Best Mexico City Food Tour: 3 Amazing Options For Every Traveler
Looking for the best Mexico City food tour? First, let me just say I’m so excited you’re planning your trip correctly. If you’re coming to Mexico City and not planning to eat your way through it, you’re doing it wrong.
I come to CDMX multiple times a year for a few months since 2021 and the highlight for me is pretty much always the food. The sheer number of delicious options (from taco stands and market stalls to high-end restaurants) is overwhelming in the best way possible.
But with so many choices, it’s easy to miss out on the absolute best spots. That’s where a Mexico City food tour comes in. Even I discover something new every time I take one!
The most recent CDMX food tour I took was in February and we ate everything from Cantonese-Mexican fusion tacos to crispy pork belly to cactus soup. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Whether you want to dive into the city’s legendary street food scene, enjoy a Michelin-rated taco, or sip mezcal while eating your weight in tacos (I do), a food tour in Mexico City is pretty much always a good idea.
Here’s what you need to know before you book and the three tours I recommend based on the experience you’re looking for.
Mexico City Food Tour Quick Guide
Short on time? Here’s a quick guide to choosing the best Mexico City food tour for your travel style:
Food Tours I Recommend in CDMX:
- Best Tour For Tacos & Mezcal
- Best Tour For Michelin-Rated Tacos (and a 5% discount!)
- Best Tour For Exploring Markets
Best Restaurants in Mexico City
- I have an entire guide here for everything from date-night spots to incredible tacos to Michelin-rated meal
Where to Stay in Mexico City
- Neighborhoods: Roma Norte or Condesa
- I specifically love the Andaz hotel with a pool and the Brick hotel for local luxury
What Else to Do in CDMX
- Wander the streets around Parque Mexico
- Go to the anthropology museum before you visit the pyramids
- Lucha Libre is a must!
- Check out a local market!
- Find my other favorite things to do in CDMX here!
💡 Pro Tip! Watch this Taco Chronicles episode on Suadero tacos before you visit CDMX!
Every time my friends visit CDMX, they always ask me for a list of my favorite places, so I made a Google map! Now I update it every time I visit with all my favorite spots. Feel free to snag a copy and enjoy!
Best Mexico City Food Tour Quick Comparison
Before I dive into all the delicious details, here’s a quick comparison guide to find the food tour that’s right for you (though honestly, you can’t go wrong)
|
Tour: |
Tacos & Mezcal Night Tour |
Sherpa Foodie Adventure (5% off!) |
Downtown Market Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best for |
Mezcal lovers & people who want a nighttime activity |
First-timers who want to try it all |
Market lovers & daytime explorers |
|
Time of day |
Evening |
Daytime |
Daytime |
|
Stops |
5 taquerías across 4 neighborhoods |
5 restaurants |
Food stalls, cantina + San Juan Market |
|
Highlights |
Michelin-starred taco stand + mezcal tasting |
Michelin-starred tacos, Mayan food, crickets & more! |
Exotic meats, fresh seafood, classic cantina |
|
Drinks included |
Yes! (mezcal tasting) |
Beer or juice at stops! |
Drinks included! |
|
Discount |
None |
5% off with code ITU5 |
None |
|
Book here 👉 |
Why a Mexico City Food Tour is Worth It
In Mexico City, some of the best meals I’ve ever had have been in places I would never have known about. A hole-in-the-wall that serves life-changing Suadero tacos, a family-run market stall that’s been making tamales for generations, a cantina where locals go for late-afternoon drinks and snacks.
My absolute favorite Birria taco is from a stand surrounded by fancy restaurants. People walk past it every day and don’t realize just how incredible this guy’s tacos are.
These spots don’t always show up on Google (though I do have a custom Google Map of my favorite spots in my Ultimate Guide to Mexico City).
A Mexico City food tour takes the guesswork out of where to go and they’ll give you insight into the culture, history, and traditions behind each dish. Plus, when you go with guides, you get to skip the trial-and-error process of figuring out which street food vendors are actually worth it (and which ones you should avoid!). I’ve had the best tacos in Mexico City, and probably in my life, in these tours.
And let’s be real—CDMX is huge (if you’re wondering where to stay in Mexico City or when’s the best time to visit Mexico City, I’ve got you covered here).
There are entire neighborhoods dedicated to specific styles of cooking, and without a local guide, you could spend your entire trip just scratching the surface. A good food tour ensures you maximize your experience (and I’m nothing if not a maximizer), so you can taste a wide range of dishes that represent the city’s incredible food culture.
Before your visit, I highly, highly, highly recommend watching this Taco Chronicles episode on Netflix that covers the history of Suadero tacos. It’s a great primer for the rich history around the taco stands and chefs with machetes you’ll see on every corner!
Option 1: Roma Norte: Nighttime Taco & Mezcal Tour
🍽️ Recommended Tour: Mexico City: Tacos & Mezcal Night Food Tour
Best for: Mezcal lovers, taco enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience Mexico City’s food culture after dark.
If you’re looking for the best taco tour Mexico City has to offer and want to sip some mezcal while you’re at it, this is the tour for you. It takes you through four different neighborhoods, stopping at five different taquerías.
I love, love, love tacos in CDMX maybe equally as much as I love, love, love the mezcal in Mexico City. This tour is awesome because it combines them both so you can eat and drink while actually learning what you’re doing.
Each stop focuses on a different taco style—from classic al pastor to Suadero and even a Michelin-starred street taco stand.
Then, there’s a mezcal tasting with an expert so you can learn about different styles and order your next cocktail like a pro. My boyfriend learned that he likes Espadin (younger, slightly sweeter) and I prefer Tobala (a little earthier or more floral). Overall, it’s an awesome evening activity in CDMX.
Option 2: Michelin-Guide Tacos + Mexican Cuisine Beyond the Taco (5% Discount!)
🍽️ Recommended Tour: Local Foodie Adventure in Mexico: +10 dishes (5% discount with the code: ITU5)
Best for: People who want to hit the famous spots in CDMX but also enjoy a few sit-down meals of local favorites. I did this in February and brought a few friends and we ate everything from slow cooked pork to Cantonese tacos to tres leches cake! There was also beer or juice available along the way.
The tour stops at five different restaurants and you get to try cuisine from many different parts of Mexico, not just CDMX. There’s Mayan food from the Yucatán, dishes from Veracruz, chalupas from Puebla (not like the ones you had in elementary school – trust me), and classics like chicharron and crickets!
There’s also a reason this tour has nothing but 5-star reviews. It’s organized around two delicious guiding principles:
- Everyone travels to CDMX to get amazing tacos, so let’s make sure they try the absolutely best ones.
- Let’s help travelers navigate a (sometimes intimidating!) Mexican menu and show them classic and new dishes that will ignite the palate.
Yes, you’ll eat unbelievable tacos, but you’ll also get to take some time to sit down in a restaurant, try delicious dishes you’ve never heard of, and get to know Mexican cuisine in a pretty unique way.
The tour company has graciously sponsored this part of the article and is offering the Inside the Upgrade community a 5% discount on their 5-star tour with the code: ITU5
Happy eating!
Option 3: Centro Historico: Daytime Market Food Tour
🍽️ Recommended Tour: Mexico City: Authentic Downtown Food Tour
Best for: Market lovers, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants to try a mix of street food, market eats, and classic restaurants.
I absolutely love market tours and this one is awesome because you get to learn so much about the local ingredients. This tour takes you through Mexico City’s historic center, hitting up food stalls, a classic cantina, and the well-known San Juan Market.
I really think it’s worth it to 1) go to a food market in general while you’re in CDMX and 2) go with a guide.
The market is huge and you’ll see everything from fresh seafood to exotic meats (yes, even scorpions), and a guide really helps you know what you’re looking at instead of just glazing past. I honestly lost count of how many different dishes we tried.
It’s also a great way to get a tour of the Centro Historico at the same time and they build in plenty of time to both walk and sit, so you never get too tired (though you will get full!).
Unlike taco-specific tours, this one covers a broader range of traditional dishes, so it’s great if you want to get a well-rounded introduction to Mexican cuisine.
What Food is Mexico City Famous For?
There’s a lot more than tacos and Mezcal to Mexico City (though I certainly do love both of those). It’s one of the greatest food cities in the world, blending centuries of culinary tradition with bold street food flavors. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite from a street vendor or sitting down for a full meal, here are some of my personal favorite, must-try dishes:
- Tacos Suadero – These tacos feature slow-cooked beef with a rich, juicy texture, typically served on small corn tortillas and topped with onions and salsa (I recommend you order it without cilantro). Seriously, watch this taco chronicles episode.
- Tacos al Pastor – One of Mexico City’s most iconic tacos, al pastor features thinly sliced, marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit, then served with pineapple, onions (again, skip the cilantro) on a warm tortilla. You’ll see these everywhere in CDMX.
- Chilaquiles – Guys, I frickin LOVE chilaquiles. It’s a classic Mexican breakfast dish made of fried tortilla chips simmered in red or green salsa, topped with cheese, crema, and sometimes eggs or shredded chicken. I recommend sales verde con huevos.
- Pozole – My favorite food is soup and I make zero apologies for this. I get pozole every time I visit CDMX. It’s a rich soup with pork or chicken, garnished with radishes, oregano, lime, and tostadas on the side.
- Churros – Do we even need an explanation here? A must-visit spot for these is El Moro, an iconic churrería in CDMX.
- Esquites – Such a good street snack made of corn kernels mixed with mayonnaise, lime, cheese, and chili powder, served in a cup.
- Chapulines (Crickets) – You’ve got to be bold here and try these out. They’re a crunchy, protein-packed snack often seasoned with lime and chili and you can find them at lots of bars. It’s not my go-to, but it’s worth a try.
Beyond street food, you can find my favorite restaurants in this guide.
Is it Safe to Eat Street Food in Mexico City?
Short answer: Yes—but you have to be smart about it.
Mexico City’s street food is some of the best in the world, but not every vendor is created equal. My personal rule? If it’s cooked at high heat, I’ll eat it. I pretty much never eat fresh fruit or vegetables from street food. It’s just not worth the risk, in my opinion.
Here are some quick tips to enjoy street food safely:
✅ Stick to busy stalls – If there’s a line of locals, it’s usually a good sign.
✅ Avoid fresh, unpeeled fruits and vegetables – Unless it’s something like a onion or an orange, steer clear of raw produce from street vendors. Lettuce and pre-cut fruit can be risky.
✅ Eat where your guide recommends – This is one of the biggest advantages of a Mexico City food tour—your guide already knows which vendors are safe.
✅ Skip the ice – Unless you’re in a restaurant or a place that uses filtered water, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re at a sit-down restaurant, most will have filtered water and safe produce, but street food is a little trickier. That’s why having a knowledgeable guide on a food tour in Mexico City makes such a huge difference.
Food Tours in Mexico City: FAQ
It depends on what you’re after. For tacos and mezcal in the evening, the Tacos & Mezcal Night Tour is hard to beat. If you want a broader intro to Mexican cuisine beyond just tacos, the Foodie Adventure (use code ITU5 for 5% off) is my personal favorite. And if you love markets, the Downtown Market Tour is a great daytime option.
100% yes! I spend about five months a year in CDMX and I still discover new spots every time I take one. The city is enormous and some of the best food is in places you’d never stumble across on your own. A good guide doesn’t just take you to the right spots, they explain the history and culture behind each dish, which makes the whole experience so much richer.
Yes, with a little common sense. My rule is simple: if it’s cooked at high heat, I’ll eat it. I skip anything raw or fresh without a peel. Stick to busy stalls with a line of locals, avoid pre-cut fruit, and you should be fine. Going with a guide takes all the guesswork out of it since they already know which vendors are worth it.
So much more than tacos (though obviously the tacos are incredible). Some must-tries: Suadero tacos, tacos al pastor, chilaquiles verdes, pozole, esquites, and churros. If you’re feeling adventurous, chapulines (crickets seasoned with lime and chili) are worth a try too. CDMX is genuinely one of the greatest food cities in the world.
Most quality food tours run about $100, which is a solid deal when you factor in how much food and drink is included and the expertise of your guide. You’re not paying for a few bites, you’re eating full dishes at multiple stops. It’s one of the better-value experiences you can have in the city.
Um 100% yes. Tipping is customary in Mexico and your guide works hard to make the experience great. A tip of 10-15% of the tour cost is a good benchmark, and if your guide went above and beyond (they usually do), err on the generous side.
What Are Other Things To Do in Mexico City?
There is no shortage of things to do in Mexico City beyond eating and drinking (in fact, I have a complete guide to what to do in CDMX here). These are some of my absolute favorite activities in CDMX that I would highly recommend:
- Walk the Avenida Amsterdam Loop – The Roma Norte and Condesa neighborhoods are my favorite areas in Mexico city, and going for a short walk on the Avenida Amsterdam loop will show you why. Buy a popsicle, take a stroll and fall in love with CDMX. This is also where I recommend people stay in Mexico City.
- Teotihuacan Pyramids – These ancient pyramids are a must-visit. You can see the Pyramid of the Sun, explore the massive archaeological site, or even take a hot air balloon ride over the ruins.
- Lucha Libre – Even if you don’t think you’re into wrestling, go see Lucha Libre in Mexico City. It’s one of the most entertaining things you can do in CDMX and I absolutely loved it. I’ve since been twice.
- Xochimilco – This is a floating fiesta on colorful boats. You’ll listen to music, drink beers on the water, and soak in the lively atmosphere. If you don’t get up to dance a little, you’re not doing it right.
- Frida Kahlo’s Blue House – Frida Kahlo’s home is a must for art lovers. You need to book your tickets in advance though because they sell out quickly.
Final Thoughts: Why Every Visitor Should Take a Mexico City Food Tour
With any of these Mexico City food tours, you’ll get a deep dive into Mexico’s culinary traditions and discover places you’d never find otherwise. Whether you’re eating your way through a historic market, sipping mezcal, or dining in someone’s home, you’re in for a seriously delicious experience.
Cheers to eating your way through Mexico City! 🥂🌮
