Vallarta Supermarket- Eat in the store, Shop in the store.

Here you are, reading mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog, again.  Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy pretty much are the writers of various who-what-where-when-why-how posts here, which are food-centric.  Today, Cathy is writing.

In case you haven't noticed, just about every grocery market has an area where you can purchase ready made foods and have a seat to eat those foods inside the store. 

 

Vallarta Supermarket is a California Chain of 42 markets which started in Van Nuys in 1985.  Only two locations are in San Diego County- this location in National City and one in Escondido. This National City location (on Euclid just North of Plaza Boulevard) used to be a Ralphs.

I'm not even going to show you the various departments. The prices here are great, the items sold here are varied, fresh and the people who work here are more than helpful (and multilingual) if you have questions. Here's a link  to the page where you can put in your Zip code and see the weekly specials at the location closest to you. 

It's a great market with great prices.  When you walk in the door, to your left is the Produce section and to your far right is the bakery and extensive prepared foods area. 

The center area is what I call the 'refrigerated section', where you can choose and pay for various custards, gelatins, ceviches and have fresh juices made to order.

Along the wall -this is the far corner- is what I call the 'heated' area.  

When you find a seat in the center, you can see the ice cream section as part of the 'refrigerated' area to the right, the salsa selections in the center and again, the far wall, which is filled with steam trays of prepared foods. 

Again, the refrigerated area not only sells fresh juices, sodas and the aforementioned desserts and ceviches, but also various fresh made aguas.

You can order from the steam trays and pay at this cash register, as well as the register on the side of the steam trays.  It's all automated; you pay, get your number and wait for your order to be called.

Here's a medium (32 ounce) spinach-pineapple blend ($2.89) agua.  You can see the plethora of egg selections available in that open refrigerator section.

Of course, there is the spit of al pastor meat waiting to be shaved off for an order... 

along with too many steam trays of various stews and soups to photograph. 

This is  a copy of the menu- note the various fresh juice combinations in the far right bottom of the page. Having seen juices made this way is why I was confused the first time I went into Jamba Juice, (only three years ago)when I was so confused as to why they had so many out of season beverages available...nothing frozen here.

This particular heated area was most fascinating to me- because I had had a pupusa at the Escondido World Marketplace earlier that week...

This is a regular size (not small) plate under the $2.69 pupusa. I asked for the cheese (chicharron filled was also a choice). The pupusas are wrapped in plastic wrap in the steam tray. I saw the lady who was preparing my order take the pupusa out of the plastic wrap and place it onto the hot grill in the back, completely warming (and crisping) the masa based crust. She placed it over the (not Americanized-nicely, hot chili spiced) generous portion of curtido and similarly (heat wise) spicy hot pepper red salsa.

Here's a cross section of the cheese filled pupusa.  You can see the flecks of green chiles and melting Mexican cheese, which was a very rich (full fat) cheese.

I also ordered the salsa verde chicharron platter ($6.99). A wonderful home made green salsa (again, spicy hot as well as heated) filled with meaty fried pork skins and accompanied by Mexican fried rice, wonderful, flavorful refried beans and four thick, fresh made, hot corn tortillas. 

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I noticed the "Macho Banana" ($1.50) (it was listed as "Platano Frito" on my receipt) and since I had never bought one properly prepared, I ordered it also.  The lady who was crisping and re-heating the pupusa on the grill, also had pulled out the plantain to re-heat and crisp on the grill and asked me if I wanted 'cream' with the plantain.  I said 'oh yes', as if I knew what she meant...sweetened condensed milk-that's what she poured in the cut portion- and it made for a perfect dessert item. The plantain is more starchy and potato-y in texture, but on its own (with the carmelization) had a slight sweetness. A piece coated in the condensed milk made it really, really perfect.  

Again, the grocery store is one of our regular stops because the prices and variety and freshness is great. The Eat In area is wonderful, consistently fresh and very, very organized.  Here is a link of another post about Vallarta, from fellow blogger, caninecologne; it was her  first visit here, and she had a different purpose for stopping by. 

Vallarta Supermarket 901 Euclid Avenue National City, CA 91950 (619) 472-1683 Open 7 days 6:30-11   website

Comments

[Ed (from Yuma)]

Great post. Glad I already had lunch!

[caninecologne]

Ah, I was waiting for your post! Great pix of the food area and of the food selections, especially the platter you had (mmm, chicharron skins) and the caramelized banana.

we saw the pupusas sign when we visited a few days ago. We couldn't eat (even though I really wanted to) since we were on our way to the reception for a late lunch. Had to save some room.

[Faye]

That's amazing how the actually heat up the food for you before giving it to you. Is it cash only? The link you provided is pretty helpful - thanks!

[Gypsy Jan]

Hi, Cathy (and Ed and Kirk)

I love the blog and what you bring in as co-posters is always wonderful.

I have a serious case of phone camera envy - I have a no-camera situation, but hubby's iPhone is sick and they gave him a new one.

Hope that we can get the old one repaired - I will use it to document mmmyoso meals!

[Cathy]

Thanks, Ed.
Yes, cc-Lately, I've been ordering the salsa verde chicharron stew whenever I see it offered; so good. The pupusas here are super huge and excellent. I'm glad I tried the fried plantain, so I have a gauge as to how it's supposed to taste. Vallarta is a great store.
There is a quality to the steam tray offerings here, Faye. I would think they take credit cards, it's large-a former Ralphs- with an extensive liquor selection and dealing in cash might be onerous. I try to use cash and don't pay attention...
Thanks so much, Jan. We all try to keep the blog interesting and help each other. It seems easier to photograph using a phone than a camera, even though (as you can see) sometimes the phonecamera doesn't always focus.

[Kha Hoang]

I live near the Vallarta in Escondido. If you ever want to grill meats at home, I highly recommend getting the al pastor from the butcher. I've picked up al pastor from 3-4 different Mexican markets, and Vallarta has my favorite thus far.

If you ever want to pick up carne asada to grill, I personally like Kennedy's Karne. They have locations in Escondido and El Centro. Kennedy's Karne claim that they have won ~16 carne asada cookoffs. I like the habanero infused carne asada, however, it is too spicy for some people.

For pupusas, if you haven't been yet, try El Salvadoreno in Grant Hill.

[Cathy]

I've been to 'your' Vallarta only once, Kha, and it is just as nice as 'mine'. Thanks for the al pastor tip- we always pick up some chorizo (chicken, pork and beef are available and each is unique) and ceviche here; have seen the Kennedy's Karne but never stopped in, but will now. Kirk has posted on El Salvadoreño, twice and I like Pupuseria Salvadoreña & Mexican in El Cajon...will have to try El Salvadoreño to compare!

[Kha Hoang]

I went to El Salvadoreno before I went to El Salvador. So, I probably should go back to compare. There are a couple pupuserias in North County now, out of those, I prefer Salvadoreno Las Cazuelas. I haven't tried Pupuseria Salvadorena yet, I'll make it a point to go there within the next month or two.

I haven't tried the ceviche at Vallarta yet. I have been tempted though. Which one(s) do you like?

[Cathy]

Thanks for the Las Cazuelas recommendation, Kha. I always get the fish ceviche when we shop. Tried the ahogados shrimp once-saved some of that sauce for use at breakfast (eggs)...the shrimp are quite large and fresh and the sauce has a good heat.

[Carol]

I was just at the Escondido location to pick up some beef cheek meat that was being advertised. Always pick up a pack of corn tortillas while I was there. Some peppers and tomatillos too.

[Cathy]

This is one of our favorite markets and the grocery part of the store always has something great on sale going on each week, Carol. We've found the regular prices are good too...can't resist picking up fresh (warm) tortillas and/or torta rolls each trip. Our habit of eating before shopping is necessary...