The best street foods in Mexico City

The best street foods in Mexico City include iconic dishes like tacos (especially al pastor), elotes, tamales, and quesadillas. Other must-try items are chilaquiles for breakfast, churros for dessert, and the refreshing paletas (frozen fruit bars) for a sweet treat. You can find authentic street food at traditional markets like the Mercado de Coyoacán and Mercado de San Juan. 

 Savory Delights

Tacos: A staple, tacos feature various fillings like grilled beef, slow-cooked pork, or chorizo on small corn tortillas. Look for tacos al pastor, made from marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit.

Tacos de Canasta: These are soft, steamed tacos that are especially popular for breakfast. 

Chilaquiles: A fantastic breakfast option, these consist of fried or toasted tortilla chips topped with meats, eggs, and red or green sauce.

Elote: A popular snack, this is corn on the cob grilled until slightly charred and then topped with mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime juice.

Tamales: Made from corn dough, these are filled with various ingredients and then steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. 

Quesadillas: Made with a thick tortilla, quesadillas can be filled with cheese, chicken, or other ingredients and are often served with a side of orange salsa. 

Gorditas: These are masa dough pockets that are fried and then split and filled with ingredients like fried cheese, pork, onions, and cilantro. 

Barbacoa: A dish with Aztec roots, this involves braised sheep cooked until tender or deep-fried. 

Sweet Treats 

Churros: These fried dough pastries are coated in cinnamon sugar and are often served with a thick hot chocolate dipping sauce.

Paletas: These are frozen fruit bars made with fresh, natural ingredients and are a perfect treat on a hot day. 

Where to Find Street Food : 

Mercado de Coyoacán: A traditional market offering authentic Mexican street food.

Mercado de San Juan: Another excellent market known for its authentic street food offerings.