Los Cocuyos — Restaurant in Mexico City

A taqueria made famous internationally via the late Anthony Bourdain and other such television networks. It seems many hold this place up to the highest regard and I would say they have pretty solid tacos but I can’t say it’s worth making a detour here unless you want to live what you saw on tv. They have that type of annoying business model where you have to buy 3 tacos of a kind, no mix and matching allowed so I only got 3 tacos al pastor and a small horchata. The horchata was not at all what I was expecting, super rich and caramelly with nary a trace of cinnamon or spice. An indulgent drink but not really refreshing, maybe more of a melted ice cream vibe. The tacos came with a tray of 3 salsas and lime wedges. The salsa verde is super vegetal, bordering on grassy and is definitely the spiciest. The two other salsas are fairly mild, I strongly preferred one over the other but I don’t really know how to point out which was which here. Al Pastor was garnished heavily with everything you’d expect and the meat itself was crisp and reasonably flavorful although I really wish another slice or a bigger slice of pineapple was added to the top. Definitely pretty good and cheap and I do think it serves as a pretty effective bar for a street taco in Mexico City, especially considering how hard it is for me to add some random street taco vendor with god knows what name and location for the day to...

This place deserves the fame and attention it’s gotten, and its expansion with a dining area has made it a tourist attraction without losing the appeal of the original. There are plenty of reviews that discuss the food, so as a tourist who has been here BEFORE the expansion, let me share different thoughts.

The biggest difference is that sitting down and eating is different from the experience of standing on the street, sharing buckets of salsa with other locals, and chowing down. Tacos are meant to be eaten hot, steaming right out of the broth, and while I LOVE the waitstaff, the extra time it takes to deliver the food just means something’s missing. Sometimes your tacos just take forever to arrive; it might even be a bit cold.

You can’t even order direct from the window anymore, which is a real shame.

Otherwise this is a very affordable place that could definitely charge a lot more given their star power. It’s still no frills, and the service is brisk but efficient. They have a few folks that speak a bit of English but attempting to understand Spanish will get you further. Orders of 3 of the same flavour get a minor discount. They’ve got to be the same flavour, ordered at the same time though!

Also cachete...

Always worth the stop when I’m in CDMX. I’ve been to Taquería Los Cocuyos three times now – first time was years ago, back when it was just a small window – no big restaurant, no frills, just pure flavor.

Food is consistently solid – 4 stars. I’ve tried a few different tacos over the visits and they've never disappointed. Suadero, longaniza, and lengua are standouts. The tortillas are freshly made and the salsas always hit the spot.

Service is top-notch – 5 stars. Even on my last two visits, both late at night, the staff was incredibly friendly, fast, and welcoming. You’d expect a drop in energy or quality at that hour, but not here. Everything was on point, just like in the daytime.

Atmosphere this last time really elevated the whole experience – 5 stars. There was a whole vibe going on: people singing, a duo playing guitar, and everyone just enjoying their food and the moment. It’s that kind of local spot that makes you feel like you’re part of the city, even if you’re just visiting.

Definitely recommend stopping by, especially if you’re exploring Centro Histórico late at night and need a taco fix. Just be ready for a bit of a wait sometimes – it’s popular...