Typical food in Mexico: dishes for all tastes

Typical food in Mexico has no comparison. It is well known that Mexico has a varied and delicious gastronomy. There are dishes for all tastes, always taking advantages of seasonal or specific ingredients from each region.

The Mexican capital is no exception, with more than 9 million inhabitants, the city has alternatives to please all of them. In this post we will talk about what to eat in Mexico City during your next visit, since a gateway to the capital will be improved with the right culinary choice.

Suggestions for all pockets

As we mentioned before, Mexico has dishes for all tastes, but also for all pockets. And you can easily consume excellent dishes in public spaces as you can go to some of the most expensive restaurants in the capital. We will begin our list of dishes that you can easily find on practically any corner of the Mexican capital: garnachas.

Basically, we are talking about quesadillas with or without cheese, the typical CDMX gorditas and basket tacos of countless flavours. All of these meals are made with fried corn dough, they are the most versatile dishes as they can be filled with different stews. Not for nothing are they the favorites of the capital's residents on any day of the week.

Following the line of corn, we can also mention elotes: accompanied with mayonnaise, grated cheese and hot or non-hot chili, depending on your choice. It is a very practical dish if you want to eat while walking through the streets of the city.

If we talk about practicality, we cannot stop mentioning the tamales accompanied by a good atole. Tamales are also made with corn dough and wrapped in banana or corn leaves (be careful! The leaf is not supposed to be eaten). Tamales are filled with meat, chili, vegetables and on other occasions even sweet flavors. The most common are: salsa verde with chicken, rajas with cheese, mole with chicken and sweets with raisins. As for atole, this is a drink also based on corn that can be made in different flavors. It is common to find chocolate atole which is called champurrado, but cajeta, strawberry or walnut are also common, among many other options.

What to eat in a restaurant

Another highly recommended option for eating in Mexico City is to visitrestaurants where you can enjoy the most elaborated culinary experiences, a greater variety of flavors, ingredients, and textures.

A dish that we recommend you try is chilaquiles, a dish that can easily become your favorite breakfast. It is made with pieces of fried tortilla dipped in the sauce of your choice (commonly red or green sauce) accompanied by cream, cheese, and onion. You can enjoy this food as it is, but you can also add fried egg, chicken, skirt steak or practically any protein of your choice.

A delicacy that is also worth trying is chiles rellenos. They commonly are stuffed with cheese and beans and accompanied by rice and are a great alternative for people who want to try something different. However, we must warn you: the chili you get may or may not be spicy, there is no way to predict or avoid it.

Another typical food in Mexico and with great historical significance that you can enjoy is the traditional pozole. Pozole is prepared with corn kernels in a red, white, or green broth with chicken or pork, although you can also opt for a vegetarian version. It is accompanied by lettuce, radishes, oregano, onion, and lemon. And nothing accompanies pozole better than a delicious toast with cream and sauce, don't forget to order it.

Tacos are always an excellent option

Throughout this article we have tried, as much as possible, to leave out the option of tacos. We wanted to dedicate a special section to this dish that has saved more than one of us on at least one occasion. Tacos are the Mexican dish par excellence not only found in the mid country, but throughout the entire territory because of their versatility, practicality, and dynamism. You can also enjoy a fried taco with chicken, steak, suadero, beef, flank steak, barbecue. Options are endless. But if you want to try new things, tacos also offer that possibility. Below, we present some options that we can suggest if you feel encouraged to try totally new and different experiences.

Escamole tacos

Escamoles are the larvae of ants, they have a spherical shape with a very specific texture and flavor that is released when you bite it. This exotic dish holds great international prestige and has come to be called “The Mexican caviar.” It is also presumed to have aphrodisiac effects, in addition to being an excellent source of protein.

Tarantula Tacos

Just as you hear, within the Aztec capital it is possible to get this feared dish. These tacos are famous for the curiousness they generate in diner tables. The star ingredient of this delicacy comes from tarantula farms located in Veracruz, so their cost can be a little high. It is important that you take your cautions, as just a few establishments in the capital have permits to legally distribute this food.

Tacos de Cochinada

We must confess that this dish is not what it sounds like, cochinada is the slang for leftovers, but it is actually delicious. During the preparation of tacos, taqueros use griddles to cook the meat, chorizo, or guts. This process leaves residues of grease, salt and other juices that accumulate until creating the famous cochinada. So cochinada is all that edible residue that lingers at the bottom of the casseroles where food is fried. Ready to order a taco with “cochi”?

So now you know, the Mexican capital is a great destination to taste typical food in Mexico or, if you prefer, to eat some unusual tacos. Are you willing to try them? Give them a chance during your next trip to the capital.

Planning your next trip? Check out our hotels in Mexico City.