Skip to Content
Food

Taco Stands in the Motherland ~ D.F.

taco11.jpg

I took a trip down South a few months ago and volunteered to do a cursory report of the taco scene in Mexico, might as well have a reason to take pics of random taco stands! I should mention that as a longtime vegetarian I was completely unqualified for this task, and though I'm a fan of the taco lifestyle, you'll not be getting any reviews of the tacos themselves, just some snapshots of the taco stand culture. If that's okay with you, click ahead to start the tour!

taco21.jpg

All of these taco stands I came across on my normal travels, when I saw one I tried to get a pic of it. This stand in Nezahualcoyotl opened up only during the night hours, and there was still a steady stream of people needing a taco fix.

taco3.jpg

Most of the pics are kinda crappy but I think they still manage to capture something of the atmosphere of taqueros eeking out a living while they supply a need. You'll notice that the taquero is often in proximity to the eaters.

taco4.jpg

And the Al Pastor trompos often face the street. I like the idea that you can see your food being made on the spot, though that can lead to anti-taco attacks like this one https://youtube.com/watch?v=29dCRwx-bIc Watch your trompo!

taco5.jpg

As you can imagine, there were many taco stands near Bellas Artes in D.F.

taco61.jpg

Near the cheap software corridor this place was doing some brisk business. Whereas the program peddlers had to hawk their wares the taco guys just wait for them to line up.

taco7.jpg

The guy in the white shirt yelled out "No me tomes la fotooo!" Oops, too late.

taco8.jpg

It looked like these guys were just setting up the shop.

taco9.jpg

A taco stand right next to a bar, now that's convenient!

taco10.jpg

I should mention that these last four stands were located on the same block! Notice how many of these places are open air; that lack of a formal threshold makes for a more vibrant street culture. I guess our taco trucks here in LA are an extension of that casual eating experience.

taco111.jpg

A nightime scene in another part of DF, I think this was near Colonia Roma. While lots of shops are closed at this hour, the taquero's job is never done.

taco12.jpg

Around the corner, another stand offers a bit of tortilla comfort.

taco13.jpg

Well I couldn't do this whole trip with trying some tacos! These are actually from Super Soya, a chain of veggie restaurants. This was advertised as their tacos al pastor but I already see a problem: flour tortillas!

taco14.jpg

Yum, soy chunks! Err, scratch that, these were actually quite bland with no spices, no cebolla y cilantro, no salsa. But at only 18 pesos (around $1.80) it's no big deal. But I'll be sticking to the locally made ones from my friends at Así Soy Tacos!

taco15.jpg

Super Soya does have a kickass logo though! This is a warning to flush the toilet.

taco16.jpg

Back on the street, a taquero prepares his al pastor trompo. Supposedly this style of taco was influenced by Lebanese Immigrants to Mexico who brought their Shwarma with them, and that makes total sense. See people, mixing of cultures is a beautiful thing.

taco17.jpg

A truck delivers a load of cebollas near La Merced. I didn't see the cilantro truck.

taco18.jpg

Amongst the crush of stalls and humanity at the mercado, the ubiquitous taco stand.

taco19.jpg

I take it they have turkey tacos here!

taco20.jpg

I laughed when I saw this, some sort of corporate taco shop in the mall across the street from the Alameda. Why would anyone eat corporate tacos when so many are available everywhere? But now that I've found them online I wish I would have tried some of their veggie tacos. Check out their site (tacoinn.com), they have some good background info on the taco and some cool videos, like an al pastor taco being prepared and topped off with a small wedge of pineapple. Now that's some skill!

taco211.jpg

I also got a chance to check out the taco scene in Oaxaca.

taco22.jpg

Busted! I wasn't very slick taking this pic.

taco23.jpg

Inside the huge mercado south of the Zocalo, there were quite a few taco stands. Looks like that guy could just turn around and take a bite of that trompo!

taco24.jpg

Crowd awaits a plate.

taco25.jpg

This young couple are enjoying an afternoon snack. Note the use of reusable soda bottles.

taco26.jpg

Another stand just a few steps away.

taco27.jpg

I loved this taco shop logo: a taco eating taco!

taco28.jpg

This is as close as you get to a drive-thru.

taco29.jpg

This lonely cart was wrapping up for the night.

taco30.jpg

This pic is too blurry but you might be able to notice some holes in the center of the pan and a puff of steam, they heat the tortillas and I guess the meat al vapor. I'd never seen that before.

taco31.jpg

I happened to be in Oaxaca during a good time, with lots of street festivals celebrating Dia de Muertos and Halloween. Tamborazo bands riled up the crowds, shots of mezcal were being offered for free, and crazy costumes made for some mad celebrations.

taco32.jpg

Luckily the many taco stands helped take care of that cruda the next morning.

taco33.jpg

Concentration is the game, subject is: tacos!

taco34.jpg

Lots of condiment options at this stall in a local park.

taco35.jpg

A big molcajete filled with guacamole taquero. But look in the background, a gallon sized jug of La Costena salsa! Cheaters!

taco36.jpg

The meat grilling here was happening in the back.

taco37.jpg

I might as well include this for the LATaco crowd; a nearby stall was selling homemade stencils, ready to be sprayed! The guy had all kinds of themes, from Banksy to more regional stuff like the ones above.

taco38.jpg

There's a bunch of graffiti around as well, much of it is political, like my personal favorite above.

taco39.jpg

Well I hoped you enjoyed this mini-tour of Mexican taco stands. ¡Provecho!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Tens of Thousands of Angelenos Flock to L.A.’s Flower District for a Valentine’s Day Flower Free-For-All

Tens of thousands made their way to the city's wholesale flower capital, jamming the streets and sidewalks with countless flowers and people. L.A. TACO'S contributing photographer Kemal Cilengir was there to capture it all, including street vendors getting fined and the dystopian-like flower free-for-all being had by lovestruck customers and hustling vendors eager to offload their prized plants.

February 14, 2025

This Weekend: A New Bar-Setting Indian Restaurant, Duck Laab Pizza, and a Filipino Breakfast Diner Pop-Up

Have a three-day weekend full of chai cheesecake, black garlic cocktails, egg pie, and famous flour tortillas.

February 14, 2025

Self-Defense Against ICE: Community Groups In L.A. Are Uniting to Protect Themselves

More than 50 organizations have joined the call to join this coalition, making it one of Southern California's largest immigrant rights coalitions. The group aims to extend from the San Fernando Valley to the U.S./Mexico border. The coalition is organizing training sessions to prepare its members for community tactics to defend their neighbors from ICE raids and deportations. Their first mass protest is taking place on Monday.

February 13, 2025

Tacos Before Vatos: 13 Tacos In L.A. That Will Make You Forget About Him

For L.A. TACO, love is always in the air, and it smells like charcoal burning on a sunny day under carne asada and tortillas hot off the comal, with vibrant salsas, caramelized onions, and thick guacamole. Forget him, and spend time with things that matter in life: tacos, forever. 

February 13, 2025

Unmatched Hustle: Immigrant from Michoacán’s Tierra Caliente Creates Innovative Tortillería on Wheels…In Bakersfield

Many come and buy pounds and pounds to share with their family members as soon as they taste a warm “taco de sal,” a tortilla sprinkled simply with salt and rolled up like a thin flauta. It’s common to eat tacos de sal while waiting in line at a tortillería in Mexico, but not so much in the U.S. 

February 12, 2025
See all posts