Summer is peak season for street foods, as warm weather attracts crowds to sporting events, outdoor fairs, and open-air markets. You may be visiting Mexico City this summer for a FIFA World Cup match. Or perhaps you’re there just for fun. Either way, you’ll likely be eager to sample some of the city’s most renowned culinary delights!
Here are some of the most popular street foods you can find in Mexico City:
- Tacos al Pastor typically feature marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit (trompo). Vendors serve the pork in soft corn tortillas and top it with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. This dish is a classic example of cultural fusion, which blends the Lebanese spit-roast technique with traditional Mexican ingredients.
- Tacos de Canasta, also known as “basket tacos,” feature steamed, folded tortillas that vendors serve from a basket with hot oil. These delicious tacos include a variety of tasty ingredients, such as papas (mashed potatoes), frijoles refritos (refried beans), or chicharrón (pork rinds). This wonderful dish has its roots in San Vicente Xiloxochitla, Tlaxcala, a town in central Mexico, and many people consider it a staple of Mexican street food.
- Elotes, or Mexican street corn, consist of whole ears of corn. Vendors boil or grill the corn. They then coat it with a creamy mixture of mayo and sour cream (or Mexican crema). They typically add chili powder, lime juice, and Cotija cheese on top. Esquites, a popular variation, presents elotes in a cup, often with similar toppings.
- Tamales start with masa, a delicious corn dough, and include a variety of tasty fillings. Cooks then wrap them in corn husks and steam them to perfection. In addition, another delightful treat is a Guajolota. It combines a tamale with a soft bread roll called a bolillo, similar to a Portuguese roll.
- Tortas are a beloved Mexican sandwich that features a crusty, toasted roll (either telera or bolillo) filled with delicious meats such as ham, pork, or chicken.
- Churros start as dough that people pipe through a star-shaped nozzle into hot oil, giving them their characteristic shape. After frying, many people roll them in cinnamon sugar. Alternatively, you can enjoy them in many other delicious ways.
Want to learn more about popular international street foods? Check out Street Foods from Around the World by This book takes readers on a journey from the shores of Malta to the bright lights of Japan’s cities to explore some of the world’s most popular street foods, from sweet to savory. Available in English-only and many bilingual editions.
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