El Auténtico Pato Manila — Restaurant in Mexico City

Given all of the great choices for tacos in Mexico City, I'm not sure what the would motivate someone to eat here more than once. I'm confused as to what is authentic about this place. It definitely has nothing to do with Filipino food. There is a photo of Mao on a plate, but the food isn't remotely Chinese either. There are Kim tacos which sounds Korean, but the food isn't Korean influenced. The "authentic" ducks that they used appeared to be a species that is short and fat like a heavily smoked, dark chicken as opposed to the longer bodies and necks I normally associate with ducks. The poultry skin lacked the fat, texture and taste I normally associate with duck meat. The same could be said for the meat. They did a superb job of making the duck taste just like chicken.

Kim = two flour tortilla tacos. Manila = 4 tiny corn tortilla tacos. The meat is identical.

They did use a flat, dry bread disk that tries to pass itself off as a flour tortilla, reminiscent of what I have eaten at "Mexican" restaurants in the Philippines. That was the most authentically Asian part of the meal.

I wasn't expecting authentic Filipino or Asian food but thought I might find an interesting fusion meal. Instead, they served expensive, mediocre, unremarkable tacos in a city that has limitless options for...

The concept is great, though the menu leans more toward Vietnamese-inspired cuisine than Filipino. As a Filipina, I appreciate that duck is included, but it’s prepared quite differently from how we typically enjoy it. The food itself was good, and the service was excellent. I do wish the dishes reflected more traditional Filipino flavors and styles. I actually ordered everything on the menu to give it all a try! I truly appreciate the effort to bring a taste of the Philippines to CDMX, and I hope to see the menu expand in the future with classics like lechon or authentic lumpia instead of...

Duck...duck...and more duck! El Auténtico Pato Manila serves just duck and only duck! Not to mention, they mix flavors and styles of Mexico and the Philippines. Like whaaaaaa??!!

To quote my friend, dining partner and weathered traveler, “I’ve had a lot of wontons and spring rolls in my life and these are by far the best.”

We each had 1 of everything on the menu. And then got seconds of some too.

Pro tip...ask for a side of crispy duck skin to put atop your duck torta. It’ll rock your...