Just spent 4 glorious days in CDMX. Our first time. Not sure what took us so long, but I’m already looking forward to returning. I wont be able to come close to one of the greatest reports I’ve ever see really, by Mr Happy, but here goes something…
Part 1
Contramar - Fantastic start. Loved everything about this place. The room, the ambiance, the drinks, the service and especially the food. A happy place for the culinary tourist (not sure how many locals go here). As good as the famous tuna tostadas were, the Galician octopus app was equally as outstanding. But the signature red/green fish was the real star. Playful, flavor packed goodness. The fig tart was nice too, although much of the flavor came from the base, not so much the fig. If you don’t see tables available online just send them an email.
Tacos “El Betin” - First stop on a taco crawl in San Rafael. Great pastor, and even better Lengua. Just about the most tender Lengua I ever had. Popular with locals, and running into a food tour that specializes in local eats sort of confirms. I think.
Tacos El Güero (aka “Paisan”?) in San Rafael. Second stop on the food crawl was even better. Superb Suadero taco which is their speciality. Fatty, crispy, tender, and one of the best tacos we sampled during the 4 days. Great salsa as well. We were seemingly the only tourists there.
Suadero to me was like the beef version of carnitas. A brisket-like beef slow cooked and then braised in fat. Its one of a few items we encountered that’s native to CDMX.
Porcino - Last stop for a sit down gourmet taco tasting. Good. Could have been great with less salt content. Though I would come back for the “Barrigon” alone - grilled pork belly strips with tomatillos and onions. Ok craft beer.
Angelopolitano - For the picturesque Chile en Nogada. Our first ever. I was expecting it to come room temp but it still threw me off. I wasn’t expecting the fruits action. A few more and it’s a crazy fruit salad. But it grew on us and we enjoyed it. As opposed to the Champandongo, the Mexican lasagna, smothered with mole. Exciting initially, but became tiring and heavy. The mixed Chalupas were fine. Drinks were just ok. Main issue was lack of atmosphere since it was fairly empty on a Friday night. It was literally one couple per room, and we were done in under an hour. Overall a little disappointing.
El Turix - Outstanding Pibil tacos and Panuchos (fried tortillas stuffed with beans, topped with shredded chicken). Odd hole in the wall in the middle of glamorous Polanco. Construction workers dine here, ladies who lunch dine next door and across the street at Maque. We dined with both as we needed a rest by then as in typical hole in the wall fashion, no sits, tables or tablecloths at El Turix.
Maque - Very good concha, but can’t really compare to anything else in CDMX. We had it twice at both Condesa and Polanco locations. Both seem popular.
More to come…
