This is a great little store. I come here for the fresh tamales and pico. They have a deli area, Mexican pastries, fresh fruits and veggies, and then a general store. read more

El Jalapeno - Best pico - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Best tamales and chicharonnes! Cheese and jalapeño ones are my fav. Go early cause they sell out quick! Staff is very nice and personable.

Spoke with Palamira and Alma, and they are the absolute sweetest people. Amazing customer service and we tried the tamales; the tamales were absolutely fire! Would recommend for a quick stop read more

First off, Yelp and other social media gets El Jalapeño mixed up as being the restaurant next door. El Jalapeño is a STORE. The restaurant is just to the left of the store and it's called Los Tamales. Once again El Jalapeño is the place to go to get Mexican groceries. Getting authentic Mexican groceries is a real chore in Washington because of lack of diversity. So this place is the place to go. We come here mainly for the Tamales. They have a self service tamale bar where you can pick and choose the tamales that you want. They are priced individually or by the dozen. They also have a nice selection of Mexican pastries. Unlike most places that I've been to theirs are fresh. Like most really good Mexican store, the place is no thrills. Meaning to real decor. Just stock. This is how they keep their prices reasonable. read more

See all

I ordered a family meal that included 16 tacos and a side of beans and a side of rice found a gray long hair in my food. Very disgusted. I ended up throwing the whole order in the garbage. I will never order from this place again. read more

They sell Dubai Chocolate Strawberries Good customer service, and great prices. They sell all sorts of food and fruit cups as well.

It's kind of a crime that I haven't gone to this grocery store up until recently. The handful of times I have been in here the last several weeks have been great! There is a lot packed into this space but at the same time the layout is pretty easy for me to get a grip on to find items. This grocery store definitely caters towards the Hispanic population of Tacoma so you will see brands, produce, spices and other foods that you aren't used to seeing in mainstream stores. They have a self service hot case with five different kinds of tamales. This is my first place I start when I come into El Jalapeño and I just dive right in by grabbing some tongs and putting a tamale of each in a plastic bag. I can't say which one I like the best. They are all great but you can pick from a sweet corn tamale, chicken tamales and pork. I then take them home and enjoy them there. Fortunately I don't live too far from this store. Another thing I simply love with El Jalapeño is their fresh salsas! I have a major Achilles Heel for chips and salsa and the salsa from here is so fresh and delicious I have to come back once I run out. There used to be these salsas near the produce section but you can also find the salsas by the fresh meat/butcher area as well in the back in a small refrigerator. I have had a very spicy red salsa which was great and a more milder salsa verde. I can't wait to try more of the salsa options as there are a few more from those two. They have a fresh pastry case up near the registers in which I brought a few home on one trip here. Very moist and flavorful! Definitely recommend those too! I feel like there is a lot more to discover here as there is a lot packed in here. There seems to be a small deli of sorts by the tamales and produce that would be worth exploring and Steve can't wait to buy some produce for some of his recipes at home. Coming to El Jalapeño has been a great experience every time and I can say with a lot of confidence I will become a regular here! read more

See all

I've eaten here 3xs recently, short lines even though its seems to stay pretty busy. Great food, prepared fresh, hot and fast, even when it's busy. Staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable, I'd recommend this restaurant for any time of day, breakfast, lunch or dinner.. read more

Delicious TAMALES and SALSAs-a-plenty cooked up FRESH herefor you and for meand fiesta and parties.

Es tienda muy buena lo único que adentro venden elados raspados y pedí un raspado y me atendió la señora asta que se le dio su gana 1ro atendió otras personas que llegaron después y al último no me atendió mando a otro empleada que me atendiera como si estuviera pidiendo regalando el elado lo malo que no mire como se llama pero es nueva en ese lugar mejor debe conseguir trabajo en otro lugar eso no es lo de ella read more

Love all the different types of Tamales and the back counter for ice cream and elotes. Will definitely be back!

Looking for guavas? I was not, but there they were, next to the papayas and two kinds of mangoes. The selection of fresh exotic eats was sublime: cactus paddles (of course), but also fava beans in season, tamarind, several kinds of limes, and the usual Mexican fruits and veggies. I have shopped at the butcher before and found it excellent. They have several tortilla types, including locally made ones. I walked out with a bag of produce for $10. Finally, service. Here in Seatac where the chill is real, I was happy to receive greetings and sm I'll less from the owner and staff. It felt like family on the first visit. Making this a regular grocery stop for this cook. read more

primer día y último que fui ala tienda el jalapeño pedí un raspado y la muchacha muy mal jeniuda como que le pedía las cosas de a gratis muy mal servicio no ballan ahí read more

I've been a Washingtonian 65 years, and from many wonderful real ethnic Mexicano/Hispanic/Latino/Indio stores' This is one of the best ones around, everything your taste and love of real Mexican products are here. The meats are excellente tambian. John Leon Gonzalez read more

Best Mexican grocery store in Tacoma. Great prices, amazing meats and cheese. Tamales are almost as good as my grandmas. There is always a staff member that speaks English and they never make non Spanish speakers feel unwelcome. Newbie hack: if you want fresh tamales out of the coolers... the trays are on the counter. Load it up and bring it to the cashier, she will bag them up for you... always buy them by the dozen (way better deal). Tamales are so fresh and always taste amazing (not as good as grandmas but still homemade) read more

This is traditional style. Loved it we will return great service. Very popular with Hispanic community

Food was great!!! Had lots of flavor and the girl at the counter was friendly. Definitely coming back. read more

El Jalapeno - two burritos on a table - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Went there to get a calling card for my dad, they have a well stocked butcher shop in the back (need quail? they got it!) and I bought some admittedly overpriced arrachera. Gonna make it and see what's up...seeing as how Fred Meyer's butcher shop had petite sirloins for the same price (5.99/lb) maybe I shoulda done that. Anyway, great selection of mexican fare and huge squares of pretty good tres leches (Patacon Pisao on Grand Ave in Qnz is still #1 for now) for 2.50 or 2.75 in the fridge. Wicked. read more

Love the environment! Felt very authentic and warm . I really enjoyed the tamales and fresh bread...

On the weekends they have fresh Tamales, and fresh tortillas. We can find so many dufferent Mexican products. Definitely our to go place.

Cool spot, the ppl were friendly, the prices were good and the selection was decent. Would go back again.

They have a great variety of things here. Prices are fair and the staff are friendly. Its got a large parking lot, though its located in a questionable part of town. read more

See all