Mexico City in Pittsburgh, PA

Mexico City is located at 111 Smithfield Street, in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. We live in the "greater Pittsburgh area," so any excuse to go through the tunnel and into the city is OK by us. The restaurant is right near the Pittsburgh Art Institute and has both metered street parking and parking ramps just around the corner. The outside of Mexico City has red awnings and a bit of a hole-in-the-wall feel, which is what first attracted us to it.

The kitchen of Mexico City is located in the front window, so you can watch them cook before even entering. This detail stole my heart, because when we were in the "real" Mexico City, the restaurants were often set up in a similar way.

The rest of the restaurant is pleasantly decorated in black and white photos of famous Mexicans, bright sarapes and sequined sombreros. Its not lavish or even especially aesthetic, but to me it seems very appropriate for an authentic Mexican place. This simplistic mode of decor says, "We're not going to wow you with fancy walls. Let the food speak for itself!"

The service at Mexico City is on the money with what you find in a true authentic restaurant, but that doesn't mean it's good... in the traditional sense of good.

You are always greeted by a friendly face, and if you become a regular, they'll remember you. They are great at getting you seated quickly, your order will be effectively taken and your food will be at your table before you know it. But that's where it ends. Literally.

Your waitress will rarely come check on you or see if you need anything. Drink refills are unlikely. And when you want to leave, it will feel pulling teeth to get your bill.

And I love it! It may seem crazy, but to me this is part of the experience. I've never been to a good Mexican place that didn't treat me this way, so the mild annoyance goes with Mexican food just as much as the heartburn.

All of the other details aside, the food is what keeps us coming back to Mexico City! I'm not going to claim it's exactly like food you'd find south of the border, but it's close enough to satisfy the craving. Let me tell you about some of the dishes we find extra special:

The Guacamole Fresco is probably the biggest highlight of the dining experience. It's so "fresco" they actually make it at your table. With a mortar and pestle. Very cool! When the waiter comes to make your "guac", he'll ask if you want it spicy or mild. Pittsburgh-ers have spice phobia, so if you're a true Mexican lover, go for the spicy... it's not that hot.

My husband loves the tacos, which are what some call "taco-truck tacos." Basically, they're about half the size of a normal taco and are piled high with meat, onions, fresh cilantro and salsa. If you're lucky, they will have "pastor" which is pork that has a sweet-ish taste. Pastor is actually a bit hard to find in Mexican restaurants, as the cooking process requires a special spit (so I've been told). Thanks to Mexico City, you can enjoy this treat.

My personal favorite is the Salsa Verde Enchiladas with chicken, probably because it's the only good Salsa Verde I've ever tasted in Pittsburgh. They're just plain yummy and I crave them frequently!

I've actually become so enamored with my favorite dish at Mexico City that I haven't tried too much else, although I can vouch for the taco salad as well. But, I will say that everyone we've taken to this hot-spot loves whatever they order, so I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong.

Yelp.com has Mexico City's contact info and other reviews of this great restaurant:

Mexico City Reviews

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