Tacos have been part of the country’s social, cultural and gastronomic history. Considered an emblem of Mexico, this culinary dish has transcended generations and borders, becoming an international delicacy, being recognized by various gastronomic organizations such as the famous Michelin Guide (which included the Califa de León in its 2024 edition) or Taste Atlas.
However, what many people ignore is that taco shops have been present in Mexico City for several years, becoming witnesses to countless historical events and keeping within their four walls thousands of experiences and anecdotes, which can still be felt if you are able to close your eyes.
We have previously told you about the oldest taco shop in the Mexican capital, which against all odds became a benchmark for Mexican gastronomy and tacos internationally. Now, we bring you the second oldest taco shop in Mexico City, a must-see for food and history lovers. Here are the details.
Tacos are part of the national gastronomy
What is the story behind the second oldest taco shop in the capital?
It is Tacos Beatriz, an establishment located in Mexico City with more than 100 years of history. Its origin began in 1887, in the middle of the civil war in Mexico, when Beatriz Muciño Reyes and her brother Claudio decided to migrate from the town of San Mateo Tazcaliatac (State of Mexico) to the Mexican capital, in search of a better life.
Once established, they started a small business of quesadillas, enchiladas and tacos in the hall of a house on República del Salvador street, beginning their legend of Mexican seasoning and flavor, which lasts to this day.
Tacos Beatriz: the second oldest taco shop in CDMX | Special
The street food business was informal until 1918, when the government began to issue licenses that converted the stands in houses and streets into restaurants and inns. One of these establishments was Tacos Beatriz, which after being successful in its first location, Beatriz Muciño Reyes decided to move to Venustiano Carranza Street, then to Bolívar Street and finally to its most well-known location, Uruguay Street, until 2008.
Thanks to its popularity, Tacos Beatriz had two other old branches in the streets of the Historic Center: one was located on Bolívar Street and another on Isabel la Católica Street.
Some of its clients ranged from politicians, intellectuals, athletes, celebrities, bullfighters and singers, among many others, who fell in love with Doña Beatriz’s flavor and her unique recipes, which caused Cantinflas, Virginia Fábregas, María Conesa, Agustín Lara and Carlos Monsiváis, to name a few, to return to the small taco shop.
“In my childhood, when my faith in traditions was rudimentary, the devotion to Tacos Beatricita had an eminent place in the catalogue of my hopes… it is enough to recall an order of bean tacos with cheese and my childhood reappears intact,” wrote the chronicler.
Tacos Beatriz was founded more than 100 years ago | Facebook
Doña Beatriz continued working in the taco shop for more than 40 years, until she retired in 1945; her business continued thanks to her nephew Alejandrino Reyes. By 1971, her descendants, who were the owners of the establishment in Isabel la Católica, opened a restaurant in the Zona Rosa, on London Street. There they continued to offer the same traditional recipes, and the business is currently under the management of the fourth generation of the Reyes Cañas family.
Tacos Beatriz was not only an emblematic place in the gastronomy of Mexico City, but also a meeting place for artists, intellectuals and entertainment personalities. The taco shop continues to be an important place, preserving the essence of traditional Mexican food
Source: lasillarota
