Los Danzantes
Plaza Jardin Centenario 12
Colonia Villa Coyoacán
Tel: 5554 1213 / 5554 2896
An iconic cantina, Los Danzantes has become a favourite amongst Mexicans looking tohave lunch with family or amongst friends. Cantinas are usually perfect forthis because aside from being great places to eat, they are also fantastic fordrinking. So as the meal comes to an end, the drinking begins, and it doesn’treally stop. If you do come for a spot of liquor, make sure you try some of thewide-ranging mescals they have on offer here.
Quesadillas at the market
Higuera, corner of Caballo Calco
Coyoacán
A hole in the wall but right in the heartof Coyoacán, the quesadillas here are likenothing you will find elsewhere in the city. For a start, they are fried. Theyalso have a variety of ingredients you won’t easily find elsewhere, and theyaren’t at all expensive. There are a number of stands that operate out of here,and they are all good but have a go at all of them and see if there is one thattakes your fancy more than another. On weekends too, you will also find pozole, which is a soup with pre-Hispanic origins made with corn andusually accompanied with shredded meat.
Jardin del Pulpo
Mercado 89 Coyoacán between Malintzin and Allende
Tel: 5339 5708
A classic family venue, the seafood servedhere is some of the freshest and plentiful around. The tostadas are big enoughfor two people while the main courses are huge and should not be eaten alone.Service is swift and friendly and the seating is all outdoor. Make sure you trya ceviche or a coctel de camaron (shrimp marinated in tomato, onions andherbs), and the tostadas, of course.
El Tajín
Miguel Angel de Quevedo 687
Coyoacán
Tel: 5659 5759 / 5659 4447
Part of the slow food movement, El Tajinaims to showcase Mexican food with inflections of pre-Hispanic influence. Theplace is very elegant, and you’re likely to encounter businessmen having lunchthere but it is also child friendly, with massive grounds in which they canplay. Dishes that stand out are the rolled chicken breast with hoja santa and smothered in mole as well as themixed starter, which includes a variety of Mexican finger foods.
Tamales Especiales
Centenario 180, between Berlin and Viena
Coyoacán
Tel: 5554 5996
By phone only and really only worth it forserious foodies, the tamales here are special not only because they alsosubscribe to the slow food movement but also because the tamales are all homemade to perfection. If your quest is for an outstanding tamal, you’re likely tofind it here but as mentioned, call beforehand.
Merendero Las Lupitas
Plaza Santa Catarina 4, corner withFrancisco Sosa
Coyoacán
5554 3353 / 5554 1345
If your curious about how different Mexicanfood is from one part of the country to another, this small, very unpretentiousrestaurant serves good old-fashioned Mexican cuisine from the north of thecountry with a menu that changes depending on time of day. You’ll notice howthe tortillas are usually made with wheat instead of corn as well as the focuson dried meat, like machaca, in many of theirdishes. For breakfast they havethe classic machaca, served with eggs and wheattortillas. For lunch and dinner, they have gorditas made with wheat on a griddle and stuffed with meat or tamales, ifyou do want something less northern. Highly recommended are also the burritos, and the enchiladas; the latter madewith corn.
