I've been wanting to try this spot ever since I saw the MexPapas post--and wow, it did NOT disappoint. The tacos de rib eye, especially La Cachetada, are absolutely amazing... seriously next level. Every bite was packed with flavor. The regular rib eye taco was just as good--perfectly cooked and super satisfying. On top of that, everyone at the location was very friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back to try more items. Highly recommend if you're looking for some of the best tacos in the Downey area. read more

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The service there is cool, but the meat is great. I don't know what they put in their marinade for the ranchera but it's bomb. The quality of the meat is superior. The employees are fast and will get your meat quickly. I always order their carne asada ranchera, marinated chicken leg meat, marinated short ribs and the dry chorizo regular. The dry chorizo picoso is way too spicy but it's good. They also sell vegetables like chiles, cilantro also charcoal at a reasonable price so you don't have to go to a different store to buy it. They also have a restaurant inside, it looks good but have yet to try it. read more

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If you know the El Cortez market, you know they have quality meat! Today I walked in and noticed they opened up a taco bar! I got Taco Bell with Al Pastor Carne, Asada, rice, guacamole, and beans! This is the best meat I have ever tasted! I Recommend you come here if you're looking for amazing Mexican food, this is the place! It's just a small little hole in the wall, but you can go next-door where the juice places and sit down to eat. The service is amazing! When you walk in the chef unless you taste a taco. read more

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Foods always fresh! Love their food counter it's a great plus. Must try are the tacos. Very knowledgeable the butcher asked what dish I was making and gave me the perfect cut for it. Highly recommended! read more

This place is sooooooooo good. My brother kept talking about it and took me to try it. I ordered the three tacos (Al Pastor with onion and cilantro) and a soda for $9.99. I also got two carnitas tacos on the side. I asked the cashier if he liked the carne asada and he said ya, so I went to order one and he told me he would tell them to give me one to try, on the house. Every single one of the tacos I got from here (both free and paid for) were stuffed full. The meat is great quality and very flavorful. The service is great, the place is clean. I definitely think this place is worth a try. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Menu as of January 2026 - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

Delicious meats and wonderful customer service, definitely will keep coming back!! Thought it was carnicera only. They have delicious carnitas buche and other meats while the markets that have these are completely sold out read more

The food is excellent. It didn't take too long for our food to come out, but it is freshly made. I had a short rib burrito that was super flavorful and my mother had a Chicharron burrito and green sauce. Along with a chorizo quesadilla that was also really good. Everything is excellent. Definitely recommend this place for the meat quality and now for their food. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Short rib burrito and Chicharo burrito - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

Decided to give their new cocina a try yesterday after being a long time customer of their carniceria. Purchased two "ribeye burritos" and not only was I NOT given ribeye, the burritos were basically all beans with a few pieces of what seemed to be regular asada thrown in. Had to literally fish my receipt out of the trash to double check and make sure the cashier got my order right. Unfortunate when you try to support small business and get this in exchange. Safe to say its my first and last time purchasing from their food bar. read more

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Amazing meat and food! Keep going back. Have bought a variety of meat from this location and recently started getting the tacos and guac. Two thumbs up. read more

El Cortez has the best quality meats, great prices, and fast and friendly service. I come here often for milanesa de res and chorizo. Their carne asada is by far my favorite - more flavorful than other local competitors. The location is always very clean and well stocked as well. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Carne asada and chorizo - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

I bought several types of meat at this establishment. I bought Carne Asada, breaded chicken breast, pork ribs, and short ribs, I cooked them on a hibachi. I reheated some meat the next day and the plate was filled with oil, low quality meat. It upset my stomach very much, including my sister and husband. read more

My favorite local butcher shop and now has a kitchen serving tacos, protein bowls, and more. Professional and super clean.

When you want to eat nothing but the best come to Carniceria El Cortez. This is what I call a boutique, Carniceria! Family-owned business over 30 years. Original location in Norwalk. You walk into a perfect Carniceria. Well thought out . Good meats fast service Friendly faces. I can tell they are really good people because they have my favorite TV show on #Heartland #5Stars read more

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Their beef is fresh and reasonably priced! I specially love their TASAJO USDA Prime Ranchera!

Meat is fresh, the venue is very clean, the customer service is 10/10, their staff was very quick to act, prefer the tasajo and ranchera

This was my go to spot but not anymore. Sent my wife to get the Ribeye heart special for valentines day and they post a nice ribeye on the Instagram but when my wife came home the piece of ribeye they gave her had absolutely no marbling on it. Waste of $34 and to top ot off when I commented and sent a message on Instagram they blocked me. Nice business model. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Blocked me on IG when I told them how bad the piece of ribeye was that they gave my wife - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

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This place has communication problems with cashier and butcher. Called to ask if they had a specific cut and grade of meat and I was told over the phone it's available. I arrive to the store and it's not available. Made a trip out there for nothing. read more

TL;DR: Y: Awesome spot for some great quality meat. Love the skirt steak. E: It's pricey, but the quality/freshness justifies the price. L: Clean, organized location. Easy parking. P: Will return for sure. Very Nice To Meat You Yay or nay? 2/2 Great spot for some high-quality meats. I've bought their skirt steak several times and it's been consistently good. I've also tried their carne asada, and it wasnt bad, but prefer my own seasoning. Theirs was a bit too citrusy for my liking. I prefer to just grab their ranchera and season it myself. They also sell mesquite charcoal, spices/rubs, sauces and a few other items. Expensive? Worth it? 1/1 The prices are definitely on the higher side, but everything has always been very fresh, so you get what you pay for. Worth it. Location 1/1 Location is very clean and well organized, staff is very professional and friendly and the few times that there was a line, it went pretty quick (except one time due to a very chatty person, but that's not really the staff's fault lol). They accept debit/credit cards and have several parking spots available. They play some good jams as well. Plan to return? 1/1 Yep! It's my family's favorite spot for our BBQs. read more

A gem here in Downey. These guy take pride in what they sell. So very helpful with picking out the right cut based on your needs. I'll keep coming back! read more

I don't often write reviews, but I felt it was important to share this with potential new customers. When Cortez had just one location, their quality of meat was good. However, as their business started growing, they seemed to get greedy and switched to lower quality meat vendors to increase profits and open new locations, like in Downey and Paramount. For those writing reviews saying it's the best quality meat, it's clear they haven't tried better. It's disappointing how the meat quality and taste can vary from one day to another. Consistency is key, and unfortunately, that's something Cortez seems to be lacking now read more

Great service and the meet is outstanding. Their prices are competitive with everybody else.

I like the new location at Downey, it has a bit more choices here but yes you get what you pay for. Good meat is unfortunately more expensive so I don't come as often as we used to come. read more

Hands down the best meat I've had. Everything is quality and tasty. It is our Sunday ritual to grill with El Cortez meat.

Great customer service!!! They will help you package your meat per your request if you are giving it out as gifts. Meat is super fresh and tender. Would definitely come back again for more. read more

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Great carne asada. Just wished they opened on time they say 8a but never opens at 8a prefer to go to their Norwalk location opens right when it's says it will and workers there are more welcoming. read more

It can't get any better then this! It just can't! This is theee best Asada, Diesmillio, Tasajo, carne I've ever had! Oh and the Chicken?? Hands down the best!! I'm so glad their in Downey! read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Tasajo and Ranchera! - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

So happy to have a carniceria (meat market) in Downey that has an authentic/traditional carne asada. Found the meat to be good quality and the price is very comparable to other good meat markets. Loved their green salsa. I've come in several times just to buy chips and salsa! Always friendly and the guys in there always seem happy to help. The location is convenient with parking in the plaza and always clean inside! read more

Great service!! I love the spicy chorizo. Highly recommend to visit either the Norwalk or Downey location.

First time coming to this place. My husband wanted to BBQ. We decided to come close by our house. 10/10 for the meat, chicken, chips, sauces and Guacamole we purchased there. Everything was honestly so fresh and so so good! Highly recommend and will be a regular now. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Carne Ranchera - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

I received some carne asada from my contractor and I have to admit it was damn good. Grilled for dinner and it was easy to cook and even easier to cut. Hardly any fat or bad cuts of meat. The marination was on point. You better believe I am going to go here to get me some taco meat and even some steaks. read more

Great tasting carne asada and pollo! My family's go to place when we want to BBQ. The guacamole is very good!

New spot I Downey. I would go to Luis butcher shop, but this one is closer to my house and they have wagyu. I was going go to Costco to get some ribeye cap for 35 bucks for two!! but they closed at 6 . The butcher was nice but not sure if he sold me on the right piece of meat. He said it was wagyu but it was American wAgyu. Each steak had a big piece of fat that's not edible. I weighed the fat and it was 2 1/2 pounds at 33 bucks a pound!! About 70 bucks of fat. I should have done my research and told em to cut that piece off Make sure you weigh the amount of meat before he packs it up. Each steak was 55 bucks. read more

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Went in for 6 hot sauce and got charged for two salsa that where in the counter. Sorry not cool

Clean, organized, and a nice selection of meats. The spicy chorizo was the favorite meat of choice!

Love the short ribs. I drive an hour just for their meat. I recommend this place for your BBQ meats.

Quality meats, great service! Use to shop at a different meat market before this place opened up, now this is the only stop I make when I want a quality steak on my grill even my 8 and 13 year old kids can taste the difference in quality! read more

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I randomly stumbled upon this place on yelp. BOY they did not disappoint. I usually buy my meat from la carniceria in South Gate but this is my new go to place. Their meat quality is top notch and their prices are affordable. They even sell a5 wagyu at a very affordable price. The cheapest I have actually seen. You will not be disappointed. read more

El Cortez Meat Market - A5 wagyu - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

Very good quality meat. Chicken is not bad either. I always enjoy having a BBQ with meat from El Cortez. Gotta try it! read more

El Cortez Meat Market - Great chicken! - Meat Shops Near Me - Downey, California

I've been waiting for this store to open and it definitely did not disappoint. Wagyu beef is like butter, sirloin was so tender and the tomahawk was so juicy. Breaded chicken is perfect no more going out for this since I can make dinner for 4 for the price of 1 order in a restaurant. Highly recommend!! read more

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I have been going to this Carniceria since it opened and have lately seen the decline in meat quality and they don't have American Wagyu and other nice quality meats anymore. I always spend a lot of money when I go there. I went to buy some meat on Father's day, the owner assisted me and was a bit rude like almost telling me to hurry up. When I asked him about the Ranchera if he could marinate it with the Santa Maria powder, he told me he couldn't because they already had it marinated. Not cool. read more