Mexico – a country with a colorful and vibrant culture. The people are diverse and proud of their customs and heritage. Festivals are very important in Mexico and from large towns even to its smallest villages, they celebrate in style. Parades, floats, dances, fireworks, market places, and food are just some of the things you need to experience when visiting the country. Mexican food is known for its mix of indigenous foods and a touch of European culture. They are also known for their traditional ingredients, such as cayenne, chile powder, cumin, oregano, and coriander. These spices are found in their famous street foods, particularly in their tacos, chili con carne, enchiladas, tortas, quesadillas, and many more. This list contains some of the best street chow the city has to offer. To make your stay more worthwhile, you can visit their food markets and taste some of the world’s best street dishes. Check out our list of the best street food markets in Mexico.
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1. Mercado Municipal -- Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
The food scene is off the chain in this marketplace. It offers a lot, such as spices, fruit, vegetables, and even household items. It is almost a one-stop-shop and they have food counters that they call “comedores”, which serve amazing dishes.
At times, you will be serenaded by a rondalla, a three to four-piece ensemble who play stringed instruments. So, if you are looking for hearty yet affordable food, this is the place to be – you’ll experience an authentic and cultural experience.
Mercado Municipal -- Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
Address: Av. Benito Juárez Esq. Con Calle Palmas 40890 Zihuatanejo Guerrero Mexico
Opening hours: 6am - 7pm (daily)
2. La Merced -- Mexico City
This is a traditional marketplace located in the eastern part of the city. Essential Mexican chow is the main backbone of this market, though there are other stores that also sell household items. People come here to taste one of the most well-known Mexican street foods called antojitos. You can also try quesadillas here (a type of taco consisting of a tortilla that is filled with cheese and meat) and tostadas (a fried corn tortilla, topped with refried beans, shredded cheese, salsa, and other toppings). This place is worth exploring.
La Merced -- Mexico City
Address: Rosario S/N Col. Merced Balbuena 15810 México, D.F.Mexico
Opening hours: 5am - 6pm (daily)
3. La Lagunilla -- Mexico City
In this place, you will see a lot of “tianguis”, a term used for stores that sell second-hand items, antiques, vintage clothes, and pieces of jewelry. This place is perfect for those who love to collect memorabilia and souvenirs. Though they are officially open on Sunday, in reality, there are still some vendors in this market that are open on weekdays. Coming here is a nice way of spending a Sunday and you can walk for hours, checking out the merchandise of all kinds.
La Lagunilla -- Mexico City
Address: Eje 1 Norte y Brasil. Col. Centro. Saliendo del metro Lagunilla México, D.F.
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
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4. Mercado Alternativo Pochote Xochimilco -- Oaxaca City
This courtyard marketplace has a variety of things on offer. You can find vegetables and fruit, dairy products, meat, clothes, and even beauty products here. There are food counters from which you can order your favorite Mexican dishes. This place is highly recommended for people who love healthy and organic products.
Mercado Alternativo Pochote Xochimilco -- Oaxaca City
Address: Dr. Gilberto Bolaños Cacho S/N Col. de Xochimilco 68000 Oaxaca
Opening hours: Fri & Sat: 8am - 3pm (closed on Sun - Thu)
5. Mercado Campesino -- Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
This place is located in northeastern Mexico. It’s a marketplace that sells not only locally favorite Mexican dishes but also herbs and medicinal plants for health ailments. There are booths where you can find a variety of goods and services, such as traditional Mexican clothing, homemade remedies, fortune tellers, traditional Mexican candy, fresh baked goods, and much more. Many tourists are charmed by the beauty of this place. Surely you will come back for more.
Mercado Campesino -- Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Address: 64299 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 6am - 3pm (closed on Mon - Wed)
6. de Noviembre Market -- Oaxaca City
Hungry and looking for affordable street food? This place is the answer. Once inside the market, you will be greeted by local vendors offering their best Mexican street dishes. It can get overwhelming with every vendor presenting their menu to you. The market has a lot to offer, from food to garments and even household items.
If you want to eat like a local, you must go to the meat section, where vendors grill the food for you – a great treat for carnivores. Indulge in the heavenly taste of the spices and meat, fresh from the grill. This place can be very crowded, but you will surely enjoy the vibes here.
20 de Noviembre Market -- Oaxaca City
Address: Miguel Cabrera 120 Col. Centro 68000 Oaxaca
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
7. Tianguis de Condesa -- Mexico City
This “tianguis” offers a variety of things to choose from. Most of the stalls here sell vegetables, meat, food, antiques, bags, and different kinds of beauty items. You can also find food stalls that sell gorditas (pastries made with masa and stuffed with cheese), tacos, and flautas (rolled-up tortillas that contain fillings, including beef, cheese or chicken). Visiting this place is a great way to have a glimpse into the daily life of a local.
Tianguis de Condesa -- Mexico City
Address: Pachuca 10 Col. Condesa 06140 México, D.F. Mexico
Opening hours: Tue: 10am - 5pm (closed Wed - Mon)
8. Mercado Municipal de Tianguistenco -- Santiago Tianguistenco
Want to taste some delicious regional food? Then you need to seek out a neighboring city of Mexico City. Outside Mexico City is the Mercado Municipal de Tianguistenco, which offers a vast quantity of fruit, vegetables, meat, shoes, pots, pans, clothes, and much more. There is an array of delicious food stands here with mouth-watering quesadillas, tacos, and gorditas. These are just some of their specialties you don’t want to miss out on. Many locals visit this place and spend their weekends here.
Mercado Municipal de Tianguistenco -- Santiago Tianguistenco
Address: Santiago Tianguistenco
9. La Langunilla -- Mexico City
La Langunilla is a market famous for tourists for its souvenir items. This place offers a wide array of items, such as furniture, books, clothing, accessories, toys, clothing, and other stuff, which are perfect as souvenirs to give to friends and families back home. Besides the huge selection of items, most merchants here offer affordable and reasonable prices for their products. So, if you are a tourist looking for souvenirs, this place is a must-visit.
La Langunilla -- Mexico City
Address: López Rayón 46, Lagunilla, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
10. Tianguis de Viernes -- Chalco
Tianguis de Viernes is a shopping district in Chalco, Mexico State. Here, several stores are open for business, offering a wide variety of goods and items for both locals and tourists. Fruit, vegetables, different kinds of meat, apparel, and clothing are all available at affordable prices here, making this place perfect for both locals and foreigners. Visit this place if you want cheap goods while traveling in Mexico.
Tianguis de Viernes -- Chalco
Address: Chalco, Mexico State
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (Friday)
Taste and experience Mexico's colorful culture
For decades now, tourism has been fundamental in Mexico. With its rich food traditions, it invites people from all different walks of life. Surely, any traveler will enjoy Mexico once they’ve tasted and experienced their colorful culture.
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