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Eating My Way Through Mexico City

Location: Mexico City Mexico

A repost today from 2021. Next week we will have an all new post about amazing Mexico City. Watch for it!

A little more than two years ago we were in an Airbnb on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. It’s unusual for us to watch television, but this Airbnb had a great variety of international programs, and I watched a series about Mexico City street food. Oh my god. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I needed to go experience Mexico City street food. And that is how I came to be eating my way through Mexico City.

I Apologize Mexico

First, an apology to Mexico. As we have traveled all over the world these past five years on the Grand Adventure, we never added Mexico to our itinerary. As Americans, Mexico seems so easy to get to…and I had visited a couple times. So we kept skipping it. I’m sorry Mexico…I was wrong. The touristy places I had visited (Mazatlan, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Zihuatinejo) did not show me the real Mexico. Until Mexico City.

Grapefruit and Tequila

The PanDamit gave us the opportunity to reconsider Mexico given the easy access from the USA. So I began a correspondence with a Mexico City food tour company called Eat Like a Local Mexico. Eat Like a Local Mexico offers multiple food tours, but does not usually work with clients looking for a multi-day eating tour. But owner Rocio was amazing and over a period of several months we corresponded and created four days of eating my way through Mexico City during our six day visit to Mexico City.

Red Tree House Bed & Breakfast

We landed at Benito Juarez International Airport on a Monday night in November. We took a cab to the Mexico City neighborhood of Roma Sur and the bed and breakfast that had been one of a few recommendations from Eat Like a Local. The Red Tree House Bed and Breakfast turned out to be one of the best inns I have ever stayed in. Again, my apologies Mexico…it was so much better than I was expecting. The service, staff, accommodations, location and breakfast were all five star.

Breakfast at The Red Tree House
The Red Tree House

Eat Like A Local Mexico 101

On our first full day we met Rocio and guide Astrid from Eat Like a Local Mexico at a lovely little coffee shop a block from our hotel. Our tour, which was supposed to be a group tour, ended up being a private tour because the other group had canceled at the last minute. So off we went with Astrid, a tiny, energetic local who intricately knows the traditional Mexico City food scene.

Brisket Tacos
Amazing Corn

We spent the next six hours with Astrid showing us local street food as well as visiting two of the most famous markets, the Merced Mercado and the Jamaica Mercado. Such a colorful wonderland. We ate so much I can’t even tell you! But see the video below for more.

Habanera

That night we made our way without a guide to the Frida Kahlo Museum. I highly recommend this when in Mexico City. The museum is in her home, the same home she was born and died in. I learned so much about her remarkable life. Don’t miss it.

Frida Kahlo

Eat Like a Local Night Street Food

Next day, we took a “free” historic walking tour starting in the historic center of Mexico City. We always try to take a free walking tour wherever we are. Such a great way to learn local history, learn about culture and politics and all from a local. Our tour was with Estacion Mexico.

Tongue Tacos
Pork Sandwich

After a quick rest back at the hotel we met up with Astrid again at another coffee shop within walking distance of our hotel to start a Night Food Tour as I continued eating my way through Mexico City. We were joined by another American couple from our home state of Washington. Small world. Using Uber, the metrobus (clean and efficient and cheap) and walking, we crossed the city with Astrid to visit the hidden joints only the locals know about. It was incredible. We ate street tacos, mole,and flautas, drank pulque, and much much more.

Gringas Quesidilla
Pulque Agave Sap

Eat Like a Hipster Local

Day three we slept in a bit then Rocio picked us up at our hotel for a private tour she designed just for us. The food this day was unforgettable as we focused on more of the nouveau foods coming out of Mexico City. We had chocolate, cheese and craft beer. We tasted mezcal and had the freshest and most delicious hipster tacos. I am in love.

Hipster Ahi Taco
Hipster Chinese Taco
Cactus Ceviche
Mezcal

Casa Jacaranda Cooking School

Our final day of our foodie tour was spent with Casa Jacaranda Cooking School. Starting at 10am and going all the way to 6pm we explored the Medellin Mercado, then at the Casa Jacaranda kitchen we cooked mole, fresh tamales, corn tortillas, salsa and more. This was such a marvelous experience all around – I would not hesitate to do this cooking school again.

The best tamale I have ever had
Slow cooked Mole

Tasty Tuesday YouTube Video

Check out our Tasty Tuesday YouTube video here about eating my way through Mexico City.

We Will Be Back

There are several other excellent things to do in Mexico City, other than eating, so next time we will stay longer. And there will definitely be a next time. I fell in love with this clean and beautiful city, so much more than I expected. Eating my way through Mexico City opened my eyes to a culture and cuisine I had been missing.

Muchos Gracias Mexico City. What a delight!

See last week’s post Eight Fun Things to do in San Juan del Sur Nicaragua

Next week a brand new post all about amazing Mexico City!

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14 Comments

  • Reply Ava

    Oh my! This is my kind of trip. It’s been years since I’ve been to Mexico City but I too loved it there. Cooking schools are always on my list to try to visit.

    December 10, 2021 at 7:55 am
  • Reply Kemkem

    Wow! Everything looks delicious. I haven’t been to Mexico City in over 30 years but l remember the food well. I drooled through this post-:-). Thank you!

    December 10, 2021 at 8:40 am
    • Reply Laureen

      I’m sure it’s changed a lot…we just loved it. I hope you can go again someday.

      December 10, 2021 at 3:10 pm
  • Reply Julie

    First, I am incredibly jealous that you stayed at the Red Tree House. Second, I went on a food tour with Eat Like a Local. It was the taco tour, but unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as your experience with the company. Your tours sounded much better! Third, ditto on underestimating Mexico. I didn’t make it to Mexico until I was 50 years old! It is much more than Cancun, Cabo, and all the other resorts. The best parts of Mexico are found in their colonial cities.

    December 10, 2021 at 12:19 pm
    • Reply Laureen

      We loved the Red Tree House and sure hope we can stay there a gain. We will see more of Mexico soon!

      December 10, 2021 at 3:09 pm
  • Reply Wendy Lynn Lee

    I was supposed to visit Mexico City three years ago, but got sick the week prior and had to cancel. I was so looking forward to all the amazing food. I definitely need to reschedule that trip an will certainly try some of the same places you did!

    December 10, 2021 at 3:01 pm
    • Reply Laureen

      I hope you can. It was such a wonderful surprise!

      December 10, 2021 at 3:08 pm
  • Reply Linda (LD Holland)

    Food always brings back such memories of travel. And I can see why you were driven to eat your way through Mexico City. A food tour is a great way to get the lay of the food scene. And even better when you get a guide all to yourself! A cooking school would definitely be a choice for us.

    December 10, 2021 at 4:34 pm
  • Reply Alma

    Yum! I would enjoy eating my way through Mexico City as well. Food is such an integral part of traveling and especially if you go where the locals go. We’ve often done that in other countries and it is always the best food often at very reasonable prices.

    December 11, 2021 at 3:12 am
  • Reply Anita

    So much food to choose from! I would love to try all of it! Mexico seems to be an amazing food destination! Thanks for sharing!

    December 11, 2021 at 9:38 am
    • Reply Laureen

      It is a remarkable place!

      December 11, 2021 at 2:47 pm
  • Reply Elle Burne

    Oh my goodness! I have never been to Mexico (but have always wanted to) and now want to visit even more! The food looks absolutely delicious!

    December 11, 2021 at 12:12 pm
    • Reply Laureen

      Thanks for reply! It is one of the best cuisines in the world! Yum!

      December 11, 2021 at 2:47 pm

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