Top 10 Mexican Restaurants in Mexico City
February 24, 2007
1) Candelero
2) Rincon de la Lechuza
3) Sanborn's Coyoacan
4) Cafe Tacuba
5) El Porton
6) El Tizoncito
7) Hacienda los Morales
8) Mexico Majico
9) La Valentina
10) Fisher's
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One of the more interesting corners of Mexico City is the square at Coyoacan. On any day of the week, it is an interesting place to visit and go for a walk. One of Mexico's most beautiful examples of barroque arquitecture sits across the street from the main square in Coyoacan. The inside of the church is beautifully decorated with gold and frescoes that tell a series of biblical stories. Unlike so many other churches in Mexico, the overall impression is of light and of beauty. A wonderful former convent next door has gardens with founatains and is a place of solitude and quiet. Outside, though the air is more festive.
This is especially true on weekends. Sunday night is the most popular time for people to amble to the Plaza. This is one of the few places in Mexico where the upper classes mingle with the Mexican middle class and all, in turn cross paths with the native Indian population. The square is basically an open stage for anyone and everyone, and groups of spectators crowd at different points around the square to listen to a group of Mariachis, or a group of Latin American music. A different corner may host a mime, while just down from there, painters will work on their pop art with dozens of people watching. Little kiosks sell everything from tacos to cotton candy, and cafes along the edges serve up the sangria and coffee. A small market with all kinds of handicrafts has set up in one section, and churros and hot chocolate are for sale around the corner.
The crowds can be overwhelming on a Saturday or Sunday night, but if you can snag a good table at a cafe, there is no better place to people watch. Indians in their typical outfits, a group of men in tuxedos headed into church for a wedding, hippy college students, families out for a walk in the evening, well-dressed teenagers out for the evening, tourists with their big cameras, a woman taking her pet snake out for a walk, it can all be found in Coyoacan. After a long evening out, you almost wonder, did I dream up the carnival, or was it real? That is Coyoacan on the weekend.
This is especially true on weekends. Sunday night is the most popular time for people to amble to the Plaza. This is one of the few places in Mexico where the upper classes mingle with the Mexican middle class and all, in turn cross paths with the native Indian population. The square is basically an open stage for anyone and everyone, and groups of spectators crowd at different points around the square to listen to a group of Mariachis, or a group of Latin American music. A different corner may host a mime, while just down from there, painters will work on their pop art with dozens of people watching. Little kiosks sell everything from tacos to cotton candy, and cafes along the edges serve up the sangria and coffee. A small market with all kinds of handicrafts has set up in one section, and churros and hot chocolate are for sale around the corner.
The crowds can be overwhelming on a Saturday or Sunday night, but if you can snag a good table at a cafe, there is no better place to people watch. Indians in their typical outfits, a group of men in tuxedos headed into church for a wedding, hippy college students, families out for a walk in the evening, well-dressed teenagers out for the evening, tourists with their big cameras, a woman taking her pet snake out for a walk, it can all be found in Coyoacan. After a long evening out, you almost wonder, did I dream up the carnival, or was it real? That is Coyoacan on the weekend.
El Candelero is the most expensive Mexican food restaurant in Mexico. It is luxury at its highest, and high cuisine at its best. From pre-hispanic dishes rescued from history, to nouveau Mexican cooking, this place will not disappoint. The decor of the place is baroque, and grand, and reservations at the Salon Espejillos can be hard to get. This mirror hall is reminscent of Versailles, and every bit as luxurious.
A great night at el Candelero begins by dropping your car with the valet parking at the door of the restaurant, located on of the most prestigious streets in Mexico City. A walk inside takes you past a stone staircase that spirals upward, and into an indoor garden with beautifully set tables. A couple of private rooms sit off to the side. Upstairs is the famous espejillos room, with over-the-top elegance in the Old World style.
Thursday nights are the best time to go since this is Danzon night. After dinner, a small band of musicians plays the traditional Veracruz beat in the corner of Espejillos, while upper class couples dance the night away. The effect is a mixure of a Waltz and a Salsa party, with movie stars and Mexican moguls swaying the hips. Danzon is an especially difficult dance to perfect, and to just watch the rituals and steps performed to perfection, is a treat in and of itself. The ambiance is formal, yet intimate. To spend a Danzon night at el Candelero is to step back into a lost world of etiquette and propriety. But with the tropical beat to the songs, it is more fun than anything the European nobility ever experienced. This is Latin America at its best, great food, great wine, and great dancing!
A great night at el Candelero begins by dropping your car with the valet parking at the door of the restaurant, located on of the most prestigious streets in Mexico City. A walk inside takes you past a stone staircase that spirals upward, and into an indoor garden with beautifully set tables. A couple of private rooms sit off to the side. Upstairs is the famous espejillos room, with over-the-top elegance in the Old World style.
Thursday nights are the best time to go since this is Danzon night. After dinner, a small band of musicians plays the traditional Veracruz beat in the corner of Espejillos, while upper class couples dance the night away. The effect is a mixure of a Waltz and a Salsa party, with movie stars and Mexican moguls swaying the hips. Danzon is an especially difficult dance to perfect, and to just watch the rituals and steps performed to perfection, is a treat in and of itself. The ambiance is formal, yet intimate. To spend a Danzon night at el Candelero is to step back into a lost world of etiquette and propriety. But with the tropical beat to the songs, it is more fun than anything the European nobility ever experienced. This is Latin America at its best, great food, great wine, and great dancing!
El Rincon de la Lechuza is the best taqueria (taco restaurant) in Mexico, if you ask me. The name means "The owl's corner" and this charming little restaurant with low ceilings speaks of years and years of great meals. The ambiance is definitely family friendly, although you are just as likely to see a pair of college students or businessmen catching a quick lunch sitting at the tables. The food selection is dominated by tacos, since this, after all is a taqueria. From the classic "Alambre" (beef, dell peppers, and onions) to the more exotic cow brain tacos, this place has the full selection of tacos. Tacos al Pastor (a unique Donner Kabob-like way of preparing seasoned pork meat)are a relatively recent addition, having only made the menu about 15 years ago at this classic taqueria.
The quezo de cazuela is not to be missed. This cheese dish is served boiling hot in the clay bowl that has been placed over an open flame. Seasoned with tomatoes, and onions, and is a perfect addition to your tacos, or can be eaten alone. There is always a selection of fresh fruit drinks, including Tamarindo drink, Jamaica (made by boiling a red flower and serving as a cold tea), and orchata (a rice drink, very refreshing). But of course, the tacos are the best, served on fresh hand-made tortillas.
El Rincon de la Lechuza has an open kitchen that allows you to see how the meat is grilled on a flame that seems to leap wildly out of control every few minutes. The cooks are true artisans as they rapidly cut up a slice of cooked meat into tiny little pieces that are then rapidly placed on the hot torillas, right in front of your eyes. It's like a Japanese restaurant meeting Mexican food, except these guys have been doing it for ages. A woman in the back, clearly visible, is making tortillas in her hands, and placing them on a giant wok-like metal convex pan (it's like an upside down wok). You can watch your tortillas inflate as they cook, and them be removed rapidly to make their way to your table.
Dessert is either the famous flan, a vanilla custard, or arroz con leche, the rice and milk dish that is sweetened by condensed milk, with a dash of cinnamon. Mmmm, delicious.
The quezo de cazuela is not to be missed. This cheese dish is served boiling hot in the clay bowl that has been placed over an open flame. Seasoned with tomatoes, and onions, and is a perfect addition to your tacos, or can be eaten alone. There is always a selection of fresh fruit drinks, including Tamarindo drink, Jamaica (made by boiling a red flower and serving as a cold tea), and orchata (a rice drink, very refreshing). But of course, the tacos are the best, served on fresh hand-made tortillas.
El Rincon de la Lechuza has an open kitchen that allows you to see how the meat is grilled on a flame that seems to leap wildly out of control every few minutes. The cooks are true artisans as they rapidly cut up a slice of cooked meat into tiny little pieces that are then rapidly placed on the hot torillas, right in front of your eyes. It's like a Japanese restaurant meeting Mexican food, except these guys have been doing it for ages. A woman in the back, clearly visible, is making tortillas in her hands, and placing them on a giant wok-like metal convex pan (it's like an upside down wok). You can watch your tortillas inflate as they cook, and them be removed rapidly to make their way to your table.
Dessert is either the famous flan, a vanilla custard, or arroz con leche, the rice and milk dish that is sweetened by condensed milk, with a dash of cinnamon. Mmmm, delicious.
Cafe Tacuba, is one of the oldest and most historic restaurants in Mexico City. Very few institutions survived the Mexican Revolution at the beginning of the 20th century, but Cafe Tacuba is one of the few, proud restaurants to have a history dating back this far. Tile walls and marble floors, along with antique wooden furniture make this place a great place to hang out with friends and eat great food. They serve up such classics as Pozole (pork and chick-pea soup), and Carne a la TampiqueNa.
One of the best things about the place is their live musicians in the evenings. Some nights are mariachi night, and the band will go from table to table serenading the couples. Other nights are "tuna" nights (this is not a reference to the fish). Tunas are student bands who traditionally roamed the streets of Spain in centuries past. The tradition has made the leap to Mexico, where they are most famously represented in Guanajuato, with the lively tuna scene of roaming students serenading long into the night. Cafe Tacuba is one of the few places in Mexico City where you can come enjoy this tradition, and patrons are encouraged to join in the well-known melodies.
One of the best things about the place is their live musicians in the evenings. Some nights are mariachi night, and the band will go from table to table serenading the couples. Other nights are "tuna" nights (this is not a reference to the fish). Tunas are student bands who traditionally roamed the streets of Spain in centuries past. The tradition has made the leap to Mexico, where they are most famously represented in Guanajuato, with the lively tuna scene of roaming students serenading long into the night. Cafe Tacuba is one of the few places in Mexico City where you can come enjoy this tradition, and patrons are encouraged to join in the well-known melodies.
