Mercado de Abastos Oaxaca Food Tour

Mercado de Abastos Oaxaca Food Tour. One of the biggest markets in Mexico. It’s full of color and flavors. We find surprises every time we visit. Even for the most seasoned travelers, this market could be a bit confusing.

If you have been planning your trip to Oaxaca, with all the food this city is famous for, you have probably heard of the Mercado de Abastos, also known as Central de Abastos or La Central. Or maybe you’ve seen some streaming shows where they feature this place. Why is it so relevant and popular?

Mercado de Abastos is a complex space. Many local people in Oaxaca would warn you not to go there because of how dangerous it is. Even though the famous chefs and influencers go there to film and capture the daily scenes. There are even TV shows that feature food businesses there. How come a place like this is so dangerous, as they say?

There is no simple answer to this question. The abastos market is a complex space where thousands of people make a living every day. It is in this market where families, restaurants, and all kinds of food producers come to fulfill their shopping lists. Like all the places that concentrate commerce on a large scale, there are also many interests from different sectors, internal and external. All of those factors help create a space full of contrasts of all kinds, colors, and social disparity coexist together in the aisles and stalls where you can find anything from produce, pets, clothing, appliances, meats and dairy, grains, just for starters.

We have considered this market safe since we do our grocery shopping here on a regular basis. We have also noticed how the government has been making an active effort to whitewash this place to make it more appealing to tourists. We have mixed feelings about this decision because it implies kicking out people who live and work there through operatives and raids.

Join us to explore and eat at the biggest market of south Mexico while we discuss the social implications around here.