Eating Out: off the beaten path
Off the beaten path
Chosen specifically because they hold few recommendations by other hosts and yet offer better meals than their competition (at frequently cheaper prices)
This would be describable as a hole in the wall if it had any walls, but it’s just a stand with eight stools nestled behind the fruit section in the San Juan market. Cook Miguel is a magician though, and the prices make it one of the best meals you can have on the cheap. Ingredients couldn’t be fresher, but once the food runs out for the day the stand closes down, so if you get there later than 2 PM expect to stand in line for a while with no guarantees of every dish being available once you finally get to sit down. Be advised to ask for non spicy or mildly spicy dishes if you’re not used to very spicy food.
The market in and of itself is a cool place to visit, and if you’re staying for more than a couple of days and would prefer to cook some of your meals, it’s a smart choice for stocking up on fruit, cheeses, meats and seafood. If you’re looking to step out of your comfort zone you can try your luck with more exotic tastings such as lion, crocodile, caterpillar, tarantula or scorpion dishes in some of the other stands.
We love the fish Ceviche with tiger's milk, the sauteed beef, the chaufa rice with seafood and the fish tiradito, but to be fair we have yet to find anything on the menu that’s not tasty.
El Mercadito Peruano
S/N 2ᵃ Calle de Ernesto PugibetThis would be describable as a hole in the wall if it had any walls, but it’s just a stand with eight stools nestled behind the fruit section in the San Juan market. Cook Miguel is a magician though, and the prices make it one of the best meals you can have on the cheap. Ingredients couldn’t be fresher, but once the food runs out for the day the stand closes down, so if you get there later than 2 PM expect to stand in line for a while with no guarantees of every dish being available once you finally get to sit down. Be advised to ask for non spicy or mildly spicy dishes if you’re not used to very spicy food.
The market in and of itself is a cool place to visit, and if you’re staying for more than a couple of days and would prefer to cook some of your meals, it’s a smart choice for stocking up on fruit, cheeses, meats and seafood. If you’re looking to step out of your comfort zone you can try your luck with more exotic tastings such as lion, crocodile, caterpillar, tarantula or scorpion dishes in some of the other stands.
We love the fish Ceviche with tiger's milk, the sauteed beef, the chaufa rice with seafood and the fish tiradito, but to be fair we have yet to find anything on the menu that’s not tasty.
A recent addition to this list, Mestre Carnisser has quickly become one of our favorite spots for awesome grilled steaks. It’s a little further away from the apartment in Colonia Narvarte, but it’s absolutely worth the trip. The place is not big on decor and the service is not always stellar, but the grilled steaks are amazing and they cost a fraction of the price you would pay anywhere else. We’ve sampled the entire menu, and we all agree that if it’s your first time visiting the Porter House should be mandatory.
MESTRE CARNISSER
1062 Pedro Romero de TerrerosA recent addition to this list, Mestre Carnisser has quickly become one of our favorite spots for awesome grilled steaks. It’s a little further away from the apartment in Colonia Narvarte, but it’s absolutely worth the trip. The place is not big on decor and the service is not always stellar, but the grilled steaks are amazing and they cost a fraction of the price you would pay anywhere else. We’ve sampled the entire menu, and we all agree that if it’s your first time visiting the Porter House should be mandatory.
Set on the first and second floors of a run down vecindad facing Metro Sevilla, El Rey de los Mariscos makes up what it lacks in decor with outsized portions of traditional seafood at bargain prices. Unless you’re starving, you’re probably better off ordering just one item off the menu and seeing if there’s room for more after they bring the first plate.
El Rey De Los Mariscos
464 Avenida ChapultepecSet on the first and second floors of a run down vecindad facing Metro Sevilla, El Rey de los Mariscos makes up what it lacks in decor with outsized portions of traditional seafood at bargain prices. Unless you’re starving, you’re probably better off ordering just one item off the menu and seeing if there’s room for more after they bring the first plate.
Located in a beautiful house in the Santa Maria la Rivera neighborhood, Sutura is little too far away to walk from the apartment but you won’t regret the trip. Menu changes weekly with the freshest ingredients Chefs Ana and Jaime could find, and it is always astounding. They have awesome pork based dishes, and the grilled octopus I had the last time I visited is the best I’ve ever tasted in my life. Pricier than some of the other options here, it remains a top choice if you’re looking for something different.
Sutura
64 C. Eligio AnconaLocated in a beautiful house in the Santa Maria la Rivera neighborhood, Sutura is little too far away to walk from the apartment but you won’t regret the trip. Menu changes weekly with the freshest ingredients Chefs Ana and Jaime could find, and it is always astounding. They have awesome pork based dishes, and the grilled octopus I had the last time I visited is the best I’ve ever tasted in my life. Pricier than some of the other options here, it remains a top choice if you’re looking for something different.
The Caguamo (a.k.a. El K-guamo) is not much to look at it: a small metal box with a couple of stools in front of it on the northwest corner outside the San Juan market, but the food is amazing and after 40 years in existence its street cred is impeccable. I always end up gorging on the shrimp cocktail whenever I visit, but everything is tasty and priced pretty cheap. Try the Tostada de Jaiba or the Pescado Empapelado.
Marisqueria El Caguamo (Legendary street cart)
18 AyuntamientoThe Caguamo (a.k.a. El K-guamo) is not much to look at it: a small metal box with a couple of stools in front of it on the northwest corner outside the San Juan market, but the food is amazing and after 40 years in existence its street cred is impeccable. I always end up gorging on the shrimp cocktail whenever I visit, but everything is tasty and priced pretty cheap. Try the Tostada de Jaiba or the Pescado Empapelado.
The Juarez neighborhood is home to Little Seoul and Na De Fo is our favorite Korean restaurant around. I won’t even try to spell out the name of the dishes, but everything is awesome, particularly the marinated beef rib that is grilled right on your table.
6 moradores locais recomendam
NADEFO
183 LiverpoolThe Juarez neighborhood is home to Little Seoul and Na De Fo is our favorite Korean restaurant around. I won’t even try to spell out the name of the dishes, but everything is awesome, particularly the marinated beef rib that is grilled right on your table.
When Don Vergas first opened in Mexico City it was just a stand in the San Juan market, run with the same philosophy as Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi ran his shop. Customers couldn’t even choose their orders: they were served whatever the chef deemed worthwhile that day if they were patient enough to wait in line for an hour or more. I always felt that part of its appeal lied in the expectation of being mistreated as a customer, but now they have a proper restaurant where you don’t have to put up with any of that nonsense to get some awesome seafood.
Their new location doesn’t feel like a hidden treasure only locals know about, but they have probably the freshest shrimp you can have in the city. The aguachile is amazing (though really spicy), as well as the coal grilled shrimp, the pescado zarandeado and the zarandeado oysters. Tacos are ok but i would try out the other stuff first.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Don Vergas Mariscos
185 Calle Río LermaWhen Don Vergas first opened in Mexico City it was just a stand in the San Juan market, run with the same philosophy as Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi ran his shop. Customers couldn’t even choose their orders: they were served whatever the chef deemed worthwhile that day if they were patient enough to wait in line for an hour or more. I always felt that part of its appeal lied in the expectation of being mistreated as a customer, but now they have a proper restaurant where you don’t have to put up with any of that nonsense to get some awesome seafood.
Their new location doesn’t feel like a hidden treasure only locals know about, but they have probably the freshest shrimp you can have in the city. The aguachile is amazing (though really spicy), as well as the coal grilled shrimp, the pescado zarandeado and the zarandeado oysters. Tacos are ok but i would try out the other stuff first.
Pollo Bruto opened right as the COVID pandemic was surging, and as such I haven’t actually stepped inside the joint. I’ve only ordered takeout, but not a week has gone by since I discovered it that I haven’t logged on to Rappi or Uber Eats to order a yellow chicken Tornillo with beans, rice, guacamole and a large side of fresh cream.
Pollo Bruto
93 AguascalientesPollo Bruto opened right as the COVID pandemic was surging, and as such I haven’t actually stepped inside the joint. I’ve only ordered takeout, but not a week has gone by since I discovered it that I haven’t logged on to Rappi or Uber Eats to order a yellow chicken Tornillo with beans, rice, guacamole and a large side of fresh cream.
An unassuming restaurant located in Colonia Del Valle with outstanding dishes from the Yucatán peninsula. Particular favorites are the Queso Relleno, the Sopa de Lima, the Cochinta Pibil panuchos and the tacos de lechón.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Las Polas del Valle
505 Avenida Colonia del ValleAn unassuming restaurant located in Colonia Del Valle with outstanding dishes from the Yucatán peninsula. Particular favorites are the Queso Relleno, the Sopa de Lima, the Cochinta Pibil panuchos and the tacos de lechón.
An old school Cantina, El Sella has withstood the test of time, and is frequented by patrons with decades of meeting there for dominoes and Cubas. We like the spanish tortilla, the tuna tartare, and their famous chamorro (braised shank).
8 moradores locais recomendam
El Sella
210 Dr. BalmisAn old school Cantina, El Sella has withstood the test of time, and is frequented by patrons with decades of meeting there for dominoes and Cubas. We like the spanish tortilla, the tuna tartare, and their famous chamorro (braised shank).
Perfect tamales in a beautiful and cozy hole in the wall.
11 moradores locais recomendam
Tamales Madre
44a C. LiverpoolPerfect tamales in a beautiful and cozy hole in the wall.
Loose Blues is one of the best kept secrets of neighboring Colonia Juárez. Nestled on the second floor of a clothing store, Loose Blues offers three different menus for lunch, dinner and brunch on sundays. After much deliberation we’ve settled on brunch as our favorite meal from Loose Blues, with amazing eggs Benedict, a killer French toast and some terrific Mexican Chilaquiles, but you’ll have a great meal no matter when you choose to go.
Lunch and dinner menus have a distinctive Japanese vibe, with the beef curry topping my list for favorite dish. Yjey also have teishoku meal for lunch that varies every day and is always amazing.
Without a doubt Loose Blues is the restauant I visit the most in the whole city.
20 moradores locais recomendam
Loose Blues
44 C. DinamarcaLoose Blues is one of the best kept secrets of neighboring Colonia Juárez. Nestled on the second floor of a clothing store, Loose Blues offers three different menus for lunch, dinner and brunch on sundays. After much deliberation we’ve settled on brunch as our favorite meal from Loose Blues, with amazing eggs Benedict, a killer French toast and some terrific Mexican Chilaquiles, but you’ll have a great meal no matter when you choose to go.
Lunch and dinner menus have a distinctive Japanese vibe, with the beef curry topping my list for favorite dish. Yjey also have teishoku meal for lunch that varies every day and is always amazing.
Without a doubt Loose Blues is the restauant I visit the most in the whole city.