When you think of the Michelin Guide, you probably picture white tablecloths, tasting menus, and reservations made months in advance. But Mexico City plays by its own rules. When the guide arrived in CDMX, it changed the game completely by awarding stars and recognition to the street food stands and local taquerías. And honestly, it makes perfect sense. In a country with such a rich, complex gastronomy, recognizing the streets is an authentic way to reflect its true culture.
Because of our obsession with travel and food, we learned early on that the only way to build the travel company we want is by doing the legwork ourselves. We have to try it, eat it, travel, and experience it firsthand to have our own real perspective before we recommend anything to you. So, my business partner and I flew out to Mexico City and spent an entire week eating absolutely everything we could find. (Listen, someone has to do the heavy lifting; I really love my job).
After countless tortillas and rivers of salsa, we built our own list. Here is our honest guide to the Best taquerías in Mexico City.
The 7 Best Taquerías
El Califa de León: The Michelin Starred
We had to start with the legend. El Califa de León is the place that made the fine-dining world realize what locals have known for decades: a street stand can absolutely go toe-to-toe with a multi-million-dollar kitchen, as long as the recipe and the ingredients are good (and trust me, these are good). Is it the best taco in all of CDMX? Not necessarily. But it has the undeniable grace of being the very first street stand to earn this level of global recognition, and that alone makes it an essential stop.
As everyone will tell you, the absolute non-negotiable order here is the Gaonera taco. It’s true, just go for it. Named after a famous Mexican bullfighter, it is a masterclass in not overcomplicating things. You get a paper-thin slice of beef filet, cooked to order on a blisteringly hot plancha, seasoned with nothing but salt and a squeeze of fresh lime, all resting on a freshly handmade corn tortilla. There is nowhere to hide with a recipe this simple, and they don’t need to. Unpretentiously great.
Address: Av. Ribera de San Cosme 56, San Rafael, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX
Tacos Los Alexis: Our Unanimous Favorite
Alex and I sat right at the bar, and getting to watch the open kitchen in action is a great experience. It is a very local spot that keeps a humble profile, but out of all the places we visited, this was unanimously the favorite for both of us.
We ordered the Taco Especial, and the carne asada is simply excellent. But what really blew our minds was their salsa borracha; it is insanely good. While we were eating, we got the chance to talk to Jordan, who works in the kitchen, and it just showed us what a genuinely great, welcoming vibe the whole place has.
Also, a huge shoutout to their menu: if you don’t eat meat, their vegetarian option is an absolute must. It is honestly one of the best vegetarian tacos I have ever tried.
Address: C. de Chiapas 46, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX.
Barbacoa Gonzalitos: The Northern Classic in Roma Norte
This was one of my favorites in the city. Barbacoa Gonzalitos has just a few sidewalk tables and some counter seating, but the crowd waiting outside tells you everything you need to know.
What I really loved about this place is how simple it is. If you want to play it straight down the middle with a safe bet that absolutely delivers, this is your spot.
They specialize in northern-style tacos, and their barbacoa de res (beef barbacoa) is exactly what you picture when you think of a classic street taco. You can get it on either a corn or flour tortilla (if you like it crispy, i recommend you going for the «dorado-style»). Gonzalitos is the taco that never fails: really good meat, fresh onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
Address: Calle Colima 76, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX
La 89: Ricos Tacos
When we arrived at La 89, the first thing that set the tone was the sign right at the entrance that simply reads: «Ricos Tacos». That straightforward promise tells you exactly what you are about to get into. The place has a great atmosphere and a really solid craft beer selection, which for me is key. We cracked open a cold Cerveza Colimita to start things off and got right down to business.
The specialty here is the birria tacos, and they are absolutely incredible. These are not delicate, «aesthetic» tacos designed to look neat for social media. They are unapologetically loaded and extremely flavorful. They come with a heavy pour of salsa and a lot of everything, but the real magic is that despite all that abundance, you can still distinctly taste every single ingredient on its own. It’s a perfect mix of a great vibe, outstanding birria, and cold beer.
And honestly, this Michelin Tacos are so good that, as you can probably tell from the picture, my tortilla didn’t even stand a chance of making it intact for the photoshoot….
Cariñito: The Asian-Mexican Fusion
Great vibe and the incredibly friendly staff.
What they are doing here is a complete departure from the rest of the list: they mix traditional street food formats with bold Asian flavors and ingredients. Honestly, eating here almost feels like having a bao turned into a taco.
It is exotic, highly innovative and I personally loved it. Still, it does leave you asking: is this what you look for in a taco?
It definitely doesn’t have that typical, classic street taco flavor. So, if your plan is to visit just one taquería during your trip and you are looking for the traditional Mexican experience, this is not the place for you. But if you are willing to step outside the box and experiment with a completely different flavor profile, you absolutely should give it a go.
It was a fantastic night all around, and the photo shows the remains of that great vibe (and how many beers we finished).
Address: Guanajuato 53, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX.
Maizajo: Commitment to Corn
Maizajo strikes this perfect balance of being cool and traditional, without giving in to that modern «aesthetic» culture. It is a place that feels completely grounded, and their focus is entirely on the food.
Their excellence and commitment to the corn is unmatched. Everything here is made completely from scratch, and it shows. The tortillas are excellent, and the tacos come out properly loaded.
Honestly, if I were looking strictly for a classic street taco, it wouldn’t be my very first option out of all the places we visited. But if you are ready to experience everything else they can do with corn and try all the other incredible masa-based creations they make, this is absolutely the place to go.
Address: Fernando Montes de Oca 113, Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX.
La Bonvi: A Solid Addition to the List
To wrap things up, we hit La Bonvi. This place is a really great addition to the list if you are looking for top-notch meat quality, cold beer, and excellent salsas (their stand out). It definitely delivers on all the essentials.
We ordered the taco de cochinita, and have no regrets. It was really good! If you are veggie, their hongos al ajillo (garlic mushrooms) is a really strong option that actually holds its own.
Now, full disclosure: their fries are not the best. But if you stick to the tacos, load them up with their incredible salsas, and wash it all down with a beer, La Bonvi is an excellent stop that is absolutely worth your time.
Address: Pedregal 33, Lomas de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, CDMX
Come Eat With Us: The Gourmet Taco Tour
Picture this: you are walking through the vibrant streets of CDMX, the smell of charred meat and fresh tortillas is in the air, and instead of stressing over google maps or waiting an hour on the sidewalk just to place an order, your only job is to enjoy the food.
After eating our way through the city, we built our Gourmet Taco Tour so you can experience a carefully curated lineup of the absolute best taquerías in one perfect evening.
Yes, we completely skip the lines (and honestly, walking right past a massive crowd to your reserved spot feels pretty great). You get to taste a wide variety of incredible Michelin tacos, all guided by a local expert who knows the real stories behind the food.
The best part? Sharing the meal with a great group of travelers, and wraping it all up exactly how a proper night in Mexico City should end: sharing laughs and toasting with some amazing mezcal.
Keep exploring CDMX and discover what to pair with your meal in our guide to Traditional Mexican Drinks.