What's this line for? · Mexico
The 11 food lines you'll walk past in Mexico City, and what the people in them are waiting for. For each: what to get when you reach the front, how long it usually takes, whether it's worth it, and how to beat it.
San Rafael
The line is forGaonera taco (thin beef, lime and salt)
The first taco stand to earn a Michelin star.
Worth the waitThe gaonera taco is worth every minute around the block. Cash only, and early is better.
Expect: Lines at lunch and late
Beat it: Go mid-afternoon
Roma Norte
The line is forGuava roll, and a concha
Elena Reygadas' bakery and its viral guava roll.
Worth the waitThe guava roll and the concha, best before the Sunday-morning rush.
Expect: Weekend lines out the door
Beat it: Go on a weekday morning
Centro
The line is forSuadero and campechano tacos
A tiny all-night taco stall.
Worth the waitExpect: Late-night lines
Beat it: Any time
Centro (Eje Central)
The line is forChurros with Mexican chocolate
Churros since 1935.
Worth the waitExpect: Evening crowds
Beat it: Go in the morning
Narvarte
The line is forAl pastor, at night
A mechanic's garage by day, a taquería by night.
Worth the waitExpect: Late-night lines
Beat it: Go after 10pm on a weekday
Coyoacán
The line is forA chupacabras taco: beef, chorizo and longaniza
A street stand under the Río Churubusco overpass, famous for its 'secret' pot.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min late at night
Beat it: Go before 10pm
Polanco
The line is forPanuchos and tacos of cochinita pibil
A tiny counter serving Yucatán cochinita for decades.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min at lunch
Beat it: Go after 3pm
Roma Norte
The line is forTacos trompo (pork) and chicharrón de queso
Monterrey-style tacos open until very late.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 40 min late at night
Beat it: Go at 7pm
Del Valle
The line is forFrijoles con huevo, and whatever stew is in the cazuelas
A breakfast fonda that opens before dawn.
Worth the waitExpect: 30 to 60 min at breakfast
Beat it: Go early on a weekday
Roma Norte
The line is forTuna tostadas and the pescado a la talla (half red, half green)
Gabriela Cámara's seafood lunch is the city's power lunch.
Worth the waitExpect: 30 to 90 min at lunch
Beat it: Book ahead, or go at 1pm
Centro Histórico
The line is forConchas and the cake showroom upstairs
A pastry hall since 1927, with a famous upstairs cake display.
Worth the waitExpect: Crowds at the counter, fast
Beat it: Go on a weekday
Waits are what people usually see, not live times, and lines move and vanish: check hours before you go. Picked from Chef Amazing's Long lines lists (checked open Oct 23 2026) and checked against the press on 2026-11-12: thetraveladdict.com · grupoanimal.mx · lataco.com.