El Pipila

Love this market! They have every spice and dried chili known to man and they make delicious tamales. They also carry my favorite brand of tortilla chips: Donkey.

I’m originally from Chicago, presently living in NYC. Every time I return to visit family I make a stop at El Pipila to stock up on Mexican favorites and authentic, hard to find ingredients. I even get care packages filled with El Pipila items. Inexpensive, well-​stocked (especially if you’re preparing a rather involved Mexican recipe), friendly. I love this place!

This is my favorite place to go for spices, especially for coming Mexican and other Latin American food. Try their spice mix for mole — delicious and so much better than pre-​made mole sauces you might find at an ordinary supermarket. Last time I went, I bought ancho chili powder, pasilla chili powder, and dried lavender to make huevos rancheros for brunch and lavender lemonade for upcoming summer cocktails. I also bought a piñata for a friend’s birthday party and had a great conversation in Spanish with the owner.

So glad this place opened to the public. I shop here every week for avocados, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, peppers, limes, eggs, milk, tortillas, chips, tamales, and those fantastic Mexican ice cream bars. Periodically I’ll buy spices in bulk and assorted other things. Every item I’ve bought has been fresh and reasonably priced and I love being able to spend my money in a family-​run neighborhood store rather than in the corporate giants.

If you ever have that moment when you realize you are just missing one little ingredient for the dinner you are about to cook, then go to El Pipila! They have all those random things you always forget… like limes, spices, krazy glue…
Actually, you should go here even if you haven’t forgotten something to peruse the endless hot sauce selection and get some homemade guacamole for the most reasonable price around.

So this is my favorite place to go for spices, especially authentic Mexican spices. I shop here way too much. It’s a good basic store also, get you pasta, beans, rice, sauces, tamale fixings. They have limited produce, onions, garlic, avocados, tomatoes and such. However are produce is not only excellent quality but price low. They have EXCELLENT soup and tamales up for grabs.(p.s. they now sell this on weekdays and weekends) YUMMERS. Also tons of fun Mexican candies. You can buy Mexican cokes and other drinks in bulk. You can get your piñata, loteria and other favorites here as well. A ton of salsas and hot sauces. But as much as I love all that the spices where it’s at. Sold often in several sizes and well priced I am so very happy this is in my neighborhood. I don;t think I go a day without using spices and ingredients I got at this store. Worth a visit. The only thing negative i have to say is sometimes they close earlier than the listed store hours. This makes it hard to make it the after work and I wish they would stay open till 7 and not close at 6 or 6:30.

I am seriously addicted to their green salsa verde and tamales. They only sell their tamales on weekends and I find myself back every weekend. I’m weak and they are incredibly delicious. Sometimes I will go on a Saturday and find myself going back the next day, Sunday.
I find myself picking up other stuff while I’m there — nuts, lentils, and this one random time, soy sauce. The shop is family run and friendly. A great neighborhood addition.

Pipila, pronounced Pee-​Pee-​La accordingly to my friend Alvar, was formerly closed to the public for restaurants only. Maybe a year ago they opened to the public. It is lovely to have a great place to buy Mexican food in bulk. Not only can you get a giant bag of rice or tub of spices or nuts, but they sell vegetarian tamales (cheese & pepper) as well as meaty ones. Their salsa and guacamole is also delish. The couple who runs this place are very sweet and have answered any questions I have had. Love having this so nearby!