A morning market,
then a neighborhood lunch.
I usually skip the commercial snack streets. A neighborhood market shows you the ingredients before you meet them on the plate. Then I would choose a small local restaurant around the dishes you want to try — perhaps Mapo tofu.
These places are sometimes called “fly restaurants”: an informal term for modest neighborhood eateries. I choose for the food and fit, not for an English menu or a polished storefront. The particular market and restaurant depend on where we are staying, what is open and what you eat.


