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    Mercado El Rey

    4.2 (22 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Inside the store
    Peter X.

    My wife wanted us to stop by here because we were next door eating at Rudy. She came in here and saw that they had a Mexican water drink. This place is right across the street from the hotel we were staying at. The plaza that this store is at doesn't have a lot of parking spots so be aware of that. They had some good selections of meat but we didn't purchase anything beside my wife drink.

    Fresh ceviche
    Jina M.

    Cute and super clean Mexican supermarket! They have everything you would want from marinated meats to fruit to fresh bread and pasteies! Would definitely recommend checking this place out!! Also, ate one of the best tamales I've ever had from this place. The pork one was so flavorful!

    Grand opening- found out by the flier they mailed
    Jennifer K.

    They had some good sales on their opening day we got some short ribs that were really marbled and tasted like Wagyu. They also have a lot of seafood especially octopus and baby octopus. their produce on the other hand does not seem the freshest. I would come back here for their meat sales.

    Marinated meats.
    Geo M.

    Great new meat market and Paleteria. Everything was super fresh. Meat was pre-marinated. We purchased a few pounds and made tacos for dinner. Great little spot with just the right amount of products and produce. Will try the ice cream side/smoothie next time

    Just opened
    Steve H.

    Just opened July 3rd. Already a line out the door. A real Mexican grocery (most signs in Spanish, and most of the people there were speaking Spanish). Next door to the venerable Rudy's Mexican restaurant (but unrelated). Carniceria, fruteria, Michiocana (meat, fruits and veggies, and ice cream). Nice hand-painted murals of SB along the ceiling inside. I hope it'll be a compliment to, not competition for, sweet old Santa Cruz Market down the street. Anyway, if you want to go shopping in an authentic Mexican market, you have a new place to go! ¡Buen provecho!

    Popsicle!
    Liz G.

    The cleanest Hispanic market I've ever been in. Amazing elote corn! Ice cream and popsicle choice I've never even heard of. Cooked pulpo for $8 a pound! What a deal. This place has it all Hispanic!

    More meats!
    Erin K.

    Well, this was un unplanned grocery stores visit, so was driving to go home and saw this place, I saw plenty of parking, so why not check it out. We always need groceries right? So walked in, masks are definitely being required as I did see girl at registers so a customer he needed a mask, he didn't have any so she gave him one. All employees attentive, made it straight to meat department and couple asked to help, which I wasn't ready, but great customer service there. It looked like good quality meat, chicken. And an assortment of fish. Did end up with couple whole fishes, and some taco meat ( aka brisket) suadero in Spanish !!! Guess what's for dinner!! So over all nice experience, one thing I wish was that they had more space between aisles and maybe they would have a bigger assortment of varies other items. Will try to be back when I really need groceries! And by the way they have like a full ice cream bar!!! And will be back for some over cream too!

    Fruity pebbles

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Excellent little store. Guacamole, salsa, ice cream, fresh veggies , and meat market. The guacamole and salsa was on point!

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    They are an authentic Mexican grocery store staff members are friendly and produce is fresh

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    5 years ago

    Bomb chorizo, carne asada, pollo, and al pastor pre marinated. Low key better than most taquerias in town, pretty cheap too.

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    Ask the Community - Mercado El Rey

    Review Highlights - Mercado El Rey

    Carniceria, fruteria, Michiocana (meat, fruits and veggies, and ice cream).

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Ralphs Fresh Fare

    Ralphs Fresh Fare

    2.2
    (153 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    This is the downtown Santa Barbara Ralph's, and like everything else in Santa Barbara, the exterior…read moreis very pretty. I'm sure the city made Ralph's pay out the nose for the prime location, and you can see some of this reflected in the nice landscaping. How many grocery stores come with their own stone and tile fountains? Inside, the Ralph's is a Ralph's. We went most recently to get children's Tylenol after midnight, always fun, and we were glad they were open and had it in stock. While we were there, my husband reminded me of an earlier visit, over a decade ago, when we were shopping and overheard a child shouting from the next aisle. It was about the most excited I've heard anyone get about anything, a joyful exclamation of "VEGAN CHEESE PIZZA!" I never saw him, but I think of him often. He's probably a full adolescent now, and I hope he still finds such easy pleasure in this beautiful, complicated world and its frozen vegan pizzas. I doubt I've ever been so happy in a Ralph's, but am grateful for this one. Downtown and open late for your basic grocery store needs.

    ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE! Even with the recent renovations, this store still has major problems. It…read morestarts with management. The store is usually dirty. The staff is often rude, relatively uninterested, and not helpful. Their baggers rarely want to bag, leaving the checkers frustrated. Yesterday, the store was like a swamp...hot and muggy, little to no air conditioning. All of the ice cream in the middle aisle was melted, but still for sale. Management wasn't aware (someone not checking temperatures?). They also had several other cold cases empty and not working. Their restrooms are always in disrepair. They have staff in their service deli that we can't communicate with because we don't speak spanish. They have constant problems with their elevators from the parking garage. They often have many items out of stock later in the day because they don't restock. I could go on and on. It's really disappointing and sad. This store could be an amazing centerpiece of downtown (it once was), but it's turned into an absolute dump in comparison to the other stores in town. It's been this way for a while. By all appearances, they have a serious management and accountability problem. Does Kroger even care?

    Photos
    False hours. False advertising.
    False hours. False advertising.
    Halloween time
    Halloween time
    Excellent Halloween display

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    Excellent Halloween display
    Gelson's Santa Barbara

    Gelson's Santa Barbara

    3.6
    (141 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    I took it for granted and didn't know any better lol but when I was a kid in LA we would go to…read moreGELSONS Love love love it here and regret that we don't have one in our town of Upland or near vicinity. Prices are a bit higher than usual grocery store. But then again GELSON's is not your regular grocery store. This Santa Barbara location is impeccablely clean, great courteous customer service and just WOW. Didn't have time to peruse and just came in for cake but I know I would have been in there at least 30min to explore n shop Cake was delicious! We got the round raspberry one with madelines on the sides, 8 of us annihilated it with sparkling white wine Mom loved it and it was a success! Thanks GELSON's :)

    Gelson's skirts the line between the local fancy grocery stores (Whole Foods, Bristol Farms), and…read morethe traditional bulwarks in town (Vons, Ralph's, Albertson's). This results in a very clean store, with all the quality goods you are looking for, and prices that are a bit high. They have an excellent bakery, tied to the Renaud's next door, great cheeses and meats, and a fantastic wine selection. It's also easy to get in and out once you find a parking spot and the self check out is always open because of the excellent booze selection and older people's inherent fear of technology. I don't shop here much, but if Trader Joe's doesn't have something it's on my way home and this parking lot is actually navigable, so I'll come through. I also come here if I'm trying to impress my friends with a fancy dessert or cut of meat.

    Photos
    Gelson's Santa Barbara
    Gelson's Santa Barbara
    Gelson's Santa Barbara

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    Mercado El Rey - grocery - Updated August 2026

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