The Best Tacos al Pastor in Mexico City
Where to eat al pastor in CDMX — trompo-spit pork, pineapple, and house salsas across Condesa, Roma, Hipódromo, Narvarte, and Centro.
Tacos al pastor are Mexico City’s signature street taco, descended from the spit-roasted, shawarma-style cooking that Lebanese immigrants brought to Mexico in the early twentieth century. The pork is marinated in chiles and achiote, stacked on a vertical trompo, and shaved to order onto small corn tortillas, usually crowned with a slice of pineapple from the top of the spit and finished with cilantro, onion, and a squeeze of lime and salsa. The result is smoky, charred edges against juicy meat, eaten standing up at a curbside counter late into the night. Below are the al pastor and trompo specialists across the city worth seeking out, each scored and verified by Dim Hour.
A note on the dish: al pastor is marinated pork cooked on a vertical trompo and shaved to order, served on small tortillas with cilantro, onion, and pineapple. It differs from suadero (slow-cooked beef from a flat cazo) and carnitas (braised, fried pork) — al pastor is defined by the spit, the marinade, and the char.
Taquería Orinoco
A Condesa branch of the Monterrey-born Taquería Orinoco chain, serving tacos al pastor and tacos de trompo alongside res and chicharrón. The marinated pork is carved straight off the vertical trompo. A budget, high-turnover counter on Avenida Yucatán.
Tacos Orinoco
The Roma Norte outpost of Tacos Orinoco on Álvaro Obregón, a Monterrey-style taquería built around the trompo and chicharrón. The board runs to gringas, piratas, and campechanas plus the house salsas — a late-night standby.
El Tizoncito
El Tizoncito on Avenida Tamaulipas in the Condesa–Hipódromo area specializes in tacos al pastor carved from the vertical trompo. One of the names long associated with the city’s al pastor tradition, served in a casual, high-turnover room.
El Vilsito
A Narvarte taquería in Benito Juárez that doubles as an auto shop by day, recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand. It serves tacos al pastor and Mexican street food at a budget price point.
La Rosita de Jalisco
La Rosita de Jalisco is a no-frills taquería in Santa María la Ribera known for tacos al pastor cut from a vertical spit whose aroma fills the street. The broader menu also runs to tortas and huaraches.
El Gran Abanico
El Gran Abanico in the Tránsito neighborhood is regarded for its carnitas, but the menu also includes pastor tacos, grilled steak, and longaniza. A budget taquería where the surtida taco mixes lean and fatty pork.
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Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all Mexico City restaurants →