We love a chef who delivers something special and Chef Juan Carlos Hernandez of Cafe Aldama 57 is the master of those unique, culinary offerings in SMA. We started writing about him in 2023, when Café Aldama 57 first opened, and haven’t stopped talking about his food since then.
The menu is small but consistently exceptional, especially the Lechon and Avocado Toast; the BEST breakfast dish we’ve eaten in SMA all year with just 3 more months to go. In fact, we thought this dish was so good we invited two of SMA’s favorite restaurateurs to try it: Sebastian Acosta Quiroz, a Chilean born sommelier turned business executive who previously worked for Hotel Matilda, Aperi, Dos Casas, Cumpanio, Casa de Los Olivos, Jacinto and Panio and just last week, Toño Aranda Lavalle, a partner with brother, Andrés Aranda Lavalle; owners of Bocaciega, Tostevere, La Choperia and Fari, four of SMA’s most popular restaurants. We wanted to know what the experts thought too because many of them own the best palates in town. The conclusion was unanimous - Sebastian and Tono both loved Café Aldama 57 and Chef Juan Carlos Hernandez’s cooking their first time out.
Another great dish is his French Toast. The chef recently changed up the recipe and I don’t think he can make it any better … but knowing him, he probably will. The last time I had French Toast this good was in Paris; pain perdu with a crispy, caramelized crust and a creamy, custardy interior.
Great food is defined by the chef and Juan Carlos worked for renowned chef, Francisco Ruano, at Alcalde in Guadalajara; rated one of the 50 best restaurants in the world. His Guadalajara offerings on the Cafe Aldama 57 menu are divine: Birria and Torta Ahogada. He also worked for Chef Paul Bentley at Magno Brasserie, where he crafted a menu that delighted diners with authentic, smoky flavors straight from the grill. He moved to Bovine Brasserie in SMA to continue his passion for grilling and French food. He’s part of the chef team at Moxi in Hotel Matilda under the direction of Chef Vicente Torres, who is one of the great chefs of Mexico. Café Aldama 57 is also part of that group.
Most of the dishes at Cafe Aldama 57 are priced around $200 pesos; a bargain for the quality and ingredients. Cafe Aldama 57 is old world: quiet, cozy and welcoming but we also love the ambiance. Where else can you sit in a big window, that opens up to one of the most beautiful streets in the world, and shower morning greetings on friends who are off to Parque Juarez for a run? It doesn’t get more local than that!
We all want different things out of a restaurant. Bruce James, Managing Partner of Matilda, just wanted a good cup of coffee in the morning so he opened Cafe Aldama 57. What he got instead was the best place for breakfast in San Miguel de Allende.
CAFÉ ALDAMA 57
Aldama 57, Centro
Daily 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM/ Closed Tuesday
Phone: 415 688 2284
Chef: Juan Carlos Hernandez
