Best Taco Places in Mexico City: 8 Taquerías Worth the Trip, From Al Pastor to Suadero

Quick answer: The best taco places in Mexico City for a first trip are El Califa de León for the Michelin-starred gaonera beef taco, Taquería Los Cocuyos for 24-hour suadero, El Vilsito for late-night al pastor in a car repair shop, and El Huequito for old-school al pastor in the Historic Center. Most tacos at the classic spots cost roughly 20 to 80 pesos each, and many places are cash only.

Tacos are the easiest way to eat well in Mexico City, but the choice can be overwhelming. This ranking is an editorial pick of eight taquerías, based on reputation, Michelin Guide recognition, Mexican food press and reviews. It covers different taco styles and neighborhoods so you can match a stop to your itinerary. We were not paid by any of them.

Best Taco Places in Mexico City: Know Before You Go

• Bring cash: small bills and coins. Several famous counters, including El Califa de León, El Vilsito and El Gran Abanico, are reported to be cash only.
• Order small and often: tacos are small. Order two or three, then order again. You usually pay at the end or at the register.
• Salsas: taste a drop first. Green is not always milder than red.
• Timing: many taquerías are busiest late at night; lunchtime on weekdays usually means shorter lines.
• Getting there: the Metro costs 5 pesos per ride. Late at night, use Uber, DiDi or an official taxi instead of walking long distances.
• Prices change: the prices below were reported in 2026 and are a guide, not a guarantee.

The 8 Best Taco Places in Mexico City (Editorial Picks)

1. El Califa de León (San Rafael): the gaonera taco

Open since 1968 on Avenida Ribera de San Cosme 56 in colonia San Rafael, El Califa de León became the first taquería to earn a Michelin star when the guide arrived in Mexico in 2024. The menu is short: gaonera (thin beef filet seared to order with salt and lime), bistec, beef rib and pork chop, on tortillas made by hand at the counter, with a raw green salsa and a red one. You eat standing at a narrow counter.

• Order: the gaonera first, then costilla (beef rib).
• Price: the gaonera was about 77 to 82 pesos in 2026 reports.
• Hours: the Michelin Guide lists 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily; some reports give a 1:30 a.m. close.
• Metro: San Cosme (Line 2), a few steps away.
• Tip: cash only; weekday lunchtime usually has the shortest wait.

2. Taquería Los Cocuyos (Historic Center): suadero around the clock

At Simón Bolívar 67 in the Centro Histórico, Los Cocuyos simmers its meats in a bubbling metal pan on the counter. The star is suadero, the soft, brisket-like beef cut that defines Mexico City tacos, plus more adventurous cuts such as tripa (tripe), cabeza (head), lengua (tongue) and ojo (eye). It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and is open 24 hours.

• Order: suadero or campechano (mixed meats).
• Price: classic tacos come in orders of three, reported at around 60 pesos in 2026.
• Metro: Isabel la Católica (Line 1) or San Juan de Letrán (Line 8), each a few blocks away.
• Tip: it is a tiny standing counter; pair it with a walk to the Zócalo.

3. El Vilsito (Narvarte): al pastor in a mechanic’s shop

By day it is a car repair shop on Avenida Universidad 248 in colonia Narvarte. In the evening the tables, grills and spinning trompos of marinated pork come out. El Vilsito has a Michelin Bib Gourmand and was featured on Netflix’s “Taco Chronicles.”

• Order: tacos al pastor “con todo” (with onion, cilantro and pineapple).
• Price: its published menu lists al pastor tacos at 20 pesos and most other meats at 40 pesos.
• Hours: evenings only; its website lists, for example, 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Arrive early and you will find mechanics, not tacos.
• Getting there: Uber or DiDi is the easiest option at night.

4. El Huequito (Historic Center): al pastor since 1959

El Huequito began in 1959 in a space of about one square meter at Ayuntamiento 21, which is how it got its name (“the little hole”), according to the company. Its al pastor is darker than most, served rolled with two house salsas, and the Bolívar 58 branch has tables, a bigger menu and, according to Chilango, card payments.

• Order: al pastor, rolled the house way.
• Hours: the Bolívar 58 branch is listed as 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
• Metro: San Juan de Letrán (Line 8) or Isabel la Católica (Line 1).
• Tip: choose Bolívar 58 for a sit-down meal with a group; the original counter is standing room only.

5. Tacos de Canasta Los Especiales (Historic Center): basket tacos

Tacos de canasta are steamed in a basket until soft and are a classic cheap breakfast or snack. Los Especiales, on Avenida Francisco I. Madero 71 on the pedestrian street that leads to the Zócalo, is included in the Michelin Guide’s Mexico City taco selection. There are only four fillings: chicharrón in red or green salsa, refried beans and potato.

• Order: one of each filling.
• Price: the Michelin Guide wrote that a plate of one of each plus a glass-bottle Coca-Cola cost about 65 pesos.
• Metro: Allende or Zócalo/Tenochtitlan (Line 2).

6. Taquería Orinoco (Roma Norte): northern-style tacos, late

Orinoco brings Monterrey-style tacos to Mexico City with three meats: trompo (Monterrey’s take on al pastor), res (beef) and chicharrón. It has several branches, including Avenida Insurgentes Sur 253 and Avenida Álvaro Obregón 100 in Roma Norte, real seating and late hours, which makes it an easy first stop for groups.

• Order: “la tercia” (one of each meat) or a costra (taco wrapped in griddled cheese).
• Price: a trompo taco was about 29 to 35 pesos in 2026 reports.
• Getting there: for Álvaro Obregón 100, Metrobús Durango (Line 1) is about a 9-minute walk.

7. El Tizoncito (Condesa): a contender for the al pastor title

El Tizoncito traces its history to 1966 and is one of the taquerías that claim a key role in the creation of tacos al pastor; treat any single “inventor” story as a friendly rivalry. The Condesa location at Tamaulipas 122 has tables, which makes it an easy pick after a walk through Parque México.

• Order: al pastor and a gringa (flour tortilla with cheese and pastor).
• Getting there: walk from central Condesa or take an Uber.

8. El Gran Abanico (Tránsito): carnitas worth the line

In colonia Tránsito, just south of the Historic Center, El Gran Abanico has been cooking carnitas (slow-cooked pork) for more than three decades, according to El Economista. It is recommended in the Michelin Guide, and the rib taco is the house favorite.

• Order: carnitas, then costilla.
• Price: about 35 pesos per taco in 2025 reports; cash only.
• Metro: San Antonio Abad (Line 2) is the closest station; go during the day and expect a line on weekends.

Mexico City Taco Types to Know

• Al pastor: marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit (trompo), often topped with pineapple.
• Suadero: tender beef cooked slowly in fat; a Mexico City specialty.
• Carnitas: pork slow-cooked until soft and crisp at the edges.
• Tacos de canasta: soft, steamed “basket” tacos with simple fillings.
• Campechano: a mix of two meats in one taco.

Taco Safety Tips for Visitors

Busy stands with fast turnover are generally a good sign. Use the salsas and limes on the counter, carry hand sanitizer, and keep your phone and wallet close in crowded spots. At night, take a ride app between neighborhoods. For more, read our guide Is Mexico City safe for tourists? and learn how to ride the Metro in Mexico City. Just landed? See our airport to Roma Norte and Condesa guide.

Best Tacos in Mexico City FAQ

What is the most famous taco place in Mexico City?

El Califa de León in San Rafael is the best known internationally because it was the first taquería to win a Michelin star, in 2024. El Huequito, El Tizoncito, Los Cocuyos and El Vilsito are also long-time favorites.

Which taco is Mexico City known for?

Al pastor and suadero are the two most associated with Mexico City.

How much do tacos cost in Mexico City?

At the classic taquerías on this list, single tacos ranged from about 20 pesos (al pastor at El Vilsito) to about 82 pesos (the gaonera at El Califa de León) in 2026 reports.

Where can I get tacos late at night in Mexico City?

Los Cocuyos is open 24 hours, El Vilsito opens in the evening and stays open past midnight, and Orinoco and El Califa de León also keep late hours.

Do taquerías in Mexico City take cards?

Some do, but many classic counters are cash only. Bring pesos in small bills.

Rankings are editorial picks by Mexico City In English based on reputation, reviews and research, including the Michelin Guide, Chilango, El Economista, El Universal, Food and Pleasure and the taquerías’ own information. Prices and hours change, so check before you go.

Photo: A taquero carves al pastor from the trompo at Taquería El Vilsito in Mexico City. Photo by ProtoplasmaKid, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Resized for web.