Classic, small, family run Mexican grocery on Mexican row in Eau Claire (a.k.a. London Road)
La Nortenita (next to Erberts and Gerberts) is a small store that sells mexican groceries, a small amount of clothing and mexican cooking supplies that has two large distinctives.
1) Fresh Mexican Bakery - the only within 100 miles as far as I know. You have to hit Minneapolis to find another. They have the classic bake goods, and you can get special order Tre Leches cakes - you have to ask, and they are good. And filling. And not inexpensive. The rest of the baked goods are truly mexican - they are not american style covered in sweet icing. The dough is often only slightly sweet, and they are going to be different than what you get in an American store. So don't judge them by what you get elsewere, unless its another mexican bakery.
2) Meat counter in the back, with a small hot case thet may or may not have fresh food the day you show up. (If they have any, it's fresh - it's just that they don't always have some) If you want tamales, try Sunday morning around 9-10 am. They do a huge delivery business all around the area and if they have any left, that's when you can get them. Their chorizo is outstanding, and not what you get elsewhere. They do not sell it in cases (or made in links - it is just bulk sausage), and it is only ground once, not the typical twice, so it is much coarser. This means you will get chunks of pork sholder fat, etc and it can be a little chewy. It is also spicy, but not insane spicy. It has a deep flavor, but not usually super hot. Although it can vary - I have gotten some that was oversalted and some that is hotter than ususal
And when I say family run, it is family run. They don't speak a lot of english, and they will often have kids running around (who do speak great english) There may or may not be someone up front at the cash register, you may have to work around the language issues. A great place with a great family read more