CDMX
Synonym's mini guide
The following list contains some of the restaurants we tried for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the course of our stay in Mexico City. It doesn’t cover every single thing we ate, but it comes pretty close. We, of course, had some tacos from streetside stands, some Oaxaqueño tamales from a grandpa on a bike, and coffees from little shops around the neighborhood. Popping into a place you’ve never heard of or stopping at a stand because you walk by and it smells amazing is one of the best parts of traveling in Mexico. Don’t forget to leave room for unexpected delights.
That being said, we also have an equal appreciation for eating the customary cuisine of a region and for trying spots that work hard to seamlessly meld the foods of two cultures into something new. So we tried to strike a balance in our planning and choices and came out feeling very satisfied.
Tacos Del Valle – Our first night, we landed pretty late. Once we had dropped our bags, we needed a quick bite to eat and didn’t want to go too far. Luckily, our place was right around the corner from Tacos Del Valle. It’s an Instagram-famous taco spot with a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation. We know the city is absolutely brimming with incredible tacos, so waiting 30 minutes in line is a little silly, but we wanted to know if it was worth all the hype. Plus, the place is so cute and inviting, with good vibes practically spilling out onto the street. Fortunately for us, it was. We drank mezcalitas, had some really delicious tacos de trompo, and were blown away by the potato and cheese flautas. Oh, and don’t skip the whole roasted onion, which is served in its juices and topped with, of all things, lemon pepper.
Panadería Rosetta – After stuffing our faces the night before, we just wanted a quick bite before heading into our first day at Zinedex. We grabbed some pastries from the famous Panadería Rosetta. Since we were just grabbing pastries, it was less than a 10-minute wait despite the long line. Although they’re known for their guava cheese roll—which was really good—when we took a bite of the pan de elote, we did a little happy dance. It was somewhere between cornbread and custard and was full of fresh corn flavor. A perfect pairing with coffee.
(Just a side note: by far the best coffee we had on the trip came from a little café called Cumbé Coffee Roasters, which we stumbled upon while looking for a quick bite before our travels home. We weren’t able to get pictures, but the shop is so cute and their pastries were outstanding. The guava cheese roll at Cumbé was one of the best pastries we’ve ever eaten!)
Jowong – A Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant located in Colonia Condesa. The menu features dishes like kimchi carbonara, crispy esquites with stracciatella cheese, and gimbap rice with a variety of vegetables. The banchan were all delightful, including a jicama kimchi that we loved and the most delicious eggplant that melted in your mouth.
Tamales Madre – Stepping through the doors of Tamales Madre is like being instantly transported into someone’s home kitchen. The tiny space is so cozy and beautiful that you immediately feel at home. Seating is very limited inside, as there’s just one long, wide table where patrons sit on two sides while the chefs prepare the food on the other. Located in Colonia Juárez, the Tamales Madre team works every day making nixtamal, grinding corn, and preparing masa to create a unique variety of tamales. Using only heirloom corn and fresh, local ingredients, their tamales evoke authentic Mexican flavors and traditions. Each tamale we tried had a different texture, which kept us exclaiming “wow, oh, hmm, wow” as we plowed through most of the menu. Hot tip: do not miss ordering a cup of café de olla to round out your meal—it was the cherry on top of our very corny cake.
Maizajo – Located in Condesa since 2023, Maizajo started in 2016 as a mill for maíz criollo (native, non-hybrid corn varieties). Chef Santiago Moctezuma has dedicated his life to preserving the knowledge and importance of native corn in Mexican cuisine. The restaurant space is beautiful if you’re looking to sit down, or you can visit the taco stand downstairs for something quick. As for the food, we think the photos speak louder than words—just take a look at that tamal de hongos and you’ll see why this is a must-try.
Alfil – Located in Roma Norte, this restaurant was a bustling, energetic spot packed with a hip crowd. The menu expertly blends Lebanese and Mexican cuisines, which truly complement each other so well. The hummus was topped with salsa macha and the tzatziki with salsa verde, which made us all question why we hadn’t been doing that before. The barbacoa rib was so tender, falling off the bone with a crispy, salty topping, that we had to order another basket of their fresh flour tortillas to wrap up every last bite.
Comal Oculto Itacate – We heard about this small café in San Miguel de Chapultepec from an episode of Where the Chefs Eat, which featured Saqib Keval and Norma Listman from Masala y Maiz. They mentioned that this charming little spot offered well-executed and lovingly sourced versions of Mexican classics, all hot off the central comal. We loved the gordita especial, packed with chicharrón and tender, shredded carnitas, and the quesadilla with grilled mushrooms. They had two salsa machas on the table that had us reaching for more, even though our mouths were on fire.
After a few decadent meals, we decided we really needed some fresh produce, and where better to go than our neighborhood mercado (Mercado Medellín)? We plopped down at a smoothie, juice, and fruit stand and ordered a big plate of mixed fruit. You honestly can’t go wrong doing this at any mercado—the produce is just so fresh and ripe. It really put a pep in our step. We spent some time wandering around, looking at all the stalls and soaking up the vibrant colors. You can find all kinds of great stuff, like spices, candles, bags, little souvenirs, and, of course, candies and treats. We always love to grab at least one meal at the mercado; the atmosphere alone is worth it.
Another fun stop one day was the flea market in Jardín Ignacio Chávez. It happens both Saturday and Sunday and is a great way to spend a lazy weekend day browsing all kinds of treasures. There are clothes, jewelry, furniture, art, books, posters—the list goes on and on.
On Sunday, we happened upon a farmers market called Mercado El 100 while we were ambling down the street. We were lured in by the beautiful produce, the sound of soft music, and the sight of people carrying plates of tacos. It happens every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the northwest corner of Jardín Ramón López Velarde. After browsing the booths and smelling the flowers, we picked one of the food stalls and grabbed some tacos. There were so many cazuelas with different options that it was hard to choose. One of the highlights was a taco made with aloe flower—a wonderful, unique taste we hadn’t had before. The whole vibe and atmosphere of the market was just picturesque.
Well, that about sums it up. We loved the people we met at Zinedex. We loved the food we ate all over the city. We loved the vibe of the city enjoying its weekend. We hope this guide was fun and helpful, and if you have any recommendations, send them our way—we can’t wait to go back!
