With over 18,000 taquerías officially registered in Mexico City, choosing where to eat can be overwhelming. So how do you know which ones are truly worth visiting? I tried some of the city’s most famous taco spots and narrowed it down to the absolute best, so you don’t have to.

1. El Tizoncito

What to order: Al Pastor tacos

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #118
• Taste Atlas: Top 10 Al Pastor in the world
• Featured on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil

In my opinion, the best Al Pastor taco in Mexico City comes from El Tizoncito. The meat is incredibly juicy, easily the most flavorful and tender Pastor I’ve had in CDMX. At just 29 pesos (around $1.33 USD) per taco, it’s also one of the best deals in town.

The staff is warm and welcoming, and what really sets the experience apart is the generous selection of table salsas (six in total, ranging from mild to fiery). It’s the perfect spot if you’re looking for classic street-style tacos with a bit more comfort and service.

2. Tacos Don Juan

What to order: Quesabirria

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #584

Tacos Don Juan is a small, unassuming taquería tucked away in the northern part of La Condesa—but don’t let its modest appearance fool you. I tried their Suadero taco (29 pesos / ~$1.33 USD) and their famous Quesabirria (58 pesos / ~$3 USD), and both delivered.

While the suadero was solid, it was the quesabirria that truly stood out. It was one of the best bites I had in all of Mexico. Rich, cheesy, and perfectly crisped, it’s worth going out of your way for if you’re in the area. A must-try for taco lovers on the hunt for bold flavors.

3. El Farolito

What to order: Tacos Al Pastor

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #241 • Taste Atlas: Top 10 Al Pastor in the world

El Farolito is another taco institution in Mexico City, and their Al Pastor tacos are what made them famous. To get the full experience, I visited their original location on Altata in Condesa.

At 39 pesos per taco, the price is slightly higher than most spots, but the quality makes up for it. Their Al Pastor is absolutely delicious; different from places like El Tizoncito, where the meat is juicy and rich. At Farolito, the Pastor is more roasted and crisp, giving it a BBQ-like flavor and texture that’s equally satisfying in its own way.

If you’re into caramelized edges and a smoky finish, this version is a must-try. It’s a great example of how one dish can be done brilliantly in completely different styles across the city.

4. Carinito tacos

What to order: Taco Cantones

🏅 Recognitions
• Michelinguide: Nomination

Carinito Tacos doesn’t serve your typical street-style taco. Instead, this small spot is all about Asian-Mexican fusion, and they’ve done it so well that they were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Naturally, I had to try it for myself.

We ordered a variety of tacos from the menu, each priced at 60 pesos. The Cantones came with crispy, eight-spiced pork belly, hoisin sauce, sriracha, and pickled cucumber. It had a rich depth of flavor with a perfect balance of heat and sweetness. The Cochinita Thai featured slow-cooked pork in Yucatecan adobo, complemented by fermented beans and pickled onions, blending regional Mexican flavors with a Southeast Asian twist.

The Siu Yuk was another standout, made with Cantonese-style roasted pork served on a flour tortilla with jaw sauce, chives, and pickles. Finally, the Thai taco offered crispy pork belly confit dressed in a tamarind and basil based Jim Jaew sauce. Each bite was packed with flavor and showed off the creativity of the kitchen.

Carinito is a great option if you are looking for something unexpected and exciting within the world of tacos in Mexico City.

5. El Califa de Leon

What to order: Gaonera and Costilla taco

🏅 Recognitions
• Taste Atlas: Most iconic taco in the world
• Michelin Guide: ★ 1 Star

El Califa de León holds a unique title as the only taquería in Mexico City — and possibly the world — to receive a Michelin star. Located a bit outside the more popular neighborhoods like Roma Norte and La Condesa, it is absolutely worth the trip if you are serious about tacos.

This spot specializes in steak tacos, with different cuts of meat prepared simply and served with care. The staff recommended two of their signature options, the Costilla taco at 82 pesos and the Gaonera taco at 70 pesos. Costilla comes from the rib and offers a rich, slightly fatty bite, while Gaonera is made with filet, offering a more tender and refined texture.

Yes, the tacos are a bit more expensive than the average twenty-nine peso taco you will find around the city, but how often do you get the chance to enjoy a Michelin-recognized taco prepared right in front of you?

Each taco is served plain, letting the quality of the meat shine. On the table you will find two salsas, and I highly recommend adding the green one for a spicy kick that takes the flavor to another level. El Califa de León delivers a simple concept executed at the highest level.

6. Ricos Tacos Taluca

What to order: Chorizo verde taco

🏅 Recognitions
• Michelinguide: Nomination

After eating my way through countless tacos during my time in Mexico City, I eventually reached a point where I was craving something a little different. That’s when I came across a taquería that doesn’t focus on the usual Al Pastor, bistec, or chicharrón, but instead specializes in something more unique: chorizo sausages.

Naturally, I had to give it a try. I ordered the green chorizo and the habanero chorizo, along with a cecina adobada taco for a bit of variety. Each taco was priced at just 30 pesos, making it an easy and affordable tasting session.

The chorizo tacos were clearly the highlight. The green chorizo was flavorful and juicy, while the habanero version, although tasty, could have used a bit more heat to really live up to its name. Still, the overall flavor combinations were satisfying and refreshing after weeks of more traditional taco styles.

Fun fact: they actually serve their tacos with French fries on top, which adds an extra salty crunch and makes the experience even more memorable. If you are looking to break out of the classic taco rotation and try something a little different, this spot is definitely worth a visit.

7. Taqueria Orinico

What to order: Trompo & Res taco

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #25

Taquería Orinoco is without a doubt one of the most well-known taquerías in Mexico City. Before I even arrived in the city, this was the place that kept coming up in recommendations from friends and fellow travelers. Funny enough, when I finally went, I even ran into people I knew; a sign of just how popular this spot is.

We wanted to try all their signature tacos, but unfortunately the chicharrón was sold out that day. Instead, we ordered the Trompo taco for 29 pesos and the Res taco for 55 pesos. To my surprise, it was actually the Res that impressed me most, maybe because I had already eaten so many Al Pastor tacos in previous days. The meat was rich and flavorful, with a great texture.

The taquería also offers a selection of house-made salsas on the tables, which were all packed with flavor and allowed you to customize each bite. One small touch I loved was that the tacos were served with a few crispy potato wedges, adding a fun and tasty side element to the meal.

If you’re looking for a place that consistently draws locals, travelers, and food lovers alike, Orinoco delivers on both flavor and atmosphere.

8. Tacos los Alexis

What to order: Special Castro taco

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #118
• Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand

Tacos Los Alexis takes the taco experience to the next level. Known for their more gourmet approach and recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, this taquería offers something truly special in Mexico City’s ever-expanding taco scene.

What sets this place apart is not only the elevated ingredients, but also the attention to detail, including mezcal pairings. My mezcal was served with a small tasting platter that included cheese, chapulines (grasshoppers), and tomatoes dusted with tajín. It was a flavorful and playful start to the experience.

Their signature dish is the Special Costra taco, priced at 82 pesos, and it absolutely delivered. Built on a flour tortilla with grilled cheese, it is topped with grilled beef, borracha sauce, pickled red onion, and cilantro flower. The combination was both refined and bold, with each element playing its part. The textures and flavors worked beautifully together.

I can confidently say that this was the most gourmet taco I have had so far. It was rich, balanced, and clearly crafted with thought and precision. If you’re looking to explore tacos beyond street food and into the world of culinary creativity, Tacos Los Alexis is a must-visit.

9. El Gran Abanico

What to order: Carnitas

🏅 Recognitions
• Taste Atlas

El Gran Abanico may be located a bit outside of the usual tourist zones in Mexico City, but it is absolutely worth the detour. This taquería specializes in carnitas, a traditional style of pork that is slowly braised in its own fat until tender and flavorful.

The atmosphere at El Gran Abanico is vibrant and unmistakably local. It is full of regulars, quick service, and the comforting smell of pork cooking in the background. The portions are generous, and to be honest, I was already satisfied after just one taco.

I tried two different types: the Maciza, which is lean pork meat, and the Costilla, made with rib. Both were incredibly flavorful and expertly cooked, with just the right amount of fat for richness without being too heavy. Each taco was priced at 31 pesos, making this not only a delicious stop but also a very affordable one.

If you’re craving a no-frills, traditional carnitas experience in Mexico City, El Gran Abanico delivers on every level.

10. El Visilto

What to order: Gringa

🏅 Recognitions
• Opinionated About Dining (OAD): Cheap eats 2024 #9
• Taste Atlas: Best Gringa in the world
• Michelin Guide: Bib gourmand

El Visilto is another taquería located a little off the beaten path in Mexico City, but its strong local reputation makes it well worth seeking out. This spot is especially known for its gringas, which are priced at 90 pesos each.

A gringa typically consists of Al Pastor meat layered with melted cheese, served in a flour tortilla and topped with pineapple, onion, and fresh cilantro. I like to think of it as a perfect fusion between a classic Al Pastor taco and a quesadilla.

At El Visilto, the gringa definitely leaned more toward the taco side of the spectrum — generously filled and absolutely bursting with flavor. What really brought the dish to life were the incredible side salsas, which added both heat and depth to each bite.

All together, it was one of the most satisfying and memorable bites I had in Mexico City. If you are a fan of cheesy, meaty flavorbombs, El Visilto is not to be missed.