Contenedores Food Place: A Gastronomic Market in Envigado

Contenedores Food Place is a unique gastronomic market in Envigado, which is currently the highest rated restaurant in Envigado on TripAdvisor.

Contenedores is actually multiple restaurants that are located in recycled shipping containers that are used to create separate dining spaces open to the outdoors. Each restaurant there has its own separate area within one of the three levels.

There are several restaurants here including:

• Chef Burger – Gourmet burgers
• Milagros – Mexican restaurant
• Mezzaluna – Salads and pasta
• Romeo & Paleta – Ice Cream
• Sushi Market – Sushi
• Tony’s – Pizzas
• Villero – Argentinian steakhouse
• Wok Town – Stir Fried Asian

In addition, there is Rocoleta, which is a bar on the top level.

I have been to Contenedores many times with good experiences at some of the restaurants including Chef Burger, Milagros, Villero and Wok Town. Also, Contenedores sometimes has live music, particularly on weekends when it can become very busy.

Cheeseburger with sides of Fries and mushrooms at Chef Burger

Chef Burger

Chef Burger is probably the most popular restaurant at Contenedores. Several times I have gone there and found all the tables occupied at Chef Burger. In addition, there was a wait for a table.

Chef Burger is a popular chain of gourmet burger restaurants in Medellín. And they even use the slogan “The Best Burger in Town”. Chef Burger serves American style burgers that are consistently good in my experience.

Chef Burger has 15 different burgers on its menu.  Prices range from 12,900 to 22,900 pesos. In addition to the burgers there are two salads on the menu priced at 12,900 and 17,900 pesos.

Chef Burger also has a few appetizers: mini-burger sliders for 21,900 pesos; French fries with cheddar cheese, marinated tomatoes, bacon and sour cream for 10,900 pesos and Argentinian sausage with rustic fries for 16,900 pesos.

Also, there are three desserts on the menu: a brownie with ice cream for 8,500 pesos, a cookie with ice cream for 8,500 pesos and a Jamaican flower desert for 9,500 pesos.

Chef Burger at Contenedores

Chef Burger’s first restaurant in Medellín opened in August 2011 in El Poblado. Chef Burger has been so popular that it now has now grown to 11 restaurants in Medellín. In addition, it has two in Bogotá and two in Cali. Here are the 11 locations in Medellín:

1. El Poblado: Calle 3 # 43-37, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 104
2. El Poblado: Calle 11 A No. 42 – 05, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 101
3. El Poblado: El Tesoro mall, local 1545, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 108
4. Envigado: Carrera 48 # 26 Sur-87, Contenedores, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 103
5. Envigado: Carrera 48 # 32B Sur-139, Viva Envigado Mall, 3rd floor, opened in October 2018.
6. Laureles: Circular 76 # 39 -07, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 102
7. Sabaneta: Carrera 48 # 50 Sur-128, Mayorca Mega Plaza mall, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 108
8. Belén: Carrera 82 # 30A-24, Los Molinos Mall, +57 4 448 2378 ext. 105
9. Belén: Carrera 70 #1-141, Arkadia Mall
10. La Candelaria: Carrera 43A # 30-25, Premium Plaza Mall, third floor
11. Buenos Aires: Calle 49 between Carreras 25 and 19, La Central Mall, opened in June 2018.

Sterling steak with a baked potato at Villero

Villero

Villero is an Argentinian steak place at Contenedores. The steaks at Villero range in price from 28,900 to 36,900 pesos. I like the Sterling cut at Villero, which is essentially a Colombian Filet Mignon.

Villero – An Argentinian steakhouse

In addition, they have grilled chicken for 29,800 pesos and grilled salmon for 33,900 pesos. Also, there is a combination plate with steak, ribs and chicken for two people, which costs 74,900 pesos.

Furthermore, all the meals at Villero come with your choice of potato side and a trip to the salad bar. In addition, there are some appetizers and desserts on the menu.

Milagros – Mexican food

Milagros

Milagros is a traditional Mexican restaurant with some good Mexican food in my experience. This location used to be a Chilaquiles Mexican restaurant but changed to Milagros. Quesadillas here cost 17,900 pesos. The Tacada Milagrosa with 8 tortillas and meat, cheese, several vegetables and sauces, which is recommended for four people costs 65,000 pesos.

I like their grilled salmon that costs 38,900 pesos. I also like their Milagro de Amor, which is their version of Chile con carne (with meat) recommended for two people for 34,900 pesos. And they have several other entrée options on the menu.

In addition, Milagros has four desserts on the menu ranging in price from 13,900 to 15,900 pesos. Also, they have some pretty good margaritas that cost 22,500 pesos.

Wok Town – Stir-fried Asian food

The Other Restaurants at Contenedores

The only other restaurant at Contenedores that I have eaten at is Wok Town. Wok Town makes stir-fried Asian food to order, which I like since you can choose your favorite ingredients. You choose what type of rice or vegetables; proteins such as beef, chicken or shrimp; additional vegetables; sauces and toppings. The price here depends on your choices.

Mezzaluna – Salad and Pasta

Unfortunately, I haven’t yet tried Mezzaluna, Sushi Market, Tony’s or Romeo & Paleta at Contenedores, so I can’t comment on them.

“Reading the paper” statue at Contenedores

How to Get to Contenedores

Contenedores food place is found in Envigado on Avenida Las Vegas, which is Carrera 48. Contenedores is conveniently located only three blocks from the Ayurá metro station on Line A. So, it’s within easy walking distance.

Part of the walk from the metro station to Contenedores is lonely at night with several closed businesses. So, I recommend not walking alone at night.

Or you can take a taxi and tell them “Contenedores en Envigado” or give them the address of Carrera 48 #26 Sur 87 in Envigado.

Website: http://www.contenedoresfoodplace.com/

Address: Carrera 48 #26 Sur 87, Envigado

Phone: +57 320 776 0684

Gastronomic Market Competition in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley

There are now nine gastronomic markets in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, each with collections of many restaurants in one location:

1. Contenedores Food Place – reportedly opened in January 2014.
2. Mercado Del Rio – opened in October 2016 and is the largest gastronomic market in Medellín with about 50 restaurants.
3. Mercado Del Tranvía – reportedly opened in October 2017.
4. Mercado Del Parque – opened in September 2018.
5. Mercado Del Norte in Bello – opened in January 2019.
6. Mercadillo de Aranjuez – opened in February 2019.
7. Mercade de Sabaneta – opened in July 2019.
8. Mercado La Colonia – opened in October 2019.
9. Mercado De La Playa – opened in December 2019.

Mercado De La Playa in El Centro is the newest gastronomic market in the Medellín metro area that opened in December 2019. We also have a guide to the gastronomic markets in Medellín with all nine markets.

Some expats I have talked to thought the first gastronomic market in Medellín was Mercado Del Rio. But actually, the first gastronomic market was Contenedores Food Place in Envigado, which opened in 2014.

But Contenedores is a somewhat different format with several sit-down restaurants located in containers and not a big open warehouse space. In addition, Contenedores is smaller, as it has less than 10 restaurants. However, these are larger restaurants with separate sitting areas.

In addition, Medellín used to have another food market that is now closed. Manila Food Market opened in April 2017 in the Manila barrio of El Poblado in the Los Patios Hostel. But Manila Food Market was small with less than 10 restaurants. Also, it reportedly failed due to a lack of customers in this location and closed in less than a year.

Also, Mercado Del Tranvía Envigado opened in November 2018 in Envigado but reported closed in September 2019. So, it was open less than a year. And Mercado Del Rio La Strada opened in July 2018 but reportedly closed in October 2019.

Artwork on one of the containers

The Bottom Line: Contenedores

Contenedores in Envigado is popular, particularly on the weekends. This is due to a nice selection of restaurants as well as having a nice atmosphere.

The open-air shipping crates and string lights add a lot to the experience. But finding a parking space here may be a problem during the busiest times. So, going by taxi or metro may be the best option during the busiest times.

I have been to this food market in Envigado several times over the past couple years. But I haven’t yet eaten at all the restaurants there.

But some friends living in Envigado have told me the other restaurants also have some good food. My friends recommend the ice cream place. And I have seen that the sushi place even has a TV with a video feed of the guy making your sushi.

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Editors note: updated on March 17, 2018 to add Mercado Del Tranvía as a competitor.

Editors note: updated on May 27, 2018 with updated Chef Burger menu and locations.

Editors note: updated on August 11, 2018 with a new Chef Burger location and the addition of Mercado Del Rio La Strada as competition.

Editors note: updated on October 7, 2018 to add a new Chef Burger location in the new Viva Envigado mall.

Editors note: updated on March 8, 2018 to add Mercado Del Tranvía Envigado.

Editors note: updated on March 14, 2019 to add Mercado Del Norte in Bello, which is the newest gastronomic market in the Aburrá Valley.

Editors note: updated on April 20, 2019 to add Mercado Del Parque in Laureles.

Editors note: updated on July 6, 2019 to add Mercado de Sabaneta in Sabaneta.

Editors note: updated on October 8, 2019 with information that Mercado Del Tranvía Envigado in Envigado is closed.

Editors note: updated on November 14, 2019 with information that Mercado Del Rio La Strada in El Poblado is closed.

Editors note: update on December 5, 2019 to add Mercado La Colonia in El Centro, which opened in October 2019.

Editors note: updated on January 3, 2019 to add Mercado De La Playa in El Centro, which opened in December 2019.