Vallarta is a supermarket chain with a latina flavor. You can find pretty much anything at Vallarta that you can at Ralphs but your local Ralphs doesn't have a tortilleria and carnaceria. Not to mention a taqueria that cranks out fresh mexican fare. For the mexican food lover Vallarta has it all. I only wish they would open a store south of mulholland.
I happened to be at the Vallarta in Canoga park stocking up on some essentials and decided to check out the taqueria. Checking the menu I noticed a taco special for only 3.75 that included three tacos of any kind with rice and beans. Quite a bargain and the tacos came with fresh corn tortillas from their tortilleria. I ordered the taco special with carne asada and a couple tamales de res for the road.
The tortillas were soft and fresh and really made the taco. The salsa roja was smokey and the asada lean and tender. Onions and cilantro were missing but I didn't mind, the taste of the fresh corn,the tender beef and the frijoles that settled on my tacos made up for it. These were delicious.
It's amazing the difference fresh corn tortilals can make. The smokey salsa roja wasn't anything special but it didn't have to be. I could have eatin these tacos sans any salsa with just a spread of some fresh frijoles over the meat and they still would have been delicious.
I only wish there was a Vallarta supermarket closer to the westside.
Maybe someday
Vallarta Supermarket locations
Bandini - That carne asada looks delici-yoso!!! I'm glad that they don't mess with it too much, and ruin the flavor with stuff like cheese and sour cream!
ReplyDeleteBandini! Happy New Year! I just want to let you know what a marvelous community service your blog is. I have tried many of your suggestions and agree with you too! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably too young to remember the Von's effort to appeal to the Hispanic community. Their chain of stores was called "Tianguis".
ReplyDeleteI used to go to the Monterey Park and El Monte locations regularly. There were several special sections inside ... a deli with prepared Mexican specialties, a carniceria with homemade chorizo and meats, a section with frutas frescas and ceviche.
There was a Mexican themed produce section and everyone was entertained by strolling mariachis ... and more.
The end of Tianguis probably wouldn't make you happy for various reasons. But you can read about it here:
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/comments.php?id=383_0_3_0_C
kirk,
ReplyDeleteyeah you're so right. sour cream and cheese have no business on a traditional soft taco.
ellen,
thanks :) I'm glad you liked my suggestions.
terila,
ah I didn't know that. Thanks for that info
I think Vallarta can be successful if they expand over the hill.
I just started working in Pacoima, CA and there are few choices for lunch, but since finding Vallarta on San Fernando Road I am now satisfied for lunch. I enjoy their fresh cuts fruits for just $1.99 lb. and they have salas, and avocados for &0.25 -$0.50 each. I have looked at the hot foods but cannot understand the menus since they are in mostly Spanish and I do know some spanish. I tried the tamales and did not find them very favorful. I am looking for soups but do not see them. i will be trying the tres tocas next time. I also like the environment in their store, feels like I am in Mexico but can find many English speakers to help me. Lastly, thery are very inexpensive compared to Ralph's and other big national chains. The store on San Fernando Rd. is very new. See you in Pacoima.
ReplyDeleteVallarta has a restaurant near me, on Woodman Avenue near Chase St. They do some of the best mariscos you'd ever want, and provide a hot bar with charred onions and chiles and a cold bar with salads and salsas galore to round out your meal. If you get there at the right time they also have a crock pot full of really good veggie-and-pasta soup. All for free with your meal.
ReplyDeleteA couple of Tacos de Camaron, a cup of soup, some pickled carrots, cucumbers and chile-laden vinegar-y coleslaw and a generous dollop of avocado salsa makes for a really delicious meal.
The hot delis at Vallarta supermarkets use the same recipes as the Vallarta restaurant, but their food tends to sit a lot on the steam table. Go drop in at Vallarta Restaurant sometime. And another time go see Dos Arbolitos on Nordhoff near Woodley.
I refer to Vallarta Restaurant, Dos Arbolitos and Rincon Taurino as the Holy Trinity. They're that good.
I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOUR EATING AT VALLARTA,I HAVE A FRIEND WORKING THERE AND HE TOLD ME THE KIND OF MEAT THEY USE,HE SAID THEY USE ALL THE MEAT THAT IS BAD INSTEAD OF THROWING IT AWAY THEY COOK IT AND SELL IT TO THE PEOPLE,BE CAREFUL YOU CAN GET SICK,DO NOT EAT THERE.
ReplyDeleteThat's true I heard that before my wife ate there once and she got sick.DONT eat at vallarta
ReplyDeletehonestly...you guys...VALLARTAS ...TOTALLY SUCKS...SUCKS AND NOTHING ELSE BUT sucks...
ReplyDeletethey dont believe in ETHICS, IN THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN THE USA OF AMERICA...WHERE things are different...you go there and find even the managers with a NOT CARE ATTITUDE...
VALLARTAS IS READY TO BE TAKEN BY A HIGHER COMPANY WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS...THEY CANT HANDLE THE GROWTH...
THEY do whatever it takes to cheat customers in their prices and their meat...
now they introduce wine ...and they dont even price wine correctly...
BECAREFULLL...
восстановление зрения
ReplyDeleteБаза кинофильмов, кино, фильмы, анимация, мультики
восстановление зрения
I just started working in Pacoima, CA and there are few choices for lunch, but since finding Vallarta on San Fernando Road I am now satisfied for lunch. I enjoy their fresh cuts fruits for just $1.99 lb. and they have salas, and avocados for &0.25 -$0.50 each. I have looked at the hot foods but cannot understand the menus since they are in mostly Spanish and I do know some spanish. I tried the tamales and did not find them very favorful. I am looking for soups but do not see them. i will be trying the tres tocas next time. I also like the environment in their store, feels like I am in Mexico but can find many English speakers to help me. Lastly, thery are very inexpensive compared to Ralph's and other big national chains. The store on San Fernando Rd. is very new. See you in Pacoima.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably too young to remember the Von's effort to appeal to the Hispanic community. Their chain of stores was called "Tianguis".
ReplyDeleteI used to go to the Monterey Park and El Monte locations regularly. There were several special sections inside ... a deli with prepared Mexican specialties, a carniceria with homemade chorizo and meats, a section with frutas frescas and ceviche.
There was a Mexican themed produce section and everyone was entertained by strolling mariachis ... and more.
The end of Tianguis probably wouldn't make you happy for various reasons. But you can read about it here:
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/comments.php?id=383_0_3_0_C