The Best Lunch Places in Mexico City

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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Maizajo in Mexico City offers a welcoming, street food-inspired atmosphere on the ground floor and a more polished dining space upstairs. It balances tradition and modern techniques under one roof, letting you experience two sides of Mexican cuisine. The inviting setting makes it an appealing choice for anyone curious about the city’s culinary scene.

Recommended by

Gilberto Briceño Gómez

Chef

Walking into Maizajo, you immediately sense something special. The ground floor greets you with the irresistible aroma of street tacos, a bustling atmosphere that feels authentically grounded in Mexico’s vibrant street food culture. But don’t stop there. Climb the stairs to the second floor, where the experience transforms entirely. Here, Maizajo presents a more refined, yet still deeply rooted, approach to Mexican cuisine. Each dish is a thoughtful exploration of traditional flavors, elevated with modern techniques and a touch of culinary artistry. The contrast between the two floors is striking yet harmonious, a testament to the versatility and depth of Mexican food. Maizajo manages to capture the essence of street food while offering a sophisticated dining experience upstairs. It’s a journey worth taking, each floor offering its own story, each bite a reminder of why food is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

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Restaurante Rosetta is set in a beautifully restored old building in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma, offering a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of greenery. Led by Chef Elena Reygadas, it showcases a deep respect for Mexican ingredients through simple yet carefully balanced flavors. The intimate setting and thoughtful approach to cooking make it a welcoming spot for both locals and visitors alike.

Recommended by

Vaughan Mabee

Chef

Another highlight of my trip to Mexico was Rosetta. We went in for a late lunch. Chef Elena Reygadas is an amazing person and an amazing chef. I think I love the purity of her cuisine. She captures flavours which to some seem simple, and her food is simple but in the most incredibly balanced way. I was super impressed by her palate and just everything we had that came out of that kitchen. She took great care of us and I think she really captures the Mexican products in a really beautiful way. I just love the feel and the ambiance of that restaurant with all the plants and trees growing up the walls, the skylight above the head in the remodeled old building. She definitely caught my heart and it definitely was an amazing experience.

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Máximo in Mexico City stands out for its warm setting and commitment to fresh, local ingredients. Set in a restored industrial space, it focuses on a seasonally driven approach and close ties to small producers, creating a relaxed yet inviting atmosphere.

Recommended by

Pía León

Chef-Restaurateur

I go to Mexico often, and in Mexico City I really enjoy going to Máximo Bistro in Roma Norte. It's run by chef Eduardo García.

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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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La Docena is a relaxed spot in Mexico City where everything is thoughtfully prepared with fresh, well-sourced ingredients. The setting feels inviting for a laid-back meal or meeting up with friends. Its multiple locations around town make it a convenient choice whenever you’re looking for a comfortable place to gather.

Recommended by

Pía León

Chef-Restaurateur

La Docena is a really nice place, it has a very cool atmosphere. There you will find super fresh products from the sea, really nice ceviches and tostadas.

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Pujol in Mexico City is known for blending traditional Mexican flavors with a fresh, modern perspective under chef Enrique Olvera. Its simple yet stylish interior, combined with attentive service, creates a comfortable setting that highlights the history behind each dish. Visitors appreciate how the restaurant balances creativity and heritage, making it a standout destination for those interested in exploring Mexican cuisine.

Recommended by

David P. Leja

@thegastrojourney

A restaurant rooted in Mexico using its ingredients & recipes, but elevated and reinterpreted in Enrique Olvera’s way After visiting Pujol some years for the tasting menu we decided to come back and give the Tacos Omakase a chance. It was definitely a good decision, as we enjoyed this experience more and we think this is the way to go. Pujol is one of the most beautiful restaurants we know of, the whole building is astonishing, with a great interior and the terrace is incredible. Focusing on the food, some of the dishes we liked were: * Mole madre, mole nuevo (coloradito). * Campechana: geoduck clam and scallop, coriander, grilled avocado and leche de tigre. * Blue corn taco of Kampachi in kobujime, avocado, wakame algae, yuzu, wasabi and black sesame. * Gordita of avocado and pico de gallo with ginger. * Taco of criollo Coriander, onion and avocado leaf. * Pink corn taco of octopus, miso adobo, frijol with squid ink, tomatillo, coriander and chile serrano. * Clementine juice, butternut squash, medlar and oxalis flower. * Churros. We definitely loved the concept of the tacos omakase. We loved the gordita and of course the mole madre dish, which is one of our absolute favorite bites.

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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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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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Taquería Selene is a beloved neighborhood spot in Mexico City that’s been around for generations. Locals appreciate its welcoming atmosphere and the sense of nostalgia that comes from its longstanding decor. Thanks to its friendly vibe and late hours, it’s a favorite with families and night owls alike.

Recommended by

Karime López

Chef

For the first time, I went to have tacos al pastor at Taquería Selene. It was outstanding—one of my favorite tacos al pastor in my entire life.

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Siembra Taquería is a small but well-kept spot in Mexico City where you can enjoy street food made with extra care. The owners bring their fine dining background to ensure everything is fresh and handled with high standards of hygiene. It’s a relaxed, welcoming place for anyone who wants an easy, worry-free meal.

Recommended by

Jorge Vallejo

Chef at Quintonil

Siembra is a beautiful taqueria only four blocks away from our restaurant. It's run by a lovely couple that used to work in the fine dining scene before. They do beautiful guisados and they make their own masa for the tacos.

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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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Canton Mexicali blends Chinese cooking with local influences, creating a fresh twist on familiar traditions in Mexico City. The open kitchen lets you watch the sizzling action up close, giving you a glimpse into how each dish comes together. It’s a relaxed spot where two culinary worlds meet in a simple, friendly setting.

Recommended by

Gilberto Briceño Gómez

Chef

Walking into Canton Mexicali, you're immediately struck by the vibrant fusion of cultures. It's Chinese cuisine, but with trusted ingredients and a tantalizing Mexican twist. The open kitchen invites you in, where the magic happens with woks sizzling and noodles twirling. The flavors are classic, yet delightfully unexpected, blending the familiar comfort of Chinese dishes with the bold, vibrant tastes of Mexico. The arroz al wok is a standout, perfectly cooked and infused with a rich blend of spices that sing of both culinary traditions. The noodles, a quintessential element, are cooked to perfection, carrying the depth and soul of Chinese gastronomy, yet are elevated by the zest and heat of Mexican influences. Canton Mexicali isn't just about food; it's a culinary dialogue between two cultures, creating something entirely new and wonderfully delicious. It's a place where traditional boundaries blur, and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

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Voraz is a gastro-cantina in Mexico City’s Roma Sur neighborhood that brings together traditional Mexican ingredients with a contemporary style. The open kitchen, wood-fired grill, and laid-back atmosphere make it an inviting place to share plates and experience bold flavors. Reservations are recommended because they’ve been popular since opening.

Recommended by

Gilberto Briceño Gómez

Chef

Keep an eye on this restaurant. They’ve just opened, and they’re already sold out. No surprise there, as Chef Nano is one of the rising stars of Mexican cuisine. Before Voraz, Nano honed his craft in legendary kitchens like Faviken and Noma, but now he’s back in Mexico City with a bold, casual, and incredibly flavorful gastronomic proposal. Everything is prepared to perfection from their wood-fired grill, and their open kitchen hides no secrets.

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Taquería Orinoco in Mexico City is known for its many locations and reliable food, especially when you’re out late. It’s a casual spot that often draws lines of hungry diners, but most folks say the wait is worth it.

Recommended by

Peter Meng Sapper

Charcutier/Restauranteur

The Shake Shack of tacos. They might get criticized for having many locations and huge branding, but the tacos are great, consistent and a perfect late night meal. Trompo and chicharron are recommended. Just be advised that there will probably be a line for late nught eats.

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