Mercado Francisco Sarabia

The Mercado Francisco Sarabia is a neighborhood market in the Colonia Ex-Hipódromo de Peralvillo. That’s the former horseracing track neighborhood which lends it’s name to sites all over the area and as far away as Metro Potrero named for the horse grazing pastures.

Here, though, we’re just north of the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco. On Eje Central, the market is just a fraction of the size of the Mercado Beethoven. Some would call that the real Peralvillo market. But the Mercado Francisco Sarabia is curious. As much as anything, it’s split between antiquities dealers and those preparing food for sit-down meals. These line, and sometimes crowd, the sidewalks surrounding the market.

• Francisco Sarabia Tinoco (1900—1939), was a pioneer of commercial aviation, he the record for speed on a flight from Mexico City to New York City. He flew the distance in 10 hours 43 minutes in 1939. He died that year when he departed Washington DC and crashed into the Potomac River.

Needless to say, it’s a terrific place for a meal. This is especially true for those gorging on street food and tacos. The market offers much better prepared food and in an environment that’s designed to give you the best of Mexico City culture, camaraderie, and cooking. There’s a special guide to comida corrida here.

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.