Last year, we filmed ourselves trying over a dozen Mexican sodas, the majority of which we bought from the same grocery store. Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart went out to buy them, and I’ll never forget the glow on her face when she brought an entire haul back and started raving about the store she just went to. She said it was beautiful, organized, and packed with deli and bakery items that made every other grocery store feel lackluster by comparison. They had fresh tamales sitting in a steamer, delicious grab-and-go meals that came in big portions for under $10, refried beans and ceviches that they make in-house, and an entire section of candied apples hand-dipped and made from scratch.
That grocery store, my friends, is Vallarta Supermarket. And it does not get the credit it deserves.
I don’t live in Southern California, my dude. What’s Vallarta Supermarket?
Vallarta is a SoCal-born Mexican grocery store chain with more than 50 locations across Southern and Central California. It started in Oxnard and has grown into one of those places locals swear by. But it definitely still flies under the radar to the average CA resident. Myself and most of my friends are L.A. transplants; we had no idea this chain existed until recently, despite living in a 10 mile radius of multiple locations.
What kind of groceries can I expect to find there?
Whatever is currently on your grocery list, I can almost guarantee that you’ll find it at Vallarta (especially at any of the bigger storefronts). It’s really just a regular grocery store stocked with all your typical popular brands—but on top of that, it has extensive options for hispanic cuisine that range from pantry staples to deli-made meals…