El Tizoncito

Should You Book El Tizoncito?

Getting a table here is not the problem. El Tizoncito in Polanco is walk-in friendly, unpretentious, and easy to reach — which puts it in a different category from most venues on the Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America list. That list has ranked it three consecutive years running: #96 in 2023, #118 in 2024, and #142 in 2025. The ranking drift is worth noting, but it does not change the core case: this is a reliable, recognised taco destination in one of Mexico City's most visitor-heavy neighbourhoods, and you can show up without a reservation. If you have already been once and want to know whether a return is worth it, the answer is yes — provided you go for the tacos al pastor, which is what this place is built around.

What El Tizoncito Is

El Tizoncito sits on Avenida Moliere in Polanco, steps from the area's hotel strip and retail corridor. The venue is a taqueria in the working sense: the format is counter-and-table, the pacing is fast, and the visual centrepiece is the trompo , the vertical spit of marinated pork that defines tacos al pastor. If you have been once, you already know the drill. The pastor comes thinly sliced off the spit, landed on small corn tortillas, and typically topped with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. That is the arc of the meal here. There is no tasting menu, no progression of courses, no chef-driven narrative , but there is a precise, repeatable execution of one of Mexico City's most argued-over taco formats. The Google rating sits at 3.8 across more than 1,100 reviews, which is lower than you might expect for an OAD-listed venue, and worth factoring in. A score like that at high review volume usually signals inconsistency across visits or a gap between tourist expectations and local standards , not a sign to avoid the place, but a reason to manage what you are coming for.

If You Have Been Before

Returning visitors should think about time of day and positioning at the venue. The trompo is the draw , and it reads better, and arguably tastes better, when it has been running long enough to develop char on the outer layer. Early visits can catch the spit before it hits its stride. Mid-lunch or early dinner tends to be the stronger window. If you came last time and found the experience rushed, consider sitting rather than ordering to go: the difference in quality control is noticeable. The Polanco location also puts you within range of a broader evening in the neighbourhood. For context on what else is around, see our full Mexico City restaurants guide, our full Mexico City bars guide, and our full Mexico City hotels guide.

Practical Details

Reservations: Not required , walk-ins are the norm. Booking window: Same-day is fine; no advance planning needed. Budget: Cheap Eats category; expect taqueria pricing, not sit-down restaurant spend. Dress: Casual , there is no dress expectation at a venue in this format. Address: Av Moliere 335, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City. Phone/website: Not publicly listed in our database , check Google Maps for current contact details. Google rating: 3.8 (1,191 reviews).

Pearl Picks Nearby

If you are building a broader Mexico City itinerary around serious food, the venues worth adding alongside El Tizoncito include Pujol for the benchmark modern Mexican tasting menu, Em for a step between taqueria and fine dining, and Esquina Común and Expendio de Maíz for corn-forward Mexican cooking at different registers. Máximo is worth a look if you want market-driven modern cooking in the city. Beyond Mexico City, the OAD Cheap Eats category spans some strong regional entries: Levadura de Olla Restaurante in Oaxaca, KOLI Cocina de Origen in Monterrey, and further afield, Animalón in Valle de Guadalupe and Lunario in El Porvenir. For Mexican cooking outside Mexico, Los Félix in Miami and Escondido in Seoul are the two most interesting comparisons. If you are visiting Polanco specifically, also check our full Mexico City experiences guide and our full Mexico City wineries guide for the rest of the trip. For coastal Mexican cooking at a higher register, Le Chique in Puerto Morelos and HA' in Playa del Carmen are the two worth knowing.