Mercado Pantaco

The Mercado Pantaco is a tiny lunch market seemingly in the middle of nowhere. But don’t be deceived. It’s a famous culinary haunt and it makes the listings of all kinds of online gourmet sites.

The market began as a few food stalls to serve lunch to the workers of the giant Pantaco train yards to the north. When the railroad booted them all out in the early 1980s, the City stepped in to help cooks and workers in setting up their own little market. Since then, it’s been famous especially for the giant-sized portions demanded by the railroad workers. Clients include the truckers whose rigs still sometimes park out front of the market.

Although the market includes a few little tienditas, it’s mostly a breakfast and lunch kind of place. With seating shared in common amongst the many eateries, they’re distinguished just by the color of the tablecloths. It can feel like a great rowdy food hall. But it’s customer enthusiasm that really raises the rafters.

The Mercado Pantaco is roughly a 30-minute walk, south from Metro Ferrería or east from Metro Camarones. A taxi will cut that time down to nothing. Coming from the Azcapotzalco Historic Center, one can take in much of Azcapotzalco in a single afternoon.

Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.