Best Birria in Mexico City: 4 Spots Locals Love
The best birria in Mexico City: 4 birrierías locals love, what birria is, how to eat it with consomé and why it's the city's favorite hangover cure.
Food & Drinks | Sep 27, 2024
Birria is the dish Mexico City reaches for on a cold morning, after a long night or simply when it wants something deeply comforting. It was born in the state of Jalisco, but the capital has adopted it completely, with birrierías in every neighborhood serving their own take on this slow-cooked, chile-rich classic.
These are the birria spots our Mexico City team keeps going back to, plus everything you need to know to order and eat birria like a local.
Key takeaways
- Birria is meat slow-cooked in an adobo of dried chiles and spices, traditionally goat, often beef in Mexico City.
- It's served in a bowl with its broth, called consomé, or as tacos with a cup of consomé on the side for dipping.
- Birria is morning food. Go early, when it's freshest.
- Our favorite spots: El Corral del Chivo, El Chivito, El Pialadero de Guadalajara and La Original Birria Don Chuy.
What is birria?
Birria is a stew from Jalisco, in western Mexico. The meat, traditionally goat, is marinated in an adobo of dried chiles, garlic and spices, then cooked slowly for hours until it falls apart. The cooking juices become the consomé, a rich red broth that is just as important as the meat.
Goat or beef?
Classic Jalisco birria is made with goat (chivo). In Mexico City you'll find both, and beef (res) birria is very common. Goat is earthier and more intense, beef is milder and juicier. Try both and pick a side.
Birria tacos and quesabirria
Birria tacos are made by dipping tortillas in the fat from the consomé, filling them with meat and crisping them on the griddle. Add melted cheese and you get quesabirria, the version that went viral far beyond Mexico. Both come with a cup of consomé for dipping.
How to eat birria like a local
- Dress your consomé. Add chopped onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime and salsa to taste.
- Dip everything. Tacos go in the consomé before every bite.
- Go in the morning. Like tamales and carnitas, birria is classic morning food in Mexico City. Read our guide to eating street food safely in Mexico City to learn what to eat at each time of day.
- Use it as a cure. A bowl of hot consomé is the city's favorite remedy for a hangover.
The best birria in Mexico City: our favorite spots
1. El Corral del Chivo: Santa María la Ribera
A few steps from the beautiful Kiosco Morisco in Santa María la Ribera, this cozy restaurant serves great birria, and its pozole and beef rib tacos are just as worth the trip. Pair it with a walk around one of the city's most charming historic neighborhoods.
2. El Chivito: old-school birria near El Califa de León
An old-school birriería a block away from El Califa de León, the taquería that earned a Michelin star. El Chivito is known for its grilled tacos, which go perfectly with a michelada. It's one of our favorite places in town to cure a hangover.
3. El Pialadero de Guadalajara: classic Jalisco birria
A comfortable restaurant serving classic Jalisco-style birria, plus very good Sinaloa-style seafood. It's one of the nicest places to eat birria close to the areas most visitors stay in.
4. La Original Birria Don Chuy: Guerrero
In the Guerrero neighborhood, La Original Birria Don Chuy is a must, and you'll often get the attention of Don Chuy himself. It's known for keeping long hours, so check before you go, especially late at night.
Bondabu tip: purists say you can't find great birria outside Jalisco. Any Mexico City food lover will tell you otherwise. This city has the best food from every corner of the country.
Taste Mexico City with a local
Birria is just one of the dishes that make Mexico City one of the best food cities in the world. On our The Real Meal food tour you'll try some of the best street-style birria tacos in town, along with the stands locals swear by, in a small group with a local guide.
About the author
Ernesto is a chef and the founder of Bondabu, where he designs food and culture experiences in Mexico City and Quito.
Frequently asked questions
What is birria made of?
Meat, traditionally goat and often beef in Mexico City, slow-cooked in an adobo of dried chiles, garlic and spices. The cooking juices become the consomé.
Is birria goat or beef?
Traditional Jalisco birria is goat. In Mexico City, beef birria is also very common.
What is quesabirria?
Birria tacos with melted cheese, crisped on the griddle and served with consomé for dipping.
When should I eat birria in Mexico City?
In the morning. Birria is classic breakfast and brunch food, and it's freshest early in the day.
Where can I eat the best birria in Mexico City?
Our favorites are El Corral del Chivo in Santa María la Ribera, El Chivito, El Pialadero de Guadalajara and La Original Birria Don Chuy in Guerrero.
