Mercado Tirso de Molina is a large covered market in the Recoleta commune, just north of the river from the Mercado Central, and the better option for visitors who want fresh produce and local food without the tourist markups. The market has a full complement of fruit and vegetable stalls, a meat hall, and a food court upstairs with cheap, well-made Chilean lunch dishes.
The food court is the main draw: a dozen or so independent food stalls serve the daily lunch menu (menú del día) — a fixed-price two- or three-course lunch that is one of the best-value meals in the city. Arrive between noon and 1 p.m. for the widest selection. The market is in the Recoleta commune, directly across the Mapocho from the Mercado Central; the Baquedano metro station is a short walk.