National Geographic
Eating Huarache, Tacos, & More in Mexico City! | Epic Food Journeys with Mark Wiens | Nat Geo
Travel to Mexico City, one of the most flavor-packed cities on Earth, with Mark Wiens, who has just 24 hours to find all the dishes locals actually crave. From legendary breakfast stews at Fonda Margarita, to exploring mouth-watering street food at local markets with Peluche Torres, to a late-night taco marathon, Mark discovers why the world is so passionate about Mexican food - one bite at a time.
To start the day, Mark goes to a Mexican institution for breakfast, Fonda Margarita, which has been serving family-style breakfast for generations. Mark eats chicharrón en salsa verde, pork skin in green salsa; longaniza en salsa verde, a special type of pork sausage in green salsa; and their signature molotito, an omelet of black beans and scrambled eggs.
Iconic locations, La Merced Market and Jamaica Market, are next on the tour. Mark joins Peluche Torres, a Mexico City based YouTuber and filmmaker, and they first hit La Merced Market. They stop at Yasuri y Yamile for tasty sheep head tacos, followed by a tour of the vibrant local ingredients and a taste of chicharrón, fried pork skin. They then head over to Jamaica Market to eat Lalita Huaraches for one of the ultimate Mexican street foods; a corn-masa base filled with beans, topped with salsa, cheese, nopales (cactus) and a thin rib steak. The name comes from its oval shape which resembles a traditional Mexican sandal, or huarache.
For lunch, Mark visits Fonda Mi Lupita Mole Nupcial Artesanal, a family-run restaurant that serves one of the most unique Mexican dishes; mole, a sauce made of over 20 ingredients including chiles, nuts and chocolate. The owner, Ethan, prepares mole enchiladas and surprises Mark with one of the moistest cakes he has ever tried.
Afternoon in Mexico City is a great time for Mark to try pulque, a fermented agave beverage dating back to Aztec times. Mark visits Pulquería Las Duelistas, an artisanal pulque bar filled with colorful murals that specializes this historic beverage once used in rituals.
A trip to Mexico City isn't complete without trying the amazing street food, such as esquites and elotes served at Esquites de la Calle Nápoles. This corn, either in a cup or on the cob, topped with mayonnaise, cheese, lime and a variety of salsas.
If you're craving seafood, Marisquería el K-Guamo is the place to go. Mark visits the legendary food stall and tries a tostada loaded with shrimp and crabs, as well as their signature dish, “Vuleve a la vida” which literally translates to Come Back to Life. This is a seafood cocktail of shrimp, crab, cockles, and lots of salsa and lime!
Tacos are almost a religion in Mexico City, and as night falls, Mark visits several famous spots. Tacos al pastor, pork marinated in an orange adobo cooked on an upright spit (trompo), are a must-try and Mark gets his fix at the famous Taquería Los Parados, in Colonia Roma. Later in the night, he goes to Tacos El Paisa to marvel at their giant jacuzzi of beef simmering in its own fat. He tries their specialty, tacos de suadero, slow-braised beef brisket topped with the usual fixings of onion, cilantro, salsa, and lime. It quickly becomes a highlight of the day.
After 24-hours in Mexico City, it's easy to see why it is one of the greatest food cities in the world!
Chapters 📚
00:00 Welcome to Mexico City!
01:01 Fonda Margarita
03:56 La Merced & Jamaica Markets
10:40 Fonda Mi Lupita
13:59 Pulque
15:51 Street Food
17:37 Seafood
21:04 Tacos
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Eating Huarache, Tacos, & More in Mexico City! | Epic Food Journeys with Mark Wiens | Nat Geo
https://youtu.be/Xcbf0LyGHpw
National Geographic
youtube.com/natgeo
Published Feb 3, 2026
