Pujol in Polanco is the best place to dine in Mexico City, with a $3,795 MXN Tasting Room menu and mole madre as its signature. Quintonil is #2 for its seasonal tasting menu, Contramar is #3 for tuna tostadas and whole grilled fish, and Taquería Orinoco closes the list for trompo tacos.
Av. Álvaro Obregón 100, Roma Norte, Mexico City (one of its Mexico City branches)
A quick casual stop for trompo and chicharrón tacos
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Pujol
Best seafood lunch
Contramar
Best tacos
Taquería El Califa de León
Best shared plates
Rosetta
Best for trompo tacos
Taquería Orinoco
The ranking
1
Pujol
Photo: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictEnrique Olvera’s Polanco house, the city’s benchmark for modern Mexican cooking.
Where: Tennyson 133, Polanco IV Section, Mexico CitySignature: Mole madre and mole de Xico, served on both its Tasting Room and Taco Bar menusPrice: Tasting Room $3,795 MXN, VAT included; Taco Bar $4,500 MXN, taxes includedHours: Monday to Saturday, 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM; closed SundaysAward: Two MICHELIN Stars
Pujol sits at Tennyson 133 in Polanco and holds Two MICHELIN Stars. Its Tasting Room menu is $3,795 MXN with VAT included, and the Taco Bar menu is $4,500 MXN. Both menus finish on mole madre and mole de Xico. It serves Monday to Saturday, 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Go ifA once-in-a-trip tasting menu built on corn and mole
Skip ifYou are on a tight budget or want to walk in on a Sunday
Why #1 over #2: It pairs the most decorated kitchen on the list with a full tasting menu, while Quintonil runs a single fixed menu.
2
Quintonil
Photo: City Foodsters / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA seasonal tasting-menu room in Polanco with one fixed menu and book-ahead tables.
Where: Newton 55, Polanco, Mexico CitySignature: The "Nuestro México" tasting menu, with ingredients that vary daily by availabilityPrice: $6,090 MXN for the tasting menu; pairings from $2,175 MXN (alcohol-free) to $8,450 MXNHours: Monday to Saturday, 1:00 PM to midnight; closed SundaysBooking: Reservations only through the Reservaciones section of its website, not by email
Quintonil is at Newton 55 in Polanco and serves the "Nuestro México" tasting menu for $6,090 MXN, with ingredients that vary daily by availability. It serves Monday to Saturday, 1:00 PM to midnight, and takes reservations only through its website.
Go ifA seasonal Mexican tasting menu in Polanco
Skip ifYou need to exclude corn, chiles or onion, which the menu cannot do
Why #2 over #3: It stays open to midnight on six days, where Contramar’s last service ends at 8:00 pm.
3
Contramar
Photo: T.Tseng / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Roma Norte seafood landmark, best known for its tuna tostadas and whole fish.
Where: Durango 200, Roma Norte, Mexico CitySignature: Pescado a la talla in the Contramar style, with red chile and parsleyPrice: Tostadas de atún $420 MXN for 4 pieces; pescado a la talla $810 MXN for a 500 g base ($1.62 MXN per gram)Hours: Monday to Friday 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
Contramar, at Durango 200 in Roma Norte, built its name on the pescado a la talla: a 500 g base costs $810 MXN at $1.62 MXN per gram, in the Contramar style with red chile and parsley. The tostadas de atún are $420 MXN for 4 pieces. It is open until 8:00 pm every day.
Go ifA long seafood lunch built around a whole grilled fish
Skip ifYou want a late dinner (service ends at 8:00 pm)
Why #3 over #4: It prices its dishes on the page and serves seven days a week, which Rosetta does not.
4
Rosetta
Answrs VerdictElena Reygadas’s Roma Norte dining room, built for sharing and open for lunch and dinner.
Where: Colima 166, Roma Norte, Mexico CitySignature: Cabbage tacos with pistachio purée and romeritos; sweet potato tamal with buttermilk sauce and salsa machaPrice: Not publishedHours: Monday to Saturday, 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM; closed SundaysChef: Elena Reygadas, creative Mexican cooking with global influences, designed for sharing
Rosetta is at Colima 166 in Roma Norte, where chef Elena Reygadas serves creative Mexican cooking with global influences, designed for sharing. Michelin singles out its cabbage tacos with pistachio purée and its sweet potato tamal. It serves lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday.
Go ifShared plates in a plant-filled townhouse dining room
Skip ifYou want a posted price list before you book
Why #4 over #5: It is built for sharing plates through a split lunch and dinner service, where Máximo Bistrot runs one continuous service.
5
Taquería El Califa de León
Photo: Tbhotch / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA Michelin-starred taquería with counter space for only a few diners.
Where: Av. Ribera de San Cosme 56, San Rafael, Mexico CitySignature: The Gaonera taco: thinly sliced beef filet seared to order with salt and lime on fresh corn tortillasPrice: Michelin lists its price level as $, the lowestHours: Open daily, 11:00 to 02:00Since: Founded in 1968 by Juan Hernández GonzálezAward: One MICHELIN Star
Taquería El Califa de León, at Av. Ribera de San Cosme 56 in San Rafael, has served since 1968 and holds One MICHELIN Star. The Gaonera taco, a thinly sliced beef filet seared to order, is the signature. It is open daily from 11:00 to 02:00 and Michelin rates it $, the lowest price level.
Go ifCounter-side tacos at a Michelin-starred taquería
Skip ifYou want a seat, since counter space is limited
Why #5 over #6: It is the only starred spot on the list at the lowest price level, and it stays open until 02:00.
6
Máximo Bistrot
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulk/ / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA Roma Norte bistro cooking seasonal Mexican produce, open six days a week until 11:00 p.m.
Where: Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Norte, Mexico CityCooking: Sustainable, seasonal Mexican ingredients from the field and the sea, everything made by handPrice: Not publishedHours: Monday to Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; closed Sundays
Máximo Bistrot is at Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis in Roma Norte and cooks sustainable, seasonal Mexican ingredients from the field and the sea, everything made by hand. It serves Monday to Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and is closed Sundays.
Go ifA seasonal Mexican lunch or dinner on Álvaro Obregón
Skip ifYou want to eat on a Sunday
Why #6 over #7: It serves through to 11:00 p.m., later than Masala y Maíz, which closes at 18:00.
7
Sud 777
Photo: City Foodsters / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictChef Edgar Núñez’s Pedregal dining room, with a tasting menu and a long à la carte list.
Where: Blvd. de la Luz 777, Jardines del Pedregal, Mexico CitySignature: Suckling pig with a pibil-style sauce and pineapple, served with house-made tortillasPrice: Not publishedHours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM; Thursday to Saturday 8:00 AM to midnight; Sunday 1:30 PM to 5:00 PMChef: Edgar Núñez, with a tasting menu and a larger à la carte selection
Sud 777 is at Blvd. de la Luz 777 in Jardines del Pedregal, where chef Edgar Núñez runs a tasting menu and a larger à la carte selection. Michelin highlights the suckling pig with a pibil-style sauce and pineapple. It opens at 8:00 AM Monday to Saturday.
Go ifA tasting menu or à la carte dinner in Pedregal
Skip ifYou want to stay in Roma-Condesa, since Pedregal is in the south of the city
Why #7 over #8: It opens from 8:00 AM Monday to Saturday, while Expendio de Maíz is closed on Mondays.
8
Masala y Maíz
Answrs VerdictA daytime kitchen in Centro that blends Indian, East African and Mexican cooking.
Where: C. Artículo 123 No. 116, Colonia Centro, Mexico CityCooking: Chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cook the migration of ingredients between South Asia, East Africa and MexicoSignature: Samosas with suadero and grilled Veracruz prawnsPrice: Not publishedHours: Monday and Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 to 18:00; closed Tuesdays
Masala y Maíz is at C. Artículo 123 No. 116 in Colonia Centro, where chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cook across South Asia, East Africa and Mexico. Michelin names its samosas with suadero and grilled Veracruz prawns. It serves 12:00 to 18:00, closed Tuesdays.
Go ifAn Indian, East African and Mexican daytime lunch
Skip ifYou want dinner (service ends at 18:00) or a Tuesday table
Why #8 over #9: It offers a distinct Indian, East African and Mexican menu, which Expendio de Maíz’s corn-only counter does not.
9
Expendio de Maíz
Answrs VerdictA no-menu, cash-only corn counter where the waitlist is part of the visit.
Where: Av. Yucatán 84, Roma Norte, Mexico CityFormat: Cash-only sidewalk spot with 4 communal tables, no sign and no menuSignature: Heirloom corn nixtamalized and ground in house for tortillas, sopes and huarachesPrice: Not publishedHours: Tuesday to Thursday 9:00 to 19:00; Friday and Saturday 9:00 to 20:30; Sunday 9:00 to 18:00; closed Mondays
Expendio de Maíz is at Av. Yucatán 84 in Roma Norte. It is a cash-only sidewalk spot with 4 communal tables, no sign and no menu, where heirloom corn is nixtamalized and ground in house. Reservations are not accepted, and it is closed Mondays.
Go ifA corn-first lunch if you can wait
Skip ifYou cannot wait on a list or only carry cards (no reservations, cash only)
Why #9 over #10: It builds an entire meal on house-ground heirloom corn, where Taquería Orinoco is a multi-branch taco counter.
10
Taquería Orinoco
Photo: Wotancito / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA trompo taquería with several branches around the city and a fast, casual counter.
Where: Av. Álvaro Obregón 100, Roma Norte, Mexico City (one of its Mexico City branches)Menu: Trompo, res and chicharrón; gringas, piratas, campechanas and norteñas; frijoles and salsasPrice: Not publishedOrdering: In person, on its website, on Rappi or by WhatsAppBranches: Roma Norte, Polanco, Condesa, Zona Rosa, Tabacalera, Nápoles and Del Valle Norte in Mexico City
Taquería Orinoco’s Roma Norte branch is at Av. Álvaro Obregón 100. Its menu runs from trompo, res and chicharrón to gringas, piratas, campechanas and norteñas, with frijoles and salsas on the side. Prices are not published on its site, and you can order in person, by Rappi or by WhatsApp.
Go ifA quick casual stop for trompo and chicharrón tacos
Skip ifYou want a one-of-a-kind spot rather than a multi-branch taquería
How we ranked these
We ranked each place on the cooking and the setting (a signature dish, a clear sense of place), then on how easy it is for a visitor: hours, whether prices are published and how you book. Every pick is one real Mexico City restaurant or taquería, checked on its own website or in the Michelin Guide listing. Taquería Orinoco is a multi-branch taquería, so it is listed once, by its Roma Norte address, and placed last for that reason. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best restaurant in Mexico City?
Pujol in Polanco, at Tennyson 133, is our top pick. It holds Two MICHELIN Stars and serves a Tasting Room menu at $3,795 MXN, with mole madre as a signature.
Where can you eat tacos in Mexico City?
Taquería El Califa de León (Av. Ribera de San Cosme 56) is open daily 11:00 to 02:00 and known for its Gaonera taco. Taquería Orinoco serves trompo, res and chicharrón tacos from its Roma Norte branch at Av. Álvaro Obregón 100.
Does Taquería Orinoco have branches in Mexico City?
Yes. Its site lists Roma Norte, Polanco, Condesa, Zona Rosa, Tabacalera, Nápoles and Del Valle Norte in Mexico City, plus branches in Monterrey and San Pedro Garza García.
Which Mexico City restaurants are closed on Sundays?
Pujol, Quintonil, Rosetta and Máximo Bistrot are closed on Sundays. Expendio de Maíz is closed on Mondays and Masala y Maíz on Tuesdays.
Price of the headline menu or dish at a glance
Contramar (tostadas de atún)420 MXN
Contramar (pescado a la talla, 500 g base)810 MXN
Pujol Tasting Room3,795 MXN
Pujol Taco Bar4,500 MXN
Quintonil tasting menu6,090 MXN
Price of the headline menu or dish, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
