Where is the best place for late-night al pastor tacos in Narvarte?
At nightfall, El Vilsito transforms from an auto repair shop into a legendary taquería on Petén in Narvarte Oriente. The setup is theatrical: multiple massive spits of marinated pork sliced by skilled taqueros who flick a slice of pineapple directly from the knife into your tortilla. Order the gringas—flour tortillas loaded with melted cheese and al pastor—or standard tacos on corn. It is fast, cheap, and consistently excellent.
What locals actually do
Chilangos know Narvarte is the spiritual home of Mexico City's taco culture. Locals rarely eat inside the small, crowded seating area at El Vilsito; instead, they stand on the sidewalk or eat off the trunks of their cars parked nearby. While visitors arrive here after 22:00, local families arrive earlier around 20:00 for a quick dinner. If you want to drink beer with your tacos, head across the street to a local neighborhood chelería afterward, as El Vilsito only serves sodas and aguas frescas.
Order two tacos al pastor with everything and one gringa on a flour tortilla, paired with a cold agua de horchata on the sidewalk.
Practical notes
- 01The mechanics stand closes and the taco operation starts daily around 19:30, running until 03:00 or 04:00.
- 02Tell the server your order, but pay the cashier at the end by reciting what you ate using the honor system.
- 03They accept cards now, but keeping cash on hand makes paying the separate salsa and drink runners much faster.
Good to know
- ✗Parking is notoriously difficult; taking a rideshare to the Petén corner is much easier than driving.
- ✗The red salsa is deceptively spicy—test a small drop before pouring it over your tacos.
- ✗Dress comfortably for standing outdoors; there are very few stools available during peak late-night hours.