Mexico City Restaurant Recommendations
 

Will be in Mex City staying in Condesa for a week this winter. Any suggestions for restaurants to try? Prefer Mexican food, but would consider something really special that is not Mexican. Pricewise we're all over the place. Love those inexpensive local spots as well as special dining in really nice restaurant. Thanks!

yestravel:

Not Mexico City but will give you an update on our recent trip to San Miguel.

We went to the rooftop bar at The Rosewood Hotel every day around 5 for sunset cocktails and bar food. Wonderful setting. Do not miss this.

Other places we enjoyed were La Posadita, Cafe de la Parroquia and Mama Mia. These are all located by the Jardin.

We loved San Miguel! Flew in/out of BJX and used a car service which the hotel (Casa Schuck) arranged for. Took about 1-1/2 hour and was $80 US plus tip.

Thanks, Weekender! First up will be SMdA so appreciate your suggestions. I think we may fly into Querataro as the have better flight times.

HI!

When will you be there?

I have been meaning to write a food-related report bout my recent visit; just now getting ready for drive to Florida, so will just offer a couple of the week's highlights, with the full report to come:

EL HUEQUITO (c/Bolivar in the Centro). Bite for bite, their tacos al pastor was some of the best eating we had in a week in the D.F. EAh taco costs $14, or just over US$1; eat on the street, standing at a tiny counter, or go inside where there is a simple but spotless dining room. Full menu but the al pastor tacos are what made the place a street food classic.

NICO'S. Off the beaten tourist track, great spot for mid to upscale Mexican classics. Highlight was Enmoladas Rellenos de Pato in a dark mole. Worth the taxi ride to get to the barrio of Atzapotzalco, otherwise known for block after block after block of auto supply shops.

DULCE PATRIA. The upscale eatery inside Las Alcobas, the hotel where we stayed, in upscale Polanco. Exquisite presentation; modern interpretation of Mexican classics by a well-regarded female chef. Cream of squash blossom soup was a highlight. This was one of the two upscale "modern Mexican" restaurants we sampled, the other being Pujol.

EL HIDALGUENSE. Excellent spot for lamb barbecue, in Roma. Open Friday through Sunday only, until about 7pm. Order a quarter kilo ofo barbecue for two persons; it comes with tortillas and salsas. Many order the lamb consomme on the side, with or without the lamb's foot. It is excellent, even sans foot. No reservations; moderate and fair prices.



Are you planning to take any sightseeing or food market tours?

I have some tips on taxis; I will put them in the report, but will let you know before hand if your trip is looming.

Thanks, eks! Trip isnt until Feb, but I'm grounded until then, so looking for ways to quench my thirst for all things travel related.
I love tacos al pastor so esp appreciate that recommendation.

Thinking of doing a food market tour probably in Oaxaca. I got the name of your driver that you used there. Might consider a sightseeing tour in DF despite having been there many times in the distant past it might prove interesting.

have a safe drive to FLA and warm weather.

OOOOH, good to have this. Like yestravel we'll be in DF in Feb. Tacos al pastor are my absolute favorite. Was introduced to them in a little place in Puebla called Los Ranos. Have yet to find their equal anywhere - maybe this place in DF will be the ticket!

Thanks ekscrunchy. Good dining recommendations to store for my trip in 2 weeks. I am planning a few food tours…will wait for your report to see which you recommend. Am thinking of eatmexico for the mezcal and taco night tour. Would like to do a market tour as well.

Glover, I went to Las Ranas in Puebla! And I agree with you about those tacos. The ones at El Huequito are in the same league.

I have a recommendation for a food market tour of Mexico City; will put up the information if anyone wants.

Sure, I'd like to see your recommendation, eks.

El Cardenal is very good for traditional MX food in Mexico City, IMO it is the best MX food in the city. The one in the Centro Historico on Palmas is incredibly good and authentic food. The one in the Hilton is only open for breakfast and lunch I believe.

http://restauranteelcardenal.com/

You can read about the extensive history of El Cardenal and see the different locations if you click on the icon on the top left of that page, the one that has the lines.

Best Mexican food in the city is a pretty grand claim! I've not been to El Cardenal in many years but now will have to try it when I return to the city!!

As for the market tour: Cristina Potters has lived in Mexico for more than 30 years and a fixture on the local culinary scene, with an excellent English-language blog. She leads personalized tours on various subjects both within the city and beyond. We spent a day with her which began with a tour of the Mercado de Jamaica. Even though I have been to many Mexican markets and am familiar with many of the food items within, I found her tour excellent and would recommend her, both for food information and for her insights into Mexican history, culture and politics. On another day, we had lunch with her at Nico's which was her choice for Mexican food. Cristina can be contacted by e-mail, listed in her blog, which is recommended reading even for travelers who will not take one of her tours.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com/

As I said, it's IMO. I get to the DF about twice a yr. and always enjoy El Cardinal. I have never been anything even remotely close to less than happy with food and service and ambience there.

emd3 and ekscrunchy thanks for both recommendations.

I'll be in Mexico City and Oaxaca in mid-January so I appreciate these recommendations. Waiting for your report, eks!

Topping as we are now in DF for the week. any restaurant suggestions are greatly appreciated. We're staying in Condesa, but will be sightseeing all over. Thanks!