in search of the best taco in Mexico City

When I first learned that we’ll have an opportunity to spend 1 day in Mexico City on our way back from Cuba, I obviously got the most excited about finally trying the real-deal Mexican food (sic!).

We started off with delicious chilaquiles for brunch but the ultimate goal was to try to find A REAL TACO, since that’s what Majas love the most. After some research in the internet and several tips from friends, we set ourselves for a hunt around Mercado San Juan in Centro Historico of Mexico City.

Conclusions? Very surprising!

• Mexican food in Mexico is not even close to what we have in Europe as its representation.
  The size, the flavour, the ingredients, the spices, everything!
  I don’t know if that’s because we’re stuck here in the Tex-Mex type of cuisine but I might get seriously disappointed visiting a Mexican restaurant in Europe ever again.

• Mexican food in Mexico is not that spicy… or was I just lucky?
  It is a bit spicy but not hell-raising-in-your-mouth type of spicy as I always imaged it would be.
  We didn’t go to very touristic places so I would cross over the factor of trying to please foreigners and their soft palates. Perhaps we just didn't really try the meals that are actually supposed to be spicy… Noted to be discovered next time we’re around!

• Don’t worry about getting a food poisoning eating street food.
  I was fully aware of this possibility and perfectly cautious of my ability to get sick with literally everything, yet I was perfectly fine. Couldn't be more happy about it, as we really got to try the real street food and not regret it either.

• Mexican food is REALLY cheap.
  Like really cheap. Like less than $1 for a taco cheap.

Getting to the food though and wether we did manage to find a perfect taco?

sample #1
2 flautas (22.00 MXN)
Mercado San Juan
spiciness level: 0/5

I’ve never even heard of flautas but strolling through the market we noticed them all around and got really curious. OK, I know that’s not practically a taco but it did serve as a perfect starter.
This are tortillas rolled in tubes with shredded meat inside and covered with fresh cream, queso fresco and fresh cabbage.

Verdict: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
This has quickly become my favourite and I will definitely be looking for recipes to recreate it at home.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Maja’s favourite!

sample #2
Quesadilla de pollo (12.00 MXN)
Mercado San Juan
spiciness level: 0/5

Yes, that’s not a taco either but close enough since it turns out that quesadilla is something completely different than whatever we are selling in Europe. It’s a rather thick corn tortilla, stuffed and closed in form of a big dumpling.

Verdict: Meh.
Surprisingly, none of us was a big fan - it was rather dry and tasteless.
★ - least favourite of them all

sample #3
Taco de masita (16.00 MXN)
street outside Mercado San Juan
spiciness level: 1/5

First actual taco and oh-my-god was it good. From what I gathered, masita is a kind of slow-cooked pork, very tasty and juicy. Covered with tomatoes, spicy guacamole and coriander. I’m still a rookie but I believe this is how it’s supposed to be done.

Verdict: That’s what I’m talking about!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Thomas’s favourite!

sample #4
Taco Campechano (20.00 MXN)
Taqueria Gonzales
spiciness: 2/5

Stepping up our game and next one on the list: taco campechano - a style of taco combining several meats. Ours came with a spicy red sausage and sautéed beef. Flavourful - that’s for sure and the only one with a significant spiciness level.

Verdict: Very good and definitely to be tasted but perhaps a little bit too “strong” in taste due to the red sausage?

★ ★ ★ ★ - Yum

sample #5
Tortilla Verde con Queso (15.00 MXN)
Ricos Tacos Toluca
spiciness: 0/5
(even after adding a “spicy" salsa, spiciness: 1/5)

At this point we were so stuffed already, our excitement about eating tacos has gone significantly down… But we’ve seen several people eating these green tortillas stuffed with cheese and couldn't not try!

Verdict: A nice snack, a bit disappointing after such strong forerunners though :)

★ ★ ★ - Quite ok

#dessert
Fresh Fruit Juice (35.00 MXN)
Mercado San Juan

After eating so much, there’s no way for dessert but a full cup of a fresh pressed juice is always a good idea. This one: orange + guava, which I’m not sure I ever had a chance to try before and was already very much into it for the whole week in Cuba.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥