We have seen it on cooking shows and travel shows. Pasillo de Humo, or as we call it, Smoke Alley. A small section of the Mercado 20 de Noviembre contains vendors competing against each other to get shoppers to pick them.
The vendors all pretty much have the same thing. A display of different kinds of meat - skirt steak, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage. And next to their display is someone tending a charcoal grill. You order what you want (we got the mixed plate), and they cook it right there. You then have to visit another section where vendors are selling side dishes, like nopales, salsas, avocado or guacamole, grilled onions and chiles, and more. You have to add tortillas to your order (there is no silverware, of course!), and a drink. You are directed to a seat where you wait for your feast.
And a feast it was. Absolutely delicious, and very much worth the hype. The atmosphere was fun, with heavy smoke, loud voices and music. It was chaos, but a fun chaos.
We will surely see Pasillo de Humo featured in future travel shows, and we can proudly say we have now visited this must-do place!
And, we'll be back!
As we walked back through town, we saw a fun old car rally, including our favorite Mexican car:
And just as we approached our house, we saw the neighborhood welcoming committee.
Comments