El Cardenal
El Cardenal things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Walked by this restaurant a few times as the outside waiting area, though pleasant enough, was a bit chaotic. My hotel concierge recommended this place as one of the best restaurants in the area. So I could walk by it no more. After the chaotic 20 minute wait... The pleasant hostess led me to an elevator. Once inside it just took me to the second floor. Upon exiting... I had a slight lost feeling... Maybe I was on the wrong floor? But my waiter found me and brought me to an average table for this restaurant. It was warm and cozy considering it was very busy (Saturday night). I was alone and did not want to be rushed... The professional server picked up on this and was exceptional. I love that. The bread came after I ordered some wine. Yup... The bread was totally amazing. You can tell it is in house baked. The crust was perfect. This was foretelling for the rest of my meal. An excellent experience all around. Good portions and great flavors. Respectful servers and hostess. For a few minutes a pianist plays relaxing and quiet background music. It was perfect. I will be back. Thank you.
Richard HinksonRichard Hinkson
00
I just had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant. Let me tell you, the food was nothing short of amazing. I opted for the grilled octopus, and it was so tender, it practically felt like butter in my mouth. My husband went with the chicken and goat cheese sauce, which was an absolute delight – it's truly a dish to die for. The restaurant's ambiance was fantastic, setting the perfect tone for our evening. What made the experience even better was our server, Jonathan. He was absolutely incredible, being both friendly and incredibly attentive. He also gave us some great recommendations, including their specialties. However, I do have one piece of feedback for the management. It was quite noticeable that there were no female servers. I spotted only one or two female employees in the restaurant, but the absence of female servers in 2023 is disappointing. Nonetheless, this didn't overshadow the fantastic dining experience we had. We'll definitely be returning when they hire more female servers.
Antonio ClavijoAntonio Clavijo
30
Authentic Mexican food in a central location. El Cardenal is an institution serving specialties from all around the country. We tried the escamoles al epazote, avocado molcajete, pollo en mole verde and quesadillas placeras, all delicious, rich with spices and very flavorful. But especially recommend: - Pechuga rellena de queso en mole coloradito (grilled chicken stuffed with goat cheese with an Oaxaca-style mole sauce) and - Mixiote de cordero (a Hidalgo specialty of lamb marinated in guajillo chili, wrapped in maguey leaf) The chocolate cake and tres leches cake were really good too! Accessible entrance with elevator to seating in upper floors, though no elevator access to toilets. Expect long waiting times for lunch, try late lunch or early dinner. Definitely worth a visit.
Sheila HarjaniSheila Harjani
30
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in my entire life! We were glad we got to experience the city during the pandemic while most tourists were away. We had no problems booking a table about 10 mins in advance. If you’re in CDMX, this place is a MUST!!! Food: OMG we tried approximately 8-10 items from the menu and every single thing was DELICIOUS. I don’t think you can pick something wrong. Service: Wow. These guys were incredibly attentive and so kind. Ambiance: This place is a historical building and it’s neat to sit inside. Super clean. If I had to pick one restaurant to go back to in Mexico City (which is hard since it’s a foodie haven), this would be it. SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!! Thanks from Toronto :)
Jessica BJessica B
50
The place was half empty when we arrived at ~5pm on Wednesday so we didn’t have to wait to be seated. The food was delicious, we tried 2 starters and opted for 2 different kinds of Chicken Mole for the main dish. Mole was great and very filling, remember that if it’s your first time trying it :). One thing I disliked is that the service felt very rushed, and with the restaurant being half empty that felt unnecessary. The waiter waited for me to finish the starter and in 10 seconds replaced my empty plate with the main dish. He took the glass of beer before it was empty etc… The place offers a good value for money as well. See the picture of the bill for reference. Overall I would recommend it for a good dining experience of Mexican food.
Nejc KorasaNejc Korasa
30
Great experience at this "El Cardenal" Mexico City downtown. It is just a block from La Catedral in this beautiful Mexico City. The service is just what expected. People are polite and they are willing to assist all customers. Special recognition to Mr. Álvaro for his great customer focused service. Quality if meals is to point out. This is high quality mexican cuisine so it is worth it to visit and have a tasty meal (breakfast, lunch or supper) This particular site is very convenient if you are downtown area. This another time I visited this restaurant, I hade also a very good experience. Servers very attentive and focus to end customer experience. I would, however, you request a table on first floor.
AngelloAngello
00
Nearby Attractions Of El Cardenal
Plaza de la Constitución
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Alameda Central
Mirador Torre Latino
Friki Plaza
The House of Tiles
Plaza Garibaldi
Templo Mayor Museum
Plaza de Santo Domingo
National Art Museum
Plaza de la Constitución
4.7
(91.9K)Click for details
Palacio de Bellas Artes
4.8
(54.1K)Click for details
Alameda Central
4.6
(36.6K)Click for details
Mirador Torre Latino
4.6
(19.5K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of El Cardenal
Churreria El Moro Centro
Café De Tacuba
Pastelería Ideal
Pizza del Perro Negro
Café El Popular
La Casa de Toño en Madero
Pastelería Ideal
Los Callejeros
Salón Tenampa
Los Especiales
Churreria El Moro Centro
4.5
(19.7K)$$
Click for details
Café De Tacuba
4.4
(10.1K)$$
Click for details
Pastelería Ideal
4.6
(8.4K)Click for details
Pizza del Perro Negro
4.5
(8.4K)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
C. de la Palma 23, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Map
Phone
+52 55 5521 3080
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Website
restauranteelcardenal.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(7.3K reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Plaza de la Constitución, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Alameda Central, Mirador Torre Latino, Friki Plaza, The House of Tiles, Plaza Garibaldi, Templo Mayor Museum, Plaza de Santo Domingo, National Art Museum, restaurants: Churreria El Moro Centro, Café De Tacuba, Pastelería Ideal, Pizza del Perro Negro, Café El Popular, La Casa de Toño en Madero, Pastelería Ideal, Los Callejeros, Salón Tenampa, Los Especiales
The Hit List
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