Mercado de Mixcoac

The Mercado de Mixcoac is one of the most beloved centers for shopping and commerce in the center-city. Opened in October of 1952, the Mercado José María Pino Suárez came to be over a former street tianguis. Soon after, residents and everyone else in the area  took to calling it the Mixcoac Market. The distinctive saw-tooth roof line has set the tone in the area for generations.

A 2017 UAM study counted some 326 merchants within the market. That number, of course, is going to vary considerably with seasons and floor layouts.

The important thing is that the market is one of the most often cited of the “gourmet” marketplaces. And here, fortunately, that doesn’t mean European food. Most often noted is the “chilacayota pipián.” Cucurbita ficifolia is often translated as the Figleaf Gourd, which sounds spectacularly horrible. Imagine it as a pipián sauce, though. Those in the know will be watering at the mouth. Like most pipián salsas, this one relies on the plant’s protein-rich seeds.

Amongst all the vendors, are many selling prepared foods with sit-down service. It’s a spectacular feast for the senses, and to visit without having lunch should be unthinkable.

The Mixcoac Market is close to everything in Mixcoac, already an important area in Mexico City. From Metro Mixcoac, it’s about a 7-minute walk directly south.