Although swap meets aren't for everyone, I personally love them, and the Alameda Swap Meet is…read morealways a fun time with my family. We originally started coming here because it's one of our go-to spots for gold jewelry, and I actually got one of my favorite necklaces here! Ever since then, it's become one of those places we genuinely enjoy walking around and exploring together.
One thing I love most is the variety. They seriously have SO much to offer such as clothes, candy, snacks, quality boots and shoes, belts, hats, toys, massages, 14K gold jewelry, and tons of food vendors. You can grab everything from rotisserie chicken and giant pupusas to elotes and freshly made churros. I'm always a fan of places where you can shop and snack.
The reason for today's visit was actually to help my grandmother find a shampoo from Mexico that she really wanted, and thankfully we ended up finding it at one of the vendors! While we were there, I obviously had to order a pupusa de chicharrón. For $6.50 and the size they give you, I honestly think it's a great deal. It came out super hot and fresh, the meat was flavorful, and it was so good I didn't even feel like it needed condiments.
There was a small mix-up where we accidentally received someone else's order while another woman got ours, but everything got sorted out pretty quickly. They remade my food fast, and it still came out delicious. Considering how packed and busy this place gets, occasional mistakes are understandable.
The only downside is definitely parking. There is a lot, but it fills up FAST, and street parking can be just as limited. Luckily, we got super lucky and found street parking right as someone was leaving, so we definitely scored there.
Overall, I really enjoy the food, the atmosphere, and the overall vibes here. It's one of those places I always recommend when people ask where I get my gold jewelry from. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!