Mexico once had a poor reputation when it came to vegan dining, and perhaps in the more rural areas, it still does. However, the cosmopolitan capital Mexico City is easily one of the best destinations of the moment for foodies looking to chow down on some vegan cuisine, with hipster vegan food stalls and upscale vegan restaurants popping up all over the place in typically meat-mad Mexico City. Here are 10 of the best.
Los Loosers has had a huge impact since it became the country’s first truly vegan option back in 2011, delivering freshly made vegan cuisine to the residents of Mexico City via bike courier. It just recently celebrated its six-year anniversary and now has a fixed restaurant in Roma Norte, which dishes up Mexican-Asian fusion cuisine on a rotating basis according to the whim of the chef and the fresh produce available that day. One of Los Loosers’ stand-out dishes is easily their unique Mexican Ramen.
Mole Ramen with handmade noodles and cashew cream | Courtesy of Los Loosers
For something a little more Middle Eastern in flavour, with added Mexican twists such as chipotle pitta bread, try checking out one of Mexico City’s four Falafelito branches. While we’ve selected the Hipódromo Condesa/Parque México option, as it’s the most central, you can also find this 100% reliable, pet-friendly vegan restaurant in Coyoacán, Narvarte and just a few streets down from the first in Condesa. Spring for the falafel over the falafelito, as the former will leave you feeling much more satisfied than the snack-sized latter.
Another pet-friendly vegan dining option in Mexico City is Narciso Vegano, which will offer you a small discount for walking up with your pet. Incredibly popular with the local businesspeople around lunchtime, make sure you get there early to grab a table at this vegan fonda or visit for a late afternoon lunch instead. Although this used to be a vegetarian diner, it’s been entirely vegan since February 2016, and the delicious desserts are arguably the must-try dishes on the menu.
If you’re craving something beyond plant products (at least in terms of taste anyway), you have to head to Por Siempre Vegana Taquería in Roma Norte, which uses soy and seitan ‘meat’ and gooey almond cheese. Ladle on the spicy sauce, enjoy the comparatively low prices and fast, friendly service. Honestly, this quirky outdoor food stall (with no seating) is the closest many vegans will get to an authentic Mexico City street food experience, and it’s worth a visit even if you are a meat eater.
The most notable and aesthetically pleasing dish at La Pitahaya Vegana is definitely the Jamaica (hibiscus flower)-infused pink tortillas, which provide the perfect base for their selection of tacos and traditional Mexican snacks, all with a vegan twist, of course. While you might be thinking that it’s all style over substance at this relatively new addition to Mexico City’s vegan dining scene, you’d be wrong – the taste most definitely lives up to expectations. Round off your meal with almond milk ice cream.
One of the few places in the historic centre of Mexico City that effectively caters to vegans and vegetarians, VegAmoMX is a fantastic find and a great spot to have in the back of your mind if you’re exploring the city. Their creative vegan cuisine will have you drooling, and they’ve got everything from burgers to waffles and back again covered. However, many people claim that their raw vegan cakes are actually the real stars of the show at the small but perfectly formed VegAmoMX.
Quick and easy vegan and vegetarian dining doesn’t really get much better than Veguísima, a restaurant-cum-food stand with a laid-back vibe in the upscale Condesa part of the city. Although it’s a relatively small spot, there you’ll find some deliciously inventive vegan takes on classic Mexican favourites, from tostadas to tortas and tacos, with a few falafel options thrown in for good measure. For a cheap and filling lunch, you could do much worse.
Delivery service turned real-life colourful restaurant, Temictli works with a weekly rotating menu that features a ton of comfort food favourites served up by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Sure, they may veer off the Mexican cuisine path and into more international territory at times, but the food is so delicious that you won’t even care. Try out their nachos or indulge in a hot dog instead. Either way, you’ll leave feeling both satisfied and like a far better person.
As the name suggests, affordable street stand Gatorta specialises in that most Mexico City of street food favourites, the humble torta. However, these vegan favourites feature a deceptively realistic meat-like texture and flavour, something often lacking from standard vegan cuisine. Therefore, Gatorta might be the best introduction into the world of vegan eats for meat eaters who want to maintain the illusion. They also serve a few other types of Mexican street foods and are always busy at lunchtimes. Get there early.
Owned and run by a British woman in partnership with her Mexican boyfriend, this petite pizzeria finds its home in their home, on the ground floor to be precise. As you can imagine, the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Kalpoli Margarita is easily best known for their delicious vegan pizzas, alongside some other excellent menu items such as salads and the ever-faithful falafel, to name but a few. If you’re lucky, you might even get a good cup of British tea.
