1
A mariachi serenades diners eating corn dogs and burritos from a kitchen that sports a fat, gold Buddha.
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Sunny boasts some of the most amazing trompos in Houston. The rotating pork spits topped with pineapple are legal here, as the flea market is technically outside the city limits.
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Sunny boasts some of the most amazing trompos in Houston. The rotating pork spits topped with pineapple are legal here, as the flea market is technically outside the city limits.
4
Jars of curtido and other pickled vegetables dot the tables in one of Sunny’s main food courts.
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Jars of curtido and other pickled vegetables dot the tables in one of Sunny’s main food courts.
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A plate of pastor on homemade tortillas, curtido and campechana.
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A plate of pastor on homemade tortillas, curtido and campechana.
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The aisles of the flea market stretch on for acres.
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The aisles of the flea market stretch on for acres.
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Buddhas are found throughout the flea market, a nod to its Chinese ownership.
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A shrimp cocktail is topped with fresh avocado.
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A shrimp cocktail is topped with fresh avocado.
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The menu at most food stands and restaurants inside Sunny is a jumble of Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and American—as with these Mexicanized pupusas, a Salvadoran dish.
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Cantinas also abound inside the flea market, tucked between stalls selling family portrait sessions and used power tools.
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Buddhas are found throughout the flea market, a nod to its Chinese ownership.
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One of Snow White’s seven dwarves keeps a vigil over one of the many food courts.
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Cantinas also abound inside the flea market, tucked between stalls selling family portrait sessions and used power tools.
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These copper pots are hand-hammered by a gentlemen who drives up from Mexico with his creations every weekend.
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Food stands offer examples of their most popular dishes, such as the Sunny special: a giant sheet of chicharron covered with refried beans, crema, and various vegetables.
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Food stands offer examples of their most popular dishes, such as the Sunny special: a giant sheet of chicharron covered with refried beans, crema, and various vegetables.
21
Unlicensed statues and murals of Disney characters abound, like this statue of Ariel in front of a Little Mermaid mural near the exceptionally clean bathrooms.
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Unlicensed statues and murals of Disney characters abound, like this statue of Ariel in front of a Little Mermaid mural near the exceptionally clean bathrooms.
23
One of Snow White’s seven dwarves keeps a vigil over one of the many food courts.
24
The menu at most food stands and restaurants inside Sunny is a jumble of Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and American—as with these Mexicanized pupusas, a Salvadoran dish.
25
These copper pots are hand-hammered by a gentlemen who drives up from Mexico with his creations every weekend.
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Sumo wrestlers adorn one section of the market.
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Tools—both new and used—are a popular item for sale inside Sunny.
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An old-fashioned carousel keeps the kids occupied.
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The dinosaur park inside Sunny features climbable dinosaurs and elephants, and is popular with families.
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Aeropostale shirts are sold in bulk at several stands.
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Abraham Lincoln selling sunglasses? Why not.
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Elote, roasted corn in a cup or on the cob, is a popular snack item.
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Sumo wrestlers adorn one section of the market.
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Mechanical bulls let the kids pretend to be cowboys for the day.
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An old-fashioned carousel keeps the kids occupied.
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Women grill nopales, cactus paddles, to be tucked into tortillas for a meal.
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Aeropostale shirts are sold in bulk at several stands.
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Barber shops and salons abound within the maze of flea market stalls.
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Elote, roasted corn in a cup or on the cob, is a popular snack item.
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Family portrait sessions are only one of the available services, between the paintball range and a lawyer’s office.
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Mechanical bulls let the kids pretend to be cowboys for the day.
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There is apparently a market for old copies of Mexican TV guides.
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Pony rides take a decidedly uninteresting route through a parking lot.
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Slingshots were a popular item at many stalls.
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Women grill nopales, cactus paddles, to be tucked into tortillas for a meal.
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A zoo with live animals could be troublesome. Fake deer, fake monkeys, and fake cheetah cubs all get along much better and probably won’t eat anyone.
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Barber shops and salons abound within the maze of flea market stalls.
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Produce makes up a very small amount of what’s found at the market.
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The alluring scent of grilled meat permeates the entire market.
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The alluring scent of grilled meat permeates the entire market.
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Produce makes up a very small amount of what’s found at the market.
52
Pony rides take a decidedly uninteresting route through a parking lot.
53
Family portrait sessions are only one of the available services, between the paintball range and a lawyer’s office.
54
Abraham Lincoln selling sunglasses? Why not.
55
There is apparently a market for old copies of Mexican TV guides.
56
Tools—both new and used—are a popular item for sale inside Sunny.
57
Slingshots were a popular item at many stalls.
58
The dinosaur park inside Sunny features climbable dinosaurs and elephants, and is popular with families.
59
A zoo with live animals could be troublesome. Fake deer, fake monkeys, and fake cheetah cubs all get along much better and probably won’t eat anyone.
60
A mariachi serenades diners eating corn dogs and burritos from a kitchen that sports a fat, gold Buddha.
Houston’s biggest and best flea market is the modern-day equivalent of a souq, a bazaar where you can find everything from custom-made cowboy boots and hand-hammered copper pots to immigration papers and designer clothes. There’s even a dinosaur park, Ferris wheel, pony rides, and cantinas. And around every corner: amazing food.
Photos by Katharine Shilcutt.
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