Mexico's capital city, with a myriad of restaurants serving every international cuisine imaginable, serves up the country's best tacos, too.

Parents!  Never fear--México City has a wide variety of international eateries, including take-out pizza, in almost every neighborhood. If you're a real foodie, you'll have a lot of fun with the comprehensive guidebook, "The Hungry Traveler --México" by Marita Adair (Andrew McMeel). However, when it comes to family restaurants, our recommendation follows the "When in Rome..." model. So we lean toward favorite Mexican ones, si como no?  Listings for clean, friendly places (where you can eat salads and even drink the water) are by neighborhood.

Zócalo - Centro Histórico

Sanborns
Various Locations
Begun in the early 1900s by the American Sanborn Brothers as a soda fountain and drug store, this has evolved into a chain of spotless, air-conditioned restaurants tucked into local department stores. The smallest ones sell a variety of knick knacks and travel essentials, ranging from sunglasses to toothpaste; larger ones sell everything from DVDs to computers to perfume, at dozens of locations throughout the city. Any of these ubiquitous coffeeshops are sure to serve up something the kids will appreciate when they're homesick. The flagship (at least in decor) of the chain is the beautiful and historic Casa de los Azulejos. 

Casa de los Azulejos
Calle Madero 4
(52 55/5518-6676)
The famous House of Tiles is quite close to the Zócalo and, as mentioned, is the first of the Sanborns group.  The history of this attractive colonial building traces back to the 18th century, and the chandeliers, fountain and hand-painted walls dress up what is otherwise a diner serving a Continental menu of American comfort foods. Go inside, if only for a look at its decorated cake displays!  The food and desserts are quite good and well-priced, and the early 20th-century peacock mural by Orozco adorning the dining room walls is an interesting highlight. 

Café Tacuba
Calle Tacuba 28
(52 55/5521-2048)
Another favorite for traditional specials (and we mean the rich mole sauces, grilled meats, fish, tamales, chili rellenos and black beans of authentic Mexican cuisine, not refried beans, nachos, chips and guacamole) is in the Centro Histórico. Its 18th century-style interior, with high ceilings, brass lamps, hand-painted tiles and artwork -- and its strolling musicians -- have entertained families since 1912. Their daily comida corrida or luncheon special is a very good value.

Cafe del Palacio
Palacio de Bellas Artes
(52 55/5512-0807)
This casual cafe is in the stunning fine arts museum and is well worth a stop for families who may never walk through the entire collection. It's tucked into an Art Deco-style corner of the museum and serves a variety of wines and simple snack foods; best is the terrace facing Alameda Park at lunch time.

Zona Rosa - Chapultepec - Roma

Fonda el Refugio
C. Liverpool 166
(52 55/5207-2732)
This place has been a standout in the Zona Rosa neighborhood for more than 50 years, though young Mexicans find it too stuffy and old-fashioned. Its calm, dark ambiance and superb staff are as beloved by the older crowd as its traditional preparation of Mexican favorites. A place to dress up and have a very civilized meal.

Del Bosque
Chapultepec Park
( 52 55/5515-4652)
This pleasant place overlooks a lake in the second section of the very large Chapultepec Park, making it a quiet respite at lunch from the bustling city. It's known for its excellent steaks as well as its Mexican and Continental cuisine, and the weekend brunch buffet is popular with families who dress up for an outing to the park.

La Bodeguita del Medio
Several Locations
(52 55/5661-4400)
With a name like this, you might think it's a branch of the Hemingway hangout from Havana. Instead it's a very popular restaurant and club serving Cuban cuisine to live Mariachi bands each evening in the Roma district. Check out their website for other locations throughout the country, as the Cuban "Buena Vista Social Club" sound is very popular with Mexican diners.

Polanco

Villa Maria
Homero 704
(52 5203-0306)
A contemporary version of the Mexican fonda or inn, where leisurely meals -- picture a Sunday supper with the entire family -- include regional cuisine served up to the beat of great mariachi music. One reason this restaurant flourishes in its business district location is the variety of margaritas, all huge and delicious, with flavors such as citron, passion fruit, guava and hibiscus. Additionally, Villa Maria's large portions of traditional Mexican cuisine all come with a twist. Appetizers that kids love such as empanadas, guacamole, chips and salsa can be ordered as entrees. Their special “pasta soup” dish is a bowl of chicken broth filled with angel hair pasta in a mole sauce sprinkled with a farmer's cheese. Fruits and vegetables augment local flavors to make dishes like our favorite pollo relleno de frutas in a pumpkin mole sauce served with apple slices.

La Valentina
Avenida Presidente Masaryk 393
(52 55/5282-2297)
Upstairs in the very luxe Plaza Masaryk shopping mall is this popular nueva Mexican restaurant in fashionable Polanco. The chic crowd and Kahlo-inspired décor are more reminiscent of SoHo than Frida’s kitchen, but this artist and her lover Diego Rivera were the originators of many of the specialties. The regular menu is excellent and the crowd is very stylish so dress up the kids.

China Grill
Camino Real Mexico Hotel
(52 55/5263-8887)
This is one of three China Grills in town; a branch of Miami's hot Chinese restaurant, which in turn is a branch of the chic black and chrome eatery that has kept New Yorkers entranced with Sichuan cuisine for the past few years. Mexicans love Chinese food -- especially the chili-pepper based cuisine of Sichuan province -- so this restaurant has become a star among the many dining rooms at the elegant Camino Real Hotel. Sushi and some Asian fusion dishes have been added to the menu to please all comers.

Konditori
Insurgentes Sur 1261
Colonia Extremadura Insurgentes
(52 5611-1792)
This place is a bit off the main drag of fashionable Polanco, and it's a fun place to catch the young and the restless of D.F. society at all hours. Families will enjoy the casual setting and light European dishes, including Danish pastries and those yummy Danish dark bread sandwiches, assorted coffees, and sandwiches. There are several branches, all open daily for breadfast, lunch or dinner.

La Fonda del Recuerdo
Bahia de las Palmas 37, Pemex Tower
(52 55/9112-7476)
If you're in the mood for a lively meal, stop by and you won't regret it. This authentic Mexican restaurant emphasizes seafood, and surrounds diners with spirited traditional musicians. For a tip, you can request their mariachi to play your favorite tunes, including "Happy Birthday" in Spanish. Be sure to get there early for lunch or dinner to avoid the long lines.

Travel Tip for Evening Fun:  Regardless of where you eat, one "don't miss" event for the family is a mariachi concert, which often occurs in conjunction with dinner. If you want to skip the meal, take the brood to Plaza Garibaldi, an outdoor employment center. Here, the brightly costumed strolling musicians, looking like urban cowboys in their spangled sombreros, await a summons to woo a young lady or perform at an impromptu party. You can listen as they play fetching melodies, or tip them to perform a special request for you (count on about US$10 per song.)