It’s not surprising that Mexico City, a megapolis of more than 20 million people, has quite a reputation. Depending on whom you listen to, the Ciudad de México, or CDMX, is a hotbed of pollution, crime, and out-of-control urban sprawl; or it’s a pulsing epicenter of history, art, fashion, and food—a whirlwind for the senses and an amalgam of new and old in one of the most culturally rich nations on Earth. Intimidating? Sure, like most of the giant, significant cities of the world, Mexico City can be overwhelming. But for a curious visitor with basic street smarts, the payoff is huge—important museums and edgy art galleries to occupy you for weeks, Aztec ruins a stone’s throw from modern skyscrapers, stunning Rivera and Tamayo murals seemingly around every bend, enough exciting food on street corners and in fancy restaurants to last you a lifetime. (Of course, it’s that last bit especially that’s brought us to revisit Mexico City over the years!)

The task of producing a list of CDMX-regional foods for such a melting pot of different regional Mexican styles was challenging; keep in mind many of the foods we sampled in the city are widely available around the country. But Mexico City does have its signature tacos, a handful of interesting Aztecan foods and drinks, regionally produced craft beer, and some other snacks that are particularly treasured by chilangos, the city’s residents. Many of those foods, in turn, are sold in what may be termed the most traditional Mexico City manner of dispensation: by vendors on the street or in markets, at low cost. Let the culinary exploration begin.