Germany and Mexico aren’t an obvious cultural pairing, but the connection exists — and it shows up in a few corners of Mexico City’s dining scene. German immigration to Mexico started in the mid-1800s, with communities forming in Puebla, Veracruz, and the capital. The most visible legacy is beer: German brewmasters essentially built Mexico’s beer industry. The first major Mexican breweries — Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc (now producing Tecate, Dos Equis, and Indio) and Grupo Modelo (Corona, Negra Modelo, Pacifico) — were founded or heavily influenced by German immigrants in the late 19th century. Every time you drink a Mexican lager, you’re tasting German engineering.
The restaurant scene is considerably smaller than the beer legacy. We’re talking about a handful of spots, not a neighborhood or a movement. But what exists is worth knowing about if you’re in the mood for schnitzel, sausages, or a proper Weissbier — and sometimes that mood strikes, even at 2,240 meters above sea level in the middle of a landlocked valley.
Beer Halls and German Restaurants
Salon Corona
Not technically a German restaurant, but we’re including it because the history demands it. Salon Corona on Bolivar street in the Historic Center has been serving beer since 1928, and its connection to the Corona brewery (which was founded by a group that included German-born brewmaster Anton Zetzsche) makes it a living piece of German-Mexican history. The food is Mexican cantina fare — tacos, tortas, ceviche — but the beer tradition is pure German heritage filtered through a century of Mexican adaptation. A draft Corona here tastes different from the bottled version, and the atmosphere of a packed cantina at 3 PM on a weekday is one of the great Mexico City experiences.
German-Style Restaurants
Porky’s Grill in Colonia Narvarte does German-influenced pork dishes — schnitzel, bratwurst, pork knuckle — alongside Mexican standards. The pork knuckle (chamorro, as it’s called locally) is roasted until the skin crackles and the meat falls off the bone. It’s not quite Schweinshaxe in Munich, but it’s in the same spirit, and the price (200-350 pesos for the full knuckle) is a fraction of what you’d pay in Germany.
Biergarten on Nuevo Leon in Condesa does a German-themed beer garden experience — long wooden tables, sausage platters, pretzel bread, and a beer selection that includes genuine German imports alongside craft Mexican options. The atmosphere is lively, especially on weekends, and the sausage plate with three varieties, sauerkraut, and mustard is a solid order for the table.
Several of the city’s craft beer bars have embraced German styles — Weissbier, Pilsner, Kolsch, Marzen — even when the establishment itself isn’t specifically German-themed. The craft beer movement in Mexico City has deep respect for German brewing traditions, and you’ll find well-made German-style beers at spots like Cerveceria de Barrio (multiple locations) and Falling Down (Roma Norte).
Delis and Specialty Shops
A few German-style delis and specialty food shops have survived across the city, mostly catering to the German expat community and nostalgic locals. They carry imported sausages (knockwurst, bratwurst, leberwurst), German mustards, rye breads, and occasionally stollen and lebkuchen during the Christmas season.
La Europea, the liquor and gourmet shop chain, carries a reasonable selection of German beers and wines (yes, German wine — the Rieslings are underrated). Superama and City Market (the upscale supermarket chains) also stock imported German products in their specialty sections.
The Puebla Connection
If you’re willing to make a day trip, the German community in Puebla (about two hours east of Mexico City) has a more visible presence. German Mennonite communities in the surrounding countryside produce some of Mexico’s best cheese — queso menonita is a mild, semi-firm cheese that’s become a staple across Mexican cooking. It’s available in markets and supermarkets throughout Mexico City, even if most people buying it don’t think about its German-Mennonite origins.
Chipilo, a small town 15 minutes outside Puebla, was founded by Italian immigrants but has a nearby cluster of German-descent families who maintain some food traditions. It’s a fascinating day trip if food heritage interests you.
Oktoberfest in CDMX
Yes, it happens. Several venues around the city host Oktoberfest events in September and October, with varying levels of authenticity. The celebrations at cerveceria taprooms tend to be the most genuine — German-style beers brewed specifically for the occasion, sausages, pretzels, and sometimes an imported oompah band or a surprisingly competent local cover.
The larger events (sometimes held at WTC or Pepsi Center) are more commercial and less atmospheric, but they draw big crowds and the beer flows freely. Check local listings in September for dates and venues.
The Bottom Line
You’re not coming to Mexico City for the German food — we should be clear about that. But the German influence on the city is larger than most people realize, mostly invisible because it was so thoroughly absorbed into Mexican culture. The beer industry is the most obvious example, but German engineering, pharmaceutical companies, and educational institutions also shaped the city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
When the craving hits for a sausage, a pretzel, and a cold Weissbier, the options exist. They’re scattered and small, but they’re genuine, and they’re a reminder that Mexico City’s food culture is a product of immigration from everywhere — not just Spain and the United States.
For more dining options across all cuisines, see our complete food and restaurant guide.