Comida Corrida in Mexico City: What the Set Lunch Includes and Costs
The set lunch at a neighborhood fonda is the city's everyday meal for office workers and families. How it works, what to say, how to pay and what to expect from the street stalls nearby.
A comida corrida is a fixed-price lunch served at small family restaurants called fondas: a drink, a soup, rice or pasta, and a main dish chosen from two or three daily specials, sometimes with dessert. Mexico City’s official tourism site puts fonda prices at about MXN 50 to 150, with restaurants charging MXN 200 or more for a similar meal. Tipping is voluntary under consumer law; 10 to 15% is the usual practice.
What does a comida corrida include?
The set lunch comes in courses, called tiempos, and the main dish sets the price. The city’s tourism guide to fondas lists the usual sequence, which most fondas follow with small variations:
| Course | Typical options |
|---|---|
| Drink | Fruit water (agua fresca) of the day, such as jamaica, horchata or lime |
| First course (sopa) | A broth, a vegetable soup or a cream soup (crema) |
| Second course (sopa seca) | Red or white rice, spaghetti, or a simple salad |
| Main (guisado or plato fuerte) | Two or three stews or dishes of the day, such as chicken in mole, pork in green salsa or breaded steak, with beans and tortillas |
| Dessert, at some fondas | Flavored gelatin, rice pudding or a small sweet |
Tortillas usually arrive in a basket, and salsas sit on the table. Refills of tortillas are normal; refills of the drink depend on the place.
How much does a comida corrida cost in 2026?
Prices depend on the neighborhood, the main dish and how formal the place is. The range on the city’s tourism site, MXN 50 to 150 at fondas and MXN 200 or more at restaurants, is a fair guide, but the page carries no date, and food away from home has been getting more expensive. In INEGI’s consumer price index for the first half of October 2026, restaurant and accommodation prices were up 6.16% from a year earlier, faster than overall inflation; our page on the cost of living in Mexico City has the full breakdown.
As of November 2026, expect the cheapest menus near markets, offices and transit hubs and higher prices in areas such as Polanco, Condesa and Roma. Most fondas write the day’s menu and price on a board outside. Profeco reminds restaurants that prices must be displayed clearly, so ask before ordering if you do not see them.
When are fondas open?
Lunch is the main meal of the day in Mexico City, and it is eaten later than in the US. Most fondas serve the comida corrida from around 1 p.m. to about 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the busiest time is roughly 2 to 4 p.m., when offices take their break. Many close on Sundays, and popular dishes can run out before closing, so arriving earlier gives you more choice. Some fondas also serve breakfast; few open for dinner.
How do you order and pay?
Ordering takes a few words. Sit down, and the server will list the options, often quickly.
- Ask what there is today: ¿Qué hay de comer?
- Choose your soup, then your main: De sopa, la de verduras; de guisado, el pollo en mole.
- For takeaway, say para llevar. Many fondas pack the full meal in containers.
- When finished, ask for the bill: la cuenta, por favor.
Cash is the norm at small fondas, so carry small bills and coins. Places that accept cards may not add a surcharge for card payment, Profeco reminded restaurants in September 2026. Our guide to Mexican Spanish basics covers the polite phrases that make these exchanges easier, such as provecho, said to people who are eating.
How much should you tip at a fonda?
A tip (propina) is voluntary, and a business cannot add it to the bill without your consent, Profeco says, citing Article 10 of the Federal Consumer Protection Law, which bans coercive sales practices. There is no legal amount; in practice, diners at sit-down places usually leave 10 to 15% for good service. At a counter or a market stall where you serve yourself, people often round up or leave a few coins.
If a tip appears on your bill without being agreed, ask for it to be removed. You can report pressure to pay it to Profeco’s Consumer Telephone at 55 5568 8722 or 800 468 8722.
What should newcomers know about street food?
Street stalls and market counters cover the hours fondas do not. In the morning, look for tamales with atole and sandwiches made with a tamal (guajolotas); at midday, tacos de guisado, quesadillas and blue-corn tlacoyos; at night, tacos al pastor. In Mexico City a quesadilla does not automatically include cheese: ask for it con queso.
- Stalls with a steady line of local customers turn food over quickly.
- You usually pay at the end and tell the cook how many tacos you had.
- Salsas are often hotter than they look; try a little first.
- Ask whether the agua fresca is made with purified water if that matters to you. Our page on tap water in Mexico City explains how drinking water is handled.
Bottom line
Pick a fonda with a written menu board and a lunchtime crowd, arrive by 2 p.m., and carry cash. Budget for the price on the board plus 10 to 15% if you are happy with the service.
FAQ
Is comida corrida the same as menú del día?
Yes, in practice. Both mean a set lunch with several courses at one price; menú del día or menú is often written on the board.
Can I order only the main dish?
Many fondas let you order the main dish alone or skip the soup, usually for a slightly lower price. Ask first, since some sell only the full meal.
Are vegetarian options available?
Some days the specials include a vegetable dish, such as chiles rellenos with cheese or nopales. Soups are often made with chicken stock, so ask if that matters to you.
Do fondas give receipts?
Small fondas rarely issue facturas. If you need one for business expenses, choose a restaurant that advertises invoicing.
