Hidden Chinatown in Mexico City | Viaducto’s Authentic Chinese Community, NOT Barrio Chino or Zona Rosa
📸 All photos in this post are original and taken during my travels - Alan
As an Asian-American, I'm always curious about other Asians living in different countries. While staying in Mexico, I wanted to find out what Chinese people do here, what they like to eat, and where to find the best Asian food.
A local in Mexico City told me about a place called Viaducto, where a significant Chinese community resides. Not only do they live there, but they also have restaurants and frequent them. Viaducto isn't commonly discussed, unlike Zona Rosa, known for its Korean population, or Barrio Chino. In this post, I'll share my experience in Viaducto, including the people I met and the places I visited.
Dim sum at Le Fu: a variety of steamed dishes
LE FU Dim Sum
The first place I want to mention is a dim sum restaurant called Le Fu, recommended by a Chinese-Mexican friend I met in Viaducto. Unlike other dim sum spots in Southern California, at Le Fu, you order on the left side and then bring the food back to your table. Since I didn’t speak enough Cantonese to order, they kindly opened all the baskets for us to see the food. We tried Sui Mai (steamed dumplings), Cheung Fun (steamed rice rolls with beef), steamed beef balls, lotus-wrapped sticky rice, and Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns).
We tried Sui Mai (steamed dumplings), Cheung Fun (steamed rice rolls with beef), steamed beef balls, lotus-wrapped sticky rice, and Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns)
Being from Southern California, which boasts some of the best Asian food outside of Asia, my standards are high. While this place wasn’t the best I’ve tried, my favorites were the Char Siu Bao and Cheung Fun.
If you want more details about the dishes or my opinions, feel free to message me. The bill was approximately $34, depending on the exchange rate.
I met my friend at Ka Won Seng Jia Wang Cheng in Viaducto, and she shared great tips for exploring Mexico City’s hidden Chinatown
Ka Won Seng Jia Wang Cheng
Here’s another restaurant called Ka Won Seng Jia Wang Cheng. This is where I met my Chinese-Mexican friend, who was born and raised in Mexico.
Ka Won Seng Jia Wang Cheng restaurant, where I met my Chinese-Mexican friend who was born and raised in Mexico
The spot served the most authentic Chinese food I’ve tried in Mexico so far. Although it wasn’t the best Chinese food I’ve ever had, it was better than other places in Mexico.
Mapo Tofu, Crispy Fried Noodles, two orders of steamed rice, and two teas
Closer look at our main dishes, Mapo Tufu and Crispy Fried Noodles
We had Mapo Tofu, Crispy Fried Noodles, two sides of steamed rice, and two drinks, totaling around $32.
About to go into Mini Super Run Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji
Mini Super Run the Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji
I noticed several small Asian markets in the area, with the largest I’ve seen being Mini Super Run the Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji. Filming inside was not allowed, but they had a variety of Chinese groceries like Sriracha sauce, Jasmine rice, and rice noodles.
Rice noodles at Mini Super Run the Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji
Rice at Mini Super Run the Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji
I managed to sneak in some pictures of the products.
Smaller Asian market on Albino Garcia Street
Another smaller store on Albino Garcia sold many of the same items, though I don’t know its name.
Hoisin sauce and chili oil at the smaller Asian market on Albino Garcia Street
Coconut milk at the smaller Asian market on Albino Garcia Street
Grass jelly at the smaller Asian market on Albino Garcia Street
If you’re craving Chinese or Asian flavors, these stores are good places to find ingredients like Jasmine rice, Sriracha sauce, Hoisin Sauce, grass jelly, and chili oil—the kinds of foods I grew up with.
Chinese Bakery on Albino Garcia Street
Chinese Bakery
A small bakery called "Chinese Bakery" caught my attention.
Sponge cake for 45 pesos
They sell various Chinese baked goods, and we tried the Chinese sponge cake, which was quite good and cost $45 pesos each. They don’t speak English or Spanish, so communication might be challenging if you don’t know Chinese.
In Front of the coffee shop on Albino Garcia Street
Bonus
On the same street, Albino Garcia, I found a small coffee shop with only four couches inside. It felt awkward to approach them with a video camera, so I stopped filming.
Friendly people at the coffee shop on Albino Garcia
I didn’t try their coffee, so I can't comment on its quality, but it seemed like a cozy mom-and-pop place where everyone knows each other.
Is it safe to visit Viaducto?
Opinions vary among locals. Some say it’s safe, while others are more cautious. For me, I felt safe. However, I suggest visiting during the day and avoiding nighttime just to be on the safe side. Also, we encountered a significant language barrier, as most of the Chinese residents here don’t speak English or Spanish.
Best time of day to visit Viaducto?
Many stores and restaurants open later in the afternoon or evening. For a better experience, consider visiting in the late afternoon or early evening while it’s still daylight. If you go too early, many of the stores will still be closed.
Conclusion
There are more places recommended by my Chinese friend from Mexico that I haven’t tried yet. If you’re curious about her recommendations, feel free to ask in the comments. Interested in exploring my suburban life in Coyoacan or learning about my cost of living in Mexico? Check out my other posts.
For a more detailed look at my journey through Viaducto and its hidden Chinatown, be sure to watch my video below. It includes additional footage and insights that complement this blog post. Thanks for reading!
Hello, I’m Alan!
I’m from California, slow traveling (slowmadding), staying productive, and exploring beyond the tourist spots—all on a budget.