Finding the Best Street Tacos in Mexico City
We started our second morning in Mexico City early, ready to explore the historic Cuauhtémoc district. Our first stop? Breakfast tacos! Street-style, fresh, and unforgettable, basically the best street tacos in Mexico City. These were birria-style tacos, traditionally made with goat but often prepared today with beef or lamb. The slow-cooked meat creates a rich stew-like filling that’s deeply flavorful and tender. For Mex$ 200 (about $10 USD), we shared seven tacos that changed the energy of our entire day. In our group’s words:
Juan: “Mexico City fed me like it was trying to keep me forever.”
Cynthia: “Your taste buds explode.”
Tyler: “I would leave the country and never come back for these.”
Mel: “The street tacos that will change your life.”
Have you ever had the best street tacos in Mexico City?
After a full tummy, we explored the historic area. Each stop we walked through felt like stepping into a different chapter of Mexico’s story. These are a few of the places we looked at:
- Casas de los Azulejos (The House of Tiles)
- Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Museo Nacional de Arte
- Museo del Templo Mayor
- Constitution Plaza
- Torre Latinoamericana
While in the plaza, two of our friends, Juan and Cynthia, took part in an Aztec spiritual cleansing ritual. The music, incense, and symbolic movement created a powerful connection to tradition.
Juan said we couldn’t leave the historic center without trying the famous “basket tacos.” These were soft and flavorful, featuring classics like potatoes, beans, and chicharrón. We each ordered about five tacos, which included a drink, called ‘un completo.’
We visited the Pastelería y Panadería Lecaroz La Vasconia for desserts, like tres leches and arroz con leche. The bakery was filled with families, locals, and a level of charm that made us want to try one of everything.
I had actually made tres leches before because it’s one of my aunt’s specialty dishes, but Mexican tres leches is a bit more like cake. Ours is made more with condensed milk and more liquid-like. Tyler is obsessed with ours! I, personally, love tres leches but the Cuban way. It’s more thick in consistency and the rice is softer. My grandma used to always add a stick of cinnamon for an added sweet-touch!
Xochimilco: A Floating Fiesta
To add another adventure to our itinerary, we drove to Xochimilco for a boat ride known as a trajinera. Picture a massive gondola painted in bright colors, floating along lively canals.
Notable moments:
- A tourist group might pay Mex$ 750 ($40.59 USD), but thanks to an inside joke involving a woman named Margarita, we paid Mex$ 600 ($32.47 USD). It was also because we knew a local.
- From food vendor boats to floating musicians, every corner of the canals had something happening.
- Bathrooms cost extra and provide toilet paper by the square. Don’t underestimate how many you’ll need.
- We visited a woman named Lupe, who showed us her Día de los Muertos (day of the dead) altar. I loved learning about her family, what they loved, and how she celebrates every year.
Another stop led us to the house featured in the film María Candelaria. Though not a literal home from the movie, the site pays tribute to its cinematic legacy.
We ended the day with dinner at El Tlayudero, where we tried a bean and cheese tamal, empanadas, chorizo tacos, hot chocolate, and ‘impossible plan’ (a layer of flan over chocolate cake).
We didn’t hit 12,000 steps but came close. The day was packed, memorable, and full of flavor.
Xo, Mel
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