Northgate Gonzalez Markets

antes regalanban los huezos para uno ponerle asu caldo y ahora lla los venden en mexico los regalan esta tienda tiene mas nesesidad entre mas uno compra mas se aprobechan

Muy caro mal servicio tienes qw empacar tu mismo no te dan las gracias. Too expensive bad service.

With all the millions this Grocery store makes you would think they would spare a dime to upkeep descent restrooms!!! Also their soda Machine took my money and the managers excuse was that it’s only for employees only!!! Put up a sign that says so, or move the damm thing to the employees lounge! Will never come back to NORTHGATE Markets

I mostly shop in the ethnic grocery stores of Orange County and can attest that Northgate is right up there with JONS Marketplace & Wholesome Choice. All of these markets have superior produce compared to Ralph’s, Vons and Trader Joe’s. I like the music they play and that I can get fresh guacamole that’s not full of preservatives.
What most people don’t know is that Northgate has health food products that I normally have to go to Mother’s or Sprouts to get. Yes! you read that right! Organic coconut oil, Quinoa pasta, Bob’s Red Mill stuff, Natures Path cereal and other Gluten Free & Organic products for cheaper than Sprouts, Whole Foods and Mothers.
I’ve only been to this location of Northgate Gonzalez Markets because it’s closest to home so I don’t know what the other ones are like, but if they’re anything like this one, you won’t hear a word of English in there or spot any Gringos. In fact I think if a white person walked in the music would screech to silence and everyone would stop and stare with gaping mouths and dropped jaws. I tell myself that the only reason that doesn’t happen when I walk in is because people assume I’m Latina. I say this because everyone speaks to me in Spanish in Santa Ana… and I LOVE IT!
On a scale of 1 – 10 of how much Spanish I know, I’m a 3, but I think I’m a 6 so this place is great for me because I consider it an immersion lesson. I have to practice my communication skills when I go to Taquerias and markets in Santa Ana. I try to understand what people are saying to me, but most native speakers talk so fast so I have to use my imagination to figure out what I think they’re saying and decide if I want to disgust them by responding with my terrible attempt at Spanish or just smiling and saying «Lo siento, pero no comprende Espanol» which just confuses them even more because they probably think I’m an assimilated Mexicana instead of a gringo that listens to a lot of Spanish music and speaks another language and therefore can pronounce things properly in Spanish.
It does piss me off to see little kids packing carts full of jello packs, chips, mac and cheese and other processed American crap and I know the owners want to make money, but I wish they wouldn’t stock the unhealthy things that are contributing to childhood obesity and diabetes.

Not the supermarket it once was back when I started coming in the 90s to the one down on 17^th street. Though this store still has it’s authentic feel, it definitely has become Americanized and prices have skyrocketed because of the competition from places like El Super, Superior, and Food 4 Less. As I’ve shopped at these stores throughout the years I’ve noticed a definite decline in the variety and quality of their merchandise. The more I see their aisles packed with American garbage: Fruit Loops, Doritos, Cheetos, Little Debbie’s, etc. Sadly, the more I see people (especially mothers) line their carts with this junk. Rarely do you see carts filled with fresh produce, meats, unrefined grains; and when you do it’s usually the 90 year old great great great grandmothers. It’s really sad to see such a disconnect from their ancestral roots. Though, I will say they’ve taken on a health initiative within their stores and I’ve seen more natural, eco-​friendly, and organic choices on the shelves; which I think is nice especially considering how fattening their diet can be with all the oil/​grease, lard, meats, and sugars they use. As for the prices, again, skyrocketed. American brands have always been 2−3x as much as your chains, the produce has increased in price, and they are really no longer worth going anymore.

it’s not that clean but the bakery makes up for it I gotta say the kitchen staff don’t give a flying fu about the sanitation of their food.

My go to place for veggies, (not fruit), meats (definitely NOT the seafood, always looks old) salsas, etc… EVERY single time I come here I always complain it comes with the territory.
1. Your ears will hurt from the untamed wild children who throw fits as their mothers feed them bread or, cookies they haven’t paid for and will most likely not
2. The aisles WILL BE clogged with baby strollers filled with food (see #5 as to why) Learn to navigate between these
3. Men will devour you with their stares, even though the wife is standing next to them and they have 6 kids in a cart. (They got balls). I have had a couple who have actually cat called me. I was left with my mouth open.
4. Have a snack as you wait to check out (copy the untamed brats) 95% of the people in front of you are either paying with WIC or an EBT card aka Food stamps, they will ALWAYS without fail, get the wrong items and bitch that last time they came here the cashier didn’t have an issue.
5. If you happen to get the ONLY cart that works properly you are luckier than a lottery win. The odds are zero!
6. Visit on Sunday around 10ish. You will find everyone from the club, from last night. Hung over however, dressed to the nines they just came from church
Overall you will see me here EVERY week. I am the one bitching in the aisles and trying to run over the bratty kid with my crappy cart. Love the food!!!

I recently moved back to my hometown of Santa Ana and have finally stepped foot into the wonderland that is Northgate Market. When I was younger and naïve, I had qualms about going into an ethnic supermarket – what if they don’t speak English, how am I going to navigate around this huge crowd of people, do they even carry the things that I need, etc. Boy was I dumb! Why worry when you can take a chance? And that’s what I did.
Let’s start with the parking situation – it sucks. Luckily, as someone who knows how to navigate Little Saigon like a pro, driving around the stupid parking lots of Northgate (or any lot in Santa Ana for that matter) is second nature to me. People will ride your ass – don’t fight it, just move along.
I’ve been inside this Northgate twice, once at night just before closing time and just recently in the morning. It’s busy at all hours of the day it seems. If you know what you’re looking for, the trip can be easy.
I recommend coming here early in the morning to their meat department for fresh ceviche and shrimp cocktails – very delicious. The prices for meat and fresh fish here are excellent and dare I say it? Comparable or even better than the meat prices at Stater Brothers. Don’t be intimidated by the fact that Spanish is the mother tongue here. At the meat department some, if not all, of the butchers wear hats that say «I speak English!» Take a number and the dude with the microphone will call out your number in Spanish and English. It’s a busy department, but it’s easy.
Beer selection is meh, okay I guess, but I’ve seen better at El Super. I’m not gonna complain about that though; I come here specifically for a few items and can get beer anywhere else.
Before you leave Northgate be sure to pick up a large horchata by the door. They have other drinks too, but I never can remember the name because all I ever get is horchata!
With summer finally upon us, Northgate is the perfect place to buy copious amounts of meat, especially carne asada. Come here first before you fire up the grill!

If you are a fan of good carne asada (ranchera preparada) this place is worth a visit. While I would say I’ve enjoyed better tasting asada elsewhere, I could not claim to have had better asada that is also über tender. Moist, tender, full of flavor. Loved the carne. Their pollo is also very good with care taken in the trimming to remove those odd bits, the ones that you identify as likely tendon or cartilage. Good, tasty marinade that sings after a gaggle of minutes on a smokey barbeque. Taco taco. Will be back for sure.

Northgate features a good selection of produce, huge meat counter, panaderia, tortilleria, and hot food/​salsa/​ceviche bar. You won’t hear me complain much.
I take issue to the lack of spices available. I found plenty of dried peppers, but not much else. I perused thoroughly and couldn’t find anything more.
I’m a tall white guy and although no one spoke to me in English, I wasn’t particularly intimidated.
At the end of the day, it’s a Mexican market.

decent place, it seems quite dirty though. I went to go buy some bread and flys were inside the shelf’s where the bread is at :(so I had to pass. I LOVE the homemade salsa’s and guac… but don’t go often just cause it seems a bit unsanitary

Good bakery, produce, masa here, but if you are lame like me and only speak English, you might have trouble communicating. There hot tables are so-​so in quality (although the house cerviche was nice) This place is good for basic ingredients. The bakery is also good if you like panadarias. I recommend the cornbread. It’s more of a sweet corn cake. After buying it once i had to go hunt down recipes to try to recreate it. Not bad for a supermarket store. They also have a small selection of patron saint candles and magic oils– but the other stores in this area are better for that.

Fresh tortillas were being made, small bakery but clearly a stop everything to help you find what you were looking for! They wouldn’t give up on a seasoning we were looking for and walked us through the store and called other people to get the answer! Even if you don’t speak Spanish they get to the bottom of making you feel welcome.

Carne.
Carne Carne Carne.
There is no other reason to ever set foot in here.
The raw meats are a great price. Their preparado everything– pollo, carne asada, carnitas– is fabulous. The rotisserie chicken is to die for. Super moist, flavorful, just the right amount of salty. The chickens are on sale on Wednesdays for $ 4, which is awesome since otherwise they are $ 7.
Some decent produce prices. Everything else is overpriced compared to Food4Less up the street.
Oh yeah, there is ONE other reason to come here. Fresh hot tortillas and chips and salsas.
There. That’s it.

A wonderful mexican market with great food at great prices.
I just went here for the first time and really loved what I got. I’m a whiteboy, so I definitely didn’t fit in, it’s 100% hispanic shoppers, but aside from a few stares, all went well.
I got some raw, pre-​seasoned «crazy chicken» from the meat department. It was a good 2lbs of seasoned meat with peppers and onions all for less than $ 3! That’s cheaper than fast food! We threw it on the BBQ and it was DELICIOUS!
We also picked up some warm rice and beans; it’s all cooked and ready to eat. Also delicious.
I spent about $ 15 there and had plenty of food to last about one week. We made a LOT of tacos and nachos.
One thing I highly, highly recommend is the Jalapeño salsa. It’s spicy, but delicious.
I will definitely be going back to Northgate.

This place kicks butt compared to el super down the street. It is a bit intimidating (lil ghetto), but once you get over it you will find great groceries. The produce department is fresh and very well priced! The employees are very helpful and the cashier was funny. I DO recommend this place.
PS. Do be careful of parking and drivers there (it’s like LA driving)

[referring to the people they are passing whilst walking in the market]
K: Why are they all looking at me?
TT: Cause my subconscious feels that someone else is creating this world. The more you change things, the quicker they start to converge on you.
K: Converge?
TT: They sense the foreing nature of the dreamer. They attack like white blood cells fighting an infection.
K: Dude, we’re in a carniceria, not a dream! And you’re not Leonardo DiCaprio!
TT: Whatever. They’re still going to converge on you.
Little market with all the traditional things — a meat market, some cakes and desserts and dulce, and lots of natives!
Me likey.

Went there last Sunday to buy a Tamale pot, for cooking crabs, and also some chicken tamales. The 20 quart pot was of decent quality for $ 12.99 and the chicken tamales seemed very dry but still very tasty. Maybe because I haven’t had tamales in while. (about $ 1.60 each). I bought some green salsa as well (verde?) and that was really good. (about $ 2.40 per pound). Finding parking was not an issue, the market was pretty packed but the checkout lines were moving pretty fast, and the «deli» section had a lot of interesting food. Need to try the fried intestines/​stomach next time. I think it will be a good combination if I add them when cooking spicy Ramen.
I was probably the only non-​hispanic there at the time, but the cashiers are native English speakers and the people at the deli speak well enough to ask if I want chicken or pig in my tamales. The place also kind of smelled like raw meat at the time but that didn’t really bother me much.
BTW, I think you can buy a pot that is twice the size at Walmart for about the same price. The Walmart one seems to hold steam better but the pot itself is thinner. I could fit 6 large dungeoness crabs with 3 corn, 2 packs of sausage, and some small potatoes in the 20 quart. The crabs were from 99 Ranch but I didn’t buy them up that day.