Mexican cuisine is globally renowned for its unique blend of ingredients and explosive flavors. From famous tacos to nachos, burritos, and other delights, this Latin American country offers endless recipes. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through the flavors of Mexico with a Polanco Food Tour.
When visiting Mexico City, a food tour like the ones organized by Mexican Food Tours is an excellent way to experience Mexican culture, admire the architecture of this vast metropolis, and of course, taste some of its traditional dishes.
During my stay in Mexico’s capital, I had the chance to participate in one of their Polanco food tours. Polanco, by the way, is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City.
The meeting point was a charming establishment serving traditional Oaxacan cuisine. Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico, is renowned for preserving its pre-Columbian culinary traditions and customs.
There, I joined a group of food enthusiasts from around the world. Rodrigo, our tour guide, greeted us warmly in English and took the opportunity to check for any food allergies or special dietary needs among the group.
After the introductions, we were ready to taste our first dish: colorful tortillas (including blue ones) made from different types of corn, accompanied by three varieties of mole and refreshing tamarind water.
Rodrigo explained that there are many types of mole (sauce), with the most famous being mole negro, known for its dark color derived from cacao. As expected, Mexican cuisine features spiciness in almost every recipe, and this dish was no exception.
One thing I learned in Mexico is to always ask which salsa is the least spicy, often referred to as “la roja” (the red one). However, even those that are said to “just be a little spicy” can be quite intense for those not used to chili, so try them with caution.
The second stop on the tour was just a few steps away, a small place dedicated exclusively to making tamales, one of my favorite Mexican dishes.
The tamales can have various fillings, but in this case, we enjoyed chicken tamales. The accompanying drink was a sweet milk atole, and if you love combining sweet and savory flavors, you’ll enjoy this mix as much as I did.
After devouring the tamales, we continued our walk through the streets of Polanco, passing by designer shops, parks, plazas, and many other attractions in this upscale neighborhood of Mexico City.
We stopped at a rather striking restaurant, its entire wall adorned with lucha libre masks.
There, we tried the highly anticipated tacos, this time Villamelón style, which, as I discovered that day, are legendary in the capital.
These tacos consist of chicharrón, longaniza, and cecina as the protein. The vegetables included onions, cilantro, and nopales—a type of cactus I never thought I’d try, much less enjoy so much.
While Mexico is famous for tequila and mezcal, there’s an even older Mexican alcoholic drink: Pulque, an agave-based liquor with various added flavors.
Alongside our Villamelón tacos, we were served a shot of cherry Pulque. This drink has a somewhat viscous consistency, and although I only had a taste, its alcoholic strength is undeniable—just a few sips can make you feel lightheaded.
Our guide told us that Pulque used to be sold exclusively in pulquerías, but nowadays it’s also available in some restaurants and bars. This shot served as a digestif, preparing us for what would become my favorite stop on the tour.
I must confess that before visiting Mexico City, I wasn’t the biggest fan of seafood, but that all changed at a high-end restaurant specializing in marine cuisine.
Just one bite of an exquisite ceviche tostada with its smoky, tangy flavor hooked me. To top it off, we had a ginger-infused lemonade that was equally delightful.
Although I was feeling quite full by this point in the tour, there was still more to try. We moved on to another restaurant for tortilla soup and horchata water.
Soups aren’t usually my favorite in a buffet, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the contrast of ingredients like tomatoes, chili, avocado, and of course, corn tortillas. Adding a bit of lime, which is common in many Mexican recipes, gave it the perfect finishing touch.
The horchata water was fresh and light, perfectly complementing the soup. If I had to compare this drink to something, it would be like a more digestible version of oatmeal or chicha, with just the right amount of sweetness not to overshadow the main dish.
Having covered the savory portion of the tour, it was time for my favorite part of any meal: dessert.
The first stop to satisfy our sweet tooth was a chocolate shop offering bonbons with a myriad of fillings such as banana, mango, strawberry, coffee, dulce de leche, and grape candy (my favorite), just to name a few.
If you’re visiting with friends or a partner, I recommend ordering different flavors and sharing them so you can try a variety. If you (like any mortal) love chocolate, you’ll adore this place.
Still savoring the chocolate, we headed to the final stop on our tour, where we were presented with a selection of ice pops.
Given the heat, I opted for a refreshing coconut ice pop, staying true to my tropical roots. Ice cream is one of my favorite things, so we ended the tour on a high note.
If you’re considering a visit to Mexico City, a food tour like this (which is also quite beginner-friendly regarding spiciness) is highly recommended to discover Mexico’s history through its cuisine.
Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes for the three-hour-plus walking tour and bring your camera to capture the beauty of Polanco or to make your friends envious with pictures of the delicious dishes you tried.
Special Thanks: This chronicle of Mexican gastronomy wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of our friends at Mexican Food Tours.