10 Places I Ate the Best Seafood in Mexico City
The best seafood in Mexico City replicates classic coastal flavors that instantly transport you to the ocean. And I bet you’ll be surprised by the variety and freshness.
Mexico City sits inland, but the seafood here rivals what you’d find on the coast. That’s largely thanks to La Viga, the world’s second largest seafood market, located about 40 minutes from downtown.
The good news? You don’t need to make the trek to find incredibly fresh seafood.
When I visit Mexico City, I’m always chasing the perfect aguachile — spicy, citrus-forward, and balanced just right. This guide is the result of that hunt: the best seafood restaurants in Mexico City, from casual street stands to creative culinary experiences.
Whether you’re craving ceviche, fish tacos, aguachile, or a regional specialty, you can taste Mexico’s coastal flavors without leaving CDMX.
Before we dive in, I want to mention two popular Mexico City seafood restaurants not on this list. And the reasons why. First, I think they’re overrated. And second, you’ll probably discover them elsewhere.
The first is Contramar, one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Mexico City. On my mom’s first afternoon in the city, we were lucky enough to snag a outside table (there’s usually a long wait). But we left underwhelmed with the dishes we ordered. Perhaps because we didn’t try their famous tuna tostada, which our waiter kept pushing.
The second is Mi Compa Chava, a trendy place to eat seafood in Mexico City (pictured above). Honestly I was excited about eating here, but again my friend and I felt it just didn’t hit the mark. We ordered several dishes to share and nothing stood out.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Mexico City
So instead, here are the places I ate the best seafood in Mexico City. I’ve included the neighborhood with a link to the location so that you can easily find them on the go. Save this list so that you’ll always know where to eat seafood in CDMX!
1. Mal Hecho
📍 Location: Roma Norte (map)
I know what you’re thinking: the best seafood in Mexico City comes from a street stand? Just wait.
The first time I walked by Mal Hecho, its setup stopped me in my tracks. White plates on woven placemats, a full set of silverware, soft lighting filtered through palapa fronds. It looks like it belongs at a high-end beach restaurant in Baja, not on a sidewalk in CDMX.
But the food is top notch. The tostadas are impossibly airy. They practically dissolve on your tongue, yet somehow still hold up under a pile of fresh raw tuna.
The chef explained that the signature dish, camarones mal hecho, is his take on XO sauce, a popular Chinese condiment. Except his is made with crickets, chicharrones, and chiles. The shrimp are grilled and then flash fried so the shells turn crispy enough to eat whole. Head and all.
Mal Hecho is what happens when street food gets ambitious — and actually pulls it off.
2. María la Pescadora
📍 Location: Roma Norte (map)
This cute corner seafood restaurant specializes in seafood tacos, tostadas, and burritos. I highly recommend the tuna tostada topped with lightly fried onions. The crunch and sweetness of the onions balance the spicy tuna.
They also serve shrimp aguachile Thursdays-Sundays. And paella on the weekends. The only seating is outdoors on the sidewalk, but it’s a pleasant environment. That tuna tostada was one of the best things I’ve put in my mouth lately.
3. Gin Chan
📍 Location: Roma Norte (map)
Gin Chan consistently serves some of the freshest seafood in the city. The thick slices of sashimi and the fried fish collar were both delicious, but the prepared oysters steal the show. Served raw with a quail egg, tobiko, ikura, caviar, and a drizzle of ponzu, they’re a must-try if you’re an oyster lover.
Gin Chan also made my list of the best Japanese restaurants in Mexico City. And reviewers agree, comparing it to top sushi spots in NYC.
The menu offers both an over the top Omakase experience and a variety of à la carte options, from sashimi and nigiri to traditional Japanese dishes. To top it off, the restaurant also has an impressive selection of sake and cocktails.
4. Balandra – Cocina de Puerto
📍 Location: Roma Norte (map)
I stumbled upon Balandra after being told there was a two hour wait at Mi Compa Chava, another top seafood restaurant in Mexico City. Spoiler alert: I returned to the other one the next day and it was disappointing. But Balandra was delicious!
The menu immediately caught my attention with its creative marinades and the use of various chiles. The ceviche and tuna tostada are both excellent choices, while the octopus with pork rinds adds an unexpected but delicious crunch. I also loved the salsas, which were both flavorful and spicy.
While looking at the reviews, I noticed many people mention the chilaquiles. So I’m thinking I need to return to see if they’re good enough to make my list of the best places for brunch in Mexico City.
5. El Saladito Marisquería
📍 Location: Centro (map)
El Saladita Marisquería is located inside one of the best markets in Mexico City, Mercado de San Juan. It’s known for fresh seafood, unique meats, and other gourmet ingredients. The extensive menu of this marisquería includes ceviche, tostadas, aguachile, seafood tacos, and main dishes featuring fish, shrimp, and octopus.
The market setting adds an authentic but casual atmosphere, so it’s best if you’re looking for a low-key seafood restaurant in Mexico City. Most of the seating is around the bar which allows you to watch the chef prepare each dish.
Tip: While the decor draws visitors to El Saladito, there’s another seafood spot just across the aisle that also looks quite good.
6. La Carreta de Juana
📍 Locations: Cuauhtémoc | Colonia del Valle
La Carreta de Juana proudly declares, “This isn’t Sinaloa-style—it’s straight from Sinaloa!” The menu is a true reflection of Sinaloa flavors, featuring a variety of aguachile bathed in your choice of verde, negra, or mango habanero salsa.
And the selection doesn’t stop there. You’ll find twice as many seafood tacos, nearly as many tostada options, and a variety of hot seafood dishes to choose from.
7. Nacú
📍 Location: Juárez (map)
Nacú brings the vibrant seafood dishes of Veracruz to Mexico City, making it a top spot for exploring the coastal cuisine of one of the best cities in Mexico.
The tuna tostada is a must-try, topped with thin fried leeks that add a unique flavor. The menu also features a variety of seafood carpaccio and ceviche, but the signature dish is the arroz a la tumbada—a classic Veracruz dish of red rice and a mix of seafood, similar to paella but more brothy.
I highly recommend their mezcalitas (mezcal cocktails) in a variety of fruit flavors. They also have a range of Mexican craft beers, from IPAs to stouts and sours. For a taste of Veracruz seafood in Mexico City, add Nacú to your list.
8. El Turuleto – Seafood Tacos
📍 Location: Juárez (map)
Located just two doors down from Nacú, El Turuleto Tacos Del Mar is a low-key seafood restaurant in Mexico City that specializes in mouthwatering tacos piled high with seafood.
Highlights of the menu includes the Galan taco—creamy shrimp with beans wrapped in a lightly crisped flour tortilla balanced with a smoky chipotle bite. The Vallarta taco is another must-try for pulpo lovers. This crispy taco features pan-fried octopus over a smear of beans and topped with bits of chicharrones.
El Turuleto originally started as a street food stand, the roots of which are still evident in its bold flavors and casual vibe. I also included it on my guide to the best tacos in Mexico City.
9. El Mercadito Peruano – Peruvian Seafood
📍 Location: Centro (map)
Also located inside San Juan Market, El Mercadito Peruano brings the flavors of Peru to the Mexico City seafood scene. Specializing in Peruvian classics, this spot serves up dishes like ceviche with tiger’s milk, lomo saltado, and causa limeña.
Again the market setting allows you to watch as the chef prepares each dish. Portions are generous and the flavors are authentic, making it one of the best spots for Peruvian food in Mexico City. If you’re looking for a different flavor of seafood at San Juan Market, El Mercadito Peruano is the spot.
10. Mariscos La Matoza
📍 Location: Central de Abastos Market (map)
Mariscos La Matoza is the kind of classic Mexico City seafood restaurant where the menu goes on and on, pulling from coastal regions across the country. Veracruz-style fish, Sinaloan aguachile, Baja fried fish — it’s all here.
It’s located right next to La Viga Mariscos, the second largest seafood market in the world. Which means the fish here is as fresh as it gets.
A word of caution: this isn’t the safest neighborhood in Mexico City. If you want to explore the seafood market keep your valuables secure and stay aware of your surroundings. I visited with a friend from Oaxaca who was comfortable in the seafood section but hesitant about venturing into Central de Abastos. Use that as your barometer.
That said, if you’re looking for incredibly fresh seafood and don’t mind venturing off the beaten path, Mariscos La Matoza delivers.
Is the Seafood in Mexico City Fresh?
Yes, the seafood in Mexico City is quite fresh. Even though the closest beach is hours away, Mexico City is home to the second largest seafood market in the world—right behind Tokyo. This market supplies seafood throughout the city, ensuring that the seafood restaurants in Mexico City always have access to fresh fish.
In addition to the access to fresh ingredients, Mexico City is a melting pot for Mexican cuisine, bringing coastal flavors into the heart of the country. From Sinaloan-style aguachile to Veracruz dishes served hot, Mexico City seafood restaurants showcase a diverse range of flavors. Whether you’re craving ceviche, fish tacos, or a spicy aguachile, Mexico City seafood doesn’t disappoint.
Eating Seafood in Mexico City
There’s a surprising range of fresh and flavorful seafood in Mexico City. With options from Sinaloan-style aguachile to classic Veracruz seafood dishes, you can taste the diverse flavors of Mexico’s coastal cuisine right in the capital.
And with this article as your guide, you’ll be eating at the best seafood restaurants in Mexico City in no time.