• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

Restaurants Overview

Mexico City has been a culinary capital ever since the time of Moctezuma. Chronicles tell of the extravagant banquets prepared for the Aztec emperor with more than 300 different dishes served at every meal. Today's Mexico City is a gastronomic melting pot, with some 15,000 restaurants. You'll find everything from taco stands on the streets to simple family-style eateries and world-class restaurants. The number and range of international restaurants is growing and diversifying, particularly in middle- and upper-class neighborhoods like Polanco, San Angel, La Condesa, La Roma, Lomas de Chapultepec, and Del Valle. Argentine, Spanish, and Italian are the most dominant international cuisines; however you'll also find a fair share of Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and French restaurants.

Mexico City restaurants open 7-11 AM for breakfast (el desayuno) and 1-6 for lunch (la comida) -- although it's rare for Mexicans to eat lunch before 2 and you're likely to feel lonely if you arrive at a popular restaurant before then. Lunch is an institution in this country, often lasting two hours, and until nightfall on Sunday. Consequently, the evening meal (la cena) may often be very light, consisting of sweet bread and coffee, traditional tamales and atole at home, or tacos and appetizers in a restaurant.

When dining, most locals start out at 9 PM for dinner; restaurants stay open until 11:30 during the week and a little later on weekends. Many restaurants are open only for lunch on Sunday. At deluxe restaurants dress is generally formal (jacket at least), and reservations are recommended; see reviews for details. If you're short on time, you can always head to American-style coffee shops (VIPS and Sanborns) or recognizable fast-food chains that offer the tired but reliable fare of burgers, fried chicken, and pizza all over the city. If it's local flavor you're after, go with tacos or the Mexico City fast-food staple, the torta (a giant sandwich stacked with the ingredients of your choice for about $2). Eating on the street is part of the daily experience for those on the go, and surprising as it may seem, many people argue that it's some of the best food in the city. Still, even locals can't avoid the occasional stomach illness, so dig in at your own risk.

Also cheap and less of a bacterial hazard are the popular fondas (small restaurants). At lunchtime fondas are always packed, as they serve a reasonably priced four-course meal, known as the comida corrida, which typically includes soup of the day, rice or pasta, an entrée, and dessert. Asian cuisine is still limited here, but you'll find some decent Japanese, Korean, and Chinese restaurants. There are very few vegetarian restaurants, but you'll have no trouble finding nonmeat dishes wherever you grab a bite. Vegans, however, will have a more difficult time, as many dishes are often prepared using lard.

Colonia Polanco, the upscale neighborhood on the edge of the Bosque de Chapultepec, has some of the best and most expensive dining (and lodging) in the city. Zona Rosa restaurants get filled quickly on Saturday night, especially on Saturdays coinciding with most people's paydays: the 1st and 15th of each month. The same is true of San Angel, whereas the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods buzz with a younger crowd Thursday to Saturday.