Algiers Mini Mart Flea Market

Ok everyone, this is not the be all end all of ethnic New Orlean’s experiences for strengthening your global conciousness. It’s a latin american flea market with limited variety, higher than expected prices, and long wait times at food/​drink stands.
Point 1: A lot of the stalls offer the same stuff, electronics, etc that all look like they fell off the back of a truck. We were looking for a New Orleans Saints ball cap. Well, this common item was nowhere to be found.
Point 2: Papusas Salvadoreanas. This place cooks up fairly decent papusas if you can wait it out long enough for them to get to your table. We were told 10 minutes. We ended up waiting 45 minutes. None of the other tables around us look pleased either. It wouldn’t be a problem if the guy just told the truth about wait times.
Followed this up with a cup of fruit at Gorditas Zacapatanas. Waited 25 minutes for a cup of fruit while staff members were all eating cups of fruit at the back of the stall leaving one poor woman worker to make 6 orders. Having worked in the service industry, I understand peoples need breaks, but you take a break after the customers have been served.
Point 3: Asked for a price for haircut. $ 15. Though I’m not certain, I’m pretty sure that’s the tourist price. Maybe I’m use to 6 dollar haircuts in Toronto, but I can’t see locals paying that for a haircut in a chair in the middle of a flea market.
All in all, I’m happy I wasn’t robbed, and I think there is a better way to spend a weekend afternoon in Nawlins.

Another great day at the Algiers Flea Market! Despite the rain keeping a fair amount of vendors away, we were able to get some great deals on a wide variety of items.
The highlight of our day though was the carne asada we bought from a vendor. Two very nice ladies ran the booth (wish we got the name of it. Boo on us.) and the platters of food they served up were just flipping excellent. As a Texan with Mexican roots, I know good carne asada, and these ladies knew what they were doing. That plus delicious refried beans, rice, avocado and the most colorful, delicious slaw with pickled veggies I’ve had ever, and we were happy campers. Those plates of food were the best $ 8/​each I’ve spent in ages.

You MUST eat at the Salvadorian/​Honduran food stand. Simply the best Hispanic food ever. Don’t get caught up on ambience, the food is beautiful and delicious.

Let me start off by telling you that this is one of the most culturally diverse and surreal experiences that is available in the Greater New Orleans area. Every great hood merchant from every type of ghetto in the third world is represented here. You start off in a typical American urban flea market where you will find your usual; bootleg dvd’s, fake purses and sunglasses and before you know it you have passed up an arab merchant selling perfumes, a redneck selling old tools and a rastafarian trying to ply incense and bob marley shirts.
This place is expansive! Just when you thought you were finished, it turns out there’s more across the street. In the area surrounding the abandoned building by the overpass you will find soccer equipment, machetes and some of the most authentic central american food available in the U.S.
When you get near the end, across from the guy selling the wooden dio de la muerta masks and bull horns, you see a fat Mexican dude selling pastries basically out of a clothes hamper. Most of his stuff is a dollar a piece and he gives out free samples. Trust me on this one, this guy is really the only reason to ever return to this squalor and his tres leches is AMAZING.
I have to thank Alexander W. for pointing this place out to me.

This is a weekend only experience that you must partake in at least once. Just imagine a whole bunch of people having a big yard sale. Some of the items are brand new, some items are used, some items are name brand, and some items are knock offs. Throw many food venders into the mix, and you have one heck of outing!
What are you looking to buy? Phone accessories? The latest fashions? Designer handbags? Movies? Hey, they come in Blu-​Ray, original copies, bootleg, new and used! There is a little of everything out here! I saw a person selling a table full of used tools that he no longer wanted. One person was selling a bunch of seafood boiling pots and equipment. Many people sell movies and music out there, along with many colognes and perfumes. If you are looking to buy something, you can more than likely find a close match to it, if not the real thing, here.
What I like about this place is that you can get the Louis Vitton made in China, that looks just like the French bag, straight from New York, for way less than you would buying the authentic article! Show up with cash, and you can haggle the price down. If you are looking for old video game systems and/​or games for the aforementioned system, you can find it there. Shoes, clothes, fashion accessories, and more for all ages and gender can be found here. Trust me on that. Also, many food vendors offer you a variety of food from authentic tacos to snoballs! You children will love that along with the many types of candy found out there.
Get your cash, put on your hustler’s cap and head down there on any weekend with non-​rain weather.
REMEMBER:
Bring cash and it is ONLY ON THE WEEKEND!