Deep-Fried Delights at the Mercado de Antojitos

The Mercado de Antojitos, or snack market, in the Coyoacán neighborhood of Mexico City is a great and inexpensive place to sample some Mexican favorites including deep-fried quesadillas and flautas (deep-fried chicken tacos).  The market also serves Mexican specialties such as pozole (a traditional soup made with corn kernels, meat and chili pepper), elotes ( boiled corn kernels served with mayonaise) and licuados (fresh fruit shakes blended with milk or water).

Mercado de Antojitos

The Mercado de Antojitos is located in a large building that opens along the street.  Inside there are numerous small kitchens and food stalls surrounded by counters.  Menus are posted on hand-written poster-board signs and hung from the walls and ceiling.

One of the best times to visit is mid-day when the snack market is especially busy and the counters packed with customers.  The best stalls are always the busiest.  If seating opens up along the counter you need to be quick to grab your spot.

Once seated you can order directly from the cooks and get a close up view as your order is prepared.  I especially enjoy the wide variety of quesadillas which are served right out of the fryer on simple squares of paper.  Large plastic bowls of red and green spicy salsas are shared by everyone.  The market receives a mix of locals and tourists, the atmosphere is extremely casual and it’s not unusual to strike up a conversation with the people seated to your right or left.

The Mercado de Antojitos is located behind La Guadalupana just off Coyoacán’s central plaza on the corner of Plaza Hidalgo and Caballo Calco (map).

Photo Credit: Laura Nazimiec