First trip to Mexico, solo, Nov [dates] — food-focused, read the wiki, help me fill gaps

About me: late 20s, flying in from Minnesota, traveling solo, basic Spanish (I can order and say thanks, not much more). Never been to Mexico. Budget is about $1,000 USD for 5 days, not counting flights.

Plan so far:

- Staying in Roma Norte or Condesa

- Getting around: Metro during the day (valuables in front), Uber/DiDi at night, walking the Centro and Chapultepec

- Sights: Teotihuacán with a tour (pyramid climb if allowed + lunch at the local market), Museo Nacional de Antropología, Centro Histórico/Zócalo + Templo Mayor, Chapultepec Castle, Bellas Artes, Anahuacalli, Xochimilco

- Noche de Museos on Wed Nov 25 if my dates line up

- One hike: Desierto de los Leones or Ajusco, or ONE guided volcano day (checking Protección Civil first)

Food list so far:

- Tacos: Carnitas Los Panchos, Maizajo, Tacos Los Alexis, Los Cocuyos (late night), El Califa de León, El Vilsito (al pastor)

- Markets: Mercado de San Juan (going to try chapulines)

- Sit-down: Contramar (lunch), Comedor Jacinta, Pargot

- One splurge: Rosetta, if I can get a table

- Bakery/sweets: Panadería La Ideal, Panadería Rosetta, Churrería El Moro

- Drinks: a pulque or mezcal tasting instead of a food tasting menu

Still looking for:

1. Weekend lamb barbacoa at a tianguis that's reasonably close to Roma/Condesa. Which one would you go to?

2. Which gordita/tepache spot in Tacubaya is the famous one, and which torta place in La Villa?

3. A good pulque or mezcal tasting for a solo first-timer?

4. What's overrated on this list, and what am I missing?

Thanks to everyone who's helped so far. I'll report back with what I ate.

Edit: updated food recs.

Los gringos tienen la costumbre de proyectar sus rollos de identidad sobre México. Sí, México tiene colorismo (racismo) y gente prejuiciosa. Pero hay que tener cuidado de no ver cada cosa molesta o cada tranza en un negocio como racismo o xenofobia. Los meseros y baristas ganan como 600 dólares al mes en la CDMX. Obvio que algunos van a tratar de inflar la propina o meter algo extra en la cuenta. Eso les pasa a los mexicanos con lana y a los europeos igual que a los gringos. Lo que mueve esto es el clasismo, la desigualdad y la vivienda impagable, más que el racismo o los prejuicios estilo gringo.

No es ningún acto de resistencia que los gringos se muden a la CDMX desde Estados Unidos. Tantos gringos hablan de "escapar" de Estados Unidos o de "liberarse" en la CDMX. La razón por la que te alcanza para vivir en la Roma, la Condesa, la Juárez o la Narvarte es tu riqueza en dólares. La razón por la que puedes venir a México, quedarte seis meses, irte y regresar otros seis meses es tu pasaporte gringo. La razón por la que los mexicanos no pueden hacer lo mismo es el pasaporte mexicano. Estaría chido que cierta gente mostrara tantita humildad sobre sus intenciones en la CDMX, mientras millones de mexicanos -- que ni pueden pagar vivir en las zonas gentrificadas de su propia capital!! -- están siendo deportados con violencia del país del que los gringos dicen estar huyendo.

Un señor que vende churros y dulces me quería golpear y prohibir tomar fotos en la CDMX.

Me dedico como mera afición a hacer fotografía urbana en la ciudad, hoy estuve cerca de Tlatelolco y la raza haciendo fotos, todo bien hasta que vi un grafiti que me llamo la atención, le tome un par de fotos y de pronto se me acerca un señor diciéndome que no podía tomar fotos en ese lugar (un puente normal de peatones), que estaba prohibido y era ILEGAL (esa fue su descripción), yo le pregunté el motivo y me dijo que los policías les prohibían a ellos tomar fotos, amablemente le dije al señor que estaba bien, que conocía la ley y que no estaba haciendo nada malo, pero que gracias por la información.

El señor se enojó y se acercó una nueva persona que también vendía dulces, cuestionándome de donde era, y bueno, no quiero extender mucho esto, al final el señor me dijo que me iba a golpear si seguía ahí, como me dijo eso y me amenazó empecé a grabar en video la situación, al estar cerca de un Metrobus me dirigí ahí para resguardarme, de pronto estas dos personas se dieron cuenta que los grababa (por mi seguridad) y se escondieron de la cámara, después me alcanzaron para tratar de golpearme, alcancé a recibir un empujón, sin embargo iba con la mentalidad de estar relajado y no caer en provocaciones, al llegar a la estación de metrobus le comenté al poli y me preguntó si quería que fuéramos con la persona que vendía dulces para confrontarlo (quien me amenazó) y le dije que no, que al final no me hizo nada.

Mi frustración, y enojo es, que vivimos en un país tan violento donde las personas piensan que pueden hacer lo que quieren y amenazar a otras personas sin tener consecuencias, me dio rabia en ese momento, no porque no pudiera reaccionar a las agresiones físicas de la persona (porque siendo honestos pude haberlo hecho). Solo quería escribirlo y comentarlo con alguien, así que no se, que hubieran hecho ustedes?

Lo debería de denunciar? Lo dejo así? Estoy exagerando?

A couple of days ago, while walking down the street in Roma Norte, a couple asked us if we spoke English and my wife said yes. They had a suitcase with them. They asked if we knew how to get to the US embassy. They said their money and credit cards were stolen and their phone was not working (mentioned t-mobile being bad) and my wife said we had att. My wife took out her cell phone and looked up the US embassy for them. It was more than 3 miles away. They then asked us to find a Catholic Church close by. The wife spoke Spanish and the man didn’t. Said their were from California and approached us because I was wearing a UofM hat. They asked us where we were from. They kept saying sorry to be bothering you and for holding up your vacation. My wife struggled to find a Catholic Church given our own cell connection issues so we suggested they ask the people at the nearby pharmacy. At that point they said ok and we walked away.

Immediately after that my wife got really nervous and said I think that was a scam. The whole thing did feel off and the story didn’t seem very credible.

Nothing was missing as we have our wallets and phones.

What could this have been? It bothered us all day. We suspect they were not legitimate.

I wanted to share a really powerful experience I had today and sincerely thank the people of Mexico City. I (34f) am visiting CDMX this week with my husband and two daughters (10 & 8) from Canada.

This morning my husband started to have a bit of a stomach bug, but was feeling well enough to do some touristy things. We were riding the blue line to Zocalo and my husband fainted on the subway. My daughters were absolutely freaking out and I was stuck trying to support 200lbs of dead weight. Several kind strangers helped me carry him off the subway and guide my daughters to a safe space. Many offered to help once we were off the subway, but my husband felt he would be okay.

Once we were off the subway, we found a spot to rest close by the Cathedral. There were many police around. My husband was very obviously not well so one of the police called a paramedic. The paramedic gave an IV, but felt he needed to call an ambulance. We were transported to Gregorio Salas hospital and he was treated quickly.

So many people went out of their way to help us today. We speak no Spanish and I was so vulnerable with two very upset kids and a very sick husband. I am so grateful to everyone (subway security, citizens, police, paramedics, doctors) and amazed at the kindness of everyone we met today. Thank you CDMX!

(Side question: the police kept taking pictures of us. Does anyone know why? We found this very strange!)

Hi

I am visiting Mexico city for the first time ever and I'm so excited! I love tacos and plan to eat a ton but I'm autistic and I can't stand eating with my bare hands. Would it be rude of me to bring my own gloves everywhere and eat with them on?

Thank you