When I tell you the amount of food in Mexico City is endless, I mean it 😅
Just about everywhere you turn there’s an opportunity to eat, and imagine my surprise when I thought I was stepping into regular restaurants when in reality they were entire food halls! Each hall and stall with their own vibe, the options were well-varied and even included vegetarian and vegan ones amongst the mix. I’ll tell you what places I tried and which ones I wish I had a chance to!
Mercado Roma
No lie, I probably had already eaten a little before stopping into Mercado Roma. I mean, what can I say, I had to pass at least 5 different types of stands making the walk from Roma Sur to Roma Norte where it’s located. But nonetheless, I passed the groups of outdoor diners and continued on the hunt; who would be the first stall I’d sample? I noticed a Japanese fusion place (Kome), a jugueria, 2 busy stalls serving up Venezuelan and Mexican food, respectively - Paramo & Sagrado Sazon, and upstairs a place that serves piping hot molcajetes filled with meat, cheese, nopales, and more. It wasn’t my first time inside the market, but even then I still couldn’t choose. Trying to hold on to a budget in CDMX is so hard when every option sounds and smells so good!
Finally I opted for Curandero, a vendor in the center of the market. The waiter explained a few selections to me and I went for the nachos with arrachera (I’m a fiend for nachos, okay?). Arrachera is a soft cut of skirt steak served several different ways from tacos to how we normally see fajita plates. I had seen the name so many times I figured I’d give it a try, but I was not a fan of the texture. The flavor was good, I just wasn’t enjoying it as I would regular steak or beef with the texture of roast. As for the rest of the plate, I suggest getting the cheese on the side of your nachos. All ‘nacho” cheese in Mexico and other Latin American countries isn’t the same as we’re used to here, so depending on your taste buds you may not like it. But if the cheese looks real it never disappoints! Overall, were the nachos good enough? Yes! At this point, when traveling I don’t expect each meal or restaurant I try to be perfect or amazing. I just go with the flow and eat what parts I like or order something else. But I will commend the service as the waiter and ladies behind the counter were very welcoming!
Comedor Milagros
This food hall had energy! I’d passed it on a few different occasions and the most memorable time was when people were watching a futbol match. I loved seeing everybody in their Colombia gear, so if you’re a fan of any team it’d be a fun night out to stop there and feel the camaraderie during a game!
But yes, back to what you’re here for - Comedor Milagros. As you enter, you’ll be greeted and seated by the hostess, then served by any available waiter that spots you. You scan the menu and it covers every restaurant there, so decide if you feel like sampling or pin-holing your view to let’s say Argentinian food, Venezuelan, or even Brazilian. The hall has a good range of cuisine filling their menu and you can buy international food products from their online store as well - I love the concept! But I only ordered flan from the sweets shop in the front because I had eaten enough of the delicious sopa de lima from Moloch Cochinita Pibil at Mercado Medellin across the street. The flan was good and came with a big dollop of homemade caramel, yet I was still on the lookout for the best recipe in the city. (FYI: the prize goes to Taqueria El Greco in Condesa!)
Mercado del Carmen Coyoacan
This market is most memorable because I didn’t expect to see so much inside! But first let’s start with the cute restaurant I tried, Cafe Bueno. On a sunny day you could sit outside for a patio feel, but it was cloudy when I went, and at most I saw people sitting at the big, breezy open window they have.
I decided to try a vegan dish, which I’m so happy I did because their veggie sandwich was so good that I've recreated it for myself consistently since last year! It features a wheat bolillo roll, mashed black bean spread, zucchini, cooked spinach, and avocado (note: you can find the bolillos at Kroger). Feel free to add more of your fave toppings if you choose to make it at home, but this is a hearty sandwich already! Next I ordered chai tea, and for dessert, their banana nut bread which wasn’t too bad.
As I finished up dining, I heard music coming from somewhere near. I’m a curious person and can’t resist, so I found that what I thought was just a small cafe was a whole market filled with bars, a section for live music, picnic style tables for everyone to gather and a warm ambience. The space is painted black, highlighted by wood details and plants hanging from the ceiling. I wish I had time to stay and have a drink, but it was time to leave Mexico City the next day. I suggest this place for a calm night out because it’s a little quieter than the other options in this post!
I wish I could have sampled more from these food halls and been a true food critic for y’all, but who knows, I may be back to try them all plus more! Read about a few more restaurants and cafes I tried in CDMX here.
Comments