The Mercado Central is the daily food market of Potosí, a covered hall one block from the Plaza 10 de Noviembre where vendors sell produce, meat, cooked food, and household goods. The lunch counter section is the main attraction for visitors: a row of stalls where women serve set lunches of soup, a main course, and a small dessert for a few bolivianos — the cheapest and most authentic eating in the city.
The soups are the thing to order. Chairo potosino is the regional speciality, a thick broth of freeze-dried potatoes (chuño), dried meat, wheat, and root vegetables that has been made here in some form for centuries. Peanut soup (sopa de maní) is another local standard. The stalls open early and the best food is gone by 1pm, so arrive at midday if you want the full selection. The market also sells fresh fruit, local cheeses, and dried goods — provisions for a self-catered stay.