Mercado Municipal
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NileGuide Expert tip:
For the freshest fish and produce options and to avoid the crush of people during the heat of day, make the mercado your first stop of the day.Description:
Despite having 2 modern (enclosed) grocery stores nearby, Zihuatanejo's Mercado Municipal is still a thriving marketplace where many locals go to shop and eat. Even if you are planning to eat out at restaurants during your stay, you should still visit the mercado to experience the colors, sounds and flavors of a traditional Mexican open air market.The produce stalls are piled high with colorful local fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. You won't be able to resist touching and smelling the fruits and vegetables that are locally grown and beautifully ripe. You might, however, want to refrain from sticking your hands out in the butcher and poultry sections. Not for the faint of heart, these are throwbacks to pre-styrofoam days with whole sides of beef, pigs and chickens displayed. The benefit of buying here, though, is that the butchers will prep your choice cuts however you wish, quartering, deboning and even pounding the meat to your preferences. The same holds true for the large fish market on the east side of the market where you can buy fish straight from the fishermen (or quite frequently, the fishermen's wives) and request that they be cleaned and fileted as desired.
Wander long enough and you'll find stalls filled with grains, nuts, fresh made cheeses as well as hardware, shoes, clothes and even piñatas. Once you've worn yourself out with the sensory onslaught, meander just a bit more over to the fondas, food counters that serve any Mexican dish you can imagine. These are the equivalent to an American diner counter. The food is ultimate comfort food, the juices are fresh squeezed, the tortillas are made right when you sit down and there is always room on the communal benches for one more to squeeze in.
