Stacey Tokunaga – 5 Street Food Dishes to Try in Mexico City

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 I have lived in Mexico City for just over 4 years now and one of the things that I love most about living here is the amazing street food options which you can find. Street food here is super cheap and very tasty, and there is a wide range of choice too. My best friend Stacey Tokunaga came to visit this time last year and one of the things that she was most excited about was the street food. Stacey only had a couple of days here so I made a quick list of 5 of the best dishes to try here, which Stacey just about managed to squeeze in. If you have plans to visit Mexico City, either for a couple of days like Stacey or for a little longer, these are the dishes you have to try.

Fried Quesadillas

If you are coming here from the US then the first thing you have to do is to forget about what you think you know about Mexican food, because the reality is very different. Quesadillas for example are totally different and here they make them with fresh dough, filled with a range of options from chicken to cheese. The best to get here is a cheese quesadilla which is then fried and served with lettuce, white cheese and cream, delicious.

Tacos al Pastor

There are over 100 types of tacos to buy on the streets of the city but for me, the best is tacos al pastor. This is pork meat which has been heavily marinaded and then cooked on a spit. They cost around 20 cents per taco and they are served with onions, cilantro, pineapple and some spicy sauce, the perfect snack.

Gorditas

Much of the street food made here uses fresh dough which is then fried with a variety of meats, and there is a lot of similarities between them. The gordita however is slightly different as it is dough which is made using cooked pork rind (chicharron). They make the dough into a disc shape and fry it up, before filling the center with cheese, lettuce, onions, cilantro and black beans.

Tlacoyos

Tlacoyos are a great option for breakfast and they are very simple pockets of dough which has been made using blue corn, that have been filled up with beans and white cheese. Quick and easy to eat, and surprisingly filling!

Chilaquiles

Another great breakfast option is chilaquiles, tortilla chips which have been bathed in a spicy tomato sauce, served with cream and cheese, with option chicken, egg or beef on top. The meal is served with a fresh bread bun for soaking up the sauce, and they say that this meal is also a great hangover cure. Chilaquiles are filling and super tasty, and give you the perfect way to start your day.

Which food are you most looking forward to trying when you get here?

Boris Dzhingarov