even opt for the crispy tostada. In the north, eating a flour tortilla is expected, so if you want to go for the traditional version you’ll order the harina. 

Once you’re seated, either side or outside, they’ll bring you a large platter of their salsas, which are some of my favourites! Get a glass of freshly made agua fresca (I recommend the hibiscus flavour) to wash it all down! Remember, this is just the first stop, so be sure to only order one taco; you can always come back for more.

Address: Avenue Yucatan 3, Hipódromo
Cost: 24-36 pesos/taco

El Pescadito

Take a walk west along with Avenue Álvaro Obregón until you arrive at Parque Espana. This is a beautiful little parkette worth exploring if you’re taking your time along this Taco Tour. Just off the Parque Espana is the famous El Pescadito. El Pescadito is a little chain in Mexico City that specializes in fish tacos! You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the cheery face of their fish mascot above the sign on the door beckoning you to enter!

The fish on offer here is the smoked marlin which has the most indearing pink colour against the yellow corn tortillas. They also serve up my favourite which are the shrimp (camarón) tacos. You can also get the campechano taco which combines battered fish and shrimp, so you can try both the options! The best of both worlds. One of my favourite aspects of this restaurant is the toppings bar! Here you can get everything from pickled red onions to shredded cabbage, hot sauce and loads of limes! All self-serve so you can really customize your own perfect taco.

Address: Calle Atlixco 38, Colonia Condesa
Cost: 46 pesos/taco

Tacos Don Juan

Directly across the street from El Pescadito is another hot spot in La Condesa; Tacos Don Juan! Hidden under a small, unassuming sign inside an old art deco-inspired building is a family-run joint with a handwritten menu that changes daily. Make sure you place an order for the quesabirria taco. Birria is beef stew, and the tacos are made from this incredibly tender and flavourful meat. The Quesabirria taco is served with a scoop of meat, then covered in cheese and given a quick fry-up on the grill. What you’re left with is this incredible crispy yet still moist taco that is bursting with flavour!

Address: Calle Atlixco 42, Colonia Condesa
Cost: 46 pesos/quesabirria taco

Walk south along Calle Atlixco until you reach Avenue Tamaulipas. From here, it’s only one block east to our next stop; . claims to be where tacos Al Pastor were first invented. However, almost all shops selling tacos Al Pastor seem to make this claim. Nonetheless, this is one of my favourite places to try out the famous taco.

Tacos Al Pastor was more than likely invented in Puebla in 1930. It was made by a Lebanese immigrant family who introduced the concept of shawarma and roasting meat upright on a spit to the Mexican people. The distinct red colour of the meat is made from marinating the meat in achiote paste. This popular marinade is made from annatto seeds, pepper, cumin, coriander, oregano, garlic and cloves. Once the meat is cooked, it’s shaved off the spit giving it the most intoxicating slightly burnt, crispy flavour. The tacos are served with a fresh slice of pineapple, onion, and cilantro. The meat here is super fresh, and I love how they top it off with their tasty salsas.

Address: Avenue Tamaulipas 122, Colonia Condesa, 
Cost: 27 pesos/taco

Taquería El Califa

At the edge of La Condesa sits a huge taco instituion Taquería El Califa. This is one of the big “grill joints” in town where you can get a ton of different types of tacos. The restaurant is as big as its menu with two floors of seating. Although there are lots of different options, for me, this is where to come to get beef tacos. The bistec (marinated flat iron beef) and costilla (beef rib) are very thin slices of beef, quickly grilled up and placed onto a taco. You can dress it up at the table with their various toppings to your preference. I would be sure some onions and avocado, as the pairing is absolutely perfect.

Address: Altata 22, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 30 pesos/taco

Taqueria El Greco

Head diagonally west across Avenue Nuevo León towards the intersection of Avenue Michoacán. Here you’ll find Taqueria El Greco which is home to the original Arabian bread tacos. Their Doneraky tacos are made in an Arab style using a pita instead of a tortilla. Another gift from the Lebanese immigrants who came to Mexico City in the 30s. They would change the taco game forever by introducing these new takes on the classic taco. The roasted meat is so tender and fresh and the softness of the fluffy pita absorbs all the fatty drippings making it such a delight to eat! Get it along with cheese and avocado for an absolute taste sensation!

Address: Av Michoacán 54-Local B – 91 And 92, Hipódromo,
Cost: 76 pesos/taco with cheese and avocado

Tacos Hola El Güero

The infamous Hola Tacos is just a block down from El Greco, around the corner on Amsterdam Avenue. This taco shop specializes in Guisado tacos. Guisado means “stew” in Spanish. Various ingredients are marinaded for hours and hours, making them super juicy, flavourful and tender. But you can get much more than just meat there. If they still have any of the nopales (cactus pads) available when you arrive (which they might not as this sells out quickly), I would highly advise trying them out. Nopales are a popular filling and topping on tacos. But I find the stew they make here with them adds so much flavour to the nopales than when they are only grilled. The stewed Poblanas peppers with cream is also one of my favourites!

Address: Amsterdam 135, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 23 pesos/taco

We end our tour here on Amsterdam Avenue, across from Parque Mexico. This is the perfect place to take a rest after all those tacos. Take a seat under the pergola around the Teatro Lindbergh or inside the peaceful Audiorama. As you digest, think about your favourite taco of the day and let me know in the comments if you managed to finish the tour! Or if you had to come back for more

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Ultimate DIY Taco Tour of La Condesa, Mexico City; a Foodie’s Dream! first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Truthfully, the answer isn’t simple. Some people might say no trip to Mexico City is complete without trying street food. Others will implore you to never even sample a single bite of anything on the street. And the truth, like most truths, falls somewhere in the middle.

I have never gotten food poisoning in Mexico City. But I HAVE had mild food poisoning in Lisbon, California and even in Canada, where I live! Travellers often get sick from new bacteria, which is a risk in any foreign country. Does that mean you should go right out and drink the tap water? No. But there are plenty of ways to keep safe while still enjoying yourself and indulging in local cuisine.

Table Of Contents

1. Eating TIPS
2. Foods to Avoid
3. What to do if you get Sick
   • Treating the Symptoms
   • When to go to the Doctor
4. Take a Street Food Tour
5. Handy Foodie Translations:
6. Where to Find Street Food?
7. Tips on How to Order
8. What To Eat for Breakfast
   • Fresh Orange Juice
   • Coconuts
   • Tamales
   • Elotes/Esquites
   • Tlacoyos
   • Tortas
   • Pan Dulce
9. Antojitos Mexicanos
   • Quesadillas
   • Sopes
   • Huarache
   • Gorditas 
   • Flautas and Taquitos
10. Snacks
    • Fruit and Chilli
    • Chips, Sweet and Chicharrónes
    • Dorilocos
11. Tacos
    • Tacos al Pastor
    • Barbacoa 
    • Carne Asada
    • Carnitas
    • Birria Tacos
    • Tacos de Canasta
12. Desserts
    • Churros

Eating TIPS

These are some of my key tips to follow to ensure you eat as safely as possible when going out in search of street food. Remember, there are always risks involved but if you follow these tips you’ll have the best chance of making it out without the rath of Montezuma!

• Eating in the morning ensures the food hasn’t been sitting out all day. Look for food that is being freshly cooked. Pre-cooked meat, sitting out on a hot stove, is how bacteria is formed.
• Look for stall where the cook isn’t the same person who handles the money. If there is only one staffer, see if they use a glove or plastic bag when touching cash or coins. Money is a bacteria playground.
• Always look out for busy stalls. This means people come back time and time again and mostly likely, haven’t gotten sick.
• Be sure to sanitize your hands before eating. Often it won’t even the food that made you sick but the bacteria from your hands.
• Many cooks will use their bare hands when cooking. You might be appauled they aren’t using gloves to cook but don’t be. If they wore gloves but also didn’t wash their hands it would be just as unhygenic. And you’d be surprised how many restaurants all over the world have chefs using their bare hands to make your food. So long as they’re clean, it’s absolutely fine.
• Before going on holiday take some immune boosters and probiotics for your gut health.
• Trust your gut. If you get a bad vibe or just can’t suss out if its safe or not, give it a miss. There are so many opportunities everywhere you go, don’t feel like you missed out if you decide to skip it.

Foods to Avoid

While there are plenty of foods you should try, there are also several things I would recommend avoiding. While others might encourage you to try it all, these things can easily be sampled elsewhere.

• I usually avoid Pico de Gallo and salsa at street food stalls. These salsas tend to sit out in the hot sun all day, and therefore are ripe for bacteria growth. Unless I can see either it being fresh made or some sort of refrigeration I usually give it a miss. And if you aren’t great with hot sauce, definitely avoid the salsa. Even the mild tends to knock the socks off some people.
• The same applies to the sour cream sauce or ‘cream,’ which is sometimes drizzled on top of tacos.
• Avoid washed, uncooked fruits and vegetables. Often it is the bacteria from the unfiltered water that could cause some stomach discomfort. This is most prominently an issue with salads, avoid those completely! I often eat the onions served with tacos as the onions are simply peeled and cut. Peeled fruit is another safe bet as it doesn’t need to be washed.
• Avoid Agua Frescas and Licuados. Aguas frescas are fruits based beverages mixed with sugar and water. In addition to fruits, these also could be flavoured with tamarind, hibiscus, and horchata. Licuados are similiar but are made with evaporated milk to give it a creamy taste. While they all look so delicious these could have been made with unfiltered water. Stick to ordering these in restaurants where you can easily ask the staff if they are made with potable water.
• If you are really hesitant you can always avoid the uncooked veg and meats. A cheesy gordita is almost always a safe bet.

What to do if you get Sick

Even if you follow all these tips, you might get sick. Perhaps with Montezuma’s revenge or even just with a touch of an upset stomach from overeating. They call traveller’s diahrea ‘Montezuma’s revenge,’ caused by drinking the local water or eating foods containing E. Coli bacterium. The sickness is seen as “retribution” for the Spanish’s slaughter and enslavement of the Aztec people.

Treating the Symptoms

Traveller’s diarrhea usually lasts from 3 to 7 days and is rarely life-threatening. Symptoms include abrupt onset of diarrhea, Fever, Nausea and vomiting, Bloating, Malaise (weakness or discomfort), Explosive and painful gas, Stomach cramps, Loss of appetite. I am always sure to pack antidiarrheal medication, which is often the worse part of the sickness. Pepto-Bismol and Tums are also great to help soothe the symptoms. I am also sure to pack Hydralyte packets that help restore lost electrolytes. If you are especially worried, you can go to a travel doctor who will prescribe you some antidiarrheal medication that is stronger than the over-the-counter options.

When to go to the Doctor

If none of these work for you and the symptoms worsen, you should immediately get yourself to a doctor. In Mexico City, many large chain pharmacies have doctors inside. These doctors can see you almost immediately and either prescribe some medication there on the spot or send you to the hospital if it is serious enough. Medical treatments in Mexico are generally fairly inexpensive but having traveller’s insurance will help cover these unforeseen circumstances.

Take a Street Food Tour

If, after all these tips, you’re still hesitant, take a street food tour! Street food tours are an amazing opportunity to have a local guide you around to tried and true places. These staple stops in their community have been vetted, and the guides know them to be hygenic and delicious.

Handy Foodie Translations:

Where to Find Street Food?

Why the street, of course? But it’s true, finding the perfect area to indulge in everything on this list is virtually impossible. There are definitely some areas where the vendors converge. But for the most part, it’s one of the joys of travelling to discover your favourite stalls. But here is a shortlist of some surefire spots where you can almost always find quality street food.

Local tianguis

Your local tianguis is always an excellent opportunity to try some fantastic street vendors. A tianguis is an open-air market held on certain market days. These markets are a tradition that has its roots well into the pre-Hispanic period and continues almost unchanged into the present day. La Condesa’s Tuesday Tianguis is my personal number one pick!

Markets

The Mercado Medellín in Roma Sud is another hot spot for the street vendors that surround the outer edges f the marketplace. Any street food around a market is sure to have the freshest ingredients as they would have been purchased just next door inside the market.

If you want to find a place with all the best Antojitos Mexicanos inside the Antojitos Mexicanos Market Juanita in Coyoacan. Inside the red brick, arches is a small open-air room which a series of stalls around the edges serving the best Mexican bites. Everything here is made fresh and on the spot and a very reliable place to check out!

Popular Streets

Puebla Street in Roma Norte has a large confluence of incredible street vendors. As they seem to congregate on the edges of this new trendy community, they tend to have a better edge of trendy and popular food.

If you walk south of Alameda Central, head down Calle Lopez until you reach Vizcainas Street. On this corner, there are several permanent stalls that serve up the cities best tacos!

Early in the morning, on the corner of Alfonso Reyes and Av. Tamaulipas in La Condesa, you’ll find the most popular Torta de Chilaques vendor in all of the city. People start lining up even before the stall has arrived, and by midday, everything will be gone. Show up to the corner in the morning and just get in line; you won’t be disappointed.

Parks

Walking around some of the cities most popular parks is a great way to come across street vendors. My favourites are Alameda Central in the Historic Centra, Parque México in La Condea, Alameda de Santa María in Colonia Santa María la Ribera, and ofcourse, the great Bosque de Chapultepec.

Tips on How to Order

Most street food vendors will not speak much English, so don’t come expecting them to cater to you. But also, don’t let that scare you away. Street food stalls are always plastered with signage, so it’s easy to see what’s available and how much it costs. Using this guide, you’ll be able to learn the words for the various must-have dishes. 

Always greet them with cheery Buenos días, Buenas tardes, or Buenas noches, depending on what time of day it is. A smile goes a long way. Simply point to the item on the grill or even the sign which advertises the dish. If you don’t want something, just point at that item and say sin (without.) And always say por favor (please.)

Cash is the only way to pay, so be sure you have some on hand. Never come with big bills and if possible try to have exact change. Usually, if you are eating several things, you settle up after you are finished eating. Unless you are taking something to eat elsewhere, it’s typical and considered polite to pay at the end. Just follow what the locals are doing, and you’ll get the drift.

Often street food stalls serve the food on a plate covered in plastic wrap to eat on top of. When you’re done, simply hand the plate back to the cashier. Each plate is “cleaned” by removing the plastic, and a new sheet is placed on top for the next customer.

What To Eat for Breakfast

Fresh Orange Juice

There is nothing better than freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice in the morning. Now, unfiltered water is a sure-fire way to catch Montezuma’s revenge. But freshly squeezed fruits, made right in front of your eyes, are a safe bet! The perfect way to enjoy a morning beverage without worrying about any contamination. I always ask for a fresh one if I see some pre-made ones sitting out just in case.

Coconuts

Another beverage you can safely drink is from the coconut vendors. These are less frequently found, but don’t hesitate to run after him down the street if you see one. The vendors will slice open a fresh coconut for you to drink the sweet nectar within. And don’t worry, you won’t need to lug around the entire coconut. The vendor will pour the liquid into a tall and thin plastic bag. He then inserts a long straw to take your drink on the go.

Tamales

Stepping out of your hotel in the morning, you are frequently greeted by a series of the same sounds. There are the street sweepers, cleaning the many fallen leaves from the surrounding tree. The recycling collectors with their repetitive announcements playing over loudspeakers on top of their car. And then there are the melodic sounds of the cycling tamales vendors. Tamales have been eaten in Mexico since as far back as 8000 BC! It is like biting into a piece of history. Tamales are made by taking dried corn husks and stuffing them full of corn masa, cheese, chicken or pork. The filling is often topped with salsa or, in some cases, mole and cooked in the corn husk casing.

Tamales are the perfect handheld food. Therefore, a great choice in the morning to enjoy on your walk to work. Or, in our case, a walk around the neighbourhood. Best of all, no waste! Just throw away the corn husk, and it will biodegrade in no time. But yes, please be sure to throw it away in a garbage bin and not on the ground!

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Elotes/Esquites

One of my favourite ways to warm up on a chilly morning is with a cup of Esquites. Elote and Esquites are made with either regular yellow corn or the thicker hominy variety. Usually, it’s easy to tell the difference as the hominy is like corn kernels on steroids. The ingredients in the dish are the same whether you get an elote or an esquites. It is simply how it is served that is the main difference. Elote is served on the cob of corn itself, whereas esquites are served off the cob in a cup. Both are topped with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, salt and usually a sprinkling of chilli. It’s messy, and it’s delicious!

I usually advise people to opt for an elote as they tend to be more consistently fresh. Whereas the esquites can often just boil away for hours. The bad ones can be rather unpleasant, but keep trying until you find a reliable vendor. And since they only cost a dollar you won’t need to worry about losing out too much.

Tlacoyos

When I first came to Mexico City, I was enthralled with these blue corn, oval-shaped lumps of dough. Groups of women would hover over their hot grills every morning like a coven of good witches. I learned that these were called Tlacoyos, and the grill was, in fact, called a comal. Like so many street foods, this dish has pre-Hispanic origins. The word tlacoyo is derived from the Nahuatl word tlahtlaōyoh, which means snack or appetizer.

A tlacoyo is made with blue corn masa and stuffed with pork, cheese or beans. And my favourite, sliced nopales. Nopales are cactus paddles usually cut into fine strips and folded into the tlacoyo. They have a bit of a crunchy texture and sour taste resembling asparagus or okra. I love the bite it leans to the dish and how it completely transforms the flavours around it.

Tortas

Tortas are another popular breakfast item you’ll see being made on the street every morning in Mexico City. A torta is essentially a HUGE breakfast sandwich. The key ingredient in the torta is the bread. Specifically a bolillo roll. This is the Mexican version of crusty french bread. A rigid exterior melded with a light and fluffy interior. The bun is sliced open and filled with a myriad of different toppings. 

Tortas de Chilaquiles

Tortas de Chilaquiles is a popular variation found mainly in Mexico City. Chilaquiles on their own is a fantastic breakfast option but usually found in restaurants. Chilaquiles consist of a plate of tortilla chips doused in green or red chilli sauce. Then they are topped with a fried egg, cheese and sliced green onions. Most of the time, this dish requires a fork and spoon to eat. So, to create an on-the-go version, inventive vendors simply put the entirety of the dish inside the hearty bolillo roll. And there you have it; Tortas de Chilaquiles!

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Torta Cubano

You’ll also often see signs on the street for the Torta Cubano. The Torta Cubano is stuffed to bursting with ingredients. Despite the name, the sandwich has little to do with Cuba. In the 1950s, a cook opened his restaurant on the Calle Republica de Cuba in the historic centre. He made a name for himself, selling his tortas stuffed with a multitude of different meats he was trying to use up at the end of the day. The dish caught on and goes by the name of the street in which it was first invented!

Today a Torta Cubano still is served with a pile of meat. It can be a combination of roasted pork, chorizo, carne asada, ham and beef. Then it is further topped with lots of cheese and grilled veggies. Every vendor makes his a bit differently, his own particular recipe or whatever meat was on offer that day. These Tortas are a BIG MEAL! So ome with a BIG appetite.

Pan Dulce

Early in the morning, you’ll see vendors peddling around town hauling huge plastic bags or baskets full of fresh pastries. These are called Pan Dulce which means “sweet breads”. The vendors also tend to pull along with them a huge orange thermos filled with fresh coffee. The variety of pastries changes based on what’s available that day. These pastries are a sure-fire option if you’d squeamish about street food. They are very cheap so if you see someone riding by, be sure to stop them! Often the pastries are from local, well-established bakeries. So despite the understated appearance, these tend to be extremely tasty!

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Antojitos Mexicanos

Many a street stall will feature the words “Antojitos Mexicanos” in large lettering. Below this, there will usually be a smaller menu featuring a list of the available options. Antojitos Mexicanos translates as “little cravings.” Just a little something to tide you over until dinnertime. The list of items found on an Antijitos truck is enormous. But usually, they are all made from generally the same set of ingredients but assembled a bit differently. Antojitos Mexicanos are a great option if you don’t eat meat and have a bit of experience speaking Spanish. You can easily ask for the meat to be left out. And because many of the dishes contain beans you’ll still get a nice and filling snack.

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Quesadillas

One of the most popular items you think you might be familiar with is the quesadillas. But authentic quesadillas are not exactly what you might expect. Authentic quesadillas are indeed made with a folder tortilla but not automatically filled with cheese. In fact, unless you order the queso quesadilla, you probably won’t get any cheese.

Instead, the tortilla is slathered in a layer of guisado (meat stew.) Then the tortilla is grilled or fried. The stew can be made of anything and sometimes contains meat offcuts such as tongue, cheek, eyes, nose, stomach. If you want to avoid the guisado, you can opt to order the polo (chicken), queso (cheese) or even champignons (mushrooms). While you might start with something more familiar I definitely recommend trying the guisado at least once.

My favourite variety, though, is the deep-fried quesadilla. There is something about biting into that crunchy exterior to discover that soft stew inside that is so hypnotizing. Often vendors top the fried quesadillas with shredded Lechuga (lettuce). The lettuce should be avoided as it could have been washed in unfiltered water. Simply ask for it sin Lechuga (without lettuce.)

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Sopes

Sopes are made with thick corn masa dough. They are placed onto the hot comal and pressed into a round shape with pinched edges. Then the fillings or guisado are spooned inside the edges. It’s almost like an edible plate! Sometimes the dough is made with crushed beans, so you get this very savoury tasting dough.

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Huarache

The only big difference between a sope and a huarache is the shape. Huarache translates into “sandal,” which is the shape the dough is formed to resemble. Once crispy, the dough is topped with beans, meat, salsa and cotija. Same deal applies to the lettuce.

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Gorditas 

Gorditas are made with the same dough as the sopes and huaraches. But instead of placing the filling on top, the filling is placed within. Gorditas are shaped into smaller but thick, circular disks and fried up on the comal. After cooking, they are left on the edge of the grill to be kept warm. Once ordered, the cook will grab a hot gordita, slice it open, and fill the interior with meat, salsa, cilantro, and onion. You can also have a deep-fried gordita where they stuff the filling inside first and then fry it up.

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Flautas and Taquitos

Flautas and Taquitos are two of my favourite Antijitos as they are actually bite-sized. So they won’t fill you up too much. The two dishes are very similar, consisting of a small tortilla filled with shredded chicken or beef. The tortilla is rolled up like a cigar and fried until crispy. They can then be topped with shredded lettuce or cabbage, crema, cojita cheese and guacamole. The main difference is that Flautas are made with a slightly larger flour tortilla. While Taquitos are made with smaller-sized corn tortillas.

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Snacks

Fruit and Chilli

My favourite afternoon sweet treat is always found at the fruit vendors. Their food carts are always easy to spot as they feature vibrant red or striped umbrellas. Underneath, their glass cabinets are filled with brightly coloured fruits like watermelon, mango, pineapple and papaya.

After selecting what kind of fruit you want the vendor will ask you if you want the traditional toppings. This includes; lime, salt and chilli. I know what you’re going to say, “salt and chilli on fruit?!” and I know it sounds strange, but if you’ve never tried it, you need to try it at least once. The salt contrasts the sweet fruits so perfectly! And the hint of spice adds another level of flavour.

Another topping often drizzled on top of the fruit is chamoy. Chamoy is a savoury condiment made from pickled fruit. The flavour is salty, sweet, sour, and spiced with chilis. It’s wonderful and something you need to try at least once!

Chips, Sweet and Chicharrónes

Often found while walking through parks and plazas are the huge stalls and carts covered in various chips, nuts and sweets. These stalls are so vibrant they also pull you in towards them. There is usually a combination of freshly made chips in plain plastic bags and brand-name chips in their neon packaging. In addition to the chips, they also carry tall bags stuffed full of Chicharrónes. Chicharrón are fried pork rinds; they are wonderfully crispy, full of flavour and naturally salted. To amp up your afternoon snack, most stalls will also offer to cover your chips in lime, chilli and sometimes salsa!

Dorilocos

Also found at the chips stands is a dish called Dorilocos. This invention was actually made right here in Mexico City in recent years. It consists of a bag of Doritos sliced open and topped with various fresh ingredients. These can be anything from carrots, cucumber, peanuts, radishes, corn, and peanuts. Then you can add sauces like chamoy, Valentina and of course a fresh squeeze of lime. It’s eaten with a fork and looks like a chip salad!

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Tacos

By far the most popular thing people come to Mexico City in search of are tacos! There are so many different varieties and most than I could list here. But I’ve done my best to lay out the most popular varieties to find in street stalls all over the city.

Tacos al Pastor

Taco al pastor or “shepherd style” tacos are made from spit-grilled pork. The dish was created after Lebanese immigrants introduced shawarma to Mexicans. The pork is marinaded in adobada (red chile) paste and spit-roasted with a giant pineapple placed on top. When served, it is accompanied by sliced onions, cilantro, and the all-important roasted pineapple. Added to give it that hint of sweetness. Taco al pastor is my favourite kind of taco, and there is no visit to Mexico City without trying them.

Barbacoa 

Barbacoa is an elusive taco as it is usually only available in street stalls on the weekend. The word Barbacoa translates into Barbeque as the meat is made from a long and slow braising method. These tacos are usually made of sheep as this is the most traditional meat for Barbacoa. It is only available on the weekends because the process takes all week to ensure the meat is perfectly cooked. The method of preparation dates all the way back to pre-Columbian times. They begin by digging a hole in the ground and covering it with heated stones. The stones heat the hole for an entire day before the core temperate is hot enough to cook the meat.

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After this, the prepared sheep is wrapped in maguey leaves. The leaves give the meat insulation from the hot stones and also flavour the meat while it cooks. The oven is then covered in the same leaves and a layer of earth. A fire is lit on top, and the meat is left to cook for around 12 hours or more. The result is incredible and not to be missed if you spot it!

Carne Asada

Carne Asada tacos are made from freshly grilled beef. The dish comes from the Sonoran province of Mexico, where they have large rattle ranches. The flap steak or short loin cuts are grilled over hot charcoal giving it that iconic char-grilled flavour. These tacos are also called Al Carbon after the carbon or “charcoal” they are cooked with.

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Carnitas

Carnitas are another popular variety made from fatty pork shoulder. Instead of being grilled, this meat is made by cooking the pork in its own fat. The pork is marinated in orange and garlic and cooked for a long time on low heat. Once cooked, it is chopped up finely, as carnitas translate to “little bits of meat.”

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Birria Tacos

Birria Tacos are made from a stew of marinated goat meat. The stew is slathered over a corn tortilla with onions, cilantro and salsa. It is then often paired with a cup of consomé or the broth from the stew. You can either just sip on this or dunk your tacos into the broth, almost like a french dip sandwich. Many locals eat Birria Tacos as a cure for their hangovers so you’ll often see these stands out in the morning.

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Tacos de Canasta

Tacos de Canasta are a popular cheap snack in Mexico City. The term Tacos de Canasta translates into “Tacos of the basket,” which is precisely what they are. Walking around busy areas of town, you might spot men and women with large cloth-covered baskets filled with steaming tacos. There is no kitchen on wheels, just premade tacos stuffed into baskets. On the backs of their bikes are often small jars of toppings to add to the “sweaty tacos”. These aren’t my favourite as I can’t get behind the slightly moist tortillas. But they are incredibly inexpensive and a very Mexico City thing to eat.

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Desserts

Churros

Churros are a late-night snack to keep your eyes out for. A churro is an iconic Mexican pastry that resembles a doughnut. It is made by deep-frying unsweetened dough in super hot oil. It is then sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon. They come in both straight and spiral varieties. The fancier versions you might find in restaurants usually come with a dipping sauce on the side. But the street versions typically have the fillings pipped inside the hollow center to make for an easy on-the-go snack. The most commonly found filling is chocolate, but you might also see dulce de leche, strawberry and vanilla.

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In the end, if you are worried about street food making you sick, don’t stress yourself out. There are hundreds of excellent restaurants in this city. In many of them, you’ll be able to try a variation of street food in what may feel like a more comfortable environment. But always be aware that food poisoning can get you anywhere; it’s not exclusive to street food or Mexico City. Follow my advice and start slowly. Soon you’ll be running down the street to catch your favourite tamale vendor before they run out before 9 am!

Let me know in the comment what your favourite street food city is or what dish from this list you’re most looking forward to trying.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post Ultimate Mexico City Street Food Guide: Dive into the Delicious first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Filigrana

Filigrana is my new favourite brunch spot so I had to update this list to feature it. Walking inside, you are immediately in awe of the environment. The glass walls allow the beautiful morning sun to filter in, creating rainbows of light on the floor. You are immediately greeted by friendly servers and before you’ve ever ordered are brought over to their pastry tray with some of the most inventive and delicious pastries! I had to try at least one even though I knew more food was on the way. Filigrana specialized in Mexican fusion with dishes that combine a variety of different cultures. The tortillas served alongside your meal are made literally on sight and you can see the tortillas makers around the corner from the washroom for some in-house entertainment.

Be sure to sample the licuado de mamey, which is a smoothie made with the Mexican native mamey fruit! So creamy and delicious. For your meal I recommend highly the tostadas, chilaquiles and, of course, some delicious freshly made guacamole served with their fresh tortillas. What is so convenient about Filigrana is the fact you can make easy reservations in advance on Opentable. Especially if you’re visiting on a weekend with a larger group reservations are absolutely mandatory! But they’re not too hard to find if you book up well enough in advance.

Panadería Rosetta

Panadería Rosetta is a café that combines the best of French and European traditions with Mexican ones. The café offers a daily selection of bread, so depending on what day you come by, there is always something extra special to try. They offer both sweet and savoury bread as well as sandwiches, cakes, muffins and more! Everything hidden away in their little glass cases is to die for. Their baked good are so delicious in fact that this bakery delivers their goods to dozens of cafes around town. But I like coming right to the source!

While they have some table service, I love coming to Panadería Rosetta to stock up on various treats and then carry them over to a nearby park to enjoy my spread. Mexico City is home to a plethora of public parks, and they make the perfect spot for a morning picnic! I love nothing more than Sunday brunch in the park as Sunday is when everyone brings out their dogs to play. It’s so much fun to just sit back and watch the adorable little pups playing.

Restaurante El Cardenal

Restaurante El Cardenal is an institution in Mexico City with multiple different locations. The San Ángel location is their newest expansion, and it’s by far my favourite location! El Cardenal was founded in 1969, and the family founders wanted to bring their love of traditional Mexican cuisine to an upscale setting. One of the most luxurious parts of dining inside El Cardenal in San Ángel is the gorgeous architecture. The restaurant is set inside an old colonial mansion. The stained glass windows and gleaming wood floors make just sitting inside such a joy to experience.

To start the perfect breakfast, begin with hot chocolate, not coffee! Their unique hot chocolate is made with famous Doña Oliva chocolate and is like drinking a cup of history. Hot chocolate originated in Mexico and was an essential part of the Aztec culture from 1400 AD. My favourite part about the experience of eating here was the pastry tray. When you come inside a waiter brings you over an enormous tray of sweet pastries. And you can choose, with your own eyes, which pastry you’d want to start off the meal right with.

Another traditional breakfast dish you’ll only find in Mexico is the Egg omelette with escamoles. Escamoles are colloquially called “Mexican caviar,” and are edible ant larvae. Escamoles have been consumed in Mexico since the age of the Aztecs and are high in nutritional value. It’s definitely one of the most unique and classic dishes on the menu. But if that’s not your thing they have many other traditional options for those who aren’t that adventurous.

La Güera Tortas de Chilaquiles

La Güera Tortas de Chilaquiles is one of those local hot spots that is finally getting its due with the international crowds. But sadly, this means the secret is out, and you NEED to get here early for a chance at these fantastic sandwiches. This popup street food stand is set up every morning on the corner of Tamaulipas and Alfonso Reyes in La Condesa. We stumbled upon this place as it was only a few blocks away from our hotel. One piece of advice I almost always follow when travelling is that when you see line up for food, get in line. Especially if the people in line are locals. And I wasn’t disappointed.

A tortas de chilaquiles is a massive breakfast sandwich made to order. When you approach the table their little makeshift assembly line will get to work putting together your sandwich. Inside that perfectly crispy yet pillowy-soft bun are huge handfuls of shredded chicken, fried chicken cutlet, or cochinita pibil (pork). When they ask which meat you want, just point if you don’t know what they’re called. And honestly, it’s all delicious but my preference is always the pibil. On top of the meat, they will slather a layer of crema, crumbled queso fresco, onions and spicy peppers. All for only 35 PESOS!!! That’s less than $2! And the sandwich is enormous, I almost always split the order with my husband.

The only caveat? If you plan to come here on the weekend, be prepared to line up early (like 7 am early). Although the stand won’t start serving until 8am, you’ll see the line before you arrive and you’ll just have to wait patiently. I try to come on the weekdays when things are a little slower.

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Cafe De Tacuba

Cafe De Tacuba is a slice of history carved into the fabric of the Historic District. The café tends to get extremely busy during brunch hours, but it’s worth the wait if you want to try their honey and caramel-layered pancakes with cinnamon. Café de Tacuba has been a hot spot here in the Historic District since 1912. The restaurant gained real notoriety in 1922 when Diego Rivera held his wedding reception to novelist Guadalupe Marín here. Sadly, Rivera would divorce Marín and marry one of the most famous Mexican artists, Frida Khalo. Another notable event that took place here was the assassination of the local governor of Veracruz, Manlio Fabio Altamirano Flores. You might think such an event would put people off, but it only increased the draw.

But it’s not just the history that brings people here. Aside from the fantastic food is the incredible interior design. The interior is covered in fantastical paintings from the pre-Hispanic period. Vibrant mosaics and stained glass windows encircling the space make you feel like dining inside a museum. It’s truly a joy to eat here!

Lalo!

If you want to go to brunch and be guaranteed a smile, then you must visit Lalo! Lalo! is another popular brunch spot located in the Roma neighbourhood. Lalo! is the nickname of the owner and acclaimed chef Eduardo Garcia. Brunch is bustling here, so be prepared to wait a while to get a table but trust me, it’s worth it

Painted on the cafe walls are these incredible colourful, feel-good drawings by Belgian graffiti artist Blue Warrior. They say you eat with your eyes, and being surrounded by these positive and happy-inducing images; you can’t help but eat while filled with pure joy. The most popular items on the menu are their huevos con chorizo and the Huevos fritos con salsa ranchera.

Mercado Medellín

If you’re looking for an uncomplicated yet authentic brunch inside one of the most lively markets, you need to make your way over to Mercado Medellín. The Colonia Roma neighbourhood is also known as “Little Havana” because of the large number of Cuban and Latin American immigrants that live in the area. With this comes an incredible selection of coffee. Inside the market, there are a few different coffee vendors selling the beans and crafting expertly brewed cups of coffee.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, this market is flush with locals buying food for the week. Fresh fruit and veggie stalls are overflowing with incredible finds in as many colours as the rainbow. There are over 500 stalls in total that sprawl over the vast city block-sized marketplace. Towards the back of the market, past the vendors, you’ll find the food court. The food court is as uncomplicated as you can get, but you’ll have the chance to eat a real typical Mexican breakfast. This includes many dishes with eggs, like Huevos Rancheros, eggs in salsa, eggs with chorizo, chilaquiles, and breakfast tacos. Don’t be scared; the food here is fantastic, not everything has to be posh and pristine. The tacos I had from the ladies cooking on the sidewalk right outside the market were honestly the best breakfast tacos I’ve had in my entire life!

Los Amantes Café & Bistro

Los Amantes Café & Bistro in Coyoacan is a little out of the way if you’re staying in the centre city, but WELL worth the effort to get out there. PLUS, I always recommend spending at least a half-day in the beautiful and colourful neighbourhood of Coyoacan so you can make the most of your trip over here. Situated inside a quaint and cozy corner of Coyoacan, Los Amantes cafe is another tribute to talented grandmothers. The chef’s grandmother taught her as a young child all about the virtues of each ingredient and how to mix them to create the perfect harmony of sweet, savoury and sensational!

Their brunch menu is super trendy and primarily consists of different kinds of bread typically served with local fresh fruits, preserves and cheeses—each item complimenting the next. There were so many fruits I didn’t even recognize, and it was a joy to experience the menu without asking any questions until I was finished! It turns out the Mamey fruit is my new favourite treat!

Lardo

Lardo is a beautiful brunch spot in the La Condesa neighbourhood. It’s located inside the old apartment buildings built by THE Condesa that the district is named after. I love how the restaurants are almost hidden away behind the crawling plants that cover the facade of the building. This area of town is so busy on the weekend, and the ambience outside the restaurant is just intoxicating. The menu features hip Mexican-European fusion food, which is as delicious to eat as it is mesmerizing to look at. 

Don’t leave without trying the Fried egg, chile con carne and avocado. The Mexican deconstructed version of avocado toast. My husband is obsessed with their selection of granola, and their baked granola served with red berries, and almond milk is a playful take on cereal. Reservations are recommended at this place since it’s one of the most popular spots in Condesa.

Pastelería Ideal

Pastelería Ideal, located in the heart of the Historic Centre, is a local haunt where you’ll find people clamouring to buy up everything for their sweet tooth! This bakery is so famous that you might have even seen its iconic blue and white pastry boxes all over the city. Many business and cafes buy up their daily pastries from this shop every morning.

The bakery was founded in 1927 and has been opened in this very spot ever since. They have since opened up three other locations, but this is the original. This bakery has everything from traditional Mexican bread and pastries, cakes and cookies to Parisian puff pastry, viennoiseries, and more! All of this is served up on huge platters towering with treats. Just grab a try and use the tongs provided to serve yourself up some pastries. Once you’re done piling up (they make great breakfast pastries, too), take your collection to the counter. There they will pack them up for you and give you a ticket to pay. After you’ve paid, they’ll wrap your baked good, all perfectly wrapped up to go. Enjoy them back at your hotel or over in the famous Alameda Park!

I hope you enjoyed this list of my favourite exciting, hip and delicious brunch spot in Mexico City. Hopefully, you manage to make your way out to visit a few of them on your next trip to Mexico City. Let me know in the comment if you have any other favourite spots that you never skip when visiting CDMX!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post The Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Mexico City [UPDATED 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. 1. Don't believe everything you hear about the crime
2. 2. The Altitude
3. 3. Street Food is Delicious, but do keep away from the water
4. 4. Buildings are a virtual living rainbow of colours
5. 5. Ubers are convenient, cheap and clean
6. 6. IT'S SO GREEN!
7. 7. People are so Friendly!
8. 8. The city really is THAT BIG
9. 9. Learn Spanish!
10. 10. Always carry Tissues & Hand sanitizer

1. Don’t believe everything you hear about the crime

There is so much out there in the media about Mexico which is either just plain untrue, exaggerated or even just circumstantial. Sure, there is crime, but you’ll find crime in any big city. I think shows like ‘Narcos‘ and everything being said in the US media about Mexico has vastly, and falsely, influenced people’s opinions about Mexico. Don’t rely on what you hear, instead of doing the research about safety for yourself.

Although other areas of Mexico are under travel advisories and warnings, Mexico City is not under any travel restrictions. What we learnt when visiting is that crime in the city, especially that related to tourism (IE., pick-pocketing, financial kidnapping and taxi scams) has been vastly reduced over the years.

Unfortunately for the country, crime in Mexico is more gang-related, and therefore there is less petty theft. So if you stick to areas of town you know aren’t a problem, you shouldn’t experience any issues. We never felt unsafe in the tourist areas. And the increased police presence throughout the city, enforced by their new president, always makes you feel at ease. I felt much more unsafe in Barcelona than I ever did in Mexico City.

Tips to Keep Safe

That doesn’t mean you should travel without a care in the world. Keep your wits about you, and be mindful of your surroundings. And always keep an eye on valuable items. We spent some time researching which areas to avoid and the safest areas to stay in. That way, even at night, we knew we were sticking to the safest areas of the city. Neighbourhoods like La Condesa, Roma, Polanco and Coyoacan are amazing neighbourhoods to explore day or night. While the Historic Centre is great to visit during the day, at night, everything closes down. And it’s a bit of a dead zone, so even if it’s safe, it does feel a bit eerie. Areas like Tepito, Doctores, Ciudad Neza, and Iztapalapa should be avoided. Just like you probably have areas in your own hometowns which you avoid as well.

2. The Altitude

Mexico City is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft)! That’s over 600 meters more than in Denver, which sits at an altitude of 1,560 meters! But what does this really mean? Many people don’t even consider the altitude when choosing Mexico City as a destination. And some of them are never any the wiser. For other people, they might experience altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can range from something as subtle as feeling more tired than usual. To full-on bouts of severe exhaustion, nausea, headaches and vertigo.

As someone who has experienced severe migraines and vertigo before in their life, I wanted nothing to do with this altitude sickness. While there is no way to know if you’ll be at risk (there is no correlation between altitude sickness and physical fitness, for instance), there are some things you can do to prevent it if you’re worried. One is just to ensure that you’re properly hydrated before landing. Avoiding salty food, eating carbs and maybe avoiding excess alcohol for the first few days.

Prescriptions for Altitude Sickness

I went ahead and visited my local travel doctor before leaving. I got a prescription for Acetazolamide, which is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. My doctor said it wasn’t absolutely necessary since the altitude is just below the number where you’d usually be prescribed the medication. But since I wanted peace of mind I went ahead with the prescription. I am happy to report, I felt zero symptoms of altitude sickness!

The best thing is to know what to expect, how to prevent it and what to do if you get sick. If you do get sick, REST is BEST! Sleep it off and continue to drink lots and lots of bottled water. And in a day, you’ll have acclimatized to the altitude, and you’ll be ready to take on the city.

3. Street Food is Delicious, but do keep away from the water

Mexico City has some of the best food I’ve eaten anywhere in the world. And did I avoid eating on the streets? No, I did not. Street food is just as delicious as some of the food I got in fancy restaurants. And avoiding this iconic piece of Mexican cuisine would be like visiting Paris and not eating a baguette. And while street food is delicious, you do need to be careful about what you’re eating and who you’re eating it from.

If you’re choosing to get anything to drink from a street vendor make sure it’s always without ice. You can ask for no ice by simply saying ‘sin hielo‘. If you’re looking to get an Agua Fresca (drinks made with water and fruit) make sure you ask them if it’s made with purified water or ‘Agua Pura‘. If you see bottles of purified water behind the counter, you’ll be fine. But if you see any water coming directly from a pail of water in an unidentified container, I would skip it altogether.

Don’t Drink Unpurified Water

Unpurified water is one of the most common ways that people get sick in Mexico City. And it’s not just drinking the water which can get you sick. Eating raw food which has been washed in unpurified water is another big culprit. Many people avoid salads for this exact reason. Something which I was concerned about was raw cilantro and onions on my tacos and guacamole. I took the risk and went ahead and ate all this. And was totally fine. But I did choose to avoid things like lettuce since I knew this veggie is always washed in water before serving.

Another popular street treat sold all over the city are containers of fresh fruits. In most cases, these fruits have been peeled or had their outer casing removed with a knife. That means they are fine to eat since no water was involved. I would make sure that the fruit hasn’t been sitting out too long since this might expose the food to disease-carrying insects. And airborne bacteria. It’s always good to ask for a fresh sliced mango, pineapple or papaya instead of one that has been sitting out in the sun.

Eat what the locals eat

Another tip for eating street food and not getting sick is to try to eat what the locals eat. Searching for something that is very Americanized might mean it’s actually quite unpopular with the locals. And therefore not very fresh. Look for long lines, study what the locals are ordering, and just go for it! You probably won’t get sick, and even if you don’t know what you ordered, street food in Mexico is so cheap it’s always worth trying something new!

Timing is Key

Be sure to eat when the locals eat. If the locals are eating at noon, try to match their schedule. Even if it means lining up, you know you’ll get the freshest food. One piece of advice that you might hear all the time is to avoid sauces. This is because most sauces are kept at room temperature meaning they’re more susceptible to bacteria. But if you’re visiting Mexico, you’ll know that sauces are everything! Salsa isn’t just that tomato-based condiment you find in the US. Salsa actually just means ‘sauce’ in Spanish. It’s a term for everything from pico de gallo to guacamole. And trust me they’re all delicious and all need to be sampled.

My best piece of advice for avoiding getting sick with sauces is just to take a good look at it. See if it looks fresh or looks a bit off. The smaller the container it’s in, the better. Because that means they’re replenishing it more frequently. Either with a large container kept in the fridge or made a new batch fresh.

What to do if you get Sick?

In the end, you could follow all this advice and more, and you still might end up getting sick. Just by pure coincidence. Although having travellers’ diarrhea might be pretty awful in the moment, it would be an even greater waste to go to a country like Mexico and not sample some of their amazing local cuisine. So what do you do if you do get sick? It’s always worth visiting a travel doctor before you leave for vacation. They’ll make sure that all your shots are up-to-date. And also give you some medication which can help prevent travellers’ diarrhea. This means that even if you happen to ingest a little bit of bacteria, you might be able to handle it better than if you had not had this medication. It’s a touch pricey, but I highly recommend it.

Your doctor might also prescribe you some prescription diarrhea medication as well as some rehydration tablets. These are all great to have on hand to help you recover should you get sick. I also always carry some probiotics, digestive enzymes, activated charcoal and ginger tea. No matter where I’m travelling.Just in case I, or my travel companions, get sick. Mint or ginger tea is a great remedy that you can find in most cafes in Mexico City, perfect for even a tiny stomach bug.

4. Buildings are a virtual living rainbow of colours

Before arriving in Mexico City, I had heard about all the colourful buildings and streets which cover the landscape. But I never really understood just how astoundingly vivid it could be until I saw it for myself. Even when we were flying into the city, I peered out of the airplane window and was mesmerized by how bright and eccentric the buildings looked. Even from high above the city. It looks like a kind of patchwork quilt of colours and patterns. Everywhere you go, even in some of the poorer neighbourhoods, you’ll see fantastical coloured buildings. There is also incredible hand-painted signs, artistic murals on every street corner and even the cars and buses are just as vibrant as the city around it.

An artists’ collective known as the German Crew even transformed the working-class “barrio” of Las Palmitas into a giant, colorful mural. In an effort to change its gritty image. And it worked! There was a reduction in crime in those areas as people felt more pride in their neighbourhood. And actively wanted to make it a better place to live. It’s amazing what a little bit of colour can do.

You can wander the streets for hours and hours and never get sick of seeing these unbelievable paintings along the way. When planning a trip, sometimes you’re so focused on visiting sites and museums or famous landmarks that you forget that a simple wander down a few side streets might be just as meaningful.

5. Ubers are convenient, cheap and clean

If you’re one of those people that is really concerned about safety, one of the greatest inventions to calm your mind is Uber! Uber moved into Mexico City only a few years ago. And it’s value to both tourists and locals alike is unmatched. Taxis are notorious for either changing their fares along the way to unsuspecting tourists. And rumours of taxi kidnappings were prevalent in the 90s. This is when a taxi driver would drive you to a location and basically just force you to pay an exorbitant sum to get you to where you really wanted to go. Although those cases are rare nowadays, it was definitely a scar on Mexico City’s reputation. One that often puts off tourists from visiting. Uber solves a myriad of these problems. You know exactly what you’re going to pay upfront, and can see where you’re headed. As well a look at the reviews of your driver.

Using Uber in CDMX

Also, you don’t need to worry about the language barrier since you can input the address yourself. We took Ubers absolutely everywhere. From door to door we had nothing but incredible experiences. We would chat with the drivers who spoke some English. And even tried our best to chat with the drivers in Spanish. They were always so kind and in a city where the traffic is as hectic as Mexico City, we felt they were all great drivers. The cars were clean, had charging cords for phones, and a bottle of water to cool off on hot days.

The traffic in Mexico City is just as bad as you hear. But don’t let that detract you from enjoying the city. Traffic, when you’re in an Uber, can be an added bonus. It allows you to see lots of parts of the city you might otherwise miss. We thought of it as a free sightseeing bus tour. Just make sure to leave with plenty of wiggle room in your schedule, as traffic can come out of nowhere.

Uber Pricing

And if you’re wondering about the price, Ubers are super cheap! Most of our rides were less than $4 USD. Even from the airport, our trip was less than $15 USD. While the metro in Mexico City is incredibly cheap, (around $.30 US), there are differing opinions about its safety. I’m sure some people have no issues. But even locals do warn tourists that they should be careful when riding. So if you’re like me and you like to enjoy the scenery around you as you travel, I highly recommend sticking with Uber.

6. IT’S SO GREEN!

Something I heard over and over before visiting Mexico City was about the pollution. And look, there is pollution. Every day we were there I would check my weather app. And there was definitely a high level of smog in the air. Even when we flew into the city, we could see the smog as we cruised down from the clouds. But was this something that I noticed day to day? No, not at all. And the reason why? The parks! Everywhere we seemed to go, they were palm trees as high as the eye could see. Lush tropical plants sprawl out over everything, covering not only just the parks but the side streets, the avenues and even on street corners.

Mexico City is home to Chapultepec Park, the largest city park in the western hemisphere, measuring over 686 hectares! They call this park the lungs of the city. As it pumps fresh oxygen into the valley of Mexico. But in addition to this park, the city has made huge efforts is creating greenspaces all over the city. To help combat the pollution. And it’s working. The air felt fresh in most of the places in the city that we went to. And by walking in the shade of the trees, even during the hottest time of the day, you never felt uncomfortable.

7. People are so Friendly!

For a country that often gets associated with crime and violence, I have to say, everyone I met or interacted with was nothing but kind, happy and helpful. People went out of their way at times to help us out. Be it with directions or even navigating a menu we couldn’t read. When we attended a busy Lucha Libre show, our friend dropped their phone down the seat risers. And our group couldn’t retrieve it. When the show was over, a huge group of locals all joined together to help us disassembled the risers. And got her phone back. It was a really sweet show of support from a bunch of strangers. Just one example of how everyone went out of their way to show visitors kindness.

8. The city really is THAT BIG

Mexico City is ranked the 5th largest city in the world! Over 21 million people live within its borders. Having been to the #1 spot on this list, Tokyo, we felt very prepared for the density and size. But for anyone who hasn’t visited one of these megacities, prepare yourself. In busy areas, the crush of people can be a bit overwhelming. But it’s all about finding those side streets, away from the main drags, where you can easily escape the crowds without going too far out of the way.

But in relaxing districts like La Condesa or Roma, it’s so peaceful and quiet you can’t even believe you’re in Mexico City. It feels more like a small town. One of the best ways to deal with a city this large is to ensure you plan out your days by neighbourhood. That way, you’re not running from one end of the city to another. Because at busy times of the day, it can take over an hour to get from end to end.

9. Learn Spanish!

Despite being a country so close to both Canada and the United States, most people in Mexico City do not speak English. And rightly so. Spanish is a fantastic language and a beautiful one to learn as a tourist. When you’re the one visiting a foreign country, you should be learning their language. Not the other way around. Spanish is fairly simple to speak and also to learn. Especially compared to my experience with learning Japanese or even Danish. Even if you just learn a few key phrases, that goes a long way with the locals. It shows them respect for their language and culture. Google Translate works really well if you have access to the internet or a roaming package. Either type in what you want translated or use the camera function to easily translate most menus.

10. Always carry Tissues & Hand sanitizer

Ok, this is a weird one, but I thought it needed to be discussed. One of the things which throws some people for a loop when visiting Mexico is the toilet situation. Most toilets in Mexico City require you to throw the toilet paper in a wastepaper basket, not down the toilet. It seems odd when you’re used to flushing, but it’s important you don’t, as it’s really bad for their plumbing.

Another thing which is important to know is most public toilets sometimes lack toilet paper altogether. So it’s a good idea to keep some Kleenex in your bag at all times. Some washrooms will also charge a few pesos for toilet paper so keep some small change with you. Since the water isn’t potable and could contain bacteria, I would almost always use hand sanitizer after using the restroom. We had travel-sized hand sanitizer on us at all times for these cases. They both take up so little room in your travel pack, so it’s a good idea to put those on your packing list!

Conclusion

I have so much more to say about Mexico City and can’t wait to post all about the different places we explored, culinary delights we ate and other exciting adventures we took while visiting this amazing city! Let me know if you have any questions about Mexico City and I will be sure to answer them all in the comments!

The post The Ultimate Mexico City Travel Guide: 11 Essential Tips You Need to Know! | UPDATED 2023 first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.