Zero 20

If you’re looking for a sanitized, white-tablecloth version of Mexico where the salsa is an afterthought and the margaritas come out of a slushie machine, keep walking. Zero 20 isn’t for you. Located on a nondescript stretch of Carrer d'Indíbil in the Poble-sec neighborhood, this place is a visceral reminder that the best food usually happens in cramped spaces with loud music and a slight layer of condensation on the windows. It’s a neighborhood joint in the truest sense—a place where the air smells of toasted corn, slow-simmered pork, and the sharp, acidic tang of lime.

Walking into Zero 20 feels like stumbling into a friend’s chaotic kitchen in Mexico City. It’s small, it’s often crowded, and the decor doesn't try too hard because the food is doing all the heavy lifting. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Barcelona for anyone who values substance over style. You aren't here for the lighting; you’re here because you heard a rumor about the pozole, and that rumor happens to be the gospel truth.

Let’s talk about that pozole. It is a deep, crimson bowl of liquid salvation. In a city where 'spicy' often translates to a mild tingle, the pozole here respects the chili. It’s rich, earthy, and packed with hominy that has the perfect bite. It’s the kind of meal that demands your full attention, served with the requisite pile of radishes, lettuce, and lime to cut through the richness. It’s not just a soup; it’s a restorative experience that can cure a hangover, a heartbreak, or a bad day in the Gothic Quarter.

Then there are the tacos. They don't do fusion nonsense here. The Al Pastor is a masterclass in the genre—thinly sliced pork, marinated until it’s stained red, served with that essential sliver of pineapple. The cochinita pibil is tender enough to make you weep, carrying the citrusy, achiote-heavy soul of the Yucatán. They use real corn tortillas that actually taste like corn, which shouldn't be a luxury, but in this part of the world, it often is. If you’re looking for authentic tacos in Barcelona, this is your ground zero.

But you can’t talk about Zero 20 without mentioning the micheladas. Calling it a drink is an understatement; it’s a meal in a glass. The rim is caked in a thick, spicy layer of tajín and salt, and the concoction inside—beer, lime, and a proprietary blend of sauces—is enough to wake the dead. Some versions come topped with gummy bears or tamarind sticks, a chaotic sweet-and-savory mess that shouldn't work but absolutely does. It’s the perfect companion to a plate of chilaquiles that are drowning in salsa and topped with a perfectly fried egg.

The service is exactly what it should be: fast, informal, and occasionally frantic when the house is full. The staff doesn't have time to coddle you, but they’ll make sure your glass is full and your tacos are hot. It’s the kind of place where locals from Sants-Montjuïc rub elbows with expats who have been searching for a taste of home. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s honest.

Zero 20 is a reminder that Barcelona’s food scene is at its best when it stops trying to be 'Mediterranean' for five minutes and just lets someone cook what they love. It’s cheap eats Barcelona at its most rewarding. If you’re tired of the tourist traps near La Rambla and want a meal that actually bites back, get yourself to Poble-sec. Just don't wear a white shirt.