Best Budget Friendly Eats
in Mexico City

My take: Decades-old institution near the Alameda where breakfast is the main event. They come around with a basket of fresh-baked conchas and pan dulce, then pour the hot chocolate tableside. Get the chilaquiles or the enchiladas after. Best breakfast we had in Mexico City and the price keeps it reasonable. Alameda Central is right outside, one of the oldest urban parks in the Americas, with the Palacio de Bellas Artes on the corner.

My take: Mediterranean-inspired café on Zacatecas in Roma Norte with a ceiling covered in lemons and a terrace that fills up fast on weekends. Good for a lighter lunch or brunch when you want something a little different. Get the French toast and the chilaquiles. Walk Avenida Amsterdam after, the circular tree-lined street in Condesa built on a former horse racing track.

My take: This is the kind of place I wanted in the Mexico City budget guide. It feels chaotic in the best way: part taqueria, part late-night neighborhood stop, with the al pastor spinning right there. I’d go straight for the al pastor tacos with pineapple, onion, cilantro, and whatever salsa looks best. It is quick, casual, loud, and exactly the kind of meal that reminds you why Mexico City is so hard to beat for cheap eats.

My take: Lively Mexican restaurant on Avenida Yucatán in Roma Norte with outdoor seating, bold salsas and a crowd that stays late. Get the al pastor tacos, the pozole, and the tableside guacamole with habanero. Hanky Panky is a few blocks away if you want to keep going, the Roma speakeasy with a concealed entrance.

My take: Weekend-only barbacoa restaurant in Roma Sur that opens Friday through Sunday and does one thing better than almost anywhere in the city. Slow-roasted lamb in maguey leaves, blue corn tortillas, consomé, pulque. Go hungry and go before noon. Mercado Medellín is a few blocks away, also called Little Havana, with vendors from across Latin America.

My take: Roma Norte restaurant on Medellín that does a modern take on the casual Mexican fonda. Order the pork belly sopes, the braised pork shank, and the octopus. Priced like a neighborhood spot, hard to beat. Roma Norte is built for walking after, the side streets are lined with restored mansions and small boutiques.