They have the best tamales. You can't get wrong with any of them from chicken, corn, or beef. I also love their cheesecake! Staff is super friendly and store is clean, well-kept, big and organized. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

The good: They sold tropical fruits here like cherimoya. I got tiramisu and berry tres leches cake here and they were very tasty. I liked that they had whole cakes but also tres leches in a cup or by the slice. The prices were fair. They had so many ready-to-buy cake options. They also have a huge selection of pinatas and agua frescas. They have a sit-down area that they call a food court. By the fruits, there's a small gift shop that sells random things like blankets and toys. They had awesome inflated foil balloon options. I also got fresh ceviche here, tostadas, and frozen ceviche. The bad: The tables were all a bit dirty in the food court. The interesting: This is a chain market based in SoCal. read more

My friend highly recommended coming here over Northgate, so we had to check it out. It's located a little deeper in Escon but we were eating at TJ tacos and figured we stopped by to get some meats. We got meats from their meat counter, we got the carne asada and their pollo asado. We also got some turkey legs, fresh ceviche, and a slice of tres leches and some milk. The lines were super long, they didn't have enough checkers, and we didn't see their self check out until we left. Bummer. Also we didn't noticed until we got home but they never gave us the sale price for the milk! The meats were a little more expensive than NG. And we didn't get veggies or fruit bc nothing was really good or on sale. We did grill the meats at home and it was delicious! The carne asada was super good... may be better than NG. The chicken was comparable. The tres leches cake was delicious. The ceviche with shrimp and octopus was amazing. Ceviche was definitely better than NG. The store was big, and we felt a little pricier than NG. But we felt NG had a bigger hot foods area. We probably don't need to go the extra mile to Vallarta and stick with NG. read more

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8/29/25 Sad to report that we went back to this location today to pick up more steaks. My husband beat me to the counter and had them bag up 10 T-Bones. By the time I got the the meat counter it was already done. BUT.... These steaks were NO WAY near what we picked up a few days ago. They were laced with about an inch of FAT on about 1/3 of the meat. I didn't want to return it to the meat dept., because I know it was on sale and I shouldn't complain but I asked the gal at the register to take them back. I was not about to pay for meat that was not quality. Sorry. Maybe next visit. For me, I would not have accepted it period! My husband, on the other hand..... Pictured here, is my purchase on day 1. 5 stars for that visit. read more

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First time shopping here, and it was a very good experience. I stopped here specifically to buy green vegetables for NYE dinner. The Produce Department was exceptional -- well stocked and organized. Vegetable displays were picture-perfect. Overall, the store is large with easy-to-shop aisles. There's a large Panaderia near the front of the store. Associates are friendly. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Interior -- Produce Department - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

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Visited this store for a specific spice. Ended up buying chicken leg quarters that was 99 cents a pound which I thought was a great deal. Typically I buy my meats in Costco which chicken is normally vacuum packed. This was in a typically Saran wrapped styrofoam. Upon arriving home, I noticed the chicken had a "off" smell. I continued to prepare to bake it without spices because it will be seasoned later when combined with other ingredient. OMG the house smelled like rotten meat. Even my kids looked confused what was cooking in the oven. I ended up tossing it in the garbage and the other pack I never opened! Beware for meats on specials!! I noticed another reviewer commented the same 14 years ago! read more

I've had two great catering experiences at Vallarta and will definitely book more events with them in the future. The asada was delicious as well as the rice and beans. Their pico de gallo was a huge hit too. Not only was there enough to feed the attendees, there was asada for days as leftovers. - Booking online is easy but they only allow booking up to five days in advance. Not sure if you can order more in advance if you order inside of Vallarta. - Watch food abels carefully, expecially for items made from non-US countries. A few food products from south of the border had scary warning stickers like" May cause birth defects and may cause cancer" . There were no specific ingredients pointed out so maybe this is California just scaring people. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Asada from catering order - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

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Vallarta was the 1st place that made us feel appreciated as customers. For starters, it saved our day after 2 other businesses blocked their public restrooms. At the end of a long day away from home it's a challenge to continue shopping if such amenity made unavailable - not to random walk-ins, but to actual customers! This wasn't an issue at Vallarta. We decided to stay for dinner, and it was a great choice! Dinner options abound. Their tacos are delicious, and quite an unbelievable value. Keeping this business on a list of must-stops when in the area for lunch or dinner. read more

Don't get me wrong, the cakes are extremely delicious and worth every penny. However, the staff needs a customer service training course. Rude from start to finish. To selection, to purchase and pickup they are rude. To top it off they send you to wait in line to pay for the cake. They told me which lane # to wait at. I waited over 15 minutes behind customers with carts FULL to the brim instead of sending me to an open lane or letting me use self checkout. Then when I got to the cashier she told me to wait even longer. She had to locate my ticket and got annoyed with me because I said I was a custom cake order. There's some lack of communication or just a lack of care. I put up with it because the cakes are great quality but hopefully in the future the staff can be respectful to customers with custom orders. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Cakes are expensive but worth the price. Taste never fails - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

It has everything you need. No complaints and good service. Wine is overpriced but go there for food and not wine. Fresh tortillas and everything you need for a good dinner. Fresh produce and great deli. read more

Love the store love the food, hate the service, especially at the juice/aqua Frescas area. Every time I go they take forever to start on an order. They receive it and just continue to chat. I understand when there's a line or if they're finishing another task that might be time sensitive but when they're walking back and forth just continuing their conversation, it's pretty frustrating. These ladies need to work on their customer service and efficiency. read more

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I needed help with something and Carmen helped! Thank you, Carmen! The employees really care about the customers here. They sell foods you can't find at any other grocery store or market, like special cheese from México. Awesome prices, too. Clean and organized inside, plus they play good music, haha. read more

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The yogur fruit was no good especially mango and strawberries look like they dont want trash the fruit and thennthey mixed with yougor no good fruit read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Mango was bad - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

If you're like me and you appreciate having any type of grocery stores close-by that are for the culture (Mexican/Asian/Middle Eastern/etc), then you will appreciate Vallarta. There's so much inside...fresh and delicious hot food, fresh tortillas, salsas, pastries, breads, the usual meats and groceries, cakes, my fave chicharon...anything and everything you could possibly need. The staff are always friendly and helpful! read more

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Food: Great Mexican grocery store but not only Mexican food. Great ceviche choices, salsa choices, multiple Mexican & other cheeses, bakery, Great options Service: Excellent, very professional Ambiance: love the cleanliness and organized store & today had tamale & guacamole tastings read more

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If I could give more stars I would! I had never ordered catering and they made it so easy and the best food and all packed well and the best cost ever! My family and friends all very pleased. Fed over 50 people with party combo meat!!!! Thank you Vallarta!!!! read more

The best tacos at the best prices in town, every day. The high quality meats are all very well seasoned and tender read more

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After all my visits, Vallarta is my favorite Mexican market! I've been to many different markets that are very similar, but this place is the most complete supermercado. You will find some of the best fresh ceviches here, meats, pan dulce, as well as hot prepared plates, fresh hot tortillas, and much more. The prices are typically very low and competitive, across the board. It has evolved into a regular stop for me every time I'm on the way back home from the casinos. But only this location.. When they were opening a location in National City, I was excited to hear. Until I went and realized after 2 visits, buying several items that it just wasn't the same at all. The store is much smaller, and overall less quality of prepared foods, selection, and even customer service. I can't wrap my head around why they would be so different. Like 2 stars less. Don't think I've been back for 5 years or more it seems. So come here. This one. I don't even live in North county so I have to go to Northgate, still good, though a little step down for me. Even my lady(she's from Mexico City) gives it her true "Chilanga" thumbs-up approval! Well, at least we agree on something. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Many ceviches to choose - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

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Went in for some corn tamales and there was a hair in it. Thought there were regulations of wearing a hairnet while making food ??? read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Hair right in the middle - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

Valentine, from the cocina department, provided us with excellent assistance. He was truly outstanding. Despite having a large order and a growing line of customers behind us, he managed to fulfill our order quickly and accurately. We tried the tacos and they were absolutely fantastic! We highly recommend them. The entire store was impeccably clean, and all the staff members were friendly. Valentine, del departamento de cocina, nos brindó una excelente ayuda. Fue realmente estupendo. A pesar de tener un pedido grande y una fila de clientes detrás de nosotros que iba en aumento, logró completar nuestro pedido rápidamente y con precisión. Probamos los tacos y ¡estaban increíbles! Definitivamente los recomendamos. Toda la tienda estaba realmente limpia y el personal era amable. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - tacos de lengua and cabeza - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

Yesterday I bought some beef cheek to make tacos. My fridge stunk and the meat was rotten. How can they sell meat this way? They should be checking the quality of the product. I feel terrible because another person bought this meat too. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Beef cheek - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

Popular supermarket nice deli type counter take out foods large Moresby meat selections and groceries. Tamales too. , read more

We had a celebration over the weekend and ordered from here for a party of 50. Everything was very good. Beef pork and chicken tacos with rice and fixings. read more

Every time I go in the doors for the breads are open. They do not close and are always filled with flies. I've told the people in the bakery department multiple times. For this reason I never buy bread from Vallarta. I wish they would be more sanitary with their pan ( bread). read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Bakery doors do not close, flies on the bread - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

Disappointed in the pan dulce, went when they first opened, thinking that the bread and the Mexican bread is fresh l & made daily it's NOT. The bread I got was hard and stale and I had a nasty refrigerator. Taste like other food was contaminating it. You know when you put something in the refrigerator or in the freezer and it starts to have a funky freezer or refrigerator taste that's exactly what the "pan dulce" taste like. Whatever doesn't sell they stored it away and put it out the next day to sell it. read more

I really like this market, probably the best Mexican supermarket in town, and we have quite a few. They have upgraded the hot food/deli counter recently. One of the major plusses is the new custom guacamole counter. It's about the same price as the regular guacamole, and you can add or omit anything you want. So far my favorite is mango guac, as long as the mangoes are ripe, LOL. The premise is sometimes pretty spicy, so you can make it tamer at the counter. Even choose the type of onion, and solve the age-old debate of cilantro or no cilantro (I am for the pro-cilantro party). They also make buñuelos, a favorite of mine. Northgate doesn't make them anymore, so they lose out. I haven't tried the other desserts, because some of them look kinda crazy! They have some really good prices on produce, but it's sometimes not the best quality (especially the avocados). So beware. But it is a great place to find unusual beer brands like Carta Blanca, or hard to find flavors of sodas & teas. Just don't come here Sat or Sun afternoon, it's a madhouse! read more

Yesterday was our 2nd visit to a Vallarta's and we think it has topped out to #1. Yep, you read right. #2 spot is nearby. #3 is also nearby.. and closer to where we reside, but we will drive here for tortillas! Tortillas - do NOT buy Mission tortillas! What are you, insane?!?! Seriously, walk to the tortilleria and find your favorite. Sonora flour tortillas, gordita and flauta tortillas. The regular corn tortillas are much bigger than taco size but all the more better for quesadillas. Tamales - chile y queso and maíz were better Pan dulce - really great selection and so soft! Hot sauce aisle - could be better. There isn't as good of a selection as our #2 and #3 spots.. we were looking for a yellow hot sauce, in particular. Produce - they have organic which is nice, but also great prices for conventional produce. We liked their selection of vegan products which is in the produce area. Agua Fresca - so many to choose from, but since I saw the sign in the front entrance, I ordered the berry blast summer edition. Really good! read more

One of my favorite stops in esco. Has great prices and even when its not on sale its still on par with food 4 less prices. They have a gorgeous bakery and premade mexican food and drinks. You want real homemade tortillas then get them here!! Produce is dirt cheap on Wednesday! Lots to offer make this place a one stop shop for all your needs! Even a toystore in the back! read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Toys! - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

It seems like every single worker there is being forced to work or something, such a bad mood everyone is in. There's one tall guy at the meat department that does his job good but the short female is horrible, I mean absolutely horrible. Doesn't listen and gets mad because she can't understand comprehend simple instructions. Definitely needs to rehire or new management because something isn't working. read more

I need to order a Jugo Verde once a week. It really helped with my bloating and inflammation. They use a good one of ginger. You can really taste the ginger. I ordered the large size and it took me 2 days to drink it all. $9.99 for the large size. The price is not posted on their menu but it is not the same price as the Agua Fresca. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - $9.99 jugó verde grande - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

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Did somebody say salsa!? This place has all sorts of food and drink available and at reasonable prices. Who needs taco shops when you can make your own at home. The place is clean and service is great! My only issue with this place is the parking lot... there a few transients that hang around and harass customers asking for change. One guy was claiming to need gas and was actually carrying a gas can but got upset whenever he was denied by customers exiting the store. Management needs to help get these people moving along and away from their store. People will eventually get turned down and discouraged to come in and shop if this becomes the norm. read more

The grilled chicken was hard. There's a language barrier when ordering food. Don't buy the grilled chickens.

I agree with majority of reviews that the store is nice and clean, however.... I visited the store today ( I like their bakery) and I appreciate everything being prepackaged due to Covid but unfortunately I found mold on the turnovers. I opted out of purchasing anything from the bakery. I bought a couple of T-Bone steaks that I was going to grill for lunch an hour later. The meat is rotten. It is falling apart like wet paper. There are definitely some quality control issues. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

One stop shop for all things that taste good without having to drive across the border to MX! This is equivalent to H Mart & Zion for Koreans & 99 Ranch for Chinese peeps. I'm a fan! Such a fun place to shop. Hungry? Buy some authentic marinated meats/spices/groceries. Hangry?? Go to the ready made, fresh food area for a tamale/taco! Wanna party??? OMG you can get fresh guacamole, salsas, tortillas, jugos, even a freaking UNICORN cake. What. I'm sold! You can even look the part by getting a giant jugos jar/tortilla containers/comal to heat up your tortillas. If you wanna be a legit San Diegan, you gotta come by & grab some essentials for your next fiesta. Just be prepared for a huge food coma afterwards! Love this place. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Unicorn cake for $39.99! I'm down - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

They've got fruits and vegetables that you can't find in "mainstream" grocery stores. Banana leaves, tons of different chiles, many squash varieties, etc., all at great prices. The meat counter has (almost) everything, from large cuts to pre-marinated ready-to-cook pieces. Sadly, they don't regularly carry chivo (goat), so I must continue my search in order to make true birria. read more

Very impress with Vallarta mkt in Escondido Store so clean, Meat dept very good & fresh. The tripe & honeycomb for menudo so fresh. Did not smell , prices very reasonable read more

I usually buy a little of everything here, fruits, tortillas, meats, ready made food, bakery items and not had issues. Staff is usually nice and place is clean. I'm a fan of the chicken salad especially on hot days when I don't want to cook. I went in today, got my regular cup full and came home. They must have switched the recipe bc it was so oily and gross. The chicken tasted weird and mushy compared to how it is normally. Check any food you buy, seems they are switching some recipes or quality. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Oil pockets in the chicken salad. I just purchased it and was about to eat, it was in the container less than 15 minutes. - Grocery Near Me - Escondido, California

Best supermarket around for quality Mexican products. Their specialty sections are popular for a reason. Whether you're coming for carne, tortilla, pan dulce, good ingredients, whatever it may be, you're paying a good price for good stuff. Most employees are friendly and helpful too read more

Still very much in love with this place, just forgot to mention that their pupusas are very underrated! They are my family's go-to place for pupusas. ALSO, the prices on their pan dulce have (need to mention) increased considerably!!!!!! This adjustment in price has deterred me from continuing to purchase the pan dulce. I pray they fix and lower the prices because although the bread is amazinggg, it's an unfair set on price for the people. read more

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This place was immaculate. It was organized, clean, product was fresh, and reasonable prices. The shelves and produce were well stocked. It was as if there was someone that sees that a product was removed and immediately replaces it. The service was great. Everyone was pleasant. The fresh tortilla and chips are delicious. read more