Metro Balderas

Named for a Mexico City subway station, this bustling taqueria hasn’t been around long, but it's already a neighborhood institution. The time to go is on the weekend, when they go big with eight varieties of carnitas, left tender after being simmered in lard instead of the usual quick boil. Arrive early to beat the crowds that will inevitably gather inside the sparse, bright orange shop. If you miss the weekend taco madness, they also serve excellent sopes, quesadillas and pambazos—a sandwich whose bread has been dipped in red chile sauce, filled with potatoes and chorizo, and pressed until crisp. You’ll also want to order a giant, frosty stein of agua fresca.