4 Food Markets in the Riviera Maya to Dig Into Traditional Mexican Flavors
Written by Alex Ruelase
Culinary tradition in the south of Mexico is vast. Even if you planned a trip exclusively for eating, you would never finish exploring the subtleties of a cuisine that has evolved over hundreds of years. Nonetheless, this means that every visit to the Riviera Maya can have that extra dose of excitement that comes from trying new flavors.
And, like anyone who knows Mexico will tell you, the best food is in its markets. In every Mexican city, a visit to the mercado is almost mandatory. Here you can get acquainted with both gastronomy and the cultural practices that are born from it. So, get your stomach ready for a journey. This time, we are taking you to the very core of our cities, where you will get that authentic quality every traveler is craving to find.
Parque de las Palapas
This bustling night market will put you at the heart of local life in Cancún. Every weekend, especially on Sunday nights, the Parque de las Palapas, a plaza that functions as a central square, is taken over by food vendors, performers, tattoo artists, and skilled craftsmen. Families come here to enjoy an evening walk, listen to live music and buy food from the many stands around the park.
Here you can try some of the local’s favorite street food: esquites, tamales, marquesitas, quesadillas, tacos, and more. Once you have bought dinner, have a seat at the tables of the open-air food court or grab a bench to watch the colorful scene unfold. Our recommendation: buy small portions, try a bit of everything, and then walk around to take in the atmosphere.
Mercado 23
The Javier Rojo Gomez Market, best known as Mercado 23, is Cancún's food Meca. People come here daily to buy fruit, vegetables, and fresh meat. It is part of daily life and an opportunity for visitors to watch it unfold. It is also the best spot to try some local delicacies and relish warm food that to Mexicans tastes like home.
All-time mexican classics are readily available: tacos de carnitas, enchiladas, huevos motuleños –a tradicional Yucatecan breakfast dish–, cochinita pibil… Just walk around and see what tickles your fancy. Aromas and colors will guide you through the halls of the market, which also offers reasonably priced souvenirs.
Mercado 28
Also located in Cancún, Mercado 28 has a different vibe. This market is known mainly for its souvenirs and is much more touristy, which is both good and not so good. On the one hand, it lacks that charming village energy. On the other, it features tidier little restaurants where you can have succulent meals. Seafood is particularly yummy, and the restaurant El Cejas is quite an institution. You can also find other Mexican dishes, from fool-proof chilaquiles to mouth-watering mole poblano.
Bonus tip. Just across the street, on Xel-Ha Road, you’ll find Emara, a traditional Yucatecan restaurant that has been one of the local’s favorites for ages. Here you’ll find all the usual suspects –panuchos, stuffed Edam cheese, salbutes, lime soup– and all the ingredients that give food from the Peninsula its unmistakable personality.
Valladolid Market
Now, if we’re talking Yucatecan food, there is no better place to try it than in Yucatán itself. Close to Chichén Itzá, a common day trip from Tulum and Cancún, you will find Valladolid. This town has enamored people from all over the planet with its charm and authenticity. A big part of that charm is in its food, and the market is the place to find it.
Its official name is Mercado Municipal General Donato Bates, and it is the soul of this Pueblo Mágico. It is also a meeting point for farmers from nearby villages like Oxkuscab, Tesococo, and Popola who come to sell their produce.
Citrus fruits, pumpkins, and Chaya leaves infuse the air with their smell. Some stands sell spices and recados, a spicy mix that goes into many of the most popular dishes, like cochinitapibil. Some others offer antojitos, small-ish portions that include tamales, panuchos, and salbutes. And if you need to rehydrate, the aguas frescas –fruit-flavored water– are always lifesaving in the tropical heat.
