Nothing was as perfectly Provencal as waking up at dawn every morning and walking down to the local bakery. As you approach the boulangerie, be prepared for a sensory overload. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, drawing you in with its irresistible allure. Your eyes feast on a display of golden baguettes, flaky croissants, and other delicacies.

We came to our local boulangerie every day on our trip. And by the end of the two-week-long stay, it was like saying goodbye to new friends. They even gifted us a bottle of their homemade lavender honey. It was all wrapped up and tied with a bow. I am still thinking about how quickly we can return to Provence, almost soley to see those people again! And of course, eat their delicious baked treats!

Table Of Contents

1. French Bread Laws
2. What Makes Provencal Boulangeries Unique?
3. Be Aware of Opening Hours
4. Boulangerie vs Pâtisseries
5. Always Greet the Boulanger
6. Choosing the Right Baguette
7. French Bread
8. Viennoiseries
9. French Terms for the Boulangerie

French Bread Laws

One of the greatest parts of staying in a small town in Provence is getting to visit the local boulangeries. No matter how small the town, there will be a boulangerie. And how do I know this? Well, it’s the law. In France, a law known as the “Décret Pain” (Bread Decree) regulates the production of baguettes. The law ensures that traditional French baguettes must be made with specific ingredients and cannot contain any additives or preservatives. The law also stipulates that baguettes must be sold in the same place they are made to ensure freshness. Even the smallest villages, without any storefronts, will have a large “dépôt de pain” van that will pull up every morning to sell fresh bread to the residents.

What Makes Provencal Boulangeries Unique?

Provence boasts a bountiful agricultural landscape. Looking out your window, you can see the golden wheat fields dancing in the wind across the countryside. Thanks to locally sourced flour, olive oil, herbs, and other regional produce, you’ll find that Provencal bakeries add their own unique flavour to classic French baked goods. And the laid-back atmosphere is much less intense than in big cities where boulangeries appear to be competing against each other for the “best croissant.” Provence has no competition but an environment of mutual respect, admiration and collaboration.

Be Aware of Opening Hours

Boulangeries, especially those in Provence, tend to have some interesting, shall we say, opening hours. The very best way to check the most up-to-date hours is to look at the sign outside the boulangerie. These will always list their opening hours for each day of the week (as often they will be different throughout the week.) Boulangeries typically open around 7 am as many people come here first thing in the morning to pick up food for the day or perhaps stock their restaurant pantry. Most boulangerie will close down from 12 pm till 2 or 3 pm for their European lunchtime. Often there will be certain days of the week they will close down completely, and in those cases, you’ll always find another boulangerie in town that will be open. They strive to ensure these are on opposite days so there is never a day without bread!

Boulangerie vs Pâtisseries

All throughout the French countryside, you’ll see signs for “Boulangeries” and “Pâtisseries.” But what is the difference between the two? Although they might both sell baked goods, a boulangerie comes from the French word “Boulanger,” which means “baker.” Boulangeries are required by law to bake their bread right on the premises. Whereas patisseries can include goods baked externally but sold in-store.

While Pâtisseries specialize in a wide range of sweet pastries, cakes, and desserts, don’t think you won’t find amazing sweet treats in the boulangerie. Most local bakers are just as talented at making delectable pastries as the ones you’ll find in patisseries.

Always Greet the Boulanger

Upon entering, you must greet the Boulanger or their staff. A simple “Bonjour” or “comment ça va?” (Hello / How are you) will go a long way in establishing a friendly connection. In France, not greeting someone with “bonjour” is considered VERY rude. And it will put the entire shopping experience off the wrong foot. 

Choosing the Right Baguette

No visit to a boulangerie in Provence is complete without indulging in a fresh baguette. To ask for a baguette simply say, “Une baguette, s’il vous plaît” (One baguette, please). But more often than not, there will be more than one option for your fresh baguettes. Unlike in North America, where a baguette is a baguette, France has many different varieties.

Baguette Ordinaire vs Traditional

The two most common varieties are the baguette ordinaire and the baguette traditional. An ordinary baguette will always be your cheapest option and is exactly what you would expect from a baguette. A traditional or artisan baguette will be slightly darker in colour, with a thicker, crispier crust, often with pinched ends. This is always my choice as I love how the flavour is more pronounced in the crust when it is a little more well done.

Pain d’Épi

A specialty type of baguette, often baked on weekends in Provence, is the Pain d’Épi. This type of bread is shaped like an ear of wheat, and often, they add different kinds of seeds onto the top of the bread. The different “ears” along the baguette make it easy to tear apart with your hands and share amongst the table. 

Baguette Levain

Another find is the baguette levain or sourdough baguette. As a huge fan of sourdough bread, combining the sourdough taste with the crispy baguette form was absolute perfection!

Baguette Complete

If you’re looking for something different, see if they sell a baguette complete. This kind of baguette is made with wholemeal flour and is more like multigrain bread. Sesame, poppy and flax are both baked into the bread and spread on top of the crust. A deliciously deep flavour.

French Bread

When buying a loaf of bread (or pain in French) in the boulangerie, the most popular variety is pain de campagne. Pain de Campagne, or country-style bread, is shaped into an oval with a thick crust and usually made with a blend of wheat and white flour. Other popular varies are pain au levain (sourdough), and pain aux céréales (rustic loaf with seeds and whole grains).

If you would like your bread pre-sliced, which makes it easier to serve on picnics, be sure to request for tranché (sliced.)

Provencal Fougasse

Fougasse is a traditional Provencal bread best recognized for its unique design, resembling a leaf or an ear of wheat. Bakers create decorative slashes and cuts in the dough, which open up during baking, giving the bread its characteristic shape. Fougasse highlights the use of olive oil from the region, adding a delightful flavour and aroma to the bread. Popular filling baked into the bread includes olives, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano), and occasionally bacon or ham. 

Viennoiseries

Viennoiseries are a category of baked goods you find in the French boulangerie. These are sweet pastries typically enjoyed at breakfasts and are often served with coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. Although eating your pastries with breakfast is very popular, these sweets are made twice daily so you can enjoy them both in the morning and afternoon. Typical Viennoiseries include croissants, pain aux chocolate, brioche, palmiers, chausson aux pommes and more!

Croissants

Next on our bread-buying adventure is the irresistible croissant. As you gaze upon the golden crescents of buttery goodness, allow yourself to be transported to a world of pure indulgence. And don’t think about the butter or calories… Just close your eyes and enjoy. While you can always opt for the traditional butter croissant, my favourites are the pain au chocolate or chocolate croissants. The same croissant base is used to fold in sticks of rich chocolate which melts in the centre of the pastry.

Pain Aux Raisins

Pain aux Raisins are made with the same croissant dough but are mixed with raisins and sometimes a pistachio filling. The raw dough is then rolled into a flat, round shape. It is meant to mirror the image of a snail shell, and as such, it is often called an “escargot.“ Strange and perhaps unappetizing name for a sweet pastry, but don’t let that put you off; these are absolutely delicious.

Palmier

A Palmier, also known as “Palm Leaf” or “Elephant Ear,” is made from a thin, flaky puff pastry. When baked, the dough is sprinkled with sugar, which caramelizes to create a crisp, golden-brown exterior. The name “Palmier” (meaning “palm tree” in French) comes from its resemblance to a palm leaf.

Sacristain

If you’re looking for something a little different, go for the Sacristains. Sacristains are delicate, sweet, and irresistibly crispy! These pastries are covered in caramelized sugar and almonds on the outside and have tender, flaky layers on the inside. The layers of puff pastry as twisted before baking to meld all the different flavours together. The result is a pastry that almost resembles a length of twisted rope. These pastries can be found all over France but are very popular in Provence. Because of their long shape, they are ideal to have with a cup of coffee as you dip the pastry into it repeatedly. Adding that delicious rich, and slightly bitter flavour to the sweet pastry. 

Chocolate Torsades 

Also similar to the Sacristain are Chocolate Torsades. The word “Torsades” comes from the French term for “twists” or “braids,” which perfectly describes the pastry’s distinctive appearance. Chocolate Torsades are made from flaky, buttery puff pastry but theses are infused with cocoa or melted chocolate. Great for kids!

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Éclairs

One of the most classic French desserts has got to be Éclairs! This French pastry is known for its elongated shape, light choux pastry shell, and delectable fillings. The word “éclair” in French means “flash of lightning,” likely named due to the glistening chocolate glaze that resembles a shiny lightning bolt.

Éclairs are typically filled with flavoured creams or custards. This includes everything from vanilla or chocolate pastry cream, coffee-flavoured custard, or even fruit-flavoured creams. The pastries are then topped with glossy icing or chocolate ganache. Truly irresistible for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Tarte Tropézienne

If you love brioche, then you need to try out a Tarte Tropézienne. This amazing delicacy was born in southern France and is one of the most popular treats on the shelf. This pastry, often simply called “Tropézienne,” is made from a thick brioche bun sliced horizontally into two layers. A light, rich, cream filling is generously spread over the bottom layer. And the top is placed delicately back on top, like a sandwich. The top of the Tropézienne is then dusted with powdered sugar, giving it an elegant finish.

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The pastry’s name, “Tarte Tropézienne,” was inspired by the seaside town of Saint-Tropez. Famed actress Brigitte Bardot visited Saint-Tropez during the filming of the movie, “And God Created Woman,” in the 1950s. During filming, pastry artist Alexandre Micka presented Bardot with his unique take on a brioche tart. She loved it so much that she suggested naming it “La Tarte Tropézienne.” Her endorsement helped propel the pastry to fame and contributed to its widespread popularity today.

Charlotte 

A Charlotte is a classic and elegant French pastry that feels like a special treat. The dessert is iconic thanks to its ring of ladyfingers enclosing a luscious filling, usually made of fruit, custard, or mousse. It looks like a little crown filled with sweets.

Tartelettes Chiboust

Tartelettes Chiboust, also known as Tartelettes à la Chiboust or simply Chiboust Tartlets, are made from a thin pastry crust filled with wobbly custard cream. “Chiboust” refers to French pastry chef François Chiboust, credited with its creation. After the cream is added to the baked crust, it is baked again—this time with a sprinkling of sugar on top to create a caramelized crust atop the soft cream. The tartlets are usually garnished with fresh fruit, such as raspberries or strawberries. Really, whatever is in season!

Croque Monsieur & Croque Madame 

If you’re looking to pick up something savoury or perhaps something to have for lunch, you should always make a point to grab either the Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame. These classic French sandwiches are made with ham, cheese, and a layer of rich béchamel sauce. A Croque Monsieur is a ham and cheese sandwich grilled or baked until the bread becomes golden and crispy. A Croque Madame is a variation of the Croque Monsieur but with the addition of a fried or poached egg on top. It’s a little messy to eat but well worth the effort! Both sandwiches come on sliced bread or on a baguette, depending on the preference of your Boulanger.

French Terms for the Boulangerie

At the heart of every boulangerie in Provence lies a commitment to craftsmanship passed down through generations. The bakers’ dedication to preserving time-honoured techniques and using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients creates an unmistakable authenticity in every delicacy they offer. The experience of enjoying a warm croissant or a crusty baguette becomes a celebration of tradition, connecting us to the past while savouring the present. I hope you enjoyed this guide to exploring a French Boulangerie, and it helps you feel more confident in stepping inside your local boulangerie on your next trip to Provence!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post The Ultimate French Bakery Guide, a Boulangerie in Provence first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

As a solo traveller in London, I know how hard it is to fit all that food in your stomach (and budget.) So, I’ve done my best to select the best culinary experiences that Borough Market offers for you to choose your favourites from. But remember, it’s all about exploration, so if something calls to you, seek it out. You might just discover a new favourite dish. Grab your appetite and let’s explore!

Table Of Contents

1. History of Borough Market
2. Hours of Operation
3. Location & Access
4. Map of Market Guide
5. Advice on Crowds and Lines
6. Covent Garden Portico
7. Monmouth Coffee Company
8. Ginger Pig
9. Richard Haward's Oysters
10. Borough Olives
11. Kappacasein Dairy
12. Turnips
13. Heritage Cheese
14. The Black Pig
15. Comptoir Gourmand
16. Humble Crumble

History of Borough Market

Borough Market is one of London’s oldest food markets in the heart of Southwark, with a rich history dating back over 1,000 years. The original entrance to the city of London was located just a stone’s throw away from the market, on the London bridge.

But London Bridge in the 12 century was a much different scene than today. These days, London Bridge is one of the most austere pieces of architecture along the Thames. Providing visitors and locals with a straight shot across the river and nothing more. But back in Medieval London, the bridge was a veritable cacophony of life. The entire bridge was lined with shops and houses, one piled on top of the other, creating a vibrant and bustling commercial center.

Medieval Borough Market

This brought in loads of traders, but these merchants required a space much larger than the already overwhelmed bridge. This is where the first Borough Market was conceived. The market, located just opposite the entrance to the city, initially dealt with trading grain and large livestock. But as the years passed and the market expanded. It became a commercial district selling produce, leather, pottery, soap and more.

If you think Borough Market is crowded today, imagine the chaos you would have found here in the 16th century. The market was packed to the brim with fishmongers and butchers. The most foul-smelling sellers were located as close as possible to the bridge and river as possible. This meant they could have access to drainage to keep those odours out of the street. The less foul-smelling your business, the more inward your stalls were from the river. Almost like medieval grocery stall aisles.

The New Borough Market

But the market was growing out of control. Borough Market was smack dab in the center of London’s main entryway, acting as a blocked artery into the city. It caused such traffic congestion that, in 1754, the market was forced to close by an Act of Parliament. Luckily, in 1756 local parishioners were able to set up another market on a new site that would become the Borough Market we know today.

The iconic art deco green wrought iron building was the design of architect Henry Rose and was built in 1932. For years the covered market mainly sold local produce and was only frequented by the Southwark residents. But in the 1990s, the artisanal restaurant boom was beginning to take shape in London. Various pioneering food businesses saw the potential of revitalizing the British food scene and felt that Borough Market was the place to do so! They hoped on the trend of food markets serving up small bites from local restaurants. Combined with more traditional market stalls selling preserves, produce, fresh meats, and pastries.

Ethically Sourced

Most people probably don’t know that Borough Market is run by a charitable trust. This group overseas has a strict food policy within the market itself. This policy was implemented in the 1990s to ensure the traders’ ongoing commitment to quality, sustainability and ethics. This includes environmental sustainability and animal welfare. These policies can make you feel better about the food you’re buying. Not just any stall can sell food here. Only the best of the best of London gets to call themselves a vendor at Borough Market!

Hours of Operation

Unlike other markets in London, this market is open seven days a week. Monday to Friday, it’s open 10 am – 5 pm, Saturdays from 8 am – 5 pm, and Sundays 10 am – 3 pm. Although the main market is open all week, various stalls are only open from Wednesday onwards. I’ve done my best to outline the opening times of each stall below. Remember not to leave your Market visit too late in the evening as many shops will sell out.

Location & Access

The best way to get to Borough market is via the London Underground. They are conveniently located right beside the London Bridge Underground station, which is serviced by the Jubilee and Northern Lines. After exiting the train, follow signs for Borough Market, and you’ll find yourself there in under a few minutes.

Map of Market Guide

Advice on Crowds and Lines

A word of warning on the crowds. Many of the most popular food stalls here can get really busy. There are times when the lines for food can get up to an hour long! Especially on the weekends, the entire market can get super crowded. To avoid the lines, try to visit Borough Markets on a weekday. Wednesday and Thursdays are best to find the most shops open but not as busy as the weekends.

Unless there is a food stall you have been dreaming of and absolutely CANNOT MISS, if the queue is too long, give it a miss. Or come back later to see if the line is any shorter. Your vacation time is precious. And often, no matter how good the food really is, the taste can be soured by having to wait in a frustratingly long line. There are so many options in these markets, so don’t be afraid to skip that one “must-try” stop and give something different a go. I’ve included a number of different stops, more than any one stomach could fill, to ensure there is always multiple options for your day out in Borough Market.

Covent Garden Portico

We will start our tour in front of the beautiful wrought iron portico on Stoney Street, just north of Park Street. The gorgeous portico was only added to the facade in the 2000s. But this historical piece of architecture was built in 1850. The portico once dominated the entrance to the floral hall in Covent Garden. In the 1980s, when Covent Garden was being renovated, this portico was removed and stored by the historic society. Not wanting to simply ditch this amazing piece of London’s history. During Borough Market’s revitalization project, they saw the opportunity to repurpose the old portico on the west side of the market. Borough Market bought it from the Covent Garden trust for a whopping sum of £1.

Monmouth Coffee Company

The perfect way to start the morning off right is with a cup of coffee or tea from Monmouth Coffee Company! Monmouth Coffee Company is now one of London’s most popular indie coffee chains, but it first originated here in the late 1990s. Its charming interior blends modern fixtures with old red brickwork from the original building. Giving it such an old London feel mixed with classic comforts. They are serious about their beans and even have them on display behind glass. You can take a look before ordering to read about the beans before brewing.

Price: Latte £3.80 | Filtered Coffee £3.80 | Iced Latee £4.30
Open Tuesday – Saturday

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Ginger Pig

Next, let’s head across the street and hit up Ginger Pig. All the meat for sale at Ginger pig is from native British rare breed livestock. Their fresh beef is butchered on-site, so many locals come here for prime cuts of beef for their Sunday roast. But we have come here for those glossy sausage rolls, steaming up the display case. These are one of the most filling sausage rolls in the city! Even just lifting this baby up to your mouth is a workout! Plan on splitting it up if you eat your way through the market.

Although wrapping meat inside pastry is a Roman recipe, the history of sausage rolls in the UK can be traced back to the early 1800s. Sausage rolls were believed to be a portable and convenient snack for working-class labourers. It was a way to get a quick and filling meal while working. The first recorded mention of sausage rolls was in a British cookbook written in 1851. Ever since these handy meat pockets have been considered a quintessential British food. And they should be on the top of everyone’s list to try when visiting London. While the classic pork sausage roll is the most popular, you can also get the pastry filled with British Silton cheese. Or opt for a spicy lamb roll for something a little more daring!

Prices: Traditional Sausage Roll £5 | Pork and Stilton £5.50 | Spicy Lamb £5.50
Open all week

Richard Haward’s Oysters

Just inside the entrance to the covered part of Borough Market, stop in at Richard Haward’s Oysters stand. The Haward family has been harvesting oysters in the shallow creeks outside Essex since as far back as 1792! This family knows their oysters! I was shocked to find out oysters could be found in England at all. But apparently, the warm temperatures in that area provide the perfect conditions for these delicious, fatty oysters to thrive. And since they are caught locally, the prices as surprisingly affordable. If you’ve never tried an oyster before, this is the spot to give it a go. I often suggest asking for their recommendation on what to try. Or taste a few different oysters to learn more about the subtle flavour difference that each variety of oysters has.

Price: Oysters are priced by size and variety | Try the oyster combo, which features two extra large oysters or three medium or five small, plus a glass of sparkling wine for only £10
Open all week

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Borough Olives

Borough Olives are one of my favourite spots to grab a salty snack. Something about those old wooden barrels filled with glossy marinating olives excites me and gets my mouth watering! All ingredients from Borough Olives are sourced from specialist producers in Greece, Spain and Morocco. Once harvested, the olives are brought to their Essex kitchens, dosed with various spices and marinades that turn them up to 11 on the flavour scale! A small sampling of olives is a great way to brighten your taste buds. If you are planning a little picnic, but sure to try their olive tapenade. The perfect thing to spread over a fresh loaf of bread and served with a side of cheese.

Price: Approx £4.70/200 grams
Open all week

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Kappacasein Dairy

Dash across the street quickly before delving deeper into the covered market to grab a snack at Kappacasein Dairy. Kappacasein Dairy was founded by William Oglethorpe, who studied agriculture in Switzerland before moving to London in the 1980s. This shop specializes in alpine-style cheese served up on British classics. Their best seller is the toasted cheese sandwich made with shredded raclette. These are often called “cheese toasties” and are considered another British staple food.

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In the winter, a favourite salty snack is their melted raclette, which is scraped and smothered over a plate of freshly baked potatoes. And served with a side of crunchy pickles. This comforting snack is the perfect way to warm you up on a cold or rainy day in London.

Cheese Toastie £7 | Raclette on potatoes £6
Open Thursday – Saturday

Turnips

Heading deeper into the market, make your way to Turnips Greengrocers. This shop is run by the Foster family, who source fruit and veg from all about Britain to bring the finest seasonal produce to the centre of London! While their produce is surely the visual draw of this stand, they have become very popular for their pressed fruit juices. These refreshing beverages allow you to taste the freshness of their produce without having to lug a bag full of fruit home with you.

The stand is also well known for its incredible selection of mushrooms. But visitors who didn’t have a kitchen in London mostly had to miss out on trying these precious morels. But recently, they have started selling freshly made mushroom risotto using their gorgeous produce. Cooked right in the market, for all to see and small. You can honestly sniff them out from across the market, making Turnips easy to find. If you want to amp up your risotto, you can also add freshly shaved truffles or truffle oil on top. I’m not much of a fan, so I prefer the plain risotto as it allows the true flavours of the natural mushrooms to come through. But I know truffle fans will jump at the opportunity!

Mushroom Risotto £8.50 | extra £2.5 for truffle oil | extra £15 for shaved white truffles | extra £8 for shaved black truffles
Open all week

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Heritage Cheese

If you want to sample some of the best British Cheese, head straight to the Heritage Cheese stall. This company brings together the best British and Irish artisanal cheese makers. My favourite being their selection of Blue cheeses, including the famous Stilton. I don’t think you’ve truly tried blue cheese until you’ve tried Stilton. Their stalls will happily give you a sample before slicing you off a wedge of cheese to take home. So don’t be scared to ask. If you aren’t sure what to get, ask for the Cheesemongers Choice. Give them a budget, and they will provide you with a few varieties with that price point in mind.

Around £15 for 400 grams (price depends on the variety of cheese)
Open all week

The Black Pig

The one spot in the market that I feel is worth the wait in line for the sandwiches at the Black Pig. Their signature honey truffle and parmesan pork ciabatta are truly one of the best things to eat in the entire city! The pork for the sandwich is slow-roasted over hot coals all day, giving it a succulent and subtle flavour that just melts in your mouth. That combination of sweet, salty and fatty is beyond reproach. My absolute #1 recommendation! There is an area of raised seating just opposite the Black Pig if you’re looking for somewhere to sit and enjoy your food. Or just take a minute to relax before heading back into the market.

Price: Honey Truffle Parmesan £10
Open all week

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Comptoir Gourmand

I know so many people are obsessed with the doughnuts at Bread Ahead but we found them to be stale and the queue is always really really long! Instead, consider checking out Comptoir Gourmand for a dose of delicious baked goods! This amazing shop is run by chef-patissier Sebastien Wind, who was trained in France. And we all know the French have mastered the art of pastry. Everything from tender fruit tarts to huge, colourful meringues and custardy croissants can be found here in their little stall.

Price: Meringue £2.70 | Croissant £1.80 | Chocolate Twist £2.50 | Danish £3.50
Open Wednesday – Sunday

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Humble Crumble

Humble Crumble is one of those places I saw go viral online, and I thought it would just be one of those over-hyped food trends. But once I tasted it, I was shocked to find it was everything people say it is. A humble crumble is essentially a build-your-own sweet crumble bowl. You start with a base of their seasonal fruit selections. Depending on the time of year, you can get mixed berries, apples, rhubarb, strawberries or a mixture of two.

You then cover the fruit in your choice of crumble. Either classic shortbread, vegan shortbread or granola. Then the entire bowl is then smothered in the creamiest hot vanilla custard, frozen vanilla custard, or freshly whipped cream. You can also get one extra topping like dried rose petals, almond slivers, or marshmallows. For an extra 50 p, you can also get a creme brulee topping. I’m a sucker for a ‘make-your-own” sweet and this always hits the spot!

Price: Regular £6.5 Large £8
Open Tuesday – Sunday

Well, fellow foodies, we’ve reached the end of our Borough Market culinary adventure! Whether you’re a seasoned Borough Market regular or a first-time visitor, there’s always something new and delicious to discover. Whether you’re craving traditional British fare or international cuisine, you’re sure to find something to tempt your taste buds. Until next time,

Happy Eating, Adventurers!

The post Exploring Borough Market’s Best Culinary Delights: the Ultimate Foodie Guide first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Honestly any day you’re in town this is a great way to spend an afternoon. But if you’re looking for something chill and fun for your first day this is the Taco Tour for you! La Condesa is a super safe and really relaxing neighbourhood inside bustling Mexico City. This part of town eases you into the history and culture of Mexico City all through food!

About The Taco Stops

All the stops we’ll make along the are established restaurants, so you won’t need to flex any street food savvy just yet. While street food is incredible in Mexico City and something I really recommend everyone try, I realize on your first day you might want to start slow, with more easy-to-find and order at stops. A little bit of Spanish goes a long way as many of these shops don’t have servers that speak English. That being said, since we’re in a touristy area, a few of the restaurants actually have English menus.

DIY Taco Tour La Condesa Map

List of Restaurants:

1. Taquería Orinoco
2. El Pescadito
3. Tacos Don Juan
5. Taquería El Califa
6. Taqueria El Greco
7. Tacos Hola El Güero

Taquería Orinoco

We start our tour in the north of La Condesa, inside Taquería Orinoco. Taquería Orinoco serves up Northern-style tacos. Their menu is tiny, with three types of meat; trompo (al pastor pork), res (beef), and chicharron (fried pork skin). You can order each flavour on a maize (corn) or harina (flour) tortilla. Or even opt for the crispy tostada. In the north, eating a flour tortilla is expected, so if you want to go for the traditional version you’ll order the harina. 

Once you’re seated, either side or outside, they’ll bring you a large platter of their salsas, which are some of my favourites! Get a glass of freshly made agua fresca (I recommend the hibiscus flavour) to wash it all down! Remember, this is just the first stop, so be sure to only order one taco; you can always come back for more.

Address: Avenue Yucatan 3, Hipódromo
Cost: 24-36 pesos/taco

El Pescadito

Take a walk west along with Avenue Álvaro Obregón until you arrive at Parque Espana. This is a beautiful little parkette worth exploring if you’re taking your time along this Taco Tour. Just off the Parque Espana is the famous El Pescadito. El Pescadito is a little chain in Mexico City that specializes in fish tacos! You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the cheery face of their fish mascot above the sign on the door beckoning you to enter!

The fish on offer here is the smoked marlin which has the most indearing pink colour against the yellow corn tortillas. They also serve up my favourite which are the shrimp (camarón) tacos. You can also get the campechano taco which combines battered fish and shrimp, so you can try both the options! The best of both worlds. One of my favourite aspects of this restaurant is the toppings bar! Here you can get everything from pickled red onions to shredded cabbage, hot sauce and loads of limes! All self-serve so you can really customize your own perfect taco.

Address: Calle Atlixco 38, Colonia Condesa
Cost: 46 pesos/taco

Tacos Don Juan

Directly across the street from El Pescadito is another hot spot in La Condesa; Tacos Don Juan! Hidden under a small, unassuming sign inside an old art deco-inspired building is a family-run joint with a handwritten menu that changes daily. Make sure you place an order for the quesabirria taco. Birria is beef stew, and the tacos are made from this incredibly tender and flavourful meat. The Quesabirria taco is served with a scoop of meat, then covered in cheese and given a quick fry-up on the grill. What you’re left with is this incredible crispy yet still moist taco that is bursting with flavour!

Address: Calle Atlixco 42, Colonia Condesa
Cost: 46 pesos/quesabirria taco

Walk south along Calle Atlixco until you reach Avenue Tamaulipas. From here, it’s only one block east to our next stop; . claims to be where tacos Al Pastor were first invented. However, almost all shops selling tacos Al Pastor seem to make this claim. Nonetheless, this is one of my favourite places to try out the famous taco.

Tacos Al Pastor was more than likely invented in Puebla in 1930. It was made by a Lebanese immigrant family who introduced the concept of shawarma and roasting meat upright on a spit to the Mexican people. The distinct red colour of the meat is made from marinating the meat in achiote paste. This popular marinade is made from annatto seeds, pepper, cumin, coriander, oregano, garlic and cloves. Once the meat is cooked, it’s shaved off the spit giving it the most intoxicating slightly burnt, crispy flavour. The tacos are served with a fresh slice of pineapple, onion, and cilantro. The meat here is super fresh, and I love how they top it off with their tasty salsas.

Address: Avenue Tamaulipas 122, Colonia Condesa, 
Cost: 27 pesos/taco

Taquería El Califa

At the edge of La Condesa sits a huge taco instituion Taquería El Califa. This is one of the big “grill joints” in town where you can get a ton of different types of tacos. The restaurant is as big as its menu with two floors of seating. Although there are lots of different options, for me, this is where to come to get beef tacos. The bistec (marinated flat iron beef) and costilla (beef rib) are very thin slices of beef, quickly grilled up and placed onto a taco. You can dress it up at the table with their various toppings to your preference. I would be sure some onions and avocado, as the pairing is absolutely perfect.

Address: Altata 22, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 30 pesos/taco

Taqueria El Greco

Head diagonally west across Avenue Nuevo León towards the intersection of Avenue Michoacán. Here you’ll find Taqueria El Greco which is home to the original Arabian bread tacos. Their Doneraky tacos are made in an Arab style using a pita instead of a tortilla. Another gift from the Lebanese immigrants who came to Mexico City in the 30s. They would change the taco game forever by introducing these new takes on the classic taco. The roasted meat is so tender and fresh and the softness of the fluffy pita absorbs all the fatty drippings making it such a delight to eat! Get it along with cheese and avocado for an absolute taste sensation!

Address: Av Michoacán 54-Local B – 91 And 92, Hipódromo,
Cost: 76 pesos/taco with cheese and avocado

Tacos Hola El Güero

The infamous Hola Tacos is just a block down from El Greco, around the corner on Amsterdam Avenue. This taco shop specializes in Guisado tacos. Guisado means “stew” in Spanish. Various ingredients are marinaded for hours and hours, making them super juicy, flavourful and tender. But you can get much more than just meat there. If they still have any of the nopales (cactus pads) available when you arrive (which they might not as this sells out quickly), I would highly advise trying them out. Nopales are a popular filling and topping on tacos. But I find the stew they make here with them adds so much flavour to the nopales than when they are only grilled. The stewed Poblanas peppers with cream is also one of my favourites!

Address: Amsterdam 135, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 23 pesos/taco

We end our tour here on Amsterdam Avenue, across from Parque Mexico. This is the perfect place to take a rest after all those tacos. Take a seat under the pergola around the Teatro Lindbergh or inside the peaceful Audiorama. As you digest, think about your favourite taco of the day and let me know in the comments if you managed to finish the tour! Or if you had to come back for more

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Ultimate DIY Taco Tour of La Condesa, Mexico City; a Foodie’s Dream! first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

A Welcome Bouquet

I find that a bouquet of fresh flowers is the perfect thing to buy yourself upon arriving in a new city. It gives you a little task to complete, allows you to explore a new part of the city, and brings a touch of your personality into any standard hotel room. If you’ve been in Mexico City for any length of time, you’ll undoubtedly have seen the vast flower carts that wheel around the city. Bursting with brightly coloured flowers as they mill about the streets.

There are also beautiful flower stands that dot the edges of busy neighbourhoods and leafy promenades. Basically, you won’t be far from flowers anywhere you go in Mexico City! But the source of all these incredible flowers is the great Mercado Jamaica. So if you want to get your flowers from the source, a trip to Mercado Jamaica is well worth your time. But there is so much more to see in this marketplace than just flowers. Come hungry as this flower market is also home to some of the most amazing food anywhere in the city!

Guide to the Mercado Jamaica

1. Location & How to Get there?
2. History of the Jamaica Market
3. Tips
   • Notes on Photography
   • Holidays
   • Helpful Spanish
4. The Layout of the Market
5. Carnitas Paty
   • Tepache
6. Huaraches Rossy
7. Mariscos Los Paisas
8. Piñata Market
9. Fresh Fruit Stands
10. Jamaica Flowers
11. Chorizo Verde
12. Flower Market
13. Florists
14. La Güera Elotes
15. Mural

Location & How to Get there?

The Mercado Jamaica is located on the corner of Avenida Congreso de la Unión and Avenida Morelos, southeast of the Historic Center of Mexico City. 

Uber

Uber is always my best recommendation for travel in Mexico City. It’s very safe and very cheap! The Mercado Jamaica is about a 13-minute ride from La Condesa, Roma Norte or the Historic Centre. And it will only cost you about 35 pesos or $1.35 USD! Although traffic in Mexico City is as bad as you might have heard, just avoid peak hours and you should be fine to avoid the worst of the traffic.

Metro

The market is also easily accessible by the metro. If you are departing from La Condesa or Roma you can hop on brown line #9. Get on at Chilpancingo station and take the train four stops to Jamaica station (about 12 minutes). If you are departing from the Historic Centre, you’ll need to take two different metro lines. First, depart from the #2 blue line from Tasqueña station and take it three stops to Chabacano station (6 mins). Transfer from here to the brown line #9 and continue one stop towards Jamaica station (3 mins). The metro costs only 5 pesos, and if you’re up for more of an adventurous journey, this is an easy and quick trip. But always be sure to practice caution on the metro and keep your valuables safe and not on display.

History of the Jamaica Market

Although you might read the word “Jamaica” and think of the country, Jamaica is actually the Spanish word for hibiscus flower. So the name of the market translates into the Hibiscus Market. The Mercado Jamaica was officially established in the 1950s when the eastern part of Mexico City was a governmental focus for modernization and revitalization. But outdoor marketplaces have existed in this spot for hundreds of years. Being located to the east of the city, near the chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, this part of town has always had wonderful access to the fruits, vegetables and flowers that have been grown there for centuries.

Tips

Cash is King

Bring cash with you to the market to buy your flowers and food as almost everywhere is cash only. But remember not to carry too much money on you when arriving as you need to be aware of pickpockets in such a busy environment. I would bring about 500 pesos ($25 USD) per person, which is more than enough if you want to buy yourself a lovely bouquet, grab some food and get a little left if you see a souvenir or two you’d like to purchase. 

Come Hungry!

Despite the fact that we are going to what is known for being a “flower market” this is still a foodie’s paradise so come on an empty stomach and get ready to eat. If you get full but want to come back for more food later you can always grab a bite to eat to start, then explore the flower market, and return to the starting point where you can sample the rest of the eateries you didn’t try earlier.

How to Keep Safe

This market is slightly outside the tourist centre, so you should be more cautious about your belongings. But no more than you should be in any busy marketplace anywhere in the world. Keeping aware of your surroundings is the most important thing you can do. If you carry a backpack, you can wear it in front of you. And always be sure to keep any valuables zipped inside inner pockets. Remember, this is a very busy, working market, so be sure not to stand in the way of people going about their business. Large carts and trucks often go up and down the aisles making deliveries, so keep a lookout for them.

Notes on Photography

I took many pictures here, had my phone out, and never felt unsafe. But I would advise you to take out your phone or camera, snap a few pictures and then put it away instead of just keeping it in your hand. This is probably not 100% necessary, but I always lean on the side of caution.

Be sure you keep a keen eye open for the “No Photography” signs around the market. There are several reasons for this. Some florists are wary of other sellers stealing their designs so they don’t allow photos of their products. Other vendors might have personal reasons for not being photographed, spiritual or simply, for privacy. No matter the reason, please respect their wishes. Many places in the market do not have these signs, so you’ll be able to get all the pictures you need elsewhere. If in doubt, it’s always polite to ask before taking a picture.

When To Go

The best time for fresh flowers in Mexico City is from April to July. Although flowers are available year-round from greenhouses, this time of year is when you can get the flowers for the cheapest price as they are the most abundant. I would advise you to avoid going here on the weekends. This is when the market is the busiest and most chaotic. I found that visiting on the weekdays meant there was still lots to see, buy, and eat, but the atmosphere was a bit more laid back. Because this market also exports flowers around the world and throughout the country, this is the only market in Mexico City that is open 24 hours a day! So you can be sure that no matter when you visit there is something to see!

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Holidays

If you find yourself in Mexico City during the Day of the Dead festivities, Mercado Jamaica is incredible to check out. It is the main supplier of hundreds of thousands of flowers that adorn ofrendas all over the city. The market is filled to bursting during this time of year, with truckloads of marigolds coming to and from every day! Marigolds are called ‘cempaxuchitl‘ in Spanish, which means “flower of the dead.” Since they are one of the most fragile flowers they have been known to represent the fragility of life itself.

Another fantastic time of year to come to Mercado Jamaica is at Christmas time. Even in Mexico City, you’ll find hundreds of evergreen Christmas trees lining the outside of the marketplace, ready to be picked up by excited families to nestle their presents under. Inside you’ll find hundreds of poinsettias, as this Christmas flower is locally grown in Mexico. The piñatas are a real showstopper at Christmas time, and you’ll find one in almost every household. Piñatas were traditionally designed in the shape of a seven coned star, with each spoke representing one of the seven deadly sins. Bashing the piñata was the symbol of good triumphing over evil and the fruit and candy inside the reward for leading a good, Christian life.

Helpful Spanish

Here are some handy dandy Spanish words to help you out at the Market! The colours will be very helpful to learn so you can ask for the right coloured flowers to suit your bouquet.

The Layout of the Market

The Mercado Jamaica is divided into different areas called “carrils” which means lanes. The northernmost building is almost totally devoid of flowers and is primarily where you’ll find amazing street food. I’ve noted it as the “food market” on the map below. There are maps inside the market but they are few and far between so I went ahead and made my own. As you wander south, you’ll enter Carril #4. As you can see from the map below, marked in green, this section of the market sells “Articulos de 1ra Necesidad” which is like saying grocery items. This is where you’ll find produce, candies, dried peppers, toys and piñatas.

It’s not until the southernmost sections, Carril #2 and #1 that you’ll start to see the true enormity of the flower market. Before you can even see the flowers, you’ll know you’ve arrived. There are two sets of public washrooms in the market. Be sure to bring a 5 peso coin with you as they usually charge a small fee to use the washroom and get a handful of toilet paper when you go inside.

If you arrive via the metro, you should come out of the station on the north side of the market, along Avenue Morelos. If you’re arriving by Uber, set your destination to the northeast corner of the market. At the corner of Avenue Morelos and H. Congreso de la Union.

Carnitas Paty

Your first stop should be at a long communal table right at the front of the market outside the food stall Carnitas Paty. Pig heads hang in the butcher shops down the aisle, and you know right away you’re in the place to get pork! Carnitas Paty specializes in different cuts of meat served up on a double stack of fresh corn tortillas. I would go for the Costilla (ribs), lengua (tongue – which, yes, is amazing) or the trompa (roasted pork). 

All the tacos come topped with raw onions and cilantro. While I thought I’d had carnitas before, after tasting this, it felt like I had never eaten them before in my life. This was the best-tasting taco I’ve ever eaten, and I still dream about it! All their tacos cost 30 pesos, and you can sample the various salsaa spread out on the table for an extra kick.

Tepache

To pair with your tacos, you must try their tepache. Tepache is a fermented pineapple drink made from the peel and the rind of pineapples and refined cane sugar. It has that tang you get from other fermented drinks like kombucha. It is super sweet but delicious and definitely helps cleanse the palette after fatty pork tacos. It’s really the perfect combination! You can get a litre for 30 pesos, a half litre for 15 pesos or just a glass for 12 pesos.

Huaraches Rossy

Beside the Carnitas stand, you can find another stall called Huaraches Rossy. Huaraches are a Mexican street food staple made from a piece of masa dough. The dough is mixed with pinto beans and rolled into an oblong, similar to the shape of the sole of a Huarache shoe, hence the name. The dough is then fried on the comal (grill) and crowned with various toppings.

The huaraches at Huaraches Rossy are known for their sides consisting of a slice of fresh avocado, a cooked nopal pad, fried greens onions and lemon. You can get your Huarache with fried eggs (huevos), cheese (queso), ribs (Costilla), chicken breast (pechuga) and more. My favourite option if you arrive in the morning is fried eggs and cheese. Each huarache costs 65 pesos or $3.30 USD.

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Mariscos Los Paisas

One of the most famous street food stalls in Mercado Jamaica is Mariscos Los Paisas. They are best known for their famous tacos Al pastor made with octopus instead of the traditional pork shoulder. The stacked octopi are spinning around the spit as the chefs coat them in that iconic red al pastor sauce. If you only want to try the octopus tacos, you can simply order one of those, but my recommendation (if you’re a seafood lover) is to go for the trio of tacos. This consists of Carnitas de Atún (tuna tacos), Pulpo al Pastor (octopus al pastor) and Suadero con Camaron (stewed shrimp tacos). Although Mexico City is far from the ocean, they still have access to the fantastic seafood that the oceanside towns are known for. And this is one of the best places in the city to give these dishes a try.

Piñata Market

Walking deeper into the market, into the next building (Carril #4) you will start to see large stalls selling hundreds and hundreds of pinatas. Mercado Jamaica is known for its huge piñatas selection. Design range from traditional stars to cartoon characters. And I even saw a covid one! What a perfect thing to bash away at, a way of taking out all the pent-up frustration over the loss of the last two years. These stands also sell lots of toys, party decorations and little candies perfect to stuff inside the pinatas. 

Fresh Fruit Stands

In this part of the market, you’ll also find rows and rows of vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Many different fruits are stacked high up on tables, they look like little gems as they are so brightly coloured and shiny. Some vacuum sealed inside pre-made fruit baskets ready to be presented as a delicious gift.

There is a myriad of different fruit on sale at the market. Many of which I had never even heard of before, let alone tasted. If you’re in town for a few days, I implore you to just go out and buy a selection of different fruits to try! Even if you have no idea what they are, they cost very little, and it’s so much fun to do a little taste test at home to see which ones are your favourite.

Fruit doesn’t need to be cooked so there’s no need for a kitchen. But you will need a good knife to cut into most fruits. I often ask the vendors if they can cut it open and then put it in a bag. If not, you can always find a vendor in the market who sells kitchen knives.

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What to Try

If you’re interested in a selection of my favourite options, I would start with the Soursop (or guanabana). This fruit is tangy, sweet, and, as the name indicates, sour. It’s a large, green fruit with a hard rind and big spikes. You also should find some black zapote, which tastes like chocolatey permission pudding! It is indeed black when you cut into it, and you can eat it out of the rind with only a spoon. The black zapote is actually green on the outside and similar in shape to a persimmon.

Chirimoya also blew my mind! The Chirimoya is also called the “custard apple” as the flesh inside the fruit is soft and the colour of custard. But it tastes like a strawberry blended with a kiwi. Mark Twain is known for calling the Chirimoya “the most delicious fruit known to man.” It is about the size of a large apple and has what almost looks like green scales on the outside.

Make sure you also see out some mamey fruit if it’s in season. Mamey is a fruit with brown, hairy skin, but it looks like a sweet potato with the pit of an avocado when you cut into it. It is like a combination of apricot, sweet potato and peach. I love the flavour, especially in a smoothie. 

Jamaica Flowers

As the name of the market suggests, you’ll find lots of dried Jamaica (hibiscus) flowers. They can be found in huge, dark purple piles hidden away inside large barrels. The flower heads themselves look like a spikey, shrivelled version of the fresh flower. Jamaica or hibiscus flowers came to Mexico after colonization and actually originated from Africa. The most popular way to use dried flowers in Mexico is in Aguas Frescas. Aguas Fresca translates to “fresh water” and are amazingly refreshing beverages made from, water mixed with a variety of different flavours. The most popular flavour is Jamaica. The drink is made by boiling dried flowers (like you’d do with ta) and mixing them with water, sugar, ginger, and cinnamon. The flavour is incredible and definitely one of my favourite ways to compliment a spicy taco. 

One of my friends also often adds just one dried flower to her pot of cardamon tea, and let me tell you, it’s life-changing! So be sure to grab yourself some dried hibiscus flowers when you’re in the market. If you’re travelling back to the US or Canada, just make sure they are in a sealed bag, but many places in the market do sell them like this if you ask.

Chorizo Verde

Among the fruits and vegetable stands, there is a butcher shop that sells one of the most unique tacos I’ve ever had! You’ll spot their shop by the bright yellow exterior, but there is no store sign outside. You’ll be able to recognize it by the large display of green herbs laid out beneath the meats on sale right out front. As well to fresh meat to bring home for dinner, they also have fresh tacos to sample right there in the Market. Order yourself up a green chorizo taco and take a seat on the small tables out front.

The green chorizo is made from pork sausage, mixed with a blend of fresh green veggies like spinach and lettuce. Then zesty green herbs are added to ramp the flavour up. Anything from cilantro, thyme, marjoram, whatever is in season. After this, they add green chillies (because heat is a staple of the chorizo sausage) and the most important and unique ingredient – NUTS! Yes, that’s right, they add anything from peanuts to pumpkins seeds or almonds to the meat. I cannot explain how unbelievable the taste of this taco is; you just have to try it for yourself. 

Flower Market

As you head further south into the market, you’ll finally start to smell the aroma of fresh flowers. Follow your nose towards the brightly coloured flowers which seem to almost erupt from the ground. Walking around the flower market is the best kind of chaos. People are milling about, grabbing cartfuls of flowers for their stands in the city and small bouquets for their homes. Voices cry over one other as people haggled for the best prices. 

Enormous sunflowers, roses, chrysanthemums, gerbera daisies and lilies line the edges of the aisles in huge brightly coloured buckets. A dozen long stem roses were on sale for only $50 pesos, which is $2.50 USD! A dozen sunflowers about 6 feet tall were on sale for $90 pesos, just 4.60. I couldn’t believe the prices, and it took everything in me not to just go nuts and buy it all. Prices were the best when I visited as it was during the Springtime. If you visit in the winter expect prices to be slightly higher as the flowers are less abundant and need to be ground in greenhouses as opposed to the chinampas.

Florists

As you move through the wholesale market, you’ll come into another section that sells MASSIVE pre-made bouquets from a myriad of different florists. These monumental displays are meant for funerals, communions, weddings and quinceañeras. The flowers are formed into giant hearts, large crosses, and baskets as big as a small child. Apparently, one of the most popular reasons people buy these huge floral arrangements is to apologize for cheating on their wives or girlfriends. The bigger the bouquet, the more sorry you’ll appear. Especially to the neighbours who can’t help but notice you walking home, with this typical guilty display.

La Güera Elotes

At the end of the market, right near the exit doors onto Guillermo Prieto street, is a small shop called La Güera Elotes, selling popular Mexican street food, but elevated to another level. Esquites are fire-roasted corn kernels stewed in lard, mixed with aromatic herbs and Arbol chillies. I’ve had esquites many times before, as they are one of my favourite street snacks, but none as delicious as the ones we got here! There are definitely some secret ingredients at work here. A small cup costs $20 pesos, a medium is $22, and a large is $25. 

You can also get Elotes, which is the same idea, but instead, the corn is grilled on the cob. They offer a specialty here called ‘dorielotes,’ which covers the corn cob mayo which is rolled in crushed Doritos! The store is also famous for its pan de elote, or cornbread. Unlike American cornbread, which is more of a savoury treat, their cornbread is like a cake. It’s very sweet and absolutely fantastic! It’s a bit dry, so be sure to have a drink on hand.

Mural

Before leaving the market, make sure you stop outside along Highway Congreso de la Unión to see the incredible murals painted along the outside of the Mercado Jamaica. Muralism in Mexico is such a popular thing to see everywhere you go. But the murals outside this market are so enormous, and it’s amazing to see the works of art that span the entirety of the building! There is always a new work of art to discover as they change throughout the year. To the delight of the vendors, everyday shoppers, tourists as well as the drivers who pass by on the highway on their way to work. Murals are truly such an incredible way to liven up a street and bring so much joy to an otherwise blank exterior. Much like flowers, that bring life into an otherwise bland space.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Mercado Jamaica! It’s honestly one of my favourite markets in Mexico City and well worth the time it takes to get here. Despite being a little out of the way, there is so much to see and do here so you’ll really feel like it’s worth the 20-minute drive from the city centre. Let me know in the comment what your favourite market is either in Mexico City or around the world

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Ultimate Self Guided Tour of Mercado Jamaica, the Best Flowers Market in Mexico City first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Truthfully, the answer isn’t simple. Some people might say no trip to Mexico City is complete without trying street food. Others will implore you to never even sample a single bite of anything on the street. And the truth, like most truths, falls somewhere in the middle.

I have never gotten food poisoning in Mexico City. But I HAVE had mild food poisoning in Lisbon, California and even in Canada, where I live! Travellers often get sick from new bacteria, which is a risk in any foreign country. Does that mean you should go right out and drink the tap water? No. But there are plenty of ways to keep safe while still enjoying yourself and indulging in local cuisine.

Table Of Contents

1. Eating TIPS
2. Foods to Avoid
3. What to do if you get Sick
   • Treating the Symptoms
   • When to go to the Doctor
4. Take a Street Food Tour
5. Handy Foodie Translations:
6. Where to Find Street Food?
7. Tips on How to Order
8. What To Eat for Breakfast
   • Fresh Orange Juice
   • Coconuts
   • Tamales
   • Elotes/Esquites
   • Tlacoyos
   • Tortas
   • Pan Dulce
9. Antojitos Mexicanos
   • Quesadillas
   • Sopes
   • Huarache
   • Gorditas 
   • Flautas and Taquitos
10. Snacks
    • Fruit and Chilli
    • Chips, Sweet and Chicharrónes
    • Dorilocos
11. Tacos
    • Tacos al Pastor
    • Barbacoa 
    • Carne Asada
    • Carnitas
    • Birria Tacos
    • Tacos de Canasta
12. Desserts
    • Churros

Eating TIPS

These are some of my key tips to follow to ensure you eat as safely as possible when going out in search of street food. Remember, there are always risks involved but if you follow these tips you’ll have the best chance of making it out without the rath of Montezuma!

• Eating in the morning ensures the food hasn’t been sitting out all day. Look for food that is being freshly cooked. Pre-cooked meat, sitting out on a hot stove, is how bacteria is formed.
• Look for stall where the cook isn’t the same person who handles the money. If there is only one staffer, see if they use a glove or plastic bag when touching cash or coins. Money is a bacteria playground.
• Always look out for busy stalls. This means people come back time and time again and mostly likely, haven’t gotten sick.
• Be sure to sanitize your hands before eating. Often it won’t even the food that made you sick but the bacteria from your hands.
• Many cooks will use their bare hands when cooking. You might be appauled they aren’t using gloves to cook but don’t be. If they wore gloves but also didn’t wash their hands it would be just as unhygenic. And you’d be surprised how many restaurants all over the world have chefs using their bare hands to make your food. So long as they’re clean, it’s absolutely fine.
• Before going on holiday take some immune boosters and probiotics for your gut health.
• Trust your gut. If you get a bad vibe or just can’t suss out if its safe or not, give it a miss. There are so many opportunities everywhere you go, don’t feel like you missed out if you decide to skip it.

Foods to Avoid

While there are plenty of foods you should try, there are also several things I would recommend avoiding. While others might encourage you to try it all, these things can easily be sampled elsewhere.

• I usually avoid Pico de Gallo and salsa at street food stalls. These salsas tend to sit out in the hot sun all day, and therefore are ripe for bacteria growth. Unless I can see either it being fresh made or some sort of refrigeration I usually give it a miss. And if you aren’t great with hot sauce, definitely avoid the salsa. Even the mild tends to knock the socks off some people.
• The same applies to the sour cream sauce or ‘cream,’ which is sometimes drizzled on top of tacos.
• Avoid washed, uncooked fruits and vegetables. Often it is the bacteria from the unfiltered water that could cause some stomach discomfort. This is most prominently an issue with salads, avoid those completely! I often eat the onions served with tacos as the onions are simply peeled and cut. Peeled fruit is another safe bet as it doesn’t need to be washed.
• Avoid Agua Frescas and Licuados. Aguas frescas are fruits based beverages mixed with sugar and water. In addition to fruits, these also could be flavoured with tamarind, hibiscus, and horchata. Licuados are similiar but are made with evaporated milk to give it a creamy taste. While they all look so delicious these could have been made with unfiltered water. Stick to ordering these in restaurants where you can easily ask the staff if they are made with potable water.
• If you are really hesitant you can always avoid the uncooked veg and meats. A cheesy gordita is almost always a safe bet.

What to do if you get Sick

Even if you follow all these tips, you might get sick. Perhaps with Montezuma’s revenge or even just with a touch of an upset stomach from overeating. They call traveller’s diahrea ‘Montezuma’s revenge,’ caused by drinking the local water or eating foods containing E. Coli bacterium. The sickness is seen as “retribution” for the Spanish’s slaughter and enslavement of the Aztec people.

Treating the Symptoms

Traveller’s diarrhea usually lasts from 3 to 7 days and is rarely life-threatening. Symptoms include abrupt onset of diarrhea, Fever, Nausea and vomiting, Bloating, Malaise (weakness or discomfort), Explosive and painful gas, Stomach cramps, Loss of appetite. I am always sure to pack antidiarrheal medication, which is often the worse part of the sickness. Pepto-Bismol and Tums are also great to help soothe the symptoms. I am also sure to pack Hydralyte packets that help restore lost electrolytes. If you are especially worried, you can go to a travel doctor who will prescribe you some antidiarrheal medication that is stronger than the over-the-counter options.

When to go to the Doctor

If none of these work for you and the symptoms worsen, you should immediately get yourself to a doctor. In Mexico City, many large chain pharmacies have doctors inside. These doctors can see you almost immediately and either prescribe some medication there on the spot or send you to the hospital if it is serious enough. Medical treatments in Mexico are generally fairly inexpensive but having traveller’s insurance will help cover these unforeseen circumstances.

Take a Street Food Tour

If, after all these tips, you’re still hesitant, take a street food tour! Street food tours are an amazing opportunity to have a local guide you around to tried and true places. These staple stops in their community have been vetted, and the guides know them to be hygenic and delicious.

Handy Foodie Translations:

Where to Find Street Food?

Why the street, of course? But it’s true, finding the perfect area to indulge in everything on this list is virtually impossible. There are definitely some areas where the vendors converge. But for the most part, it’s one of the joys of travelling to discover your favourite stalls. But here is a shortlist of some surefire spots where you can almost always find quality street food.

Local tianguis

Your local tianguis is always an excellent opportunity to try some fantastic street vendors. A tianguis is an open-air market held on certain market days. These markets are a tradition that has its roots well into the pre-Hispanic period and continues almost unchanged into the present day. La Condesa’s Tuesday Tianguis is my personal number one pick!

Markets

The Mercado Medellín in Roma Sud is another hot spot for the street vendors that surround the outer edges f the marketplace. Any street food around a market is sure to have the freshest ingredients as they would have been purchased just next door inside the market.

If you want to find a place with all the best Antojitos Mexicanos inside the Antojitos Mexicanos Market Juanita in Coyoacan. Inside the red brick, arches is a small open-air room which a series of stalls around the edges serving the best Mexican bites. Everything here is made fresh and on the spot and a very reliable place to check out!

Popular Streets

Puebla Street in Roma Norte has a large confluence of incredible street vendors. As they seem to congregate on the edges of this new trendy community, they tend to have a better edge of trendy and popular food.

If you walk south of Alameda Central, head down Calle Lopez until you reach Vizcainas Street. On this corner, there are several permanent stalls that serve up the cities best tacos!

Early in the morning, on the corner of Alfonso Reyes and Av. Tamaulipas in La Condesa, you’ll find the most popular Torta de Chilaques vendor in all of the city. People start lining up even before the stall has arrived, and by midday, everything will be gone. Show up to the corner in the morning and just get in line; you won’t be disappointed.

Parks

Walking around some of the cities most popular parks is a great way to come across street vendors. My favourites are Alameda Central in the Historic Centra, Parque México in La Condea, Alameda de Santa María in Colonia Santa María la Ribera, and ofcourse, the great Bosque de Chapultepec.

Tips on How to Order

Most street food vendors will not speak much English, so don’t come expecting them to cater to you. But also, don’t let that scare you away. Street food stalls are always plastered with signage, so it’s easy to see what’s available and how much it costs. Using this guide, you’ll be able to learn the words for the various must-have dishes. 

Always greet them with cheery Buenos días, Buenas tardes, or Buenas noches, depending on what time of day it is. A smile goes a long way. Simply point to the item on the grill or even the sign which advertises the dish. If you don’t want something, just point at that item and say sin (without.) And always say por favor (please.)

Cash is the only way to pay, so be sure you have some on hand. Never come with big bills and if possible try to have exact change. Usually, if you are eating several things, you settle up after you are finished eating. Unless you are taking something to eat elsewhere, it’s typical and considered polite to pay at the end. Just follow what the locals are doing, and you’ll get the drift.

Often street food stalls serve the food on a plate covered in plastic wrap to eat on top of. When you’re done, simply hand the plate back to the cashier. Each plate is “cleaned” by removing the plastic, and a new sheet is placed on top for the next customer.

What To Eat for Breakfast

Fresh Orange Juice

There is nothing better than freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice in the morning. Now, unfiltered water is a sure-fire way to catch Montezuma’s revenge. But freshly squeezed fruits, made right in front of your eyes, are a safe bet! The perfect way to enjoy a morning beverage without worrying about any contamination. I always ask for a fresh one if I see some pre-made ones sitting out just in case.

Coconuts

Another beverage you can safely drink is from the coconut vendors. These are less frequently found, but don’t hesitate to run after him down the street if you see one. The vendors will slice open a fresh coconut for you to drink the sweet nectar within. And don’t worry, you won’t need to lug around the entire coconut. The vendor will pour the liquid into a tall and thin plastic bag. He then inserts a long straw to take your drink on the go.

Tamales

Stepping out of your hotel in the morning, you are frequently greeted by a series of the same sounds. There are the street sweepers, cleaning the many fallen leaves from the surrounding tree. The recycling collectors with their repetitive announcements playing over loudspeakers on top of their car. And then there are the melodic sounds of the cycling tamales vendors. Tamales have been eaten in Mexico since as far back as 8000 BC! It is like biting into a piece of history. Tamales are made by taking dried corn husks and stuffing them full of corn masa, cheese, chicken or pork. The filling is often topped with salsa or, in some cases, mole and cooked in the corn husk casing.

Tamales are the perfect handheld food. Therefore, a great choice in the morning to enjoy on your walk to work. Or, in our case, a walk around the neighbourhood. Best of all, no waste! Just throw away the corn husk, and it will biodegrade in no time. But yes, please be sure to throw it away in a garbage bin and not on the ground!

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Elotes/Esquites

One of my favourite ways to warm up on a chilly morning is with a cup of Esquites. Elote and Esquites are made with either regular yellow corn or the thicker hominy variety. Usually, it’s easy to tell the difference as the hominy is like corn kernels on steroids. The ingredients in the dish are the same whether you get an elote or an esquites. It is simply how it is served that is the main difference. Elote is served on the cob of corn itself, whereas esquites are served off the cob in a cup. Both are topped with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, salt and usually a sprinkling of chilli. It’s messy, and it’s delicious!

I usually advise people to opt for an elote as they tend to be more consistently fresh. Whereas the esquites can often just boil away for hours. The bad ones can be rather unpleasant, but keep trying until you find a reliable vendor. And since they only cost a dollar you won’t need to worry about losing out too much.

Tlacoyos

When I first came to Mexico City, I was enthralled with these blue corn, oval-shaped lumps of dough. Groups of women would hover over their hot grills every morning like a coven of good witches. I learned that these were called Tlacoyos, and the grill was, in fact, called a comal. Like so many street foods, this dish has pre-Hispanic origins. The word tlacoyo is derived from the Nahuatl word tlahtlaōyoh, which means snack or appetizer.

A tlacoyo is made with blue corn masa and stuffed with pork, cheese or beans. And my favourite, sliced nopales. Nopales are cactus paddles usually cut into fine strips and folded into the tlacoyo. They have a bit of a crunchy texture and sour taste resembling asparagus or okra. I love the bite it leans to the dish and how it completely transforms the flavours around it.

Tortas

Tortas are another popular breakfast item you’ll see being made on the street every morning in Mexico City. A torta is essentially a HUGE breakfast sandwich. The key ingredient in the torta is the bread. Specifically a bolillo roll. This is the Mexican version of crusty french bread. A rigid exterior melded with a light and fluffy interior. The bun is sliced open and filled with a myriad of different toppings. 

Tortas de Chilaquiles

Tortas de Chilaquiles is a popular variation found mainly in Mexico City. Chilaquiles on their own is a fantastic breakfast option but usually found in restaurants. Chilaquiles consist of a plate of tortilla chips doused in green or red chilli sauce. Then they are topped with a fried egg, cheese and sliced green onions. Most of the time, this dish requires a fork and spoon to eat. So, to create an on-the-go version, inventive vendors simply put the entirety of the dish inside the hearty bolillo roll. And there you have it; Tortas de Chilaquiles!

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Torta Cubano

You’ll also often see signs on the street for the Torta Cubano. The Torta Cubano is stuffed to bursting with ingredients. Despite the name, the sandwich has little to do with Cuba. In the 1950s, a cook opened his restaurant on the Calle Republica de Cuba in the historic centre. He made a name for himself, selling his tortas stuffed with a multitude of different meats he was trying to use up at the end of the day. The dish caught on and goes by the name of the street in which it was first invented!

Today a Torta Cubano still is served with a pile of meat. It can be a combination of roasted pork, chorizo, carne asada, ham and beef. Then it is further topped with lots of cheese and grilled veggies. Every vendor makes his a bit differently, his own particular recipe or whatever meat was on offer that day. These Tortas are a BIG MEAL! So ome with a BIG appetite.

Pan Dulce

Early in the morning, you’ll see vendors peddling around town hauling huge plastic bags or baskets full of fresh pastries. These are called Pan Dulce which means “sweet breads”. The vendors also tend to pull along with them a huge orange thermos filled with fresh coffee. The variety of pastries changes based on what’s available that day. These pastries are a sure-fire option if you’d squeamish about street food. They are very cheap so if you see someone riding by, be sure to stop them! Often the pastries are from local, well-established bakeries. So despite the understated appearance, these tend to be extremely tasty!

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Antojitos Mexicanos

Many a street stall will feature the words “Antojitos Mexicanos” in large lettering. Below this, there will usually be a smaller menu featuring a list of the available options. Antojitos Mexicanos translates as “little cravings.” Just a little something to tide you over until dinnertime. The list of items found on an Antijitos truck is enormous. But usually, they are all made from generally the same set of ingredients but assembled a bit differently. Antojitos Mexicanos are a great option if you don’t eat meat and have a bit of experience speaking Spanish. You can easily ask for the meat to be left out. And because many of the dishes contain beans you’ll still get a nice and filling snack.

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Quesadillas

One of the most popular items you think you might be familiar with is the quesadillas. But authentic quesadillas are not exactly what you might expect. Authentic quesadillas are indeed made with a folder tortilla but not automatically filled with cheese. In fact, unless you order the queso quesadilla, you probably won’t get any cheese.

Instead, the tortilla is slathered in a layer of guisado (meat stew.) Then the tortilla is grilled or fried. The stew can be made of anything and sometimes contains meat offcuts such as tongue, cheek, eyes, nose, stomach. If you want to avoid the guisado, you can opt to order the polo (chicken), queso (cheese) or even champignons (mushrooms). While you might start with something more familiar I definitely recommend trying the guisado at least once.

My favourite variety, though, is the deep-fried quesadilla. There is something about biting into that crunchy exterior to discover that soft stew inside that is so hypnotizing. Often vendors top the fried quesadillas with shredded Lechuga (lettuce). The lettuce should be avoided as it could have been washed in unfiltered water. Simply ask for it sin Lechuga (without lettuce.)

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Sopes

Sopes are made with thick corn masa dough. They are placed onto the hot comal and pressed into a round shape with pinched edges. Then the fillings or guisado are spooned inside the edges. It’s almost like an edible plate! Sometimes the dough is made with crushed beans, so you get this very savoury tasting dough.

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Huarache

The only big difference between a sope and a huarache is the shape. Huarache translates into “sandal,” which is the shape the dough is formed to resemble. Once crispy, the dough is topped with beans, meat, salsa and cotija. Same deal applies to the lettuce.

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Gorditas 

Gorditas are made with the same dough as the sopes and huaraches. But instead of placing the filling on top, the filling is placed within. Gorditas are shaped into smaller but thick, circular disks and fried up on the comal. After cooking, they are left on the edge of the grill to be kept warm. Once ordered, the cook will grab a hot gordita, slice it open, and fill the interior with meat, salsa, cilantro, and onion. You can also have a deep-fried gordita where they stuff the filling inside first and then fry it up.

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Flautas and Taquitos

Flautas and Taquitos are two of my favourite Antijitos as they are actually bite-sized. So they won’t fill you up too much. The two dishes are very similar, consisting of a small tortilla filled with shredded chicken or beef. The tortilla is rolled up like a cigar and fried until crispy. They can then be topped with shredded lettuce or cabbage, crema, cojita cheese and guacamole. The main difference is that Flautas are made with a slightly larger flour tortilla. While Taquitos are made with smaller-sized corn tortillas.

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Snacks

Fruit and Chilli

My favourite afternoon sweet treat is always found at the fruit vendors. Their food carts are always easy to spot as they feature vibrant red or striped umbrellas. Underneath, their glass cabinets are filled with brightly coloured fruits like watermelon, mango, pineapple and papaya.

After selecting what kind of fruit you want the vendor will ask you if you want the traditional toppings. This includes; lime, salt and chilli. I know what you’re going to say, “salt and chilli on fruit?!” and I know it sounds strange, but if you’ve never tried it, you need to try it at least once. The salt contrasts the sweet fruits so perfectly! And the hint of spice adds another level of flavour.

Another topping often drizzled on top of the fruit is chamoy. Chamoy is a savoury condiment made from pickled fruit. The flavour is salty, sweet, sour, and spiced with chilis. It’s wonderful and something you need to try at least once!

Chips, Sweet and Chicharrónes

Often found while walking through parks and plazas are the huge stalls and carts covered in various chips, nuts and sweets. These stalls are so vibrant they also pull you in towards them. There is usually a combination of freshly made chips in plain plastic bags and brand-name chips in their neon packaging. In addition to the chips, they also carry tall bags stuffed full of Chicharrónes. Chicharrón are fried pork rinds; they are wonderfully crispy, full of flavour and naturally salted. To amp up your afternoon snack, most stalls will also offer to cover your chips in lime, chilli and sometimes salsa!

Dorilocos

Also found at the chips stands is a dish called Dorilocos. This invention was actually made right here in Mexico City in recent years. It consists of a bag of Doritos sliced open and topped with various fresh ingredients. These can be anything from carrots, cucumber, peanuts, radishes, corn, and peanuts. Then you can add sauces like chamoy, Valentina and of course a fresh squeeze of lime. It’s eaten with a fork and looks like a chip salad!

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Tacos

By far the most popular thing people come to Mexico City in search of are tacos! There are so many different varieties and most than I could list here. But I’ve done my best to lay out the most popular varieties to find in street stalls all over the city.

Tacos al Pastor

Taco al pastor or “shepherd style” tacos are made from spit-grilled pork. The dish was created after Lebanese immigrants introduced shawarma to Mexicans. The pork is marinaded in adobada (red chile) paste and spit-roasted with a giant pineapple placed on top. When served, it is accompanied by sliced onions, cilantro, and the all-important roasted pineapple. Added to give it that hint of sweetness. Taco al pastor is my favourite kind of taco, and there is no visit to Mexico City without trying them.

Barbacoa 

Barbacoa is an elusive taco as it is usually only available in street stalls on the weekend. The word Barbacoa translates into Barbeque as the meat is made from a long and slow braising method. These tacos are usually made of sheep as this is the most traditional meat for Barbacoa. It is only available on the weekends because the process takes all week to ensure the meat is perfectly cooked. The method of preparation dates all the way back to pre-Columbian times. They begin by digging a hole in the ground and covering it with heated stones. The stones heat the hole for an entire day before the core temperate is hot enough to cook the meat.

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After this, the prepared sheep is wrapped in maguey leaves. The leaves give the meat insulation from the hot stones and also flavour the meat while it cooks. The oven is then covered in the same leaves and a layer of earth. A fire is lit on top, and the meat is left to cook for around 12 hours or more. The result is incredible and not to be missed if you spot it!

Carne Asada

Carne Asada tacos are made from freshly grilled beef. The dish comes from the Sonoran province of Mexico, where they have large rattle ranches. The flap steak or short loin cuts are grilled over hot charcoal giving it that iconic char-grilled flavour. These tacos are also called Al Carbon after the carbon or “charcoal” they are cooked with.

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Carnitas

Carnitas are another popular variety made from fatty pork shoulder. Instead of being grilled, this meat is made by cooking the pork in its own fat. The pork is marinated in orange and garlic and cooked for a long time on low heat. Once cooked, it is chopped up finely, as carnitas translate to “little bits of meat.”

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Birria Tacos

Birria Tacos are made from a stew of marinated goat meat. The stew is slathered over a corn tortilla with onions, cilantro and salsa. It is then often paired with a cup of consomé or the broth from the stew. You can either just sip on this or dunk your tacos into the broth, almost like a french dip sandwich. Many locals eat Birria Tacos as a cure for their hangovers so you’ll often see these stands out in the morning.

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Tacos de Canasta

Tacos de Canasta are a popular cheap snack in Mexico City. The term Tacos de Canasta translates into “Tacos of the basket,” which is precisely what they are. Walking around busy areas of town, you might spot men and women with large cloth-covered baskets filled with steaming tacos. There is no kitchen on wheels, just premade tacos stuffed into baskets. On the backs of their bikes are often small jars of toppings to add to the “sweaty tacos”. These aren’t my favourite as I can’t get behind the slightly moist tortillas. But they are incredibly inexpensive and a very Mexico City thing to eat.

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Desserts

Churros

Churros are a late-night snack to keep your eyes out for. A churro is an iconic Mexican pastry that resembles a doughnut. It is made by deep-frying unsweetened dough in super hot oil. It is then sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon. They come in both straight and spiral varieties. The fancier versions you might find in restaurants usually come with a dipping sauce on the side. But the street versions typically have the fillings pipped inside the hollow center to make for an easy on-the-go snack. The most commonly found filling is chocolate, but you might also see dulce de leche, strawberry and vanilla.

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In the end, if you are worried about street food making you sick, don’t stress yourself out. There are hundreds of excellent restaurants in this city. In many of them, you’ll be able to try a variation of street food in what may feel like a more comfortable environment. But always be aware that food poisoning can get you anywhere; it’s not exclusive to street food or Mexico City. Follow my advice and start slowly. Soon you’ll be running down the street to catch your favourite tamale vendor before they run out before 9 am!

Let me know in the comment what your favourite street food city is or what dish from this list you’re most looking forward to trying.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post Ultimate Mexico City Street Food Guide: Dive into the Delicious first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Spend a day in Inglewood, and you will experience an eclectic mix of vintage clothing stores, modern eateries, family-owned cafés, independent boutiques, natural health stores, and more! This tour will show you the best parts of Inglewood and why you should spend your next day there!

Table Of Contents

1. History
2. Where to Eat
3. Where to Drink
4. Where to Shop
5. What to See & Do

History

Inglewood has the distinction of being Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood. It was established in 1875 after nearby Fort Calgary was built. When the area was built, Inglewood had the very first “main street” in the city! Over the years, the central part of downtown moved westward, but still, much of the historic nature of the area remains. Since the area also borders the Elbow and the Bow rivers, it is home to several nature preserves. This makes it such a wonderful place to visit as you can get a taste of the urban city and the peaceful natural environment all in one place.

Where to Eat

Rosso Coffee Roasters

Inglewood doesn’t rise early, but if you find yourself in the area looking for your morning cup of coffee, you should head over to Rosso Coffee Roasters. Rosso is extra special since they source and roast their own beans and have even won awards for their top-notch brews! If you’re looking for something to bring home with you, their roasted beans are a great treat to enjoy long after your trip is over.

Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar

Gravity Espresso is one of those coffee shops that feels like a staple of the community. Their little artist gallery inside featuring new local talent is such a beautiful way to learn about the artisans who make their living in Inglewood. Sitting in this comfy shop you’ll get to watch locals meet up, chat with their favourite baristas and smile at strangers as their morning begins with a great cup of coffee. And the coffees are really that good!

Red’s Diner Ramsay

As fun as trendy and hip brunch places are, nothing really hits the spot better than a traditional greasy spoon-type diner. And Red’s Diner is the best of the best. Red’s Diner serves incredible all-day breakfasts inside a friendly and comfortable interior. They have all the classics and a specialty Prairie Breakfast Plate, which adds potato cheddar perogies and Rocky’s kielbasa to a traditional breakfast platter. Their Blueberry, Basil & Goat Cheese Stuffed French Toast was INCREDIBLE! Portions are enormous, so don’t hesitate to share.

Madison’s 12|12

Madison’s 12|12 is known for its community-focused and community-funded approach to owning a restaurant. They have created a beautiful space for people to gather, create, enjoy, share, and become inspired. Their menu is a ridiculous mix…And I mean that in a good way! They have their iconic poke bowls, a large selection of vegan options and their most popular item: craft nachos! There are over 10 different bonkers varieties of nachos: macaroni & cheese nachos, wilted kale & roasted yam nachos, loaded perogies jack nachos, and the Reuben nacho. But the nacho selection doesn’t end there! They even have dessert nachos. You can try their apple pie nachos, cinnamon sugar tortilla chips or the Inglewood dream cake with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips and creamed almonds.

The Blue Store

The Blue Store is where you need to come to find your essential groceries plus some truly extraordinary delights! If you’re looking for Korean Fried Chicken, this is the place for you! Grab some to-do along with a tray of Yakuza Sushi and a large iced slushie! Their aim in creating this general store was to bring affordable groceries to everyone in the community and embrace the nostalgia of this heritage building. They have restored the original hardwood floors and tin ceilings and added a 60’s & 70’s inspired mural outside. This is the perfect place to grab a handful of snacks and ready-to-eat meals and head over to the edge of the Bow River to enjoy your meal with the best view in town!

Inglewood Drive-In

If it’s time to get something to eat for lunch, head on over to the Inglewood Drive-In. This retro Diner is one of those classic spots you just can’t miss. Don’t let the dated exterior fool you; this place is an iconic Calgary destination. Everything from their mouth-watering handmade burgers, thick milkshakes, crispy onion rings, and perfectly seasoned french fries will make you coming back for more. They even serve up a Dole Whip ice cream! One of the only places you can get this pineapple treat outside of Disneyland. But the old-school foods aren’t without a few modern twists. They have new additions like the curry veggie burger and the spicy kimchi burger.

Deane House

One of the best ways to end off your day is with dinner at Deane House. Deane House was initially built in 1906 for Captain Richard Deane, who worked at Fort Calgary. Eventually, the house was moved the where you find it today. It was moved in 1929 to an area with a better view of the Elbow River. Over the years, the house was used as a boarding home and then purchased by the city to be used as a gallery.

Today, it’s home to one of the best restaurants in the city. In the summertime, you can dine outside in their immersive garden, rain or shine. Although they have a complete a-la-carte menu, the best option is their delightful 5-course chef’s tasting menu. The chef curates this selection weekly to suit the flavours and fresh produce of the month. The 5-course menu is $90 per person, which is truly a great price for the quality of food you receive. It’s such a fantastic way to cap off your evening.

Where to Drink

Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co.

To end the night, take a walk over to the Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. Ol’Beautiful Brewing Co. is located in this little hidden away corner of Inglewood, where you’ll want to while the night away. I’m not going to lie; the design of the beer cans drew me in right away but it was the amazing atmosphere that made me want to stay. The time-worn and well-loved interior designs of their taproom feels like it belongs in the hippest streets of Los Angeles or New York City. Inside this chic and vintage-adorned interior, you can sit and enjoy any of their amazing craft brews. Best of all surrounded by their friendly staff and incredible regulars. They are more than happy to help you find your perfect brew! If the weather is nice, their outdoor patio is a lively and fun place to enjoy your drinks.

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Cold Garden Beverage Company

Revival Brewcade

If you’re a night owl and aren’t yet ready for your night to end, head back up to 9th avenue to Revival Brewcade. While the bar is stocked with incredible drinks, the best thing about this place is the retro pinball and arcade machines that line the walls. One of my biggest pet peeves about so-called “retro arcade bars” is how expensive the games can be. But here at Revival Brewcade, you can buy a $5 all you can play pinball card!! This will keep you there all night trying to get the top score!

Where to Shop

Fair’s Fair Books

Inglewood is home to some of the best shopping in all of Calgary. Make your first stop at the famed Fair’s Fair Books. This shop has been open since 1988, curating one of the best-used books stores in the province. While some used bookstores are a real shot in the dark for finding what you’re looking for, this enormous store really feels more like a high-end new bookstore as their selection is so deep! Plus, the cute and quirky decorations really make the place so inviting.

The Apothecary in Inglewood

If you’re looking to relax, then you need to visit the Apothecary in Inglewood! You’re overwhelmed with the intoxicating smell of aromatic herbs, spices, and more just walking in the door. This store is known for its zero waste goods, pure essential oils, bulk herbs and refillable products. Forget Lush bath bombs and instead grab yourself a few of their handmade herbal bombs to pamper yourself in an indulgent bath. I love their selection of locally crafted candles as well. Nothing better than scents to bring back travel memories!

Moonstone Creation

Moonstone Creation is an Indigenous-owned and family-run business proud to represent over 60 Indigenous makers and artisans from across Turtle Island. So many people buy Moccasins as a souvenir when visiting anywhere in Canada but rarely are these created by Indigenous makers. To purchase an authentic pair of Moccasins is expensive, but that is because they are intricately made by hand, with genuine leather and embellished with meaningful beading. But most importantly, you are supporting and honouring the Indigenous culture by buying them from Indigenous creators.

If you are looking for a beautiful gift or souvenir, they also have lovely beaded feather & orange shirt brooch kits. It’s a great way to learn about the history of beading and the methods which they have used to create these crafts for hundreds of years. The kits come with all the supplies you need. They also run beading workshops throughout the year, so check their website to see if one is running while you’re in town!

The Livery Shop

If your style is chic minimalism, then The Livery Shop is the place for you! Just walking inside makes me feel lighter. The shop carries a great selection of local and Canadian designers. It’s also a fantastic place to come for gifts, especially during the holiday season. One of their most popular brands is Camp Brand Goods which sells the most adorable and cozy casual outdoor wear inspired by vintage camp aesthetics.

Smithbilt Hats Inc

There’s perhaps no better accessory to shop for in Calgary than a cowboy hat. And no better place to do so than Smithbilt Hats Inc. The Smithbilt’s company was started by Morris Schumiatcher in 1910. The Schumiatcher family immigrated from Russia to Canada and changed their name to Smith when they arrived. The family made and sold dress hats with small brims, as was the style in Europe at the time. But as they spent more time in the prairies, the Stampede Board wanted to have Smithbilt’s create a special hat to promote western wear. This was where the white cattleman hat was invented. The white cattleman hat soon became the symbol of the Stampede and of Calgary itself.

You can still buy your very own white cattleman hat today in the shop. But there are so many more designs to choose from. Everything from classic styles to modern, brightly coloured hats withs feather and jewelled embellishments. Even if hats aren’t your thing, checking out the artistry required to handmake these hats is well worth your time. Drop-in and visit this truly historic Calgary establishment.

Tea Trader

Walking into the Tea Trader feels like stepping back in time. Tins line the walls on one side and wooden crates of freshly imported tea line on the other. Tea Trader was established in Calgary in 1993 and chose historic Inglewood as its destination since the business seemed to fit right into the old main street. It recently moved south to the Ramsey Design Centre. But is still easily accessible on a day out in Inglewood. They even have an old cash register on display which makes shopping here so unique. In terms of the tea, they carry you can find lots of traditional teas with complex flavours. They even have unique seasonal flavours that will really make warming up on a cold day all the more enjoyable.

Purr Fine Clothing & Accessories

Shopping for clothes in Inglewood is terrific as you can find such unique stores. Purr Fine Clothing and Accessories is one of the best examples. It carries everything from designer pieces, locally handmade clothing to casual streetwear and fantastic accessories. The curation inside this store is phenomenal! I’ve been somewhere that felt more lovingly hand-selected. The staff is always more than helpful to recommend great items you might not immediately lend towards but might really surprise you! Some of the things are on the pricer side, as they are often small batch and ethically made, but their sale section is always a great place to find amazing deals.

Elysian Alchemy

Elysian Alchemy is where to come if you are into the metaphysical and spiritual goods. It’s a mystical general store. Walking inside, the smell of incense fills your nose, and the beautiful stones are simply dazzling. Here, you can get everything from handmade beauty products with herbal healing qualities, candles, crystals, tarot, and oracle cards.

That Old Retro Store

That Old Retro Store is the perfect place to come if you’re a fan of vinyl and vintage records. It’s a dream for music lovers. Floor to ceiling is thousands of records, vintage music posters and gorgeous retro Stereo Equipment, which they repair and restore. The staff here are so friendly and will help you find whatever you’re looking for. Very important in sorting through such a treasure trove of vintage vinyl.

Recess

For anyone who loves stationery as much as me, visiting Recess is like being a kid in a candy store! There’s nothing better than a bright white interior filled with vividly bejewelled paper treasures. If you haven’t grabbed a new journal to document your travel memories, this is the perfect place to get one. If you’re interested in learning how to create beautiful hand lettering to take your journaling game to the next level, then you should grab one of their customs Learn to Letter Guides. They have so many unique items that will spice up any desk drawer.

Plant

Even if you can’t bring any of these little beauties home with you, a visit to Plant Shop is sure to brighten any grey day. The Plant Shop aims to help re-connect people with the natural world and inspire them to build and maintain more beautiful spaces! Just walking around the shop and looking at all the exotic plants is such a serene experience. They have great selections of handmade and ceramic planters as well in a myriad of exciting designs. So if you have some green beauties at home, you can bring these home as a memento of your trip. Plus their custom DIY Terrariums are a gorgeous gift for anyone who wants a low-maintenance plant to bring some greenery into their home office.

The Silk Road Spice Merchant

The Silk Road Spice Merchant is my favourite shop in town. This is the perfect place to come to upgrade your pantry! The colours, smells and flavours of the spices on offer here are captivating. The Silk Road Spice Merchant started up when the owners couldn’t find the kinds of international spices they wanted to try in their cooking. So they aimed to start up their own store where they would carry every type of spice imaginable! One of my favourite things in their shop is their Hot Cocoa blends. They offer Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa, Winter Spice (with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and mace,) Cinnamon Cardamom Hot Cocoa and even Chai Masala Hot Cocoa. All of these warm, exotic flavours are the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold night.

What to See & Do

St. Patrick’s Island Park

St. Patrick’s Island Park opened in 2015 after a major facelift. Today, you can ride down the immaculate bike paths along the Bow River, admiring not only the natural beauty but the incredible public works of art along the way. The kids have lovely play areas, and the restored river channels make beautiful swimming spots in the summer heat. A place called ‘the rise’ is this large grassy knoll that literally rises up nine meters high. From this vantage point, you can look out over the parks around you, and it is an excellent place for sunset picnics and great toboggan runs in the winter.

Harvie Passage

The Harvie Passage Lookout is wonderfully designed to give visitors a stunning view of the rapids below. Harvie Passage is a fast-running channel off the Bow River. After a massive flood in 2013, the city went about an extensive redesign to not only make this part of the river safer (for the rafters who would constantly sneak onto the waters) but provide a more enjoyable experience for river-based recreationists.

Inglewood Wildlands & Bird Sanctuary

The Inglewood Wildlands is a vast wildlife reserve spread out over 36 hectares on the southeast edge of Inglewood. Inside the reserve, over 270 species of birds can be spotted at different times of the year. The best time to come is in the Spring and summer, but you can still find life here in the park, even in the fall and winter. The peaceful park is a great place to come to escape the busy city. Here you can stroll along the serene walking pathways, cross bridges over the river and even find a lagoon.

Scotsman’s Hill

If you’re looking for a spot to watch the sunset over the city, take a walk through ENMAX Park to the top of Scotsman’s Hill. To get there you’ll walk through the Elbow Riverpath which is the most serene walking path surrounded by Calgary’s relaxing natural landscape. Scotsman’s Hill is one of the best places in the town to give a view of Calgary’s skyline set behind a steep escarpment facing the Elbow River.

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Grab a Coffe at Gravity Espresso

Gravity Espresso is one of those coffee shops that feels like a staple of the community. Their little artist gallery inside featuring new local talent is such a beautiful way to learn about the artisans who make their living in Inglewood. Sitting in this comfy shop you’ll get to watch locals meet up, chat with their favourite baristas and smile at strangers as their morning begins with a great cup of coffee. And the coffees are really that good!

Have Brunch at Red’s Diner

As fun as trendy and hip brunch places are, nothing really hits the spot better than a traditional greasy spoon-type diner. And Red’s Diner is the best of the best. Red’s Diner serves incredible all-day breakfasts inside a friendly and comfortable interior. They have all the classics and a specialty Prairie Breakfast Plate, which adds potato cheddar perogies and Rocky’s kielbasa to a traditional breakfast platter. Their Blueberry, Basil & Goat Cheese Stuffed French Toast was INCREDIBLE! Portions are enormous, so don’t hesitate to share.

Grab a Novel at Fair’s Fair Books

Inglewood is home to some of the best shopping in all of Calgary. Make your first stop at the famed Fair’s Fair Books. This shop has been open since 1988, curating one of the best-used books stores in the province. While some used bookstores are a real shot in the dark for finding what you’re looking for, this enormous store really feels more like a high-end new bookstore as their selection is so deep! Plus, the cute and quirky decorations really make the place so inviting.

Be Entranced at The Apothecary in Inglewood

If you’re looking to relax, then you need to visit the Apothecary in Inglewood! You’re overwhelmed with the intoxicating smell of aromatic herbs, spices, and more just walking in the door. This store is known for its zero waste goods, pure essential oils, bulk herbs and refillable products. Forget Lush bath bombs and instead grab yourself a few of their handmade herbal bombs to pamper yourself in an indulgent bath. I love their selection of locally crafted candles as well. Nothing better than scents to bring back travel memories!

Become a Cowboy at Smithbilt Hats Inc

There’s perhaps no better accessory to shop for in Calgary than a cowboy hat. And no better place to do so than Smithbilt Hats Inc. The Smithbilt’s company was started by Morris Schumiatcher in 1910. The Schumiatcher family immigrated from Russia to Canada and changed their name to Smith when they arrived. The family made and sold dress hats with small brims, as was the style in Europe at the time. But as they spent more time in the prairies, the Stampede Board wanted to have Smithbilt’s create a special hat to promote western wear. This was where the white cattleman hat was invented. The white cattleman hat soon became the symbol of the Stampede and of Calgary itself.

You can still buy your very own white cattleman hat today in the shop. But there are so many more designs to choose from. Everything from classic styles to modern, brightly coloured hats withs feather and jewelled embellishments. Even if hats aren’t your thing, checking out the artistry required to handmake these hats is well worth your time. Drop-in and visit this truly historic Calgary establishment.

Find some Indigenous Made Treasures at Moonstone Creation

Moonstone Creation is an Indigenous-owned and family-run business proud to represent over 60 Indigenous makers and artisans from across Turtle Island. So many people buy Moccasins as a souvenir when visiting anywhere in Canada but rarely are these created by Indigenous makers. To purchase an authentic pair of Moccasins is expensive, but that is because they are intricately made by hand, with genuine leather and embellished with meaningful beading. But most importantly, you are supporting and honouring the Indigenous culture by buying them from Indigenous creators.

If you are looking for a beautiful gift or souvenir, they also have lovely beaded feather & orange shirt brooch kits. It’s a great way to learn about the history of beading and the methods which they have used to create these crafts for hundreds of years. The kits come with all the supplies you need. They also run beading workshops throughout the year, so check their website to see if one is running while you’re in town!

Fill up on Stationary at Recess

For anyone who loves stationery as much as me, visiting Recess is like being a kid in a candy store! There’s nothing better than a bright white interior filled with vividly bejewelled paper treasures. If you haven’t grabbed a new journal to document your travel memories, this is the perfect place to get one. If you’re interested in learning how to create beautiful hand lettering to take your journaling game to the next level, then you should grab one of their customs Learn to Letter Guides. They have so many unique items that will spice up any desk drawer.

Bring Home a Plant

Even if you can’t bring any of these little beauties home with you, a visit to Plant Shop is sure to brighten any grey day. The Plant Shop aims to help re-connect people with the natural world and inspire them to build and maintain more beautiful spaces! Just walking around the shop and looking at all the exotic plants is such a serene experience. They have great selections of handmade and ceramic planters as well in a myriad of exciting designs. So if you have some green beauties at home, you can bring these home as a memento of your trip. Plus their custom DIY Terrariums are a gorgeous gift for anyone who wants a low-maintenance plant to bring some greenery into their home office.

Get Your Spices at The Silk Road Spice Merchant

The Silk Road Spice Merchant is my favourite shop in town. This is the perfect place to come to upgrade your pantry! The colours, smells and flavours of the spices on offer here are captivating. The Silk Road Spice Merchant started up when the owners couldn’t find the kinds of international spices they wanted to try in their cooking. So they aimed to start up their own store where they would carry every type of spice imaginable! One of my favourite things in their shop is their Hot Cocoa blends. They offer Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa, Winter Spice (with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and mace,) Cinnamon Cardamom Hot Cocoa and even Chai Masala Hot Cocoa. All of these warm, exotic flavours are the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold night.

Lunch at Inglewood Drive-In

If it’s time to get something to eat for lunch, head on over to the Inglewood Drive-In. This retro Diner is one of those classic spots you just can’t miss. Don’t let the dated exterior fool you; this place is an iconic Calgary destination. Everything from their mouth-watering handmade burgers, thick milkshakes, crispy onion rings, and perfectly seasoned french fries will make you coming back for more. They even serve up a Dole Whip ice cream! One of the only places you can get this pineapple treat outside of Disneyland. But the old-school foods aren’t without a few modern twists. They have new additions like the curry veggie burger and the spicy kimchi burger.

Hop on a Scooter

If the weather allows during your visit, you need to spend the afternoon explore Inglewood on a Scooter. There are several different companies that serve the Calgary area, with the various brands of scooters littering the sidestreets of the city. Bird scooters, Lime and Neuron Mobility, are the most popular and readily available in the city. Download the related app, and you’ll be able to see which scooters are the closest to you. You can also see on the app which scooters have the most battery life since you don’t wanna get stuck with no battery.

These scooters are so much fun to ride. Although you can easily walk to the following destinations spread out around Inglewood, the scooters are a blast to use and make the journey a little more speedy and a lot more fun! Simply hop on the scooter and make your way into the parkland towards our next destination.

Relax at Harvie Passage

Head north along 13th Street and east along New St. along the Bow River. The residential neighbourhood quickly gives way to the beautiful natural environment of the Pearce Estate Park. This tree-filled pathway is such a calming part of the city and the fact its mere steps away from the main street is one of the amazing things about Calgary.

Making your way along the river, you’ll reach the Harvie Passage Lookout. The Harvie Passage Lookout is wonderfully designed to give visitors a stunning view of the rapids below. Harvie Passage is a fast-running channel off the Bow River. After a massive flood in 2013, the city went about an extensive redesign to not only make this part of the river safer (for the rafters who would constantly sneak onto the waters) but provide a more enjoyable experience for river-based recreationists.

Kids and adults can wear lifejackets and ride down the western passage, which was created as a natural river ride. Lots of locals bring floaties or small rafts to ride down the river rapids as well. Even if you don’t have any of these with you, the stone steps they have created make a great place to rest your feet on a hot day. It’s incredible to see the entire community come out on hot days to enjoy this amazing riverside feature. And best of all, it’s totally free!

Enjoy a 5-Course Dinner at Deane House

One of the best ways to end off your day is with dinner at Deane House. Deane House was initially built in 1906 for Captain Richard Deane, who worked at Fort Calgary. Eventually, the house was moved the where you find it today. It was moved in 1929 to an area with a better view of the Elbow River. Over the years, the house was used as a boarding home and then purchased by the city to be used as a gallery.

Today, it’s home to one of the best restaurants in the city. In the summertime, you can dine outside in their immersive garden, rain or shine. Although they have a complete a-la-carte menu, the best option is their delightful 5-course chef’s tasting menu. The chef curates this selection weekly to suit the flavours and fresh produce of the month. The 5-course menu is $90 per person, which is truly a great price for the quality of food you receive. It’s such a fantastic way to cap off your evening.

Sunset on Scotsman’s Hill

If you’re looking for a spot to watch the sunset over the city, take a walk through ENMAX Park to the top of Scotsman’s Hill. To get there you’ll walk through the Elbow Riverpath which is the most serene walking path surrounded by Calgary’s relaxing natural landscape. Scotsman’s Hill is one of the best places in the town to give a view of Calgary’s skyline set behind a steep escarpment facing the Elbow River.

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Late Night Drinks at Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co.

To end the night, take a walk over to the Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. Ol’Beautiful Brewing Co. is located in this little hidden away corner of Inglewood, where you’ll want to while the night away. I’m not going to lie; the design of the beer cans drew me in right away but it was the amazing atmosphere that made me want to stay. The time-worn and well-loved interior designs of their taproom feels like it belongs in the hippest streets of Los Angeles or New York City. Inside this chic and vintage-adorned interior, you can sit and enjoy any of their amazing craft brews. Best of all surrounded by their friendly staff and incredible regulars. They are more than happy to help you find your perfect brew! If the weather is nice, their outdoor patio is a lively and fun place to enjoy your drinks.

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Play some Games at Revival Brewcade

If you’re a night owl and aren’t yet ready for your night to end, head back up to 9th avenue to Revival Brewcade. While the bar is stocked with incredible drinks, the best thing about this place is the retro pinball and arcade machines that line the walls. One of my biggest pet peeves about so-called “retro arcade bars” is how expensive the games can be. But here at Revival Brewcade, you can buy a $5 all you can play pinball card!! This will keep you there all night trying to get the top score!

After a day of cold brews, boutiques, beers and bars, it’s time to head back to your hotel or home for the night. Hopefully, you found more interesting shops along the way, which keep you coming back to Inglewood for more! Let me know in the comments if I missed your favourite place!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post How To Spend the Perfect Day in Inglewood Calgary first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Filigrana

Filigrana is my new favourite brunch spot so I had to update this list to feature it. Walking inside, you are immediately in awe of the environment. The glass walls allow the beautiful morning sun to filter in, creating rainbows of light on the floor. You are immediately greeted by friendly servers and before you’ve ever ordered are brought over to their pastry tray with some of the most inventive and delicious pastries! I had to try at least one even though I knew more food was on the way. Filigrana specialized in Mexican fusion with dishes that combine a variety of different cultures. The tortillas served alongside your meal are made literally on sight and you can see the tortillas makers around the corner from the washroom for some in-house entertainment.

Be sure to sample the licuado de mamey, which is a smoothie made with the Mexican native mamey fruit! So creamy and delicious. For your meal I recommend highly the tostadas, chilaquiles and, of course, some delicious freshly made guacamole served with their fresh tortillas. What is so convenient about Filigrana is the fact you can make easy reservations in advance on Opentable. Especially if you’re visiting on a weekend with a larger group reservations are absolutely mandatory! But they’re not too hard to find if you book up well enough in advance.

Panadería Rosetta

Panadería Rosetta is a café that combines the best of French and European traditions with Mexican ones. The café offers a daily selection of bread, so depending on what day you come by, there is always something extra special to try. They offer both sweet and savoury bread as well as sandwiches, cakes, muffins and more! Everything hidden away in their little glass cases is to die for. Their baked good are so delicious in fact that this bakery delivers their goods to dozens of cafes around town. But I like coming right to the source!

While they have some table service, I love coming to Panadería Rosetta to stock up on various treats and then carry them over to a nearby park to enjoy my spread. Mexico City is home to a plethora of public parks, and they make the perfect spot for a morning picnic! I love nothing more than Sunday brunch in the park as Sunday is when everyone brings out their dogs to play. It’s so much fun to just sit back and watch the adorable little pups playing.

Restaurante El Cardenal

Restaurante El Cardenal is an institution in Mexico City with multiple different locations. The San Ángel location is their newest expansion, and it’s by far my favourite location! El Cardenal was founded in 1969, and the family founders wanted to bring their love of traditional Mexican cuisine to an upscale setting. One of the most luxurious parts of dining inside El Cardenal in San Ángel is the gorgeous architecture. The restaurant is set inside an old colonial mansion. The stained glass windows and gleaming wood floors make just sitting inside such a joy to experience.

To start the perfect breakfast, begin with hot chocolate, not coffee! Their unique hot chocolate is made with famous Doña Oliva chocolate and is like drinking a cup of history. Hot chocolate originated in Mexico and was an essential part of the Aztec culture from 1400 AD. My favourite part about the experience of eating here was the pastry tray. When you come inside a waiter brings you over an enormous tray of sweet pastries. And you can choose, with your own eyes, which pastry you’d want to start off the meal right with.

Another traditional breakfast dish you’ll only find in Mexico is the Egg omelette with escamoles. Escamoles are colloquially called “Mexican caviar,” and are edible ant larvae. Escamoles have been consumed in Mexico since the age of the Aztecs and are high in nutritional value. It’s definitely one of the most unique and classic dishes on the menu. But if that’s not your thing they have many other traditional options for those who aren’t that adventurous.

La Güera Tortas de Chilaquiles

La Güera Tortas de Chilaquiles is one of those local hot spots that is finally getting its due with the international crowds. But sadly, this means the secret is out, and you NEED to get here early for a chance at these fantastic sandwiches. This popup street food stand is set up every morning on the corner of Tamaulipas and Alfonso Reyes in La Condesa. We stumbled upon this place as it was only a few blocks away from our hotel. One piece of advice I almost always follow when travelling is that when you see line up for food, get in line. Especially if the people in line are locals. And I wasn’t disappointed.

A tortas de chilaquiles is a massive breakfast sandwich made to order. When you approach the table their little makeshift assembly line will get to work putting together your sandwich. Inside that perfectly crispy yet pillowy-soft bun are huge handfuls of shredded chicken, fried chicken cutlet, or cochinita pibil (pork). When they ask which meat you want, just point if you don’t know what they’re called. And honestly, it’s all delicious but my preference is always the pibil. On top of the meat, they will slather a layer of crema, crumbled queso fresco, onions and spicy peppers. All for only 35 PESOS!!! That’s less than $2! And the sandwich is enormous, I almost always split the order with my husband.

The only caveat? If you plan to come here on the weekend, be prepared to line up early (like 7 am early). Although the stand won’t start serving until 8am, you’ll see the line before you arrive and you’ll just have to wait patiently. I try to come on the weekdays when things are a little slower.

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Cafe De Tacuba

Cafe De Tacuba is a slice of history carved into the fabric of the Historic District. The café tends to get extremely busy during brunch hours, but it’s worth the wait if you want to try their honey and caramel-layered pancakes with cinnamon. Café de Tacuba has been a hot spot here in the Historic District since 1912. The restaurant gained real notoriety in 1922 when Diego Rivera held his wedding reception to novelist Guadalupe Marín here. Sadly, Rivera would divorce Marín and marry one of the most famous Mexican artists, Frida Khalo. Another notable event that took place here was the assassination of the local governor of Veracruz, Manlio Fabio Altamirano Flores. You might think such an event would put people off, but it only increased the draw.

But it’s not just the history that brings people here. Aside from the fantastic food is the incredible interior design. The interior is covered in fantastical paintings from the pre-Hispanic period. Vibrant mosaics and stained glass windows encircling the space make you feel like dining inside a museum. It’s truly a joy to eat here!

Lalo!

If you want to go to brunch and be guaranteed a smile, then you must visit Lalo! Lalo! is another popular brunch spot located in the Roma neighbourhood. Lalo! is the nickname of the owner and acclaimed chef Eduardo Garcia. Brunch is bustling here, so be prepared to wait a while to get a table but trust me, it’s worth it

Painted on the cafe walls are these incredible colourful, feel-good drawings by Belgian graffiti artist Blue Warrior. They say you eat with your eyes, and being surrounded by these positive and happy-inducing images; you can’t help but eat while filled with pure joy. The most popular items on the menu are their huevos con chorizo and the Huevos fritos con salsa ranchera.

Mercado Medellín

If you’re looking for an uncomplicated yet authentic brunch inside one of the most lively markets, you need to make your way over to Mercado Medellín. The Colonia Roma neighbourhood is also known as “Little Havana” because of the large number of Cuban and Latin American immigrants that live in the area. With this comes an incredible selection of coffee. Inside the market, there are a few different coffee vendors selling the beans and crafting expertly brewed cups of coffee.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, this market is flush with locals buying food for the week. Fresh fruit and veggie stalls are overflowing with incredible finds in as many colours as the rainbow. There are over 500 stalls in total that sprawl over the vast city block-sized marketplace. Towards the back of the market, past the vendors, you’ll find the food court. The food court is as uncomplicated as you can get, but you’ll have the chance to eat a real typical Mexican breakfast. This includes many dishes with eggs, like Huevos Rancheros, eggs in salsa, eggs with chorizo, chilaquiles, and breakfast tacos. Don’t be scared; the food here is fantastic, not everything has to be posh and pristine. The tacos I had from the ladies cooking on the sidewalk right outside the market were honestly the best breakfast tacos I’ve had in my entire life!

Los Amantes Café & Bistro

Los Amantes Café & Bistro in Coyoacan is a little out of the way if you’re staying in the centre city, but WELL worth the effort to get out there. PLUS, I always recommend spending at least a half-day in the beautiful and colourful neighbourhood of Coyoacan so you can make the most of your trip over here. Situated inside a quaint and cozy corner of Coyoacan, Los Amantes cafe is another tribute to talented grandmothers. The chef’s grandmother taught her as a young child all about the virtues of each ingredient and how to mix them to create the perfect harmony of sweet, savoury and sensational!

Their brunch menu is super trendy and primarily consists of different kinds of bread typically served with local fresh fruits, preserves and cheeses—each item complimenting the next. There were so many fruits I didn’t even recognize, and it was a joy to experience the menu without asking any questions until I was finished! It turns out the Mamey fruit is my new favourite treat!

Lardo

Lardo is a beautiful brunch spot in the La Condesa neighbourhood. It’s located inside the old apartment buildings built by THE Condesa that the district is named after. I love how the restaurants are almost hidden away behind the crawling plants that cover the facade of the building. This area of town is so busy on the weekend, and the ambience outside the restaurant is just intoxicating. The menu features hip Mexican-European fusion food, which is as delicious to eat as it is mesmerizing to look at. 

Don’t leave without trying the Fried egg, chile con carne and avocado. The Mexican deconstructed version of avocado toast. My husband is obsessed with their selection of granola, and their baked granola served with red berries, and almond milk is a playful take on cereal. Reservations are recommended at this place since it’s one of the most popular spots in Condesa.

Pastelería Ideal

Pastelería Ideal, located in the heart of the Historic Centre, is a local haunt where you’ll find people clamouring to buy up everything for their sweet tooth! This bakery is so famous that you might have even seen its iconic blue and white pastry boxes all over the city. Many business and cafes buy up their daily pastries from this shop every morning.

The bakery was founded in 1927 and has been opened in this very spot ever since. They have since opened up three other locations, but this is the original. This bakery has everything from traditional Mexican bread and pastries, cakes and cookies to Parisian puff pastry, viennoiseries, and more! All of this is served up on huge platters towering with treats. Just grab a try and use the tongs provided to serve yourself up some pastries. Once you’re done piling up (they make great breakfast pastries, too), take your collection to the counter. There they will pack them up for you and give you a ticket to pay. After you’ve paid, they’ll wrap your baked good, all perfectly wrapped up to go. Enjoy them back at your hotel or over in the famous Alameda Park!

I hope you enjoyed this list of my favourite exciting, hip and delicious brunch spot in Mexico City. Hopefully, you manage to make your way out to visit a few of them on your next trip to Mexico City. Let me know in the comment if you have any other favourite spots that you never skip when visiting CDMX!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post The Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Mexico City [UPDATED 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

It’s almost impossible to make this bucket list short. There is just too much good stuff. But I’ve gone ahead and listed my TOP TEN and then added the rest of the items after that. So if you’re only in Japan for a short time, be sure you at least check off those top ten items. But if you’re a foodie and want to be sure to get everything out of your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan, but sure to download my Japan Food Bucket list and see if you can eat it all!

Table Of Contents

1. #1 Ramen
2. #2 Sushi
3. #3 Konbini Egg Salad Sandwich
4. #4 Okonomiyaki
5. #5 Bento Box / Ekiben
6. #6 Soba Noodles
7. #7 Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu
8. #8 Curry
9. #9 Yakitori
10. #10 Mochi
11. Drinks
12. Breakfast
13. Melon Pan
14. Snacks
15. Meals
16. Desserts
17. Is there anything not worth eating?!

#1 Ramen

Ramen is a Japanese adaptation of a classic Chinese wheat noodles dish brought to Japan in 1859. But since its adoption, Japanese chefs have changed the recipes considerably and really made it their own! Other dishes on this list might make the #1 spot on other blogs, but for me, ramen is the best thing you can eat in Japan! It’s rich, complex while still being simple and best of all, it’s cheap and filling!

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different ramen variations to suit any palette. And you can find a new ramen shop almost on every corner. The most traditional type of ramen is made with soy sauce and miso in a pork bone broth. Then it’s topped with a slice of tender pork, spring onions, bamboo shoots and a lovely soft boiled egg (always add the egg!)

Whereas sushi comes in a wide range of prices, ramen is reliably the same price everywhere you. Of course, there is the occasional upscale version but those you really have to seek out. You can get it dirt cheap from the konbini, but for the most part, ramen restaurants around the city will serve you up a hot bowl of noodle soup for less than $10. Suppose you love ramen as much as me. In that case, you HAVE to check out the ramen museum in Yokohama! Here you can sample recipes and dishes from all over Japan in one easy-to-access spot just an hour outside Tokyo!

#2 Sushi

Even people who have never been to Japan associate Sushi as its National dish. And while it might seem like a common response to what to eat in Japan, it’s up there for a reason. Sushi in Japan really is just that good! The word ‘sushi’ means “sour-tasting”. It is named because of the sushi rice, which is always seasoned with “sour” rice vinegar. Japan is the 5th largest island nation and is surrounded by water, and therefore, by fish! But it’s not just proximity to the waters which is important. It is the legacy of the craft and the care taken in preparing the sushi.

While you might think that sushi all about the fish, most sushi chefs will tell you it’s actually all about the rice! Chefs will spend years developing the perfect relationship with their rice farmers to get the best product possible. They ensure it is cooked at the ideal temperature so that the fish almost melts onto and in your mouth.

Another great thing about sushi is that it can be eaten as inexpensively as possible, either from Japanese convenience stores (konbinis) or conveyor belt sushi restaurants. But it also can be one of the most upscale and almost performative meals of your entire life. At high-end sushi restaurants, the chef takes you on a journey with the creations he hands over the bar. You’ve never tasted fish like this before.

And while there is something truly special about those expensive Michelin starred restaurants, the cheap sushi you can get at the corner izakaya is still made from high-quality fish which tastes as fresh as anything you’ve had before.

#3 Konbini Egg Salad Sandwich

I know, I know, an egg salad sandwich sounds like a CRAZY recommendation. I can hear you yelling now, “I came all the way to Japan to eat an egg salad sandwich?! No way!” And I implore you to prove me wrong. I have an entire post dedicated to my love of these sandwiches. Which maybe tells you a little more about my I suppose… But I’m not alone! Famed chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain touted the sando’s magnificence too!

The combination of that oh-so-perfectly soft bread, cut without the crusts and the creamy soft boiled egg salad inside is heaven. Japan doesn’t do the typical North American breakfast (and rightly so), but if you’re looking to eat your egg in the morning, this is a great way to do it.

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#4 Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is probably the food I have the most fun with! Okonomiyaki is a dish made from a thick savoury batter that is poured over a hot cooktop. Add into the batter you add shredded cabbage and your choice of ingredients. The classic is filled with pork belly and topped with dried bonito flakes, kewpie mayo (the best mayo in the world) and a sweet brown sauce. The customization of this dish is one reasons I love it since you can get a different mixture every time. There is also a regional variety which includes noodles served on top! Extra yummy

But what makes okonomiyaki so fun is that in many restaurants, you make it yourself! You sit at a table with the hot cooktop, and the waiter will bring over the ingredients. Then, you mix it all up and cook right there on the table in front of you. You can add as much or as little of the condiments as you like to top it off. While some people aren’t fans of cooking your own meal at a restaurant, I LOVE it! It’s such a great way to learn more about the food you’re eating and a great activity to enjoy with your fellow travellers. Don’t worry at all if you don’t know what you’re doing. The waiters are ALWAYS so helpful and will even do it all for you if you really feel like you’re mucking it up.

#5 Bento Box / Ekiben

Bento Boxes and Ekiben are perfectly curated boxes of brightly coloured foods. Each item is placed together to create a complimentary meal to satisfy your every craving. The reason I love them so much is that they look almost too pretty to eat. Every item is carefully tucked away into its own section. “Bento” translates into the English word for “boxed-lunch.” These meals were designed to be eaten on the go. The invention of the bento box dates back to the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333). Back then, they were pretty simple and made mostly to carry rice.

It wasn’t until the late 16th century that the boxes evolved into a more luxurious design during the Edo period. Beautiful lacquered wooden boxes were made to display bite-sized food within. These fancy bento boxes were called the ‘Makunouchi.’ This translates into “between acts” as the lacquered boxes were designed to be sold inside Kabuki theatres and eaten during the intermission. You buy simple bento boxes at every konbini, but you can also buy more specialty ones at shops around Japan.

Ekiben comes from the words “eki,” which means railway station. These bento boxes were designed exclusively for travellers on the railway. Sometimes people needed to travel long distances into big cities for work, so this was an excellent solution for people who needed to eat their dinner on the train. But who didn’t have time to prepare a healthy meal themselves. Ekibens are traditionally meant to be enjoyed on the train from one city to another. If you don’t have any long train journey scheduled, don’t like that stop you! Go to your local train station and pick up one of these gorgeous ekibens. They make for a great picnic outside or even just eaten on your bed in the hotel.

#6 Soba Noodles

Soba noodles are such a simple dish but one that is truly unbelievable to eat. The meaning of ‘Soba’ refers to the buckwheat used to make the noodles. Soba can be eaten both cold and warm. The cold version is actually my favourite. The buckwheat adds a slightly nuttier flavour to the noodles, which I feel like you can taste better in the cold version. They are generally served on a little bamboo tray.

If you ordered the cold version then you can dip the noodles into the sauce provided. The warm noodles are served directly into the bowl of hot dashi broth. Soba is generally served with spring onions, nori (seaweed), as well as a bit of wasabi. Some of my best restaurant experiences have been at soba shops. I don’t know what it is about soba shops but they seem to be run by the kindest people! It makes dining inside a true joy.

#7 Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu

I felt I needed to group together Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu together as they are very similar, and I couldn’t choose between them both. Each of these consists of cooking your own meat in a hot pot on your own table.

Sukiyaki

The word ‘Sukiyaki’ means ‘cook what you like‘. And this is pretty much exactly what you do. They bring you all the ingredients and appliances and you choose the rest. You can cook the meat as much or as little as you prefer. Or add in tons of veggies or skip them altogether.

The meal is prepared using a shallow pan set on top of a hot fire. You add the meat and veggies into the hot pan first and then top it with the Sukiyaki sauce. The sauce flavours all the ingredients inside the pot as they cook. Once the meat is done cooking you can enjoy it out of the pot or over some rice. One way in which Sukiyaki is traditionally eaten is with a raw egg. When you get to the table you’ll find an egg and a bowl on the side. Crack the egg and beat it in the small bowl. Then dip the hot meat inside before eating. While eating raw egg sounds scary, the meat is so hot it cooks down the egg slightly and gives it almost a buttery taste.

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Shabu-Shabu

Whereas Sukiyaki is made in a shallow pot, Shabu-Shabu is made using a deep bot. The word ‘shabu-shabu’ is s an onomatopoeia word for the noise the meat makes when you add the meat and swish it around in the broth. The hot pot is filled with a boiling broth, rather than the rich sauce used in sukiyaki. Into this pot, you once more can add your own ingredients. You add in all your veggies first. Once they have started cooking, you dip the paper-thin shreds of beef into the pot. The water is so hot, the meat cooks within seconds. Once your meat is cooked, you can dip it into a Ponzo sauce to deepen the flavour.

As you add more and more to the pot, the broth gets more and more flavourful. At the end of the meal, you can spoon it out and drink it like soup! In both Sukiyaki and Shabu-shabu restaurants, the atmosphere inside is always so boisterous and fun! Like you were crashing a party already in full swing. These kind of meals are best eaten with large groups but even if it’s just the two of you, you’ll still have a wonderful time.

#8 Curry

Curry was originally introduced to Japan by the British in the late 19th century. But over the years, the recipe has been adapted to the Japanese palette. Their version of curry is completely unique. It is much sweeter than Indian curry and doesn’t have any of Thai curries’ coconut milk. Japanese curry is prepared more like a rich stew with a thick and sweet sauce. Japanese curry is served with rice and topped with any combination of ingredients. Everything from deep-fried pork katsu, crispy chicken to shrimp tempura and assorted vegetables.

Curry shops are everywhere. And the meal is so filling at such a low price. My favourite place to go is CoCo Curry, this shop just seems to add that extra something special which makes their version absolutely addictive. On the table, you’ll find a small jar of pickles. Throw these on as a little savoury crunch needed to cut the grease of the curry.

#9 Yakitori

Yakitori restaurant can generally be found by the smoke and steam billowing out of their doors. Yakitori was invented in Japan in 1682 when it was introduced to the population via a cookbook called “Gouruinichiyo Ryourisho.” In its simplest form, Yakitori is a bite-sized piece of meat skewered on a bamboo stick. The meat is then grilled over a charcoal fire give it that smokey flavour. After being cooked, it is seasoned with either tare sauce or salt. Tare sauce is made of mirin rice wine, soy sauce, sake and sugar. It adds an amazing kick to the fatty meat.

One of the most extraordinary things about Yakitori is that each piece costs about 120 yen. At that price, it’s an excellent opportunity for you to try different items you might have never had before. We ate everything from hearts to livers and even chicken skin! And it was all delicious (well, maybe the liver just wasn’t for me, but that’s a personal preferenced). Yakitori restaurants, unless they are super upscale, are tiny and crammed full of people. Most of the time you’ll eat at the bar facing the chefs cooking the tiny skewers. He places them on the long grill which stretches almost across the entire restaurant! The atmosphere is terrific, and salarymen come in from the bars late at night to fill up on greasy to prevent an early morning hangover. It’s really a party!

#10 Mochi

I had to end the top ten list off with a dessert. And the dessert which still calls my name to this day is Daifuku Mochi. Daifukumochi, or daifuku, is a Japanese sweet made of mochi paste. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice, water, sugar and cornstarch. The mixture is pounded into a paste until it can be moulded into the desired shape. The mochi is wrapped around a sweet filling, most commonly sweetened red bean paste. During the springtime, they have my favourite flavour; Ichigo (strawberry). This version is usually only on sale during the spring when the strawberries are in season. But the blend of the rich paste with the tart and sweet strawberry is stupendeous!

Now that we’ve outlined the best of the best, I’ve broken up the rest of the items on the bucket list into different categories. So depending on the time of day or what you’re feeling, you can find what you’re looking for. Feel free to download my Japanese Food Bucket List to take on your trip! See if you can find them all!

Drinks

Coffee

While Japan might not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of rich coffee culture, you might find yourself to be ultimately in awe of it once you discover it. Unlike the long history of espresso in Italy or Australia’s complex latte culture, Japan has been slowly and quietly assembling some of the best roasters worldwide. Like everything in Japan, they took making the best coffee cup to the extreme. Firstly, Japanese service is the best in the world so their baristas are top-notch. Secondly, they take such care in presenting even a simple cup of coffee. Pour-over coffee is definitely the most popular form of elegant coffee in Japan so if you see a cafe that does the pour-over, head right inside! It’s mesmerizing to watch the baristas take SUCH care to create your morning brew for you.

Macha Tea

Macha is made from the finely ground powder of specialty Japanese-grown green tea leaves. This type of tea is another example of things that can be on the high and low end of the price spectrum. It can be drunk out of a vending machine or in an elaborate tea ceremony using only ceremonial-grade tea leaves. Macha tea is so prevalent in Japan that often in restaurants, you’ll find a small bowl of macha powder right on the table. This is free of charge, and you can have as much as you want! For them, a meal without tea just isn’t a meal.

My favourite way to enjoy a cup of macha is in a tea house, preferably in the middle of a zen garden. The bamboo and tatami-covered rooms have open windows that look out onto the landscape around you. You can sit and enjoy the tea, surrounded by some of the most beautiful sights. In tea rooms, you will also be served Wagashi with your macha tea. Wagashi is a traditional Japanese sweet that provides a beautiful contrast to the bitter tea and mellows out the flavour.

Sake

Sake is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks enjoyed in Japan. The key ingredient in good sake is high-quality rice. The rice is processed with water, koji mould and yeast and fermented until the mixture reaches its optimal flavour. Then it is filtered and ready to be drunk. Sake is known to pair exceptionally well with the umami flavours used in Japanese cuisine. So it’s the best drunk along with a meal. While sake might seem like a luxury drink, you can find sake as cheap as a few hundred yen a glass. At the most expensive restaurant we ate at in Japan, I treated myself to a glass of their specialty sake. And I was shocked to find it only cost 900 yen! The joys of local production.

Umeshu

Umeshu is one of the most incredible liquors I drank in Japan! It is plum wine made from soaking Japanese plums in shochu, sugar and water for years at a time. The result is this almost thick, sweet drink that retains the tang of the plums. Since the liquor is so potent, it is usually served mixed with a bit of soda water. It is very similar to icewine, and since I’m Canadian, I think I really was drawn to the flavour.

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Breakfast

Tamagoyaki

Tamagoyaki translates literally to “cooked egg,” which is precisely what it is. This dish is essentially a rolled-up omelette. It is served either on its own, over rice or skewered on a large bamboo stick to be eaten on the go. The egg is whipped into this light and fluffy texture and cooked on a special pan. As each layered cooks, it is rolled over itself. Once it is done, the Tamagoyaki is covered in a light soy sauce. Despite the egg containing no sugar, it tastes so sweet! This dish surprises you at first, as you don’t expect eggs to be so sweet. But the taste is buttery, light and delicious. Most people eat this for breakfast, but it is also a popular item added to bento boxes or chirashi bowls.

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Onigiri

The classic breakfast food for many Japanese people is Onigiri. Onigiri is a rice ball formed into a triangle and wrapped in nori (seaweed). The nori wrapping provides a great cover, so your hands don’t get covered in sticky rice. The rice ball is filled with various flavours—everything from tuna, mayo and shrimp, egg and pickled plum. The pickled plum flavour is meatless and an excellent option for vegans. While being vegan in Japan might be more difficult, it’s definitely not impossible. My personal favourite variety is the Mentaiko. Mentaiko means “spicy cod roe.” It’s not too spicy but has the perfect salty kick to get things started in the morning.

Chirashi

Chirashi is one of the most lovely ways to enjoy fresh fish straight from the market. If you visit a local fish market, directly outside you’ll usually find a series of little restaurants, and one of the most commonly served meals is Chirashi. The word ‘chirashi’ means ‘to scatter’. Chirashi contains various bits of sashimi (raw fish), scattered on top of a warm bed of vinegared rice. The dish was invented to use up pieces of the fish that weren’t “pretty” enough to be served as straight-up sashimi.

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Many of the fish market workers eat a bowl as their breakfast. In fact, breakfast time is when the fish, which has just been brought out the market floor, will actually be the freshest! So don’t be scared to have a bowl of rice and raw fish for breakfast!

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Melon Pan

Melon pan is a sweet bread sold in bakeries and konbinis all over Japan. And despite the name, it actually doesn’t have any melon in it. It’s named as such because its outer later, once baked, resembles a melon’s skin texture. This soft bun is that perfect level of sweetness which makes it great for breakfast.

Snacks

Nikuman

A great side dish for lunch is the Chinese steamed buns, called Nikuman, which you can find inside konbinis right near the counter. These come with fillings like pork, spicy curry, bean paste, Thai shrimp, even pizza! Pizza might sound weird but trust me, the Frankenstein creation is surprisingly delicious! These are little hot pockets of heaven and make for a great lunch on the go. Despite being such a ubiquitous creation they are unbelievable delicious, so don’t let the low price fool you!

Miso Soup

If you have a meal in a traditional Japanese restaurant, almost regardless of the time of day, more often than not, it will start with a warm bowl of miso soup. You might think you’ve had miso soup before, but REAL Japanese miso soup is unreal! Miso soup is made from, surprise surprise, miso paste! Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans.

It might interest you to know that in Japan, there are more miso flavours almost than there are types of soft drinks. The grocery aisles filled with miso paste seem to go on forever. While miso soup is made up of the same ingredients every time; miso paste, dashi broth, tofus, green onions and seaweed, each chef makes it his own. Since the miso soup is what you start the meal off with, it acts almost as an introduction to what’s to come from the cook.

Gyoza

Gyoza was a recipe that Japanese soldiers wanted to recreate for themselves when they got home from China post-World War II. Gyoza is made from thinly rolled dough and filled with pork, cabbage, green onions and mushroom. It is then formed into moon-shaped dumplings. The true test of good gyoza is that hard, crispy bottom and a soft and moist interior. Gyoza shops are everywhere in Japan. You can hop inside and just chow down! These are such great snack options to tide you over throughout the day.

Yakisoba

Yakisoba, for me, feels like a day out at the ballpark. When coming to a baseball game in Japan, you can bring in as much food as you want. Outside the stadiums, there are usually dozens of local vendors selling to-go meals. When we went, we were sure to pick up some fresh Yakisoba. Yakisoba feels like an event-type food. It is ALWAYS present during the summer festivals that pop up all over Japan. Served up on huge cooktops, piled a mile high!

Yakisoba means “cooked soba”. And yet these noodles don’t contain any buckwheat as other soba noodles usually do. The dish was inspired by Chinese fried noodles. When it originally came to Japan, wheat was very expensive. So thinly shredded cabbage was added to fill out the dish, creating a new iconic recipe. Today, Yakisoba is made by stir-frying the cooked noodles, cabbage, carrots, and pork, then topped with the pickled ginger and traditional yakisoba sauce. They are addictive and the best sports game food I’ve ever had!

Kushikatsu

‘Kushi’ translates to “skewers,” and ‘katsu’ means deep-fried, so together Kushikatsu means “deep-fried skewers”. This dish is originally from Osaka but can be found all over Japan. These are served in little izakayas close to the train stations. Kushikatsu makes for a great snack before dinner instead of an entire meal (although you can definitely opt to make it your whole meal as well). You can order pretty much anything deep-friend here, everything from; beef, chicken gizzard, chicken eggs, pork, sausages, shrimp, scallops, octopus, onions, sweet potatoes, lotus roots and lots, lots more!

Like Yakitori, each one of these skewers is relatively inexpensive. So you have an excellent opportunity to try out a bunch of different items you might be curious about. After getting the Kushikatsu dolled out to your table or at the counter, you can dip the sticks into the sweet sauce provided. Or just into some plain salt to really taste the depth of flavour of the item.

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Curry Bread

Curry Bread is crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. The dish is made from fried bread filled with different flavours of Japanese curry. You can choose spicy or non-spicy, although my preference and recommendation would undoubtedly be the spicy version. The bread frys up so nicely that these incredible puffs of fried dough dot the exterior of the treat. These are especially good if you’re visiting on a cold day!

Age Manju

“Age” means deep-fried, and “Manju” is a Japanese steamed bun with various fillings. The Age Manju is a deep friend variety of this long-loved treat. The Manju is dipped in a batter coating and fried, warming up the filling inside. These delicious little hot pockets are indeed something that can’t be missed!

Oden

As the perfect entry to your dinner at the konbini, start off with traditional Japanese comfort food, Oden. Oden originated as Japanese-style street food during the Edo period. The dish starts with a richly flavoured soup, and different ingredients are added to it. This adds more flavour and texture to the soup. Unlike other soups, you can actually pick and choose what items are added into your oden, making it a personalized experience. You can choose from things like fish cakes, grilled meat, daikon rashies, hard-boiled eggs, deep-fried tofu coin purses and seasonal veggies. Oden is a favourite food to eat during the colder winter months, but it is on offer all year round.

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Karaage

Karaage (aka deep-fried chicken) is a classic Japanese dish you’ll find at convenience stores. Although you can get karaage everywhere, Lawson’s does it best! They serve their Karaage in both regular and spicy nuggets, but let’s face it, if you want the premium version, you go for the spicy! Lawson’s brand is not only the most delicious (in my personal opinion), but their packaging with that cute little chick is adorable!

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Senbei

Senbei are round crackers made from rice and mixed with sugar and syrup. The dough is flattened and cut into perfect circles. The crackers are then cooked over a grill of burning coals, giving them a distinct roasted flavour. There are dozens of different flavours of crackers, from sweet, to savoury to super spicy. My favourite was the sweetened seaweed, which had a lovely taste and a beautiful colour from the crispy seaweed.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki is one of the most famous street foods that first originated in Osaka. When translated, Takoyaki means ‘octopus balls’. The dish consists of spherical dumplings made from a savoury batter filled with a bite-sized piece of tako (octopus). Once the batter is cooked, the dumplings are covered in a sweet and savoury sauce, kewpie mayo, seaweed and bonito flakes. The dish tastes very similar to okonomiyaki but with the addition of the tako.

Meals

Kaiseki

Kaiseki or kaiseki-ryōri is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. These are often served in Ryokans as your dinner included in your stay. If you aren’t staying at a Ryokan, you can also find Kaiseki meals at specialty restaurants around Japan. One reason why some Ryokans are so expensive is that the fancy meal is included in the price. During the Kaiseki, you will be served a dozen or more dishes, each one featuring local and seasonal specialties.

These are served in small, beautiful ceramic dishes, each one made to compliment the food on top. The plating is thought to enhance the flavour of the food as well. This is one of those meals that is more than the sum of its parts. It is an art form all of its own. This is perhaps one of Japan’s few meals that cannot be found for a low price. But the splurge is definitely worth it. I would advise you to stay in a Ryokan to enjoy the complete experience.

Udon

Like Ramen, which was brought to Japan from China, the origins of Udon also lie in China. Thick wheat noodles served inside a hot soup broth was a meal brought to Japan’s shores in the 700s. Still, it wasn’t until the dish was refined and changed into a uniquely Japanese meal that it gained popularity in the 1700s. Udon’s modern version is thick noodles that are served in a dashi broth, topped with scallions and seaweed. Udon noodles are definitely the chewiest of all the noodles you can find in Japan. I find a bowl of Udon to be the most filling! To add a little bit more oomph to your bowl, top the udon with some freshly made tempura or grilled mochi cakes!

Tempura

Although tempura is often served alongside other dishes, like mentioned above with the udon, it can easily be a meal all of its own. Tempura has been enjoyed in Japan since the mid-16th century. It was one of the favourite dishes of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo era. Although traditional tempura is simply deep-fried shrimp, there are also other fish and vegetable varieties you can sample as well. This is a great way to try out new items from daikon to mushrooms, eel, lotus root and sweet potato. Tempura is often served atop a bowl of rice with a side of warm miso soup. The key to eating fresh tempura is not to let it sit for too long, as this will cause the tempura to get soggy. And no one wants that!

Gyūdon

Gyūdon might be considered “fast food”, often eaten by salarymen on their lunchbreak trying to rush back to work. But I actually think there is something charmingly delicious about this meal. Gyūdon consists of a bowl of beef and onion simmered in a sweet dashi sauce. It is served on top of rice or noodles along with a raw or soft boiled egg and many green onions. The egg yolk adds a creamy, salty, umami flavour to the dish. So much more complex than just a hamburger we get in our fast-food restaurants.

Gyūdon is available at many chain restaurants like Yoshinoya, Matsuya or Sukiya. But you can also find superior Gyudon in restaurants around Japan made with high-quality beef and sometimes even Wagu! Whether you get the high-end experience or an affordable version, you are in for a treat.

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Unagi

Unagi is Japanese for “freshwater eel”. I actually think eel might be my favourite kind of fish to have in Japan. Unagi is a dish that dates back to the Edo period in Japan when it was customary to eat at summer festivals. It was thought to help with stamina in the hot weather. When the eel is prepared, the fillets are covered in a sweet soy sauce and broiled over a charcoal grill. The broiling almost caramelizes the sauce and creates this slightly crispy texture to the fish. It is generally served on a bed of rice to make a full meal.

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Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is the ultimate in crispy, fried pork. It is considered “yoshoku,” which refers to a style of food influenced by western cooking. But this isn’t a new invention; the word originates from the Meiji Restoration time in 1898. Like most other yoshoku foods, the Japanese took the original tonkatsu recipe and made it their own. Today, tonkatsu is made by coating pork chops in crisp panko breadcrumbs and deep-frying them until they are golden brown in colour. They are normally served with a large pile of shredded cabbage. The reason for the pairing is that the vitamin inside cabbage balances the gastric reaction that the fats inside the fried pork creates in your body. Just another example of how cuisine in Japan is more than just making things taste good. It thinks ahead and wants to take care of your body as well!

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Uni Ikura Don

Although this dish is native to Hokkaido, anywhere you can find a local fish market with fresh uni, you can find Uni Ikura Don. Uni Ikura Don is much like chirashi, but instead of a variety of fish, it contains only uni (sea urchin) and a heaping scoop of salmon roe. If you’ve never had uni before, you definitely should give it a try! Uni does indeed have a strong taste of the ocean and is creamy and buttery in texture. The salmon roe’s crunchy texture is a wonderful contrast to the uni and is what makes this dish such a great combo! While it’s not the cheapest option, you can easily share one bowl between two people as it’s pretty rich.

Wagyu Beef

While Wagyu beef might be a huge splurge at home, since Wagyu comes from Japan, you can eat it here in a much more affordable way. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still costly and not a budget option, but eating local foods is always more affordable; than when they are shipped internationally. Wagyu beef is actually a class of meat made from a variety of Japanese cattle. There are different grades of Wagyu, each of which is progressively more expensive.

Wagyu beef is so good because the meat contains lots of marbled ribbons of fat, making it almost buttery soft to eat. It even has a slightly sweet flavour derived from the fat. Like other types of meat, the Wagyu is served in many different cuts, which also have different prices. Suppose you’re looking to taste some Wagyu at the most low-cost option. In that case, many shabu-shabu or sukiyaki restaurants offer thin slices of Wagyu as meal sets. Because the meat is sliced so thin, you can sample a little bit without it being prohibitively expensive.

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Desserts

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a popular Japanese treat made with a pancake-like batter poured into a mould in the shape of a cute fish. It’s then filled with various fillings like chocolate, vanilla custard or the best of them all, matcha! These are too cute to pass up but also taste delicious. You can also get taiyaki served with ice cream in the centre and the blend of the hot cake with the cold ice cream is fantastical!

Kakigōri

If you’re in Japan during their hot summer, you need to get yourself a Kakigōri stat! Kakigōri is shaved iced, covered in condensed milk or flavoured syrup and sometimes topped with fruits and other little sweets. Although electric shavers have been invented, many local street vendors still use traditional hand-crank machines to serve up their Kakigōri. A massive block of ice is placed inside, and the crank spins around to carefully shave the ice into thin ribbons into the bowl below. Unlike snow cones we have in North America which are dense and crunchy, Kakigōri is as soft as freshly fallen snow and feels like eating a cloud! The perfect way to cool down after a day in the heat!

Creative Ice Cream Flavours

Japan has an obsession with soft-serve ice cream. I don’t know what they do to make it impossibly creamy, but it’s definitely the best soft-serve I’ve had in my life. But what is the best part are the flavours. You can get more than just chocolate or vanilla swirl. There is everything from taro (sweet potato), chestnut, macha, sesame, soda and melon! Never pass up a new flavour to try as some are regional specialties.

Japanese Cakes

Although cakes don’t seem synonymous with Japanese cuisine, Japan has truly made them their own. Japanese people seem to really like their desserts less sweet than we might take them in North America, and I far prefer it that way. Instead of traditional icing, they prefer to use thick, whipped cream to cover their cakes. But what really makes their cakes stand out are the colours, the incredible designs and the sheer artistry poured into a simple slice of cake. Whether it’s at a konbini or a grocery store or even in a cafe, you’ll be amazed at how many flavours there are!

Is there anything not worth eating?!

The one thing which I think gets over-hyped in Japan is KFC. Famously eating a KFC Christmas dinner has become one of the top viral news stories which reappear every December. While Japanese people might love it, I found it was the same, if not slightly worse than the KFC anywhere else in the world. I guess I was expecting it to be somehow different. Somehow deserving of the huge hubbub. But no, it just tastes the same. I would definitely give this one a miss.

I hope this gives you a ton of ideas as to what to eat on your next trip to Japan. There is honestly so much to try, and this city always leaves you wanting more! Don’t hesitate to try new things, ask questions and look for recommendations. Don’t let a restaurant with no English menu put you off. People in Japan are I think the most helpful and generous in the world and anyone you ask will be more than willing to help you interpret menu, even if they don’t speak English themselves. You’d be surprised how much can be communicated with just gestures and the internet!

Let me know in the comments what your favourite Japanese dish is or what you’re looking forward to trying more!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Best Foods to Eat in Japan! The Ultimate Foodie Bucket List first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

What is Sakura?

“Sakura” is the Japanese word for cherry blossoms. The pale pink petals are indeed edible. They have a very mild flavour and can be slightly bitter, so they are often paired with sweets as the sweetness balances out the bitterness. The taste is a hint of cherries, while the dominant flavour is very floral.

Sakura Mochi

Sakura mochi is my favourite way to enjoy the taste of the cherry blossom. This is a traditional Japanese sweet made with pink-coloured rice wrapped in a pickled sakura leaf. Often there is also a pickled or sugared sakura blossom placed on top or inside the leaf to add extra flavour. 

While the rice-wrapped Sakura mochi is the most popular, a Kanto-style version is made using a dough flavoured with the Sakura. Red bean paste is placed inside the dough and the entire thing is wrapped up in a pickled sakura leaf.

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Sakura-Cha

One of the most delicate ways to have Sakura is in a cup of tea. Sakura-cha (cherry blossom tea) is made with salted sakura blossoms and sugar. It is one of the most prestigious blends, often served at weddings. As sakura blossoms are thought to represent good luck, this is another reason for their popularity at many celebrations. Look for this tea in tea houses and special cafes.

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Sakura Kit Kat

One of the most popular souvenirs to bring home for your friends and family (and to eat yourself) is Sakura flavoured Kit Kats. Flavoured Kit Kats are an obsession in Japan, despite seeming like an American import. They have been transformed into hundreds of different varieties, from red bean to peach parfait and even wasabi! In the springtime, we find a variety of Sakura-flavoured Kit Kats in stock pretty much everywhere you go. In the past, they have offered flavours like; sakura mochi, sakura sake and even Sakura macha. You can find these all over the place in convenience stores, Don Quijotes, supermarkets and even at Duty-Free before you get on the plane home. Perfect for last-minute souvenirs!

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Sakura Pepsi

While I am admittedly more of a Coke fan over Pepsi, Sakura Pepsi is the one exception. While Coke does come out with some rebranded packaging during Sakura season, the product remains the same. Pepsi, on the other hand, offers this neon pink drink flavoured with Sakura. It’s very similar to cherry Pepsi but perhaps just slightly more floral and a little bit sour.

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Sakura Pocky

Pocky is one of the most famous Japanese exports, which people are even addicted to here in North America. Pocky was invented in 1966 by Yoshiaki Koma. The original Pocky sticks are long, thin stick like biscuits which are coated in chocolate. During the Sakura season, the Sakura Pocky sticks are covered in a pale pink, white chocolate flavoured with Sakura. Another excellent idea for souvenirs for friends and family.

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Starbucks Sakura Drinks

Every holiday season, Starbucks comes out with a variety of specialty drinks. And Sakura season is no different. In fact, it is one of the most popular times of the year for Starbucks. In addition to the new flavours of drinks, Starbucks always comes out with seasonal merchandise. The sakura merch is known to sell out as soon as it hits the floor, with people lining up well in advance of store openings to ensure they get it! This year the drinks on offer are special sakura berry lattes and frappuccinos. The sakura blend is mixed with strawberry jam for an even more sweet and refreshing way to welcome in springtime.

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If you can’t make it out to Japan to see and experience the amazing food for yourself you should check out Sugoi Mart, a Japanese online store, shipping all over the world everything that Japan has to offer. From snacks, chocolates, anime licenses to toys and collectibles, our motto is pretty much: You want it? They have it! If they don’t, let them know and they will! Use Promo code: CREATIVE15 for 15% OFF today!

Starbucks Konbini Drink

Cheaper options for Starbucks lovers are the Starbucks konbini drinks. These are made from Starbucks blends but at a much lower price as they are mass-produced and don’t require a barista. In any fridge section of the konbini, you can get the Sakura smoothie. The smooth is flavoured with sakura and mixed with vanilla plus a layer of strawberry jelly on the bottom. It even comes with its own little green straw to drink with, like the stem of the cherry blossom!

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Starbucks Sakura Foods

Starbucks is one of the best places for seasonal food every season in Japan. More than any other country, Japan Starbucks is famous for its seasonal menus, and the Sakura season is undoubtedly the best time for this. The menu changes every year, but their sakura cakes and donuts are a staple for the Spring and a delicious accompaniment for your hot or cold drink.

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Lipton’s Sakura Tea Latte

Another popular konbini drink is Lipton’s Sakura Tea Latte. This uber-sweet beverage is a black tea combined with milk and sakura flavouring. These come in the most adorable pink packaging with lots of sakura flowers on the outside. They are to be drunk chilled so find them in the fridge section of your local konbini.

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Sakura Sugar

Another way to bring some sakura home with you is in these souvenir bottles of sakura sugar. These bottles have inside them sugar marinated in sakura flavour and dried bits of the flower itself. This is an excellent centrepiece for your at-home tea & coffee station and makes for an extraordinary gift. These are sold in lots of souvenir shops around Japan, but if you missed out, you could usually find it at duty-free as well.

Calbee Sakura Prawn Crackers

Calbee crackers are a popular everyday snack here in Japan, eaten since 1964. They are made of prawns and potatoes and shaped into iconic sticks. During sakura season, the crackers get a dusting of sakura petals which gives the snack that addictive sweet-salty flavour.

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Sakura Sake

Sake is no doubt the most traditional Japanese liquor. It somehow feels more elegant than other drinks. Maybe it’s the beautiful and delicate ceramic glasses you pour the sake into before drinking it. Or perhaps it’s how the clear liquid looks so simple yet has such a deep, complex flavour. But in the springtime, there is the most beautiful version of sake (in my opinion), the sakura sake. This pale pink bottle comes with a whole sakura flower inside, perfectly preserved in the peak of its bloom. These can usually be found inside Don Quijote or other liquor stores around Japan.

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Sakura Higashi Candies

One of the oldest forms of candy in Japan is higashi. Higashi are sweets made by pressing fine sugar into simple wooden frames moulded in the form of different seasonal flowers. Once the sugar is dried, it is popped out of the frame and painted with edible colour. These sweets are meant to be eaten alongside a cup of matcha, which can be quite bitter to balance out the candy’s sweetness. During sakura season, these candies are shaped into sakura flowers and flavoured with the delicate taste of the bloom. These can be found in Don Quijote and many confectionary shops along touristy streets.

Sakura-Matcha Cream Collon

Cream Collon is one of the top-selling sweet snacks in Japan. Cream Collon is a cylindrical waffle-style biscuit filled in the center with various varieties of cream. During the springtime, you’ll find the limited edition of Cream Collon that is flavoured with cherry blossoms and, instead of a vanilla wafer, it features a matcha biscuit!

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Sakura Tokyo Banana

Tokyo Banana is a popular kind of omiyage which many Japanese people buy to bring home to their friends and family after a vacation. This is considered polite and almost a requirement when you return to the office, almost as a treat for your co-workers who didn’t get to go away. Since you need to serve so many people, omiyage is usually individually wrapped snacks, great for sharing. Tokyo Bananas are little sponge cakes filled with banana custard. During the sakura season, the yellow sponge cake is printed with pink sakura petals. The banana cream is given a hint of sakura flavouring to add to the limited edition cakes.

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Sakura Beer

Asahi is the top-selling beer in Japan. Although the beer’s taste doesn’t change during the springtime, they always come out with limited edition designs on their cans and bottles. These feature pretty pink cherry blossom petals and celebratory designs. Other brands also come out with sakura bottle designs so keep your eye open wherever you go. These are a great addition to your hanami party.

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Sakura Mister Donut

The Japanese love their donuts. Although donuts seem as American as apple pie, the Japanese have come to love the sweet treat, and the most popular place to buy a freshly made donut is at Mister Donut. In the springtime, they come out with a limited series “Sakura Donuts Menu”. They offer various different kinds of donuts with cherry blossom flavours. These start to come out during the first week of March and continue into early April.

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Sakura Mochifuwa Pancake

Mochifuwa pancakes are a favourite treat in konbinis year-round. They are soft pillowy pastries with a layer of butter and maple syrup inside, like a little pancake sandwich. These are coloured with pink food colouring and filled with sakura petals and red bean paste during the springtime. The taste is so delicate and I really like these better than the original.

Sakura Baumkuchen 

Baumkuchen is an adorably shaped dessert which has gained notoriety in Japan despite the dessert’s origin in Germany. The word “Baumkuchen” in German translates to “tree cake,” as the dessert is formed by creating concentric rings of cake that resemble a tree’s rings. Head over FamilyMart in the springtime to find the Cherry Blossom Baumkuchen. It is so soft, like a pillow and perfectly flavoured with cherry blossom syrup.

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Sakura McFloat

McDonald’s in Japan offers ice cream floats with any of their soda pops on tap. Something which I’m truly WAITING to come to North America! During sakura season, McDonald’s offers the Sakura McFloat, which is made with a limited edition cherry soda and topped with a swirl of soft-serve ice cream. If you’d prefer the vegan version, without the ice cream, you can always order just the cherry soda without the soft serve.

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Sakura Anpan

Anpan is one of the oldest Japanese pastries. It is made from a sweet roll and then filled with red bean paste. Find limited-edition anpans during the Spring inside convenience stores. These are coloured pale pink and topped with candied cherry blossoms.

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Sakura Parfaits

One of my favourite desserts in Japan are parfaits. The country seems to love creating these opulent layered treats, which are as colourful as delicious. You can find gourmet sakura parfaits sold at dessert shops and cafes around the city. But if you’re looking for a more affordable version, then the Konbini as they have their fair share of fantastic sakura parfaits.

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Sakura Mintia Mints

To keep your breath fresh but on-trend, you need to pick up a pack of Sakura Mintia Mints. These are both floral and sweet and are packaged inside the most beautiful little box. Your breath might be less than appealing but that doesn’t mean the antidote has to be just as nose curling.

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Sakura Ice Cream Sandwiches

Inside konbinis, everywhere you go are these huge freezers in the middle of the aisles with hundreds of frozen treats. During sakura season, head over and find one of their sakura-flavoured ice cream sandwiches. These are so delicious as the delicate flavour of the sakura really sings inside the creamy dessert. They also have plain sakura ice cream for those who can’t eat gluten, a great option that doesn’t feel like a sad alternative.

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