American food, sports bars and Costco in Mexico City

You moved to one of the best food cities on Earth, and some Sundays you still want brisket and a game on TV. Good news: Mexico City does that too.

The short version

Texas-style barbecue is a real scene here. Pinche Gringo BBQ, co-founded by a New Yorker in 2013, is the best-known name [1][2].
American football is huge in Mexico, so finding the Sunday NFL slate on a big screen is easy. The Super Bowl is a citywide event [3].
Costco has five warehouses in Mexico City proper, and your membership works the same way it does back home [4].
Turkey (pavo) is easy to find, especially in late November and December. Cranberry sauce and canned pumpkin take more hunting.
US chains are everywhere, including eight Shake Shacks in the city [5].

Barbecue and burgers

Barbecue

Pinche Gringo BBQ is the name you'll hear first. Texas Monthly's barbecue editor reviewed it in 2018: brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage and smoked turkey sold by the pound, with mac and cheese, slaw, beans and potato salad on the side, and craft beer on tap [1]. It was co-founded in late 2013 by Dan DeFossey, a New Yorker, and Mexico City native Roberto Luna [1][2]. There are two locations: the "Patio" in Narvarte and the Warehouse on Lago Iseo in the Anáhuac area next to Polanco [1][3]. The website is pgbbq.mx.

Mexico News Daily's 2023 roundup of US-style barbecue also names Porco Rosso, with six locations around the city, and Smokes BBQ House in Del Valle, among others [2]. Restaurants come and go, so check a place's current social media before you make the trip.

Burgers and chains

US chains have a big footprint. Grupo Gigante runs Shake Shack in Mexico, with 21 locations nationwide and 8 in Mexico City at the start of 2026, including the original on Paseo de la Reforma by the Ángel de la Independencia [5]. You'll also find the usual fast-food suspects, plus a wave of local "smash burger" joints in Roma, Condesa and Juárez. Prices for a sit-down burger and a beer in those neighborhoods won't feel cheap, but they'll beat a tab in Brooklyn or San Francisco.

American breakfast

Pancakes, eggs any style and bacon show up on brunch menus all over Roma and Condesa. Mexican breakfast is a big deal too, so give chilaquiles a fair shot before you go hunting for hash browns.

Watching the NFL, NBA and more

Mexico loves American football. Mexico City has hosted regular-season NFL games at the Estadio Azteca, and plenty of locals have a team they'll argue about. That means you rarely have to look hard for a Sunday game.

A 2026 Super Bowl guide from UnoTV listed these among the places to watch in the city [3]:

Place	Where	Good for
Arena Sports Bar	Galerías Insurgentes mall, Del Valle	Big screens, the full Sunday slate
Pinche Gringo BBQ	Narvarte and Polanco	Brisket with your game
Sport&Chips	Miguel Ángel de Quevedo, Coyoacán	South-side games
Buffalo Wild Wings	Several locations	Wings, chains you know
The Dog House Pub	Roma	A neighborhood bar crowd

A few tips:

Time zones. Mexico City doesn't use daylight saving time anymore, so the gap to the East Coast shifts during the year. Sunday 1 p.m. Eastern kickoffs land at noon or 11 a.m. local time depending on the season. Check before you book a table.
Call ahead. Bars pick which games go on the big screens. If your team isn't a local favorite, ask, and show up early.
NBA and college games get less airtime. A bar with lots of screens is your best bet, or stream at home with your US subscriptions (check each service's rules on use abroad).
Soccer fans: the Mexico City chapter of the American Outlaws, the US national team supporters' group, holds watch parties upstairs at the Pinche Gringo BBQ Warehouse in Polanco [6]. Check the chapter's page for the current location.

Costco runs and US groceries

Costco

Yes, there's Costco, and yes, it feels like home: the same warehouse layout, the same Kirkland Signature labels and the same food court. Mexico City has five Costco warehouses, according to a June 2026 count [4]:

Polanco: Bulevar Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel Hidalgo
Mixcoac: Bulevar Adolfo López Mateos, Álvaro Obregón
Santa Fe: Avenida Tamaulipas, Cuajimalpa
Lindavista: Avenida Insurgentes Norte, Gustavo A. Madero
Villa Coapa: Tlalpan

The same report said another store was planned in Coyoacán [4], and there are more in the State of Mexico suburbs. Costco memberships are generally honored at warehouses in other countries, so bring your US card and confirm at the membership desk before you renew there.

Other places for US brands

Sam's Club, Walmart and the Mexican chains carry plenty of US cereals, sauces and snacks.
Upscale supermarkets in Polanco, Lomas and Santa Fe stock more imported brands, at import prices.
Delivery apps let you order from many of these stores without fighting traffic.

Expect sticker shock on imported specialty items. A US-brand box of cereal or a jar of peanut butter can cost noticeably more than at home. The trick is to buy the Mexican equivalent where it's just as good (tortillas, produce, coffee, beer) and save imports for things you truly miss.

Thanksgiving in Mexico City

Thanksgiving isn't a Mexican holiday, so the fourth Thursday of November is a regular workday. But turkey is part of Mexican Christmas dinner, which means it's easy to find frozen and fresh turkeys from mid-November.

Order the bird early. Supermarkets, Costco and butcher shops sell pavo. If you want a specific size or a fresh bird, order a week or two ahead.
Check your oven. Many Mexico City apartments have small ovens. Measure before you buy a 20-pound turkey (about 9 kg).
Hunt for the hard stuff early: canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, French's fried onions and stuffing mix sell out at stores that carry them. Some Americans bring them back in a suitcase from a trip home.
Or order out. Several restaurants and caterers in the city offer Thanksgiving dinners or whole cooked turkeys to go each November. Barbecue spots sometimes smoke turkeys too [1].
Find your people. American schools, churches and clubs often host Thanksgiving events. Our community group for Americans in Mexico is the easiest way to find a Friendsgiving table.

Altitude matters for baking. At about 2,240 meters (7,350 feet), pies and cakes may need high-altitude tweaks, and water boils at a lower temperature, around 93°C (199°F), so allow extra time.

Fourth of July and other US holidays

The Fourth of July isn't a day off here either. American groups, schools and some bars hold events, and the barbecue joints are a natural fit. For the Super Bowl, book a table well in advance; Mexico City treats it like a holiday even if the calendar doesn't.

American food in Mexico City: brisket, Sunday football and a Thanksgiving turkey