Anthony Bourdain in Mexico: The Complete Country Guide

It’s easy to forget sometimes: while we just call it “Mexico,” the country is formally named the “Estados Unidos Mexicanos.” The United States of Mexico. To say that any one region represents them all is a gross simplification, just as it would be to say that any one dish served in one part of the U.S.A. represents all of American cuisine and culture.

Mexico is a diverse country despite its one-dimensional presentation in pop culture; unsurprisingly, through the places visited by Anthony Bourdain in Mexico, we come to see this. He visited a number of different cities and states, fearlessly trying everything from Tex-Mex classics you’ll recognize to less common dishes made with offal and bugs.

If you’re curious about all the places visited by Anthony Bourdain in Mexico, you’ve found the guide. Below is a breakdown of each city or state Tony visited and where he went. Where applicable, there are also links to more detailed guides here on Eat Like Bourdain that will give you all the info you need to visit and, well, eat like Bourdain too.

Ready to dive in and sample the incredible range of flavors in Mexico? ¡Buen provecho!

Table of Contents

Baja

Often overlooked and the youngest of the Estados Unidos in Mexico, the Baja peninsula is one of my personal favorite areas. Bourdain visited it too, spending time primarily in Baja California (the northern state of the two on the peninsula). Here’s where he ate during his visit:

If you’re going to Baja – lucky you – you can find more detail on exactly what he ate at each spot and how to find them, in my guide to the places visited by Anthony Bourdain in Baja.

Mexico City

Anthony Bourdain in Mexico City - Tortillas

Mexico City was – unsurprisingly – the place that Anthony Bourdain visited the most in Mexico. The capital city is as diverse as Washington D.C., sampling the best of the whole country and showing it off. Here’s where he ate during his two visits:

If you want more detail, be sure to check out my guide to all the places visited by Anthony Bourdain in Mexico City.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca was the second most visited place that Bourdain spent time in Mexico; it’s known as the foodie capital of the country, so this is also perhaps unsurprising. During his two visits (the first season of A Cook’s Tour and 13 years later for Parts Unknown), here’s where he ate.

As usual, I have a guide going into much greater detail on all the places Tony ate in Oaxaca if you’re curious and/or planning a trip.

Puebla

In one early episode of his television career, Tony went way off the tourist track to visit Puebla – he called it “Where the Cooks are From” and was guided there by one of his own sous chefs from Les Halles (yep, that’s how early it was in his career!). During that trip, he ate at only one named restaurant, the Hotel de San Francisco.

You can read more about what he ate, and the other unnamed places he enjoyed local flavors, in my guide to Tony’s travels in Puebla.

Texas/Mexico Border Towns

Anthony Bourdain in Mexico - Tacos al Bistek

Rather than detailing each small town specifically, I thought I’d round up the places Tony visited during a trip across the border to film his “US/Mexico Border” episode of No Reservations. Unfortunately, he didn’t visit many spots – and named even fewer of them. Here’s what we do know:

Corona Club – On the other side of the border, Tony stops in Ciudad Acuña to visit the Corona Club, the exact same bar where the movie El Mariachi was filmed. He enjoys a well-deserved sweaty cerveza Corona and a few tequila shots to prepare for the rest of the journey.
Unnamed Carrito – When crossing the Mexican side of the border, Bourdain passes by Piedras Negras, a little city known as La Puerta de México or the door to Mexico. This city is one of the busiest crossing points along the border and has great street food. He stops by an unnamed carrito (food cart) and gets traditional Mexican tacos. They’re prepared with chopped steaks seasoned with cilantro and salsa verde and wrapped in a freshly made corn tortilla.
Another Unnamed Carrito – I can’t put my finger down on this carrito’s name. But if my eyes don’t lie, this carrito is named La Comarca. Tony tries here the lonche, a sandwich prepared with fried meat of your choice with freshly smashed avocado, sliced onions, tomato, chiles, and put in some local bread.

If you have any insight on these unnamed spots and how to visit them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

And that covers all of the places visited by Anthony Bourdain in Mexico! Have any questions? Let me know in the comments below.