Whether you're planning on teaching English in Mexico or are just traveling in Mexico, you still have to eat, don't you? So here are some of my recommendations for eating out inexpensively in the Historic District of Mexico City.
Café Popular
Address: Avenida Cinco de Mayo 52
Located right next to the Zamora Hotel, one and a half blocks from the zocalo. Economical local meals are featured 24 hours a day priced around 25 pesos. Almost always busy, you may have to wait a few minutes to be seated, but the food is well worth it. A generous platter of sweet, tempting breads, rolls and pastries baked in-house is served along with your meal and you are charged only for the ones you eat. Look for the brown awning with a short line of people waiting outside. That'll be the place.
Café La Blanca
Address: Avenida Cinco de Mayo 40
Another neighborhood spot popular with the locals is just two blocks further along the street from the Café Popular. Larger but with decidedly less atmosphere, the food is nonetheless good although still basic and a bit pricier with entrees in the range of 30 - 40 pesos. The large plate glass windows along the front are prime for people-watching along the heavily-trafficked Cinco de Mayo, especially late afternoons and evenings.
La Casa del Pavo
Address: Motolinia No. 40 Phone: 518 – 4282
A small but unique restaurant a few doors down from the Hotel Lafayette that specializes in turkey (pavo) dishes of all types. Rows of mouth-watering charcoal-roasted turkey drumsticks are displayed in the plate glass window outside and the aroma of fresh roast turkey will drive you just about out of this world. Prices are moderate, entrees range from 20 to 40 pesos. Dishes of other meats are on the menu, although most are the popular pavo ones.
Rosticero Molina Address: Cinco de Mayo and Isabel Catolica
An open-on-all-sides bar-B-que joint on the corner that serves hot roast chicken and , you guessed it – pavo. Entrees here are really inexpensive with a whole roast chicken, side dishes, pickled jalapenos, drinks and condiments (a HUGE stack of soft corn tortillas) for two people selling for a mere $4 (47 pesos) ! Quick and delicious meals can be eaten at the counter downstairs or upstairs at comfortable tables. For a fast and filling lunch this is unquestionably the place. There is another turkey rosticero right around the corner and a few steps down on Isabel Catolica with very similar fare at about the same prices. They almost always play tropical music at supersonic levels so a conversation is out of the question most of the time. Both places close by 8:30 pm or so however, so get there early.
Restaurante Madero Address: Avenida Madera at the corner of Motolinia
A popular lunch-time spot with the locals and famous for its "cabrito al horno" (roast goat meat – that's right, Goat), the Restaurante Madero also has a selection of "mole" (a kind of spicy chocolate sauce) dishes. Lunch prices are especially attractive but getting a table on weekdays is somewhat nip and tuck. It's worth it if you can get though. Maybe, just maybe you'll get lucky.
If You're Feeling a Tad "Homesick" and…
…you've just got to have that "little taste of home", there are a number of fast food franchises in the Historic District as well as throughout Mexico City. Domino's Pizza (tel. 510 – 2122) is on the corner of Motolinia and Cinco de Mayo. Prices are from 65 pesos for a medium-sized pizza with the works to 130 pesos for their largest. Dunkin Donuts is mere steps from the Zocalo in the first block of Madero and has the best real coffee in the area in addition to their honey-dips. McDonalds is in front of the Zocalo on Cinco de Febrero. You can't miss it.
Be sure to check out my other articles in the continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Teacher Trainer, English language learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. He has published more than 350 articles and academic papers and presented at numerous EFL teacher training and TEFL conferences throughout North America, South America and Europe. For comments, questions, requests, to receive more information or to be added to his free TESOL articles and teaching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com
[tags]Mexico, travel, Mexico City, English teaching, inexpensive food[/tags]
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