Kaelin's Mi Pueblo- A surprising market in El Cajon.

Hi again. You are reading mmm-yoso!!! It's a blog about food in all its forms.  Today Cathy is blogging, because Kirk is on an adventure somewhere in the world and ed (from Yuma) is busy. Really busy. 

 
Kaelin's Market has been in the same location in El Cajon on Main near Greenfield for more than two decades. It has had its ups (it was THE fancy IGA in East County) and downs (it got pretty scary for a long while) and recently is under new ownership. It is still IGA.

There are always weekly specials in each department.

 

 
It's been cleaned up and the variety of selections have expanded, in a good way. Prices are excellent.   Some surprises have been added.

 

As with other Ethnic markets I have posted about, there is a small area inside where you can order food to eat in or to go.  The Taqueria area near the doorway offers five different Aguas Frescas daily(three more five gallon jars are along the other side of the counter).  Next to the cash register, you can see small bowls of salsas and other condiments. There are burritos and tortas sold here, in addition to what I am showing in these photos.

The salsa and condiments include grilled onions, radishes, lemons and three types of salsas.  However when you order, a 'proper' salsa is put on your item.

Tacos are $1. Every day.  (The fried fish taco is $2). The store sells corn tortillas,  sopes,  hurrache shaped corn tortillas, flavored (chipotle, cactus and other flavors, depending on the day of the week) corn tortillas in the store.  Those fresh tortillas are used for the items sold at the counter. 

 

The carnitas tacos have been simmering and are rich flavored. Those are my favorite.  The fish ceviche tostada ($3) is fresh and brightly flavored.  Both carnitas and ceviche are sold by the pound at the Deli counter in the store, as are guacamole, salsa, refried beans, chicharrones...  

The birria, a beef stew,  is very good here.  I have had birria made with pork or goat and never beef.  This version is really good, tender and rich flavored.

On another visit, we got a pork adobada taco ($1).  The pork is marinated in a vinegar based marinade and that breaks down the meat to be very tender.  The hot sauce which was made for this was complimentary and negated the tartness of vinegar.

 
Mulita ($2). Two corn tortillas, each with melted cheese surrounding (in this case) al pastor beef.  You can choose the meat for this quesedilla on steroids...excellent, filling, fresh.  Worth it. Of course, beef made in the al-pastor style is cooked on a spit...

The most interesting aspect of the new Kaelin's is noticed as you are walking in 
Two spits of meats- Al Pastor and schawarma.  Yes, schawarma.

Just past the spits, there are ovens for baking flatbreads.
 
 

The Mediterranean flatbreads sell for 75¢.

 
Gigantic super sized flat bread, as large as the top of the indoor picnic table where we eat.  Hot from the oven...the freshest you can get.  Fresh hummus ($2.99) sold in the refrigerator next to the cash register, is the accompaniment.

Then there are the kabobs.  Beef kabobs $1.25 each (or 99¢ each if you buy ten). You read that right. These are large, juicy, nicely spiced, beef (or chicken) really meaty, tasty kabobs.  Five is too many for The Mister and I to eat for a meal.   We always order five and always end up taking at least 1 1/2 home, to use for breakfast the next morning.   

This store is not at all selling only Mexican foods. 
The Meat Department is NOT Halal.  It can't be.  Know that Kaelin's  sells spices, vegetables, and ready to eat items are Mediterranean based and this is not just a Mexican Market.  Stop in if you have the chance.

Kaelins Mi Pueblo 1435 East Main El Cajon 92020 (619) 440-1423
Here is a photo of a carnitas quesedilla ($2) to show you the size perspective, as well as a flour tortilla...The quesedilla is very stringy melty cheesy...

I hope everyone is starting out the week on a good note! 

Kaelin's Mi Pueblo Market 1435 East Main Street El Cajon Ca 92021 (619)440-1423

Comments

[Faye]

Oh wow! Why can't they have something like that in North County (or is there? if there is - please let me know!). I love the way the vegetables are all stacked beautifully and organized.

The place reminds me of a very AFFORDABLE Whole Foods market :)

And the flat bread...come on! Looks amazing. Do they also have the babaganoush (the eggplant dip)?

Do you think it's worth the drive from North County to visit this place? With gas being so expensive and all :( I'd have to calculate the money saved on groceries but then blown on the hot foods!

Wonderful post - thank you!

[ken]

Thanks for the tip. We live in EC so I'll check it out on my next shopping trip. I'd probably buy my middle eastern stuff at one of the local Iraqui markets but if I can get fresh tortillas, I'll be a happy guy.....

[Cathy]

The 'gourmet' market I would recommend in North County is Major Market, in Escondido, Faye. The 'fancy yet inexpensive' Mexican Market I choose is Northgate Gonzalez, in National City (805 at 43rd Street exit) and the Mediterranean Market I would (and have) driven out of the way for is Wholesome Choice. In San Diego, Balboa International Market would be a bit closer for you than Kaelin's, unless you are going to try Sultan, which Kirk had been going to on a regular basis before His vacation; Kaelin's is not even a mile away, and just a right turn out of the Sultan parking lot.

Kaelin's is a good place for a lot of interesting items, ken. Pick up one kebab just for the heck of it...

[caninecologne]

hi cathy - what an awesome place! i love the stacked vegetables and how cheap the taco are! the mulitas at Tacos el Poblano are $4! twice as much! boo! there are a lot of good Mexican markets down here in Chula Vista and the North Park produce near us is pretty good but nowhere as nice as Kaelin's (especially with the fresh foods). I like going to the new Seafood City in Chula Vista. :)

[James]

Thanks so much for this - a friend of mine just mentioned this place to me when I was describing my first visit to Pancho Villa's over the weekend. Can't wait to try it! I had heard Northgate was going to open where the Kmart is at 54th & University but haven't heard anything about that in a while.

[Cathy]

Hi cc. Kaelin's is a good little neighborhood place where we can get a bite to eat, then go shopping. I saw your adventures with Dennis on His blog and reminded myself that Seafood City is close enough that it should be one of our Market choices too. Lately, we've been doing 'pick a market' for our weekly shopping, supplementing with Henry's and Vons sale items only.
Oh gosh, we like Pancho Villa also, James. So many good markets around here. I wanted to post on Kaelin's because I ran into bunches of people who had given up on it, and really, it is again a good little place to shop in East County. If that K-Mart turns into a Northgate, it will be even closer for me! Seems like the right size.

[caninecologne]

hi cathy - i love going to diff't ethnic markets and i should really check out all of the mediterranean ones you recommend since that is a culture/cuisine i am not so familiar with. it's always fun finding new things and trying them out.

there is a seafood city closer to you than chula vista (the one in mira mesa) but the one down here is nicer and newer.

[Cathy]

The second largest Iraqui population in the US resides in El Cajon, cc. The Markets out here are filling a need for the people wanting a bit of 'home' and so the authenticity and quality of ingredients is here. I also think the cuisine is very healthy in addition to being tasty. We have shopped at SC (I even did a post about Chow King) but not as regularly...one of our 'resolutions' this year has been to pick a different ethnic market a week and buy mostly sale items and make meals...

[FunkMan]

Dudes:

Checked out the market. Mind blowing. Betters Intl Market and Grill on Balboa for some things.

Here is our experience at the grill. It seems the grill man is a bit of a tortured genius, very volatile. The counter man told us he raises prices if he is in a bad mood, and sometimes tells customers he is too busy, come back...another day.

Well we put in an order for the 4 skewar combo...since they were out of meat, the grill man threw a bit of tantrum, but was talked into completing our order. He went to the meat dept, cut our stuff fresh and marinated on the spot, then..about 30 minutes later we got served. In the mean time, my wife was about to drop so we ordered her a cabeza taco for a buck...mmmmm...exceptionally good.

We were a bit perturbed about all the goings on with the Iraqi portion of the order...but when it came....OMG..

It was.....not of this earth...the marination was of the gods, the mean and chicken was tender and juicey, and the bread was out of this world.

[Cathy]

So glad you enjoyed the kabobs and the market, Funkman. Love your description- tortured genius... I think the 'food court' area had days when people only bought tacos and not kabobs and they cut back on pre-making so as to not have waste. Not only are the prices right, but the flavor and quality is there. So glad you tried it- and welcome to the commenting side of our blog!

[Veronica]

Hi,
I really like this place, because you guys have a fresh food!!! But let me share a bad experience, I feel so sad, because
tonight (6-18-2011) I went to buy some beef at the Kaelin's carniceria, whoever, this guy Rafael Rodriguez who served my order, was so mean, he asked me in a bad mood if I was ready to order or if I m gonna take 30 minutes to order. I was like, I can't believe it. I told him that he never greeted me and he never asked me "what can I get for you or what are you get tonight??", I asked him if he was mad or what? he said no, but I really was so mad because this guy works there to offer a good customer service and he didn't.

[caligirl]

nice mix of mexican and middle eastern. i'll definitely try it the next time i'm in el cajon. the foodland market in el cajon makes some of the best fish ceviche i've had. all of the IGA markets seem to be clean and well-run.

[Cathy]

Oh yes, do stopat Kaelin's, caligirl; it's really nice. I did a post on Foodland in 2008 and still do shop there; it's great! http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2008/09/foodland-for-lu.html

[caligirl]

wow, has it been over a year already? tried kaelin's last year and it is one of my favorite grocery stores. thank you for the tip!

[Cathy]

So nice of you to follow up, caligirl. We're at Kaelins at least twice a month, with lunch in the 'food court' area first. It's a great place.