In 2010, Viva Mexico was bought by Antonio Gonzalez and David de Orta Jimenez, two childhood friends, both chefs from Iztapalapa, Mexico City.

Don’t ask for “chili con carne” here. By the same token, don’t expect your tacos to come in hard shells. At Viva Mexico, a taco is a folded fresh tortilla, smelling and tasting of ground maize rather than cardboard.