Mexico City, again! Honest reviews of everything we ate.

Written By Jacki Ochoa

Mexico City keeps drawing me back and I know exactly why. Even after a red-eye, the moment I stepped out of our Airbnb for a solo stroll and a coffee, the energy, the joy, and the sense of community brought me right back to life. Instantly invigorated. But I'm an eater, a really good one, and that's the biggest draw for me. 

We took our most recent trip in March 2026, so think sunny, 70s, and jacaranda trees still lingering after their full bloom a couple weeks earlier. Each visit, I feel like I keep refining my palate for this city. So here's a roundup of what I'd skip and what I can't wait to eat again.

Itinerary

On this trip, I worked remotely, which always makes me feel more like a local, just doing my ordinary routine, but in a different city.

Skip

Taquería Orinoco: I found this one on TikTok, which, honestly, should have been a dead giveaway. We went anyway because of the hype, the convenience, and a spare hour. It was fine, nothing more. Skip it and walk down the street to whatever taco vendor has a line. You'll be happier. Like, Tacos El Paisa.

Expendio de Miaz: Another TikTok spot, another skip. The food was good but not great, and the crowd was all tourists, which isn't always a dealbreaker, but here it just wasn't worth it.

Can’t wait to return

Rosetta: Our second visit, and it delivered again. We shared the tamales, the lobster pasta, the short rib, and the rosemary ice cream. I have small notes on each dish (the pasta needed another 30 seconds for a proper al dente bite), but everything was well-executed and genuinely delicious.

Tlecan: So much fun, and the cocktails were fantastic. We arrived 30 minutes after opening and got seated right away, though a line formed quickly after us. I ordered the pulque colada: tasty, slightly sweet, and impossibly smooth. Even on a packed Friday night, the servers were kind and attentive, and the vibe was just right.

Campobaja: Everything here was fantastic. We ordered the tuna tostada, the aquachile, the calamari with garlic and bread, and two desserts: the flan and the olive oil ice cream. Every bite topped the last. Squeezing roasted garlic onto a hunk of bread, then layering on the sauce and calamari, incredible. But the olive oil ice cream stole the show. Simple, silky smooth, perfectly sweet and savory all at once. Perfection!

Food tour with John: Book this tour. I've done it twice and it hits every single time, because the food is fantastic (my favorites: fresh fruit, tacos de canasta, suadero tacos with salted onion on the side, and the churros), because the places and people fill you up with something beyond just a good meal, and because John is a genuinely good human you'll feel like you've known forever. Seriously, just book it.

Barbacoa Los 3 Compadres: A well-oiled operation set up in front of a convenience store on weekends, and the barbacoa is excellent. I loved sitting next to locals and eating something that was simple and delicious. That said, because it's such a big production, I think I slightly prefer the quieter neighborhood feel of a place like Dani’s.

Chocolatería La Rifa: I have never tasted chocolate like this. I ordered the 50% cocoa drink with milk and honey, iced (if it’s available, I always get my drinks iced, even on cold days), and I wanted a second cup before I finished the first. Exquisite. 

Café de Nadie: Great cocktails, great food, chill vibe. Perfect for some light day drinking on a sunny afternoon.

Panadería Rosetta: Not a must, and I've had better pastries, but these are genuinely yummy and well-made. I want to try a proper breakfast here next time.

Final thoughts

I think about this a lot when I travel: why does a city feel alive to me? For some people it's the architecture, the history, the nightlife. For me, it almost always comes down to the food, not just what's on the plate, but the whole world around it. The vendor with the line snaking down the block. The bartender who makes your drink with obvious care. The ice cream that's so simple it shouldn't be that good, and yet food has a way of making a place feel real, and CDMX does that better than almost anywhere I've been. Every trip I eat a little smarter, linger a little longer, and leave already thinking about what I'll order next time. That's the mark of a great food city, it never feels finished.

Jacki Ochoa
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