Want to explore Mexico City’s diverse street food scene but don’t know where to start? A new guidebook called “Come como chilango” (Eat like a Mexico City native) might be your savior.
Mexico City’s Ministry of Tourism published the guide this week in book form and on a bilingual (Spanish/English) website.
“A walk through the streets of Mexico City whets your appetite,” says Tourism Minister Nathalie Desplas in a statement on the website.
“The aroma of corn in the form of tortilla or Subscribethe hissing of Swedish or the fumes of Epazote-fragrant esquites invite you to taste, discover and convince yourself that in a metropolis that offers everything, you can eat very well even at street level.”
The website “Come como chilango” offers sections on various Eating in the street (street food) including tamales and Subscribe; basket tacos; and Elotes And esquites.
The descriptions – accompanied by lively illustrations, photos and digital reddish (hand-painted signs often seen on street food stalls) – are quirky and appealing.
“Tamal Sandwich, blessed Subscribe“Queen of Monday in Mexico City, mistress of the take-away breakfast, provider of just enough calories to keep the body going in the never-resting metropolis,” reads one description.
“The soul of Chilanga cuisine lies in a basket wrapped in brown paper and blue plastic. It is a ‘sweaty taco,’” says another.
The website also recommends CDMX street food or Placesto try different types of snacks. In addition, there are sections on “How to eat like a Subscribe“ and “street food figures”.
Are you afraid of getting sick? The guide gives some advice:
“If it smells good and you’re hungry, you’re in the right place! Also, check that everything is clean and fresh: meat in good condition, fresh limes and chefs who don’t handle money with their bare hands. If there are a lot of people or lines, trust! Trust your instincts and common sense.”
The guide is the result of a collaboration between writer Alonso Vera Cantú, Mexico City food tour company Sabores México and the Mexico City government.
The illustrations are by Lena Zolotareva, who told Mexico News Daily that her participation in the project gave her the opportunity to express her love and admiration for Mexico and its street food vendors.
“I was happy to have the opportunity to show through my art how important they are,” Zolotareva said.
Presenting the guide at the Interactive Economy Museum, Desplas described Mexico City’s markets and street food stalls not just as places to eat, but also as “centers of culture, communication and tradition.”
“Come como chilango” is a tribute to those who “delight us with their creations” and also “an invaluable tool” for visitors to Mexico City who want to explore the capital’s culinary offerings, said the Minister of Tourism.
Author Vera said that street food in Mexico City encompasses culinary history, a variety of cooking techniques, and foods from every state in Mexico.
“Here in Mexico City we can eat real Mexican food, which is a combination of techniques and ingredients,” he said.
Rodrigo López Aldana, CEO of Sabores México, noted that many restaurants, including fine-dining establishments, are now taking inspiration from Mexico City’s street food scene.
According to Desplas, about a quarter of the more than 50,000 restaurants in Mexico City are street food stalls.
In 2021, a geographer from the National Autonomous University mapped all Taquerias in Mexico and found that 95% of people in Mexico City have a taco stand within 400 meters of their home.
I will eat this. Prove it!
By Peter Davies, Editor in Chief of Mexico News Daily ((email protected))
