Santa Fe Mercados

Good place to get produce, fish or other meats when they’re on sale. The store is a little cramped but, I manage some how.

They are loosing 1 star because of the customer service the cashiers provide. I have to say the Carniceros or Butchers have a fast but efficient customer service. The Meat there is fresh good and cheap. Produce is also great as well. I have also had their Menudo a few timems, Sundays only, and its awesome. They give you a big bucket full of menudo with like 6 – 8 tortillas and is packed with meat. great place to go grocery shopping or get Menudo on a hangover morning.

pretty small, but has good prices on fruit.
they had a tent out front covering at least ten bins of different fruits, plus tons of soda. inside is cramped, if your cart is in the aisle, you have to suck in your stomach to squeeze past. strawberries were moldy and avocados were pretty soft. the other fruit was fine.
i think it’s funny that their cart stand is made up of carts from at least 5 different markets, including savemart, longs, etc.
mexican popsicles are 2/​$ 1, much better than the $ 1 each charged by a number of other local markets.
the parking spaces say that you are limited to 30 minutes.
they have a separate taqueria, located on the opposite side of the parking lot, also called santa fe.
$ 5 minimum to use a credit card.

A friend told me to check this place out because she had some awesome carne asada fries from here. My first question to her was, «Fat fries or skinny fries???» Answer: SKINNY FRIES!!!
I prefer thin-​cut fries over thick-​cut because they’re crispier… and when I come to this place, I ask the friendly workers to fry them up extra crispy for me. As if fries alone weren’t bad enough for your health, you get these with even more flavor (and calories!)
Since I’ve tried this place, I’ve only come back for the carne asada fries, so that’s what this review will be about… the fries don’t get soggy after they’re topped it with all the cheesy, meaty, saucy goodness. They have a salsa bar with a good variety of sauces — my fave is the tomatillo/​avocado salsa. It’s so good I could drink it, haha!

The number of stars is solely based on the meat selection and prices here! The store is sooooo small and crowded, but for a large bag of fresh tortillas for $ 1.49, the produce that’s ridiculously– read– the– tag– 3– times– to– make– sure –cheap, i can get passed the crowded aisles.
And for the crowning jewel of the store, the sale prices on Carne Asada (already marinated) $ 1.99/lb! And it goes on sale all the time!!! When it does, we buy 20 pounds at a time. It’s the best deal ever, and surprisingly enough, it’s usually on holidays. It’s so tender, too. It’s some of the best in San Jose and we’ll make the drive and wait in the line at the meat counter to get it! You will not be disappointed, we never have been.
And an added bonus, the girls that work at the register’s are so super sweet and the meat counter people are super helpful as well!!!
I always say I want to eat at the Taqueria, cause I bet their carne burritos are off the hook, but I’m only usually there when I’m buying it to take home and BBQ, so I don’t want to get too full:(Next time I’m in the mood for a burrito and don’t want to make it at home, this place is on my list.

I just love their fresh meats and CHORIZO! It is made fresh there! The people are friendly and the owners are approachable. I love to eat at the Taqueria. Their carne asada tacos are the best! The salsas too! Parking is a hassle but everything is cool about this place. They have friendly employees there and the are always singing. The smell and atmosphere reminds me of the stores in Mexico. Gigante. lol

The prices of groceries are out of control!!! Not so much at this place. Fresh, and what I believe to be locally grown produce at 2004 prices, abound. I love the whole «flavor» of the market. Loud Latin music and the bustling of busy shoppers. I adore a good carneceria. Believe me, this one is clean, well organized, and the prices are unbelievable.
The staff is friendly and some do speak English very well. The east side is the best place to get your Mexican groove on. The «hood»…hmmm…not so much. Just a great area full of flavor and working class people.
A strong 4.5 stars.

Every so often, when I am feeling nostalgic, I like to put on some Snoop Dog and take a drive through ESSJ. While driving down White Road– I noticed that the Super Mercado Mexico that I used to ride my bike to when I was a young thug coming up in the hood had been changed into a «Santa Fe». Aw hell– no! I had to go inside to see for myself! Luckily– I didn’t have to shank anyone this time. I was happy to see– that the only thing that had changed was the name.
The new Santa Fe Mercado carries the same great selection of fresh produce and local and imported Mexican food items. Make sure to stop by the carniceria for a nice selection of meats at good prices. They even sell fresh carnitas, beans, rice, salsas, chicharrones, and more for those days that you want an authentic Mexican meal without having to slave over a hot stove for hours!