Avanza

It is now called Lowe’s Market or something like that, but inside it seems to be much the same. It is a great place to get specialty items you don’t find everywhere.

Well, I’m done with Avanza for good now. Crappy service, prices that ring up considerably higher at the register, poor grasp of the English language, long lines, and now I find out that the Meskin Coke I’m paying top dollar for has changed to the American formula with corn syrup instead of sugar. Luckily I found a bodega that is closer, cheaper, and has sugared Cokes. To hell with this place!

This is a nice Latin market on the southwest side of town. I go there to get my jalapenos, lemons, tomatoes for dirty cheap price. Their bread is also fresh and tasty. If you are going to make tamales, they have pre-​made dough, so save you some time.
Pros: good place to find Mexican/​Latin food, bilingual cashiers, good bolillo,
Cons: food is not always fresh

Are you turned on by Mexican piñatas? This place is literally stuffed with things to stuff!

Ok it’s like this… if you are planning an event and want to look like you spent over a grand on food and desert, come to Arvanza and spend about one fifty on the same thing.
This place is loaded with goodies, and it’s not just for a Latino meal, ie-​some of the most beautiful birthday cakes I’ve ever seen are made here, so pretty the birthday princess may not even want to cut it!
Between this place and Little Saigon just up the street you have a huge selection of unbelievable deals on about 2/​3rds of the international market. The ¹⁄₃^rd element, unfortunately about 30 minutes away, is Arash, where I can find more of an Eastern European flavor amongst the other goods… if anyone knows where I can find ground lamb and other goodies close to this place, let me know!

I think I’m ready to drive the extra couple of miles in the opposite direction to go to this grocery store when I need produce.
I really like their produce section. This place practically has a mountain of Jalapenos, plus fresh key limes, other assorted peppers, and lots of spices.
This place must compliment my tastes nicely because everything I bought there tastes like burning. A dozen Jalapenos, 9 bottles of El Yucateco (Sadly, that’s maybe only a 2-​month supply) and lots of assorted dried chiles and spices. I also got some spicy peanuts but they weren’t very good.

Always when I go to Avanza I smell the wonderful aroma of various peppers in the air! AAAHHHH So nice! The products here are very Mexican and Latino based so if you know what you are doing with this type of cooking you can make some really authentic dishes! Much of the products are in Spanish so that may be a challenge so it is a real plus if you know your Spanish! If you do not the staff will be more than willing to assist you in finding what you need!

I knew that South Federal was a wonderland of food, and it didn’t let me down with Avanza!
When planning a cocktail party, I knew I’d need a lot of citrus. But at 50 – 80 cents per lemon in my neighborhood, the party was getting expensive. I knew there had to be a good Latino market that would have produce to fit my needs and my budget. I found Avanza on Unilocal and hopped on the 30 bus.
As expected, I found limes 10 for $ 1, and good prices on the rest of my citrus needs. I also picked up some inexpensive nectarines and plums.
I’ll be back to try their meat department and their beautiful cakes, too.

This is the place to fight scurvy on the cheap. Amazing fruits and veggies.
Mangoes and nectarines are a treat when we buy groceries anywhere else, but here they’re inexpensive enough to be a regular thing.

I love Avanza! I used to be intimidated by the nearly complete Spanish signs but in the recent years Avanza has mostly bi-​lingual signs. Avanza is one of the most brightly-​lit grocery stores I’ve stepped foot in but it only adds character.
Avanza has an excellent produce section with a great selection of peppers and chili, rice, beans, every Mexican spice and sauce base imaginable, and some great Mexican cheese.
There are some turn-​offs about Avanza. Their meat section is deli-​style but smells suspiciously meaty and a tad rank. Though the meat looks okay, I generally veer away from it. Also, their pandaderia is pretty pathetic when I’ve been around, usually a few stale pastries in a small bakery area. The do offer, as most Mexican groceries should, HUGE Tres Leche cakes. So don’t let the baked items keep you away from a giant Mexican party cake.
Avanza. The one stop destination for limes, horchata, and jewelry. Haha, yes. They have a very ghetto looking jewelry store inside the grocery. What more could one ask for?

Avanza is a good market for all the ingredients you may need for your Mexican meal. I shop there often and have always found the selections and quality to be reasonable.
I would give them 4 stars, but I am really bothered by the little trick that I think they pull on shoppers. Everything you buy at Avanza, seems reasonably priced when you look at the prices. But beware! There is a 10% charge added to your total bill at checkout. Why? Who the hell knows! I think it is somewhat misleading (although they have signs every two feet telling you that they will add 10%) and unfortunate.
Nonetheless, a good store with a friendly and helpful staff and the place to go for Mexican goodies.

Ever since I returned from Mexico, my taste buds have never been the same. I love authentic Mexican food. No, I’m not talking about Taco Bell, nor am I talking about those posh Mexican-​American fusion places. REAL Mexican food. This supermarket has all the ingredients to prepare a truly authentic Mexican meal: fresh corn tortillas, carne al pastor, Spanish chorizo, mole sauce, adobe sauce, salsa verde, oaxaca cheese, cilantro, key limes, etc. For dessert, they have tons of plantains and mangoes to make a sweet dish; it really reminds me of good times going crazy at rural fruit stands because plantains and mangoes were so abundant there. Above all, their bakery has my favorite Mexican dessert: a whole tres leches cake soaked in condensed milk for $ 7.50! Individual slices are only $ 2.60. For drinks, they have Tecate beer, Inca Kola (although Peruvian), and assorted fruit punches to make aqua fresca.
With a grocery cart full of the items mentioned above, walking in a store full of brightly colored pinadas, and all of a sudden saying «con permiso» instead of «excuse me,» I had to pick up some corn dogs, Cheetos, and Coors beer to go back feeling more like an American.
1 star off: long wait at check-​out line

If you’re looking for an ingredient to cook a Mexican dish this is the place. It’s a Mexican supermarket with everything you’ll need to make your approximation of that taqueria dish that you love (also a good place for buying in bulk those items that you’re using way too many of those little packets or bags you’re getting at you local
). Can’t afford to eat at your favorite restaurant all the time? Want to impress somebody with your kitchen savvy? Learn to cook and add this store to your arsenal of ingredient vendors.