The Best Local Restaurants in Mexico City

Contramar is a busy seafood restaurant in Mexico City that draws both locals and visitors to its lively dining room. It’s known for working with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a casual, energetic vibe. With chef Gabriela Cámara at the helm, this spot has become a modern classic in the city’s dining scene.

Recommended by

JR Ryall

Head Pastry Chef

An essential first stop for anyone visiting CDMX. Beautiful simple food, authentic dishes and excellent flavours. Fun, bustling and atmospheric. The service is always excellent - the tuna tostada is iconic, but the fresh tasting aguachile is what I dream about, essential.

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Quintonil in Mexico City is led by Chef Jorge Vallejo and Alejandra Flores, who highlight Mexican ingredients with a personal touch. This two-Michelin-starred restaurant opened in 2012 and is currently among the top-ranked spots on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Its warm atmosphere and careful attention to detail make it a favorite among those seeking a thoughtful dining experience.

Recommended by

Vaughan Mabee

Chef

What an amazing journey of Mexico through the mind of Chef Jorge Vallejo. An amazing attentive service guiding us through traditional cuisine and some Mexican wine in a modern way.

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Expendio de Maiz Sin Nombre is a relaxed sidewalk restaurant in Mexico City that centers its cooking around corn. There’s no fixed menu; dishes keep coming until you decide you’re satisfied. With an open kitchen and communal tables out front, it offers a casual spot to watch the cooking unfold.

Recommended by

Gilberto Briceño Gómez

Cook

In the bustling heartbeat of Mexico City, you might stumble upon a sidewalk sanctuary: Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre. Here, the theatre of an open kitchen unfolds before you, orchestrated by culinary alchemists dancing with wood fire, prime ingredients, and boundless imagination. This establishment defies tradition. There's no menu to peruse; instead, you're invited to surrender to the maestros at work. With every dish, you're drawn deeper into their narrative, beckoning more with just a raised hand until satiety sets in. Many inquire about my frequent sojourns to Mexico City, and it's places like this - where raw passion and talent stoke my own creative fires - that I hold up as my reasons. Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre is not just a dining spot; it's an immersive tale of Mexico's culinary tapestry.

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Fonda Margarita is a neighborhood restaurant in Mexico City that opens early for breakfast, attracting those who appreciate a simple taste of local culture. It’s a warm, down-to-earth spot that many view as a genuine reflection of traditional Mexican dining.

Recommended by

Eduardo Garcia

Chef

I love this place because it’s Mexico. It tells a bit of a story about Mexican culture in a plate. Come as early as 5 am and taste the real flavors of a true Mexican breakfast.

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Restaurante Taquería Los Cocuyos Cdmx is a hole-in-the-wall in Mexico City’s center where people gather at all hours for affordable, flavorful tacos. The laid-back atmosphere and late-night scene invite both locals and travelers to experience a true neighborhood favorite.

Recommended by

Jorge Vallejo

Chef at Quintonil

This truly amazing late night taqueria, called Los Cocuyos, is in the city center. It's basically a hole in the wall. You go and stand in line outside in the middle of the street at 2:00 AM in the morning. They have tacos with cooked tongue, brains and other amazing offal tacos.

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Meroma is a small restaurant in the heart of Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood, led by chefs Mercedes Bernal and Rodney Cusic. They champion local producers and sustainable practices, offering a concise menu shaped by refined European techniques in a welcoming space with a calm terrace overlooking a bustling street.

Recommended by

Ali Kurshat Altinsoy

Brand Director

Superb choice of dishes inspired from across the world. Absolutely delightful restaurant atop the gorgeous street that is Colima. A superb choice of dishes inspired from across the world made with wonderful Mexican ingredients.

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Baltra Bar in Mexico City is known for its welcoming atmosphere and standout drinks. Locals often mention the relaxed vibe and friendly setting, making it a popular destination for a laid-back evening out. It’s a comfortable spot to catch up with friends or unwind after a busy day.

Recommended by

Ali Kurshat Altinsoy

Brand Director

One of my favourite places to drink in CDMX - super drinks, super vibe. Tuesdays are ‘martes martinis’ ie delicious martinis for 100 pesos …

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Chilpa is a relaxed spot in Mexico City’s Condesa neighborhood, serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch in a friendly space. People appreciate its welcoming atmosphere and comforting Mexican flavors. It’s a dependable choice for anyone seeking a casual and satisfying meal.

Recommended by

Ali Kurshat Altinsoy

Brand Director

This Mexican breakfast / brunch / lunch spot is one of our go-to restaurants for classic chilaquiles. Located in la Condesa, this Mexican breakfast / brunch / lunch spot is one of our go-to restaurants for classic chilaquiles

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Hugo in Mexico City has a relaxed, welcoming vibe and a focus on natural wines. People appreciate the attention to detail, along with the friendly atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy your time.

Recommended by

Ali Kurshat Altinsoy

Brand Director

Awesome vibes, natural wines and delicious small plates. This is one of my favourite places in the city - awesome vibes, natural wines and delicious small plates, elegant detailing…

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Jenni’s Quesadillas in Roma Norte, Mexico City, is known for preparing tortillas fresh on the spot, giving customers a close-up view of the city’s street food culture. It has a simple setup and friendly atmosphere that make it easy to step into local flavors. Whether you’re just visiting or a longtime resident, this laid-back stand offers a genuine taste of the neighborhood.

Recommended by

JR Ryall

Head Pastry Chef

The best quesadillas in Roma Norte, CDMX. Jenni makes the very best quesadillas using purple corn masa, preparing each tortilla to order, cooking them fresh on the comal in front of you. There are many fillings to choose from, I particularly like the squash flowers, “Flor de calabaza”. A great stepping stone into the vibrant world of street food in the city.

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La Jefa is a small spot tucked away in Mexico City’s La Florida neighborhood, known for its fresh seafood and well-selected mezcals. The casual setting makes it inviting for a relaxed lunch or quick stop. Be sure to head to Calle Ajusco specifically, since there are other places with the same name nearby.

Recommended by

Peter Meng Sapper

Charcutier/Restauranteur

A hole in the wall with great food! La Jefa is a small place hidden in La Florida’s streets. Specializing in seafood, we tried a shrimp soup and several fresh fish tostadas. All great and different from the usual, but good. They have well selected, special mezcales to conplement the offer. Recommended for lunch, be wary that there are many places sharing the same name nearby, so make sure you get to Calle Ajusco!

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Mi Compa Chava Marisquería is a seafood restaurant in Mexico City with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients inspired by Sinaloa flavors. The space can get busy, so there might be a wait, but customers often appreciate the energetic vibe once they’re seated. With friendly service and a casual setting, it’s a popular choice for anyone craving authentic seafood.

Recommended by

David P. Leja

@thegastrojourney

Fish and seafood restaurant inspired in Sinaloa. We had heard mixed reviews about this place, but we still had a good feeling and decided to give it a try on this last visit to the city, and we are very glad we did because it ended up being our favorite meal of the trip in CDMX. First of all, the restaurant is mostly walk in only, we arrived at 15:15 and had a 1 hour waiting time to get seated. Once you get seated you get served a very generous “botana” and we recommend you order some micheladas because they are delicious here. The service is super friendly and attentive, and the only negative point for us is that they serve everything at once leaving you without space on the table and making it a bit stressful, but we can also understand when you see how many people wait to get seated. Now, focusing on what we ate, we had the following: * Black Aguachile of prawns. * “Costra de camarón”: taco with a cheese crust and prawn. * Taco with fried “botete” (blowfish) and black mayo. * Ceviche with scallops, prawns (cooked and raw) and octopus. * Tostada with crab, scallop, raw and cooked prawns and avocado. We really enjoyed every single dish except for a clam dish which isn’t pictured. The seafood was nice and fresh, nice flavors, with a nice acidity when needed, and a good level of spicy, just very enjoyable overall. All this food plus two more dishes came out for a little over 100€, which we felt is super cheap, especially in current times in the city we all prices have considerably gone up. Definitely a place we will go back in the future.

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