Mexico City added two new reasons for international pride after being ranked as the friendliest city in the world, while tacos topped the list of the most famous street food on the planet, according to rankings released by Global Statistics.
In the urban hospitality classification, the Mexican capital appeared in first place worldwide ahead of cities such as Málaga, Valencia, Bangkok, and Madrid. On the culinary front, tacos took the number one position among 100 international street dishes.
The double recognition sums up two of the metropolis’ greatest strengths: its people and its cuisine. It also gains special relevance now that the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun, a tournament in which Mexico City will be one of the main host cities.
With millions of visitors expected during the event, these mentions also serve as a powerful calling card for a city that will once again be placed in the global spotlight.
With more than nine million inhabitants within the city and more than 20 million in its metropolitan area, the Mexican capital is one of the largest urban concentrations in the world. However, amid its size and fast pace, a quality remains that millions of travelers highlight: human warmth.
In markets, small eateries, Metro stations, public squares, and traditional neighborhoods, warm treatment is part of the daily experience. For many visitors, Mexico City preserves a singular ability to make newcomers feel accompanied.
The ranking of friendliest cities placed behind the Mexican capital, such as Málaga, Valencia, and Alicante in Spain, as well as Muscat, Bangkok, and Nairobi, reflect a trend in which destinations with strong community life and street culture stand out.
If hospitality was one attraction, gastronomy was the other.
Tacos were recognized as the most famous street food in the world, ahead of India’s pani puri, the United States’ hot dog, Belgian waffles, and the French croissant.
More than a dish, the taco is a national institution. Its modern history is deeply tied to Mexico City, where records of neighborhood taquerías and specialized street stands exist since the 19th century.
Today, the capital is considered by critics and travelers as one of the great culinary cities of the planet, capable of bringing together everything from late-night al pastor stands to fine dining restaurants with international recognition.
In 2024, the Michelin Guide awarded one star to Taquería El Califa de León, making it the first street taco stand in Mexico to receive that distinction, a symbol of the prestige achieved by popular cuisine.
In Mexico City, tacos do not distinguish social classes or schedules. They are eaten for breakfast in a basket presentation, at midday as guisado tacos, with their filling corresponding to main dishes, and celebrated at dawn as spit-roasted al pastor, or the more down-to-earth suadero, or cabeza. They are fast food, living tradition, and shared language.
Tourism specialists have pointed out that street cuisine has become one of the main engines of international attraction for the capital, together with its historical heritage, museums, and cultural life.
With the World Cup drawing closer, the recognition from Global Statistics reinforces the image of a city ready to welcome the world with two of its greatest attributes: hospitality and flavor.
Related: Museums and archaeological sites confirm cultural boom in Mexico with 19.5 million visitors
