Can you imagine eating at the same restaurant where Marilyn Monroe and Cantinflas once dined? In Mexico City, there’s a business that started as a small snack stand and ended up becoming one of the city’s most historic dining spots.
This is El Taquito, a restaurant with 109 years of history whose origins date back to 1917. For over a century, it was located on Calle del Carmen in the Historic Center, until 2024, when it moved to a new location to begin a new chapter.
From a street-side griddle to a taqueria with over 100 years of history
It all began when Marcos Guillén and Concepción Rioja, known as Conchita, decided to open a small general store. To supplement their sales, Conchita began preparing Mexican snacks using a portable stove and a comal.
Among its early specialties were sopes, pambazos, and quesadillas made with potatoes, cheese, and squash blossoms, as well as tongue and carnitas tacos.
The food was so popular that the couple managed to open a restaurant in 1923. Thus, the Restaurante Taurino El Taquito was formally established, with a name and décor that reflected Marcos Guillén’s passion for bullfighting.
Marilyn Monroe, Cantinflas, and other celebrities dined at El Taquito
One of the most intriguing aspects of this restaurant is its list of famous visitors. Mario Moreno Cantinflas, Marilyn Monroe, María Félix, Diego Rivera, and various figures from Mexican politics have all dined at its tables.
Its walls have become a sort of museum, featuring photographs, mementos, and testimonials from the notable figures who visited the establishment.
Although El Taquito is recognized as one of the oldest taquerías in Mexico City, its history is also marked by a significant change.
In September 2024, it left its iconic location in the Historic Center due to accessibility issues and declining sales in the area.
However, the restaurant didn’t disappear: it reopened in the San José Insurgentes neighborhood, where it preserves its family tradition, part of its photo collection, and the Mexican flavors that made it famous.
After four generations, its history remains intertwined with the capital’s culinary heritage and collective memory.
