And a small glossary to understand what you’re ordering
Tacos
The most famous Mexican food has a base of tortilla (usually made of corn) folded in half, with different types of filling. One of the most common orders is carnitas (several pork cuts, including the head, slowly cooked in their own fat).
Licuados
The equivalent of a fruit smoothie.
Nieves
Water-based ice cream, usually made with fruit.
Tacos
Tamales
A corn-based dish that’s one of the most popular foods in Mexico. It’s comprised of a steam-cooked corn flour dough wrapped in cornhusks or plantain leaves. It can be served plain or with a filling, including meat, vegetables, chili peppers, or cheese.
Market in Coyoacán
Chicharrón
A fried and crunchy snack of pork skin with fat. The equivalent of torresmo.
Chapulines
A popular snack in the region of Oaxaca that’s comprised of small fried grasshoppers. It’s common to order a portion of chapulines and a portion of guacamole to eat them together.
Tortas
Any bread sandwich, usually made with bolillo (similar to a bread roll).
Chilanquiles
Chilaquiles
A dish typically served for breakfast: small fried tortillas, cut into small pieces and dipped in a spicy sauce.
Quesadillas
Similar to taco, but with elongated – not round – tortillas. It can also be served with a variety of fillings, like mushrooms, cheese, chorizo, and meat.
Escamoles
A delicacy that dates back to the Aztec era, escamoles are the larvae of hormiga güijera, a typical Mexican ant. They can be served plain, as a tortilla filling, or even as an ingredient in more elaborate dishes (Lalo!, in Mexico City, serves escamoles for breakfast with scrambled eggs and avocado).
Gorditas
In this variation of tortilla-based dishes, the dough is made with different ingredients (beans and cheese are common options). The most famous gordita is made with chicharrón.
