Eat in Mercado 23, Cancún

Mercado 23 fondas ★ 4.2

Mercado 23 fondas are the lunch counters of the Mercado Javier Rojo Gómez in downtown Cancún, cooking cochinita pibil, salbutes, papadzules and relleno negro.

OrderCochinita pibil tacos or a plate of salbutes, then papadzules or relleno negro if the fonda has them.

TipGo between 08:00 and 11:00, when the best food is served; the market slows down by 14:00. Bring small peso notes.

Mercado 23 ★ 4.4

Mercado 23 on Calle Jabín is Cancún's oldest market, with lunch fondas serving cochinita pibil and tamales beside butchers, fruit stalls and spice sellers.

TipGo between 08:00 and 11:00, when the food is at its best, as the market slows by 14:00 (Cancun Sun, May 2026). Bring small peso notes.

Secret Food Tours ★ 4.4

Secret Food Tours' Cancún food tour makes six downtown stops, from the park facing Mercado 23 to Mercado 28 and Parque de las Palapas, for US$69.99 a head.

Tulaka México ★ 4.2

Tulaka México's market food tour starts inside Mercado 23 with tamales and regional pork, then moves to Cancún ceviche and ice cream at Parque de las Palapas.

A Chef's Tour ★ 4.2

A Chef's Tour runs a four-hour evening food tour in downtown Cancún with 15 or more tastings, from lechón tortas and pozole to flan and mezcal ice cream.

A Chef's Tour ★ 4.1

A Chef's Tour lunchtime food tour in downtown Cancún serves 15 or more tastings in four hours, including requesón gorditas, pozole, lechón tortas and tamales.

Mercado 23 fondas ★ 4.2

Mercado 23 fondas are the lunch counters of the Mercado Javier Rojo Gómez in downtown Cancún, cooking cochinita pibil, salbutes, papadzules and relleno negro.

OrderCochinita pibil tacos or a plate of salbutes, then papadzules or relleno negro if the fonda has them.

Why locals goLunch counters inside the working market, reached from Avenida Chichén Itzá and Avenida Tulum, serving cochinita and tamales while it is busy before 14:00.

TipGo between 08:00 and 11:00, when the best food is served; the market slows down by 14:00. Bring small peso notes.