El Mercado Corona
El Mercado Corona
4

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

4.0
118 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
48
Average
34
Poor
4
Terrible
3

Teoso
Brooklyn, NY238 contributions
Jan 2020
Came mostly for the food, but the market itself has some interesting architecture and murals. So many different kinds of food vendors here, feels like you can spend a month here and still not try every stall. It's not touristy at all, as most of the customers seem to be local. Most of the vendors are very accommodating, even if they don't really speak English, and our Spanish is basically non-existent. Great place to see local daily life, and try some amazing food for a few bucks.
Written December 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

oyisabel
Saint Louis, MO1 contribution
May 2014 • Family
I am so sad that this market caught on fire Sunday night. My heart is heavy for all of the people that lost their business and job. This was was truly a wonderful place to visit, from my understanding it was one of the oldest markets in the city. I hope that market will rebuild.
Written May 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

JohnGrease
Richmond, TX132 contributions
This is a local marketplace, located at the intersection of Avenida Hidalgo and Calle Santa Monica. It is a crowded maze of vendors and food shops, catering to the locals. Bring lots of small change (5 and 10 Peso coins) so you can stop and eat local. Spanish is a must here- this is hardcore local stuff, but if you can hack it, you eat good food super cheap and made fresh. There are some small things in the stalls to buy as souvenirs, but you'll mostly come for the food and atmosphere - people crowding in to shop and eat. Again, bring your small change to pay, bring your best conversational Spanish, and leave everything else at the hotel.
Written July 11, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Travelin' FlyGuy
Guadalajara, Mexico137 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
Mercado Corona is the perfect place to go if you live around the area to do your food shopping. Especially for vegetables and spices.

But just to be clear, I'm talking about the street BEHIND the big building that is actually Mercado Corona. Apparently, the place has burned down a number of times, so the current one was finished being rebuilt in 2017. There's a lot of stuff you can get in there; you'll just have to go and see.

But I really like the area in the back. I think it's the start of Calle Zaragoza - a street of vegetables, spices, bakery stuff, etc. I can't say there's a lot of butchers around; you'll have to go elsewhere for that. And even though we've moved further away, we still come back to Mercado Corona to shop for our food. The prices are great and I really like the ambience there. You're in Mexico and it really feels like that there - the colours, the smells, the hawkers shouting for you to come get a great deal for their mangoes or whatever they're selling.

When you enter the street from the south, on the right side, about 4 or 5 places on the right, you'll see a place that is inside two large wooden, arched doors. It's a hallway. That's where we go. And they're great with super prices.
Written August 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Mandarina R
New York City, NY37 contributions
If you want cheap and local-delicious- food; this is the right place to go to.
Hand made tortillas and a wide variety of meat based stews are worth the visit.
Written July 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

docntx
Texas275 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
The original Mercado Corona burnt down in 2014, and they have done a good job redoing it.
It is very busy, packed with merchants and visitors. Interesting displays, it has some really unique collection of herbal remedies and oils on the 3rd floor.
Written July 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

TOKUGAWA54
Bensenville, IL58 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
Very Interesting place to visit and if you need herbs and natural medicine..this is a very good place to find your stuff..cheap too
Written November 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

windsorcottage
Guadalajara, Mexico111 contributions
Sep 2017
Several years ago the "old" El Mercado Corona burned and the replacement was to be in a style in keeping with Guadalajara´s historic buildings and markets. This architecture is not representative of the old style however, it is open and clean. Many of the same merchants have returned including the top floor medicinal and bruja (witch) styled vendors. The Mercado Corona is worth going to visit as it is about one block from the Cathedral and it represents a Latin American style of shopping and eating (although if you are a visitor I do not recommend eating here as it is only for those whose digestive systems are adjusted to fast food Mexican).
Written October 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

E. Ma. DV
Germany14 contributions
Jun 2016
Why?
The food is great. Try it all! It might take a couple of days to really get to try almost every thing the market has to offer. Want some real tacos? Ask for some "barbacoa" tacos or "tacos al pastor". In the mood for something warm and soupy? Try "pozole", "menudo" (the last one is made out of the stomach of a cow and it's spicy, it DOES WONDERS when you're hungover, trust me) and one of the specialities of the region "birria" (that's a spicy stew, traditionally made from goat meat or mutton, but occasionally from beef or chicken). YOU DON'T GO TO JALISCO AND NOT TRY BIRRIA. There are also "quesadillas", "flautas" (deep fried tacos covered in red or green salsa (the green is great!), chilaquiles (tortilla chips covered in either red or green sauce with shredded chicken, cream and white cheese) and enchiladas.
One of the best things you can have to drink while in Mexico are the so called, "aguas frescas", they're usually made out of fresh fruits and water, just that (imagine a very very dilluted smoothie). They're absolutely refreshing and tasty. You can't go wrong with: "jamaica" (hibiscus), "lima", "lemon", "coconut", "tuna" (prickly pear -when in season), "sandía" (watermelon), "melón" (cantaloupe) and "horchata" (a mixture of water, rice, cinammon, sugar and sometimes milk is the best one to drink if you're eating something spicy, a bit like when you drink lassi at an Indian restaurant) .
Also! You'll probably hear a lot about "Tortas Ahogadas" (a sorta mini baguette with pork smothered -literally drowned- in salsa). Some might like the texture of dunken bread in salsa, some might not. To find the best place to eat them, ask the locals.
Sweet tooth?
Try some "pan dulce", literally, "sweet bread" and "café de olla",that is, coffee with cinnamon and piloncillo.
For whom?
Everyone, just keep in mind that if you're a group larger than 4-5 people, it might be a bit difficult to find so many empty seats, but it isn't impossible.
It isn't suited for business meetings or romantic dates.
There isn't a playground or a special area for children, so they might have to seat at the table and maybe get a bit bored with the grown-ups.
Vegetarians/vegans?
As you will probably discover in Mexico, there are not really vegan options offered by any restaurant (there might be some, but do not expect everywhere and everyone to know or understand the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian) but you can try and veganize something by asking it without cheese or cream (eggs however are kinda hard to avoid).
Vegetarians are sure to find some option for them, "flautas" for example, deep fried tacos filled with smashed potatoes or "chilaquiles" without chicken. Vegans might be able to eat these things too, just order these two things without cheese nor cream, and obviously no chicken either.
Any tips?
Because this is a market, the waiters are usually also the cooks, that is, you are not expected to leave a super big tip, but they are apreciated.
You can ask a lot of thing to go "para llevar, por favor" and eat them at your hotel.
In Mexico, even though you might not speak fluent Spanish, just saying "hi, please, thank you" ("hola, por favor, gracias") can go a long way and you might become some extra food!
Written August 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

jeffrey h
Kailua-Kona, HI562 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Do you like my title? Amazingly, it only begins to tell the story of this shopping district in El Centro GDL.

Sandra and I approached the Mercado Corona from the east, having visited a small art museum catty wampus from Teatro Degollado that is not worthy of a mention. We turned left, down Avenida Juan Manuel and found ourselves on the fast track to the real Mexico.

If you are coming from the hotel district, I would recommend heading up Corona to Juan Manuel. When you get there, look right to see a long block lined on both sides with cheap, colorful toys. Assuming you don't want a brightly colored pelota, turn left and in one block you will be in the market area.

The maps I saw suggested that there is an indoor market. We were assured by several merchants that this is not the case. Stalls are set up down the center of Galleanda. Here you will find lots of Mexicans shopping for a variety of unusual products. There are colorful spice markets. Several store fronts sell raw honey. Some of these attract, curiously enough, copious numbers of honey bees. Of course, there are clothes and sundries for sale and lots of colorful Mexicans to talk to.

Along Manuel there are some more normal stores and at least one small grocery where you can buy a coke. Across Manuel is a carniceria, for those of you who enjoy the ambiance of Mexican meat for sale.

One block further was the most amazing portion of the market. Under a tarp roof, there were florists and an incredible older lady selling quail eggs. Imagine the fun I had, not knowing the word for quail, acting out a bird with a topknot!

Deeper in the market, there were several booths selling objects of the occult. I had never before seen repovadas, images of the Grim Reaper rendered in wax. My favorite had the Man with the Scythe holding an owl. As explained to me, these effigies will keep death away from your home. At the minimum your repovada will give your huespedes the willies!

One of the repovada salesman had brought his wife and their newborn baby to the market, the latter sleeping on a blanket in a small wooden crate. I mean, we were all the way back here.

Of all the places we visited on this trip, the Mercado Corona area had the best cross section of genuine Mexicans engaged in something they enjoyed (shopping and visiting). it had the best assortment of characters. And it had lots of interesting things for you to look at and ponder. I would go back in a heartbeat. Este es el México verdad!
Written May 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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