March 7, 2024 – Mexico City street food is a vibrant and integral part of the city's culinary landscape, offering a tantalizing array of flavors and aromas that reflect the rich tapestry of Mexican cuisine. If you find yourself in the city, here are some you must try. 

Torta de Tamal 

Torta de tamal is a Mexican antojito (snack) that is also considered an on-the-go, carb-on-carb breakfast and is basically a tamal sandwiched inside a yummy bread roll. The tamales come with a variety of fillings such as rajas con queso (poblano peppers and queso Oaxaca) or pollo con salsa verde (chicken and tomatillo salsa). Some are filled with carne de puerco (pork with red mole), and you can even find some that are sweet. 

Tamales dulces are filled with dulce de leche, pineapple, guava, or other seasonal fruit. These sweetened tamales are commonly made with sweet masa and served with a cup of atole, a warm cinnamon and vanilla drink made from masa harina, a type of corn flour from which traditional corn tortillas are made. You can find this popular street food (and drink) on the sidewalks of Mexico City. 

Gorditas 

Real, traditional gorditas are corn tortillas that are twice fried and then stuffed with refried beans, cheese, and your choice of filling. Then some people like to garnish them with onion, cilantro, salsa, and/or guacamole. 

Similar to the Colombian and Venezuelan arepa, “gordita” means “chubby” in Spanish and is most popular in central and southern Mexico. Another sandwich-inspired street food, authentic Mexican gorditas are a must when in Mexico City.

Tlacoyo

Another common Mexican street food is the tlacoyo, pronounced: “tla-COY-yo.” This colorful dish is a blue-corn, doughy tortilla filled with chicharrónes (pork cracklings) and requesón (soft cheese) and then cooked. Sometimes it is also filled with a refried bean paste. 

Tlacoyos are often topped with salsa, cheese, and nopales (cactus). Eat a tlacoyo fresh off the streets from vendors who make them over open-air griddles, and it just may become your new favorite food. 

Chiles en Nogada

If you’re visiting during Mexican Independence Day (September 16th), you’re certain to come across chiles en nogada. This patriotic dish features the red, white, and green colors of the Mexican flag. Chiles en nogada are stuffed with picadillo (seasoned ground beef) and then topped with a distinctive, creamy walnut sauce and bright, red pomegranate seeds. Chiles de nogada can also be filled with other fruits like apples and peaches. 

In 1821, nuns who lived in Puebla used the best late-season harvest of poblano chiles, peaches, pears, apples, and walnuts to create and present this dish to Mexican Army general, Agustín de Iturbide, after he signed the treaty recognizing Mexico’s independence from Spain. It is now a Mexican holiday staple that is also considered by many to be Mexico’s official national dish.

Camotes

A trip to Mexico City would not be complete without trying camotes (sweet potatoes). This sweet potato treat is dished out piping hot and made with creamy condensed milk and strawberry jam. If you love sweet potatoes, you’re sure to love indulging in one of Mexico’s oldest, sweetest street foods.

From bustling markets to sidewalk stands and food carts, the streets of Mexico City are teeming with a diverse selection of traditional dishes and snacks that cater to every taste bud.