My first few years in Mexico City I used to tell people that there were only two things I missed from the U.S.: my family and Whole Foods. If you’re in Mexico City and missing Whole Foods, I can relate, and I’m sorry to report that we still don’t have anything comparable here – yet. The natural and health food scene in Mexico City has grown since I first arrived in 2009, and is continuing to grow, so I’m sure that it’s only a matter of time before a Whole Foods-like shop opens up here – if not an actual Whole Foods. In the meantime, I’ve found a few alternatives which, while not the same, will fill in most of the gaps left in the absence of a really comprehensive health food store.

The Green Corner / Santa Fe, Polanco, Coyoacan, Condesa, San Jeronimo

The Green Corner is the health food and organic market that has been around the longest, and is the most established, as far as I can tell. It’s easy to see where the name came from – there are so many plants at their Condesa location that you can barely see the store’s sign from the street! They also have restaurants in some of their stores where they serve natural, healthy and vegetarian food. Currently there are 5 branches located throughout the city and if you’re looking for fresh organic fruit and vegetables, this is your best bet. The other places I’m recommending here generally have a smaller selection of organic produce. Even so, the produce stocked here is a little more limited than a regular supermarket chain, so this won’t be your best bet if you’re looking for something unusual – I’ve never seen pitaya here, for example.

They also have a good selection of frozen meat, including organic chicken and pork and grass-fed beef, and a pretty good selection of organic dairy products, including cow and goat’s milk and cheeses. You’ll find a limited selection of alternative meat options like tofu burgers, as well as natural cleaning supplies and personal care items including natural deodorant, serums, soap and body lotion.

If you’re driving and it’s not too far away, I like the store in Coyoacan – they have valet parking and the store is generally pretty well stocked. The store in Condesa is a bit more cramped, but also more centrally located and if you’re walking it’s a good option; parking can be a bit of a pain here if you’re driving though. Both of these stores have restaurants.

Amsterdam Market & Origenes / Condesa, Roma, Polanco, Pedregal, Bosques

Origenes is another good option for healthy food in Mexico City, and if you are a fan of bulk food, this is the place to go. I recently visited Amsterdam Market – one of their branches – and it is the only place I’ve seen bulk bins here in Mexico.

Origins also has a wide variety of vegan-friendly foods like cashew yogurt and sour cream, dairy free cheeses in different flavors, nutritional yeast, Bragg’s liquid aminos and dairy free ice cream. If you are looking specifically for vegan-friendly or dairy-free foods, this is the best place I’ve found in Mexico – certainly it is the only place I have seen nut cheeses and yogurt!

Like The Green Corner, Origins stocks a small selection of natural beauty products, essential oils and natural household cleaners. Their Condesa branch also has a restaurant and a juicery in addition to the store.

City Market / Interlomas, Lomas, Del Valle, Polanco, San Jeronimo, Santa Fe, Queretaro

One of the ways I can tell that the health food trends that are pervasive in the U.S. are catching on in Mexico is that the upscale grocery chains have started to stock a small section of health foods, including organic and sugar free options. These include Superama (Wal-Mart’s fancy community grocery chain), Chedraui Selecto, and City Market (Commercial Mexicana’s upscale brand). City Market might actually be the closest thing we have here in Mexico to a Whole Foods because of the gourmet offerings – I once found bratwurst here! – as wells as the high prices. Recently I’ve seen stands set up in the store highlighting super foods like maca and mesquite, and their healthy food section is about half of a rather long aisle that includes a fairly complete selection of items from Navitas Organics.

While City Market does stock organic poultry and grass fed beef, their organic produce selection is limited to pre-washed lettuce and other greens, and basically nothing else, so if finding organic produce is a priority, this will not be your best bet. However, if you’re looking for an upscale shopping experience, complete with an in-store coffee bar, stone oven pizza (in some stores) and gelato, as well as a good selection of imported cheeses and some chipotle flavored flour tortillas in addition to your buzzy health food, this is a great option.

The natural and health food stores I’ve mentioned here are some of the bigger ones that are well stocked and have several locations throughout the city, but you’ll find as you walk around trendy neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma that there are new shops popping up, mostly smaller with more limited suppliers, but I like to wander through and take a look when I find them. You never know what they might have!

Locations:

The Green Corner: Guillermo González Camarena 1205, Plaza Garden Santa Fe, piso 2 Col. Santa Fe / Homero 1730 (contra esq. de La Cruz Roja) Col. Polanco / Av. Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 733 (entre Banamex y +KOTA) Col. Cuadrante de San Francisco / Mazatlán 81, esq. Fernando Montes de Oca, locales 1, 2 y 3 Col. Condesa / Av. San Jerónimo Lídice No. 1130, Col. San Jerónimo Lídice

Origenes: Plaza Popocatépetl No. 41-A Col.Condesa / Colima No. 209 Col.Roma / Av. Presidente Masaryk No. 101, local 2 Col. Polanco / Periferico Sur 4020 Local. 18-A Plaza Santa Teresa / Av. Stim 1367 Col. Lomas del Chamizal

Amsterdam Market: Amsterdam No. 159 Col.Condesa

City Market: Blvd. Magnocentro 26 San Fernando La Herradura Huixquilucan / Lomas de Chapultepec Monte Athos 350 / Av. Coyoacán y Pilares Del Valle / Calle Lago Zurich 219 Col. Ampliacion Granada / Av. San Jerónimo 190 La Otra Banda Coyoacán / Calle Avenida Santa Fe No. 498, Cuajimalpa de Morelos Col. Santa Fe