Mercado La Loma, Magdalena Contreras

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The Mercado La Loma is the first public market to open in the Magdalena Contreras alacldía. With dozens of  puestos and fondas, it’s the hands-down local favorite for reliable, fresh, and honest fare. In this case, the market is the neighborhood center for Barranca Seca, or dry canyon, a rugged residential area on your way to the mountains.

• If you haven’t gotten used to the experience of the Fonda, the small, daily menu lunch-counters in all public markets, we put together a complete guide, here.

Of the many “caldos,” i.e.; broths sold here, vendors take great pride in presenting you with flautas, chicharrones (pork rinds), gorditas, pambazos, tlacoyos, huaraches, and much more. Each day, vendors here wake-up  early to supply their storefronts with local produce and to stock-up by shopping early at the main distribution centers in Mexico City. Many will awaken as early as 4 a.m. so as to begin the day’s purchases and prepare the food neighborhood residents rely-on. You’ll be welcomed warmly too.   

Visitors to any part of Magdalena Contreras should bear this in mind! For those venturing into Los Dinamos National Park for a hike, or to La Casa de las Bellas Artes “Juventino Rosas,” the original home of the Contreras family, there are few better places to stop, eat and meet locals.