Bygone Restaurants in Mexico City / Casa Paquita: Closed Due to Corruption
The restaurant that helped Paquita become a feminist icon, located in Colonia Guerrero, specializing in Mexican cuisine and frequented by stars like Luis Miguel.
“Rata de dos patas” was the song that catapulted Francisca Viveros Barradas—better known as Paquita la del Barrio—to infinite fame. Afterward came other legendary hits: “Tres veces te engañé”, “Me saludas a la tuya”, “Cheque en blanco”, “Las mujeres mandan”, “Pobre pistolita”, among many others.
The Birth of Casa Paquita
In the 1980s, Paquita and her husband (not the one who allegedly left her with two children) bought land and started building. The original space was a simple barbacoa stand.
Soon after, she established Casa Paquita, a restaurant with seating for 500. Interestingly, Paquita personally sourced the ingredients for the restaurant, and the venue became a stage for her rise. Rumor has it that Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, and José José were among its visitors.
Trouble and Closure
Casa Paquita faced several issues: first, it was set on fire by a young member of the Unión Tepito (a Mexico City crime syndicate) attempting to impress a niece. Later, as Paquita herself revealed in interviews, she confronted corruption from city authorities. A delegate from Cuauhtémoc allegedly demanded 2 million pesos to allow the restaurant to reopen.
What was on the menu?
Casa Paquita served traditional Mexican food: barbacoa, birria, tacos, quesadillas, and sopes, all homemade style. The restaurant was closed in 2006, after Paquita refused to pay the bribe.
Today, at 77, she passed away in her home in Xalapa. The stone wall of Casa Paquita still stands… Are you listening, useless one?!
Address: Zarco 202, Colonia Guerrero, CDMX
Closed / Extinct
