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| eat The Grand Bazaar, in Istanbul.
masa cakes) with toppings such as chorizo and carne asada. Migas Arnulfo (171 Mercado de Comidas; snacks for two M$50) is wildly popular for its sopa de migas, a restorative bread soup. Anillo de Circunvalación between General Anaya and Adolfo Gurrión; 52-55/5522-7250. São Paulo, Brazil | Mercado Municipal Paulistano Tangy olives, linguica sausages and salt cod (legacies of Portuguese rule) sit cheek by jowl with native tropical fruit and Amazonian chilies at this 1930’s market known for its cathedral-worthy stained-glass dioramas. Best Bites Eating a piled-sky-high mortadella sandwich is a market ritual; for the definitive version, try the crowded upstairs Hocca Bar (5 Mezanino; lunch for two BRL24), also known for its flaky pastel de bacalhau (salt-cod pastries). At Ki Peixe (Box 2/8; oysters for two BRL24), big, flat oysters are shucked to order for patrons while they wait for their fish to be cleaned. The chocolaty açai-berry shake is a standout at Banana Juice (22 Rua H; juices from BRL3.50). 306 Rua da Cantareira; 55-11/3313-3365; mercadomunicipal.com.br.
Mexico City | Mercado de la Merced Three dozen kinds of dried chilies and mole pastes? Pungent Oaxacan cheese, stacks of nopals, and the mingled scents of guavas and epazote? It’s all here at the gigantic Merced, which spans several city blocks and has more than 3,000 vendors from across Mexico. Best Bites Abraham (#24; snacks for two M$50) trades in delicious huaraches (griddled 58
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Singapore | Tiong Bahru Market Sure you’ll find all the Asian market essentials at this circular 1950’s building, but the real reason to visit is the second-floor hawker center with more than 80 mouthwatering stalls. Best Bites Char siu at the Roasted Pig Specialist (#02-38; snacks for two S$4) is a must. Follow with soft springy steamed rice cakes topped with fried preserved radish at the iconic Jian Bo Shui Kueh (#02-05; snacks for two S$2). Still hungry? A plate of slippery rice noodles loaded with Chinese sausage, eggs and fishcake nuggets at Fried Kway Teow (#02-11; snacks for two S$5.40) should do the trick. 30 Seng Poh Rd.; no phone. ✚
© Ahmet Ihsan Ariturk / Dreamstime.com
up on kilims and 24-karat bangles—the army of vendors needs to be fed, which explains the market’s delicious food finds. Best Bites Goldsmiths, rug lords and copperware kings pack into the homey Subasi (48 Çarsikapi Nuruosmaniye Caddesi; lunch for two €23) for white beans in tomato sauce and chicken stuffed with rice. To sample the ultimate meat wrap, grab a succulent döner at Dönerci Sahin Usta (Nuruosmaniye 7 Kiliçilar Sokak; lunch for two €9), near the Nuruosmaniye Gate. At the picturesque Cebeci Han caravansary, Kara Mehmet Kebap Salonu (92 Iç Cebaci Han; kebabs for two €9) serves the city’s tastiest kebabs. Between Nuruosmaniye, Mercan and Beyazit; 90-212/519-1248; kapalicarsi.org.tr.
Melbourne | Queen Victoria Market Open since 1878, “Queen Vic” is an over-1,000-stall melting pot of Southeast Asian greens, Italian cheeses, kangaroo salami and Tasmanian scallops. A two-hour market tour (qvm.com.au; tours from A$32) includes chats with vendors and generous food samplings. Best Bites Perk up with an aromatic espresso at Coffea (521 Elizabeth St.; coffee for two A$6.50). Then try the bratwurst sandwich (spicy or mild) offered with five kinds of mustard at the beloved Bratwurst Shop (Shop 99/100, Dairy Produce Hall; sandwiches from A$6.50). Don’t miss the flaky multilayered börek filled with everything from spiced lamb to leeks at the Mezze Table (Shop 95/96, Dairy Produce Hall; snacks for two A$6.50). Fresh-squeezed passion-fruit juice from Market Juice (Shop 25, The Shed; juices for two A$3.20) is a perfect palate cleanser. 513 Elizabeth St.; 61-3/9320-5822; qvm.com.au.