Golden dragon
This little shop, on the corner of Mercado San Juan, is in a historic building that was once a cigarette factory, as Carmen might have worked. It is run by an elderly Chinese/Argentinian gentleman accompanied by a grumpy old dog. It has a small but useful selection of Chinese seasonings, flours, starches, noodles, dried mushrooms, spices – Sichuan pepper, for example – and some good frozen dumplings.
Corner between Ernesto Pugibet and Piazza San Giovanni (see map)
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9am-5pm, closed on Mondays
Mo Niu supermarket supermarket in China
This messy, “aromatic” old Chinatown-style market, hidden behind closed doors, is probably clandestine: you have to knock and, if not Asian, convince the owners that you are really there to shop. There are good vegetables and a strange selection of animals: I recently saw ducks, live fish, frogs and, once, some beautiful live langoustines being slaughtered. Here we speak little Spanish (much less English) and bring cash, because cards are not accepted, obviously. It’s located down the street from the wonderful dim sum house, Le Fu (see post).
José Maria Correa 330, Colonia Viaducto Piedad, Metro Viaducto (see map)
Mini Super Chao Hua Chang Shi Ji
The door of this one, like the one above, is usually closed to the street, so knock to enter. A decent selection of jarred and dried products is offered. It’s around the corner from our favorite restaurant, Ka Won Seng (see post).
Albino García 307, Colonia Viaducto Piedad (see map)
Wansheng (Maxxi) Eastern Wholesale
This market, located within the Central de Abastos, sells packaged dry goods and condiments and caters mainly to restaurants, so prices are reasonable.
Av. Main Building 1, Federal Area, Central de Abastos, Ixtapalapa (see map)
Open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 4pm
