Best Mexico City Food Tour: 3 Amazing Options For Every Traveler
If you’re coming to Mexico City and not planning to eat your way through it, you’re doing it wrong. I come multiple times a year for a few months and the highlight for me is almost 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.
I’ve taken food tours all over the world and they’ve been some of my favorite travel experiences. Whether you want to dive into the city’s legendary street food scene, enjoy a home cooked meal, 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:
Tours I Recommend:
Is it Safe To Eat Street Food in Mexico City?
- My rule of thumb is that if it’s cooked, I’ll eat it. If it’s raw/fresh without a peel, I’d skip it.
💡 Pro Tip! Watch this Taco Chronicles episode on Suadero tacos before you visit CDMX!
Why a Mexico City Food Tour is Worth It
Here’s the thing about food in Mexico City: some of the best meals you’ll have will come from places you would never find on your own. 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—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, tasting 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 you’ll see on every corner.
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.
Option 1: 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.
The market is huge and you’ll see everything from fresh seafood to exotic meats (yes, even scorpions). 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.
Option 2: 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. Each stop focuses on a different taco style—from classic al pastor to Suadero and even a Michelin-starred street taco stand.
There’s also a mezcal tasting with an expert so you can learn about different styles (I personally like Tobala) and order your next cocktail like a pro.
Option 3: Roma Food Tour With Home Cooked Food
🍽️ Recommended Tour: México City: Food Tour, home made food (mi casa es tu casa)
Best for: People who want to a more local experience including visiting someone’s house and trying delicious homemade food.
This is a really awesome and truly unique experience in one of my favorite neighborhoods – Roma. It has nothing but 5-star reviews and there’s a reason. Yibran takes you through seven different delicious food stops in the neighborhood and end with a home cooked meal from his wife, Daniela. You will feel like family and it will be lovely.
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.
FAQ: 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 4 days in Mexico City itinerary 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! 🥂🌮
