Bryan E.
Yelp
TAKE. THIS. TOUR.
If like me, one of the primary draws of Mexico City is the legendary dining and culinary options, then I do suggest that you start your trip with a street food tour and you book it with the the amazing Club Tengo Hambre. At three to four hours and with as many as 8 visits to a wide variety of street food options, it's truly a bargain. My particular visit was a tour of the Centro Historico neighborhood and because of Mariana - our amazing guide - the tour became so much more than an exploration of the amazing street food of Mexico City. I walked away with a much better understanding about the history of the neighborhood, the culture of Mexico City, and the country's food systems.
Tour highlights include:
1. Stops at best street food options among the thousands in Mexico City - especially for quality of ingredients and food safety - that highlights a solid range of traditional street foods;
2. Visits to traditional markets ranging from exclusive places where Mexico City's top chefs source their top quality ingredients (you'll get to sample exotic fruits and other items from Mexico's bounty) to places popular for their food stalls that are packed to the gills (more sampling, of course); and
3. Time spent touring a complex and intimidating neighborhood with a fantastic guide and with a small group of other food lovers.
The street food tour and time spent with Club Tengo Hambre is a highlight of a visit to Mexico City. Try to schedule this tour as early as possible in your trip. I recommend this for a few reasons. First, it's best to begin a trip to Mexico City by visiting the oldest part of the City and the tour takes you to the Centro Historico and hits many of the key sites. Next, especially if you are any sort of food tourist, it's great to start with street food, which is really represents the heart of a city's culinary scene. The history, markets, and street food helped contextual later visits to places like Pujol, Quintonil, and Amaya. Finally, you'll hit some amazing vendors and it's best to know about them early in your trip to allow you to go back for more.
