Mercado Colima has occupied a single seventy-meter corridor since 1926, compressing a butcher, produce vendor, grocery stalls, and several small comedores into a footprint that shouldn't work but does. What sells it isn't variety - that's limited - but directness: vendors know their regulars, produce moves fast, and the kitchen turns out everyday Mexican home cooking that people return for. Doña Chata's comida corrida, the daily chicharrón at the back, and gorditas from the street-facing stand are the draws. The honest catch: for a neighborhood market, prices run higher than the format suggests, and local shoppers notice it too. Worth the trip if you're nearby or chasing the texture of old Mexico City; skip it if you're hunting bargains.
The gorditas and huaraches at the entrance are the reason to come here, not the market itself. Mercado Colima has been a neighborhood staple in La Roma since 1926, and it serves its neighbors well, but for anyone traveling across the city, the atmosphere is the draw more than the food
What to order
Try the comida corrida at the comedores; daily chicharrón and street gorditas are standouts.
Reservations
None needed. Go Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. for full vendor participation.
Price range
Mid-to-high for a neighborhood market; expect to pay more than the setting suggests.
Vibe
Single-aisle neighborhood market, intimate scaledirect service, old-Mexico atmosphere.