MUST EAT: Pujol Mexico City Restaurant Review (Updated)

Wondering if you should eat at Pujol in Mexico City? Keep reading for my in-depth review of the food along with details about costs, the menu, dress code, and booking reservations.

Pujol: World’s 50 Best

The second I finished booking my tickets for Mexico City, I locked in my reservations for Pujol. With features on shows like Chef’s Table and Somebody Feed Phil, Pujol grabbed my attention with the precision and expertise that each dish presented highlighting Mexican ingredients and cuisine. 

As of this year in 2022, Pujol ranks number five on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, climbing the ranking for years before hitting its top spot to date.

Although ranking in The World’s 50 Best doesn’t guarantee a great meal, the award informs travelers that the food is a recognized contender amongst other notable restaurants around the world. 

I must admit, the fine dining aspect kept me anxious as my previous experiences at famous fine dining establishments left a hole in my heart and wallet. The food usually proved underwhelming, only leaving me with severe sticker shock and disappointment. 

Pujol changed it all.

A part of me wanted to stick with the amazing tacos and street food in Mexico City, but the food was calling me.

From the friendliness of the staff to the modern decor to the unforgettable food, everything went smooth and comfortable from the second I walked in through the door. 

Pujol Restaurant Menu

Pujol currently has two types of service. Their tasting menu called “Menu Degustación” and their Omakase dining experience called “Barra de Tacos” which only seats 12 people at a time. 

My wife and I chose the tasting menu because we were absolutely dying to try a few signature dishes. 

The tasting menu costs $2565 Mexican Pesos ($128 USD) per person which includes tax but not gratuity. Drinks for both menus are a la carte and are purchased separately. 

Currently, Pujol does not offer a wine pairing option, but I desperately hope they change that in the future. 

Keep reading to the bottom for the full price I paid for my entire meal. 

Cocktails At Pujol

I was eager to taste the creations from the bar. Pujol gained a reputation for showcasing unique tequilas and mezcals from various areas around Mexico. 

I must admit, my knowledge and taste for tequila are horrifyingly limited with my experience coming from happy hour shots at my local bar.

My wife lost her interest in tequila after an unexpected mishap during a drinking game that led to a two-day hangover slumped over a trash can.

If my wife and I were to jump back into drinking tequila and mezcal, what better place than Pujol?

We ordered the Margarita Hashirama and Amor Amarillo Margarita which lacked any resemblance to a margarita in the United States. 

Both cocktails were beautifully prepared and unexpectedly refreshing, feeling like a complex cocktail than a chuggable, sugar-filled, frozen slurry in a salt rimmed glass. 

The Hashirama used mezcal while the Amor Amarillo featured tequila. Both were exquisite and drinks I would recommend to anyone visiting Pujol. 

Pujol Mexico City Tasting Menu

1. Baby Corn With Chicatana Ant Mayonaise 

Yes, ants. 

The corn comes to the table skewered in a smoking pumpkin bowl. The aroma of burning corn husks really adds to the tasting experience, igniting the senses for the meal. 

The dish pays homage to elote, street food of corn slathered in mayo, chili powder, and cheese.

I was excited to taste crushed ants which added a unique earthiness to the dish. The mayo element coats the mouth bringing out the umami flavors of the ants. 

The corn was more than delicious, leaving me only wanting more and more. 

2. Snail Ceviche With Heart Of Palm Juice, And Parsnip

What an excellent course. 

The purée of parsnip mixed with cilantro oil gave a bright and acidic feature that’s perfect for starting a meal. The sea snails were probably lightly poached and then sliced thin having enough chew to mingle with the rest of the ceviche. 

This was my wife’s favorite course, and I have to admit, it was a close second for me. The lightness and the acidity teased our palates, making us hungrier and more excited for the next courses. 

3. Brussels Sprouts Tlayunda With Almond’s Mojo, And Ant Roe

Not only beautifully decorated, but the first bite greeted me with a satisfying crunch from the fried, thick tortilla. The Brussels sprouts received a nice torched finish with the edges ever so slightly charred, adding a smokey finish to the bite. 

A nice spice lingered that didn’t overwhelm, an element usually skipped on a fine dining menu. Although I don’t know how the almond’s mojo or ant roe tasted exactly, I just wanted seconds…and thirds… 

To my surprise the more I chewed, the more amazing it became, making it almost impossible to swallow because it just tasted so good. 

This was my favorite dish: crispy, savory, spicy, and delicious in every way. It’s the tostada that I never knew I needed. 

4. Tuna And Mussel With Squash Huatape, Asparagus, And Cacahuazintle

The course with the most protein. Seared tuna and a cooked mussel sit on a velvety squash sauce paired with asparagus and cacahuazintle, an heirloom white corn that was particularly tasty.

By themselves, each part of the dish stood out as exceptional but putting them together created a flavor melody I’ve rarely experienced elsewhere. 

The tuna with bites of mussel and a dip in the squash huatape created a seafood profile like none other. Then pieces of asparagus and the cacahuazintle made each bite unique. 

5. Swiss Chard Wrap, Rice, Bulgur, Chile-Ajo, And Chickpea Purée

What a unique dish with a surprising twist. The plate looked strange with the thick green sauce which tasted like moss grew all over my plate. 

I was skeptical because each part of this dish on its own felt incomplete and a bit too vegetal.

By mixing everything together, however, the flavors combined in a way that reminded me of the movie Ratatouille. The part where the bright swirling colors represented flavors, merging together in an explosive light show. 

Yeah. It was like that. 

The chickpea purée mimicked an ultra pureed hummus, driving a creamy element to each bite and transforming the green sauce into an umami gravy coating every part of my mouth.

Every bite dazzled with an unctuousness that still felt light after the whole course was done.  

6. Mole Madre 2904 Days And Mole Nuevo Made With Seasonal Fruit

A food moment that left me amazed and humbled. 

Both moles tasted unique with their own identity featuring a complexity and nuance generally unassociated with Mexican cuisine. 

The Mole Madre (2904 Days Old), tasted wonderfully heavy and deep. I’m not sure if it’s possible but I tasted the age…

“Mature” seems to fit, similar to the feeling after eating a well aged steak. 

Chilis sit heavy on the tongue as a slow heat grew into a flavor of its own. I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s what happened!

The Mole Nuevo shined with a light fruity side but not sweet. A sauce delicious in its own way that seems unlike any mole I’ve tried anywhere else. 

Combining the flavors with the tortillas only highlighted the deliciousness of every bite. 

I loved how this staple dish is forever evolving, growing alongside Pujol with each passing day. 

These moles show that Mexican cuisine moves past tacos and quesadillas and into an expertise of precision in the flavors that make Mexico beautiful. 

I understand why this was the last course before desserts. My palate felt heavy after the dense spice. Time for dessert!

7. Lemon Verbena Custard With Raspberries And Yogurt

I love fruit forward desserts and this one helped lighten my fatigued palate with a burst of freshness. The lemon and verbena custard sat in a raspberry consomé with creamy and sweet working together. 

The yogurt swirl on top was undoubtedly frozen in liquid nitrogen allowing it to retain a firm texture until it melted smooth on the tongue. Sour but not sweet, the yogurt was a needed component to balance the sweetness from the raspberry and custard. 

8. Special Dessert For Our Anniversary

Since we dined at Pujol for our anniversary, they kindly served us an extra dessert. My wife and I both loved this dessert, but I don’t know what’s in it. All I can say is that the dessert was wonderfully light and sweet with lots of fruit. 

9. Mini Conchas Filled With Cream

What a perfect way to end the meal. These tiny conchas had a lightly crispy exterior with a banana cream interior. 

Oh my goodness. 

If a bakery sold only these mini conchas, people would line around the block just for one. They were that good. 

Verdict: Was Pujol Worth It?

Yes!

The meal for me was perfect with each course maintaining its own identity with a few surprises along the way. It’s what you want from a fine dining, multi-course tasting menu. 

I loved the emphasis on Mexican spices and different corn varieties, each highlighted for its unique flavors. 

Plus, Pujol is in the Polanco neighborhood, a safe part of Mexico City, and wonderful to walk during the day or night.

Everyone’s a critic, and I read both good and bad reviews before dining at Pujol and came up with my own verdict. 

For the 5th best restaurant in the world, the prices were so cheap in comparison to other restaurants in the top ten, and the food was on par with other renowned fine dining restaurants. 

If fine Pujol’s price is too high or if fine dining isn’t your thing, there are plenty of amazing restaurants in Mexico City that will satisfy any craving.

Pujol Price

For the entire meal, I paid $6,145 Mexican Pesos plus a 20% gratuity totaling $7,374 ($368 USD). This included sparking water, two cocktails, and two tasting menus. 

Pujol Reservations

All reservations are done through OpenTable for both the Tasting Menu and the Omakase. If you plan on visiting Mexico City and need to eat at Pujol, book those reservations asap. 

A credit card is required for booking, but this is for last minute cancelations, which is a standard practice in the fine dining world. 

If for some reason you read this with no openings available, call the restaurant and give them your name. Cancelations happen all the time and they can usually accommodate last minute seatings to fill the restaurant. 

Pujol Dress Code

The dress code for Pujol is smart casual, which is a loose term on specifics. I saw people in very casual attire dining at the restaurant, and I am sure they wouldn’t turn anyone away even if they showed up in shorts and flip flops. 

I don’t recommend dressing super casual, but personally, I think long pants, dresses, skirts, and sleeved shirts are acceptable for everyone. 

This is one the best restaurants in the world, so make it a special occasion and dress for a night to remember.

You Should Try Pujol

I totally recommend this restaurant to fine dining veterans and complete beginners alike. The food was creative and unlike any other fine dining restaurant. 

The price is manageable and the reservations aren’t impossible to snag. 

From my experience with Pujol, I think anyone is lucky to try the food and experience a sophisticated touch to Mexican cuisine. 

Pujol Mexico City Information

Address: Tennyson 133, Polanco, 11570 Mexico City, Mexico
Phone Number: + 52 55 5545 4111
Website: https://pujol.com.mx/eng/
Email: INFO@PUJOL.COM.MX