I love this place. Shias Fresca, hot food, fresh produce. The meat section is great. The salmon fillets are always good and I love that they do boneless chicken legs and thighs. I just wish they carried the grapefruit tooo chicos. I swear, who the hell has these? Overall, great store. Better than the one in east LA. read more

I would give this store zero stars because of my repeated experiences at the service counter/booth, but the taqueria department is the reason I'm giving it three stars instead. I've been coming to this Vallarta for a while, and while I really like many things about the store, the customer service at the service counter/booth has been extremely disappointing. I've gone to the counter/service booth on several occasions to cash a check or take care of other services, and the experience with the lady working there has consistently been unpleasant. She is a lady with blonde hair and always wears a mask covering. She comes across as extremely unfriendly and impatient, and it often feels like customers are bothering her simply by asking for assistance. What bothers me even more is that I've personally witnessed her speaking to other customers in a very rude and disrespectful manner while they are simply trying to get help. I've also seen her treat her own coworkers rudely when they come to the counter needing assistance. It's uncomfortable to stand in line and watch someone be spoken to that way. I understand that working with the public can be stressful, but basic courtesy and respect should still be expected when dealing with customers and coworkers. No one should feel like they are inconveniencing an employee by asking for a service that the store provides. With that said, I do want to give credit where it's deserved. Vallarta has some really good products and food. Their aguas frescas are delicious, and lately I've been getting their rotisserie chicken, which has been really good. The taqueria also serves fresh food, and I've generally had much better experiences with the employees in that department--they are friendly, helpful, and seem to genuinely care about providing good service. It's unfortunate that one person's attitude can make an otherwise good store such an unpleasant experience. I hope management takes customer service seriously, at the service booth because customers deserve to be treated with basic respect. read more

My go to is Northgate but only because Vallartas are hard for me to find in my area. I happened to be visiting a friend who lives in the area and the second I saw the sign, I was thinking of agua frescas. Med (24oz) $4.49 Large (32oz) $4.99 X-Large (40oz) $5.99 Jug (72 oz) $9.99 My mind immediately went to "that's only 50 cents more...and that's a dollar more..." I walked out with a full jug of watermelon. They served it with no ice but I'm sure you can ask for it with. It felt like a paint can but it lasted me a few days of delicious hydration. I am a fan!! Employee was prompt and I was lucky to not have much of a line. Worth the wait!! Bolillos were freshly made as I was on the way to leave, so I stopped and grabbed a few. 2 for $1 is such a great deal and good quality bread. Yum! read more

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Oh wow, Vallarta Supermarkets has become my go-to place to shop, eat, and drink! I happen to be in the Pasadena area and dropped by to check out their La Cocina (The Kitchen). I wanted to try their tacos, rice, and beans which I did... very good by the way. Besides that, I so desired to seek out their ceviche selection which I did as well. I got to try 5 different ceviches... spicy fish, spicy shrimp, shrimp + avocado + mango (non-spicy), butterfly shrimp (aguachile), and spicy shrimp (aguachile rojo). They also have non-spicy fish and shrimp ceviches. Thanks Scott for the free samples! I loved the citrus taste of the spicy shrimp and shrimp + avocado + mango! I think they need to make a spicy version of the latter or combine it with spicy shrimp. Just my 2 cents! I ended up with about half a pound of each ceviche flavor. After taking my first bite, I said to myself, "I should have gotten 1 to 2 lbs of each instead especially when it was on sale for $9.99 per lb." I won't make that same mistake next time LOL. During my visit, I was very impressed with the different sections of the store starting with La Cocina a La Panadería (Bakery) a La Verdulería (Produce) a La Pescadería (Seafood (ceviches made fresh daily is here)) a La Cremeria (Dairy). They even have the guacamole and aguas frescas made to order stations. How cool is that! Store was bright and clean. Aisles were organized and well stocked. Mexican food and groceries selections are massive. Lots of the foods are freshly made in-house daily. Prices are very reasonable. They have inside and outside dining space for customers to sit and eat. Free parking is plenty. Staff was super friendly and nice. I will definitely be visiting Vallarta again soon! read more

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I LOVE Vallarta! They have an excellent selection of Mexican food and groceries, and staff are always helpful and kind. All food is made in-house and fresh, and service has always been delightful and fast. Food I tried and loved are their pastries (they have a $5 for 5 deal last time I came in), tamales, and enchiladas. Drinks I loved have been their horchata and champurrado (perfect for the cold weather and their large size is huge!) I also buy the Mexican candies, snacks, and drink mixes when I get a chance. I will definitely be visiting again soon! read more

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I read somewhere that this is one of the go to places for tamales! Wow! I didn't have any expectations and was blown away by how awesome this market it! I've driven by so many times, now I'm going to put it in my regular rotation! First, I was so impressed with the guacamole station! It is like custom order on steroids! Anything you like on your guacamole, you can get it! Salsa, cilantro, onions, jalapeños, they'll make it your way! The ceviche station was equally impressive. I saw two ladies holding their $12 to go cups. It reminded me of the dinner scene from Beetlejuice, the shrimp on top were gigantic!! And no longer do I hear the familiar crowing and little bell ringing of a cart down the neighborhood announcing "TAMALES! Tamales! Tamales!" Gone is the lady who used to sell them out of the flatbed truck out of an igloo cooler in the parking lot of the 99 cent store (which is also gone). I was so happy to make my selection from the indoor tamale cart, one side is savory, the other is sweet. If you are inclined to make your own, no problem, there's a whole section dedicated to masa and hominy. Was in a hurry, but will be back to explore. Only got a glimpse of all the saint candles for $2.50. I might need the large Virgin de Guadalupe one for $10. Opted for self check out. Very convenient! read more

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I stopped by the Pasadena Fairoaks location for lunch. I ordered a quesadilla with lengua, thinking I would try something from my childhood. First it took forever, longer than 20 mins. to get my order. There was no one ahead of me, and there were two cooks at the grill. When I finally got home, opened the container, I noticed and smelled my quesadilla was burned and had a burned taste. I did eat the lettuce, tomatoes, and crema on top and tried to eat the unburned sections but it was too much work. Now I wonder why would these two cooks would serve a customer burned food. They put it on the grill, they turned it over, and then they served it in a take out container. Shame on them! Never again, my childhood memories will just have to wait till I visit the mother country. Perhaps the manager will reach out, but slim chance. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - This is the burned quesadilla from Vallarta Market in Pasadena, Fair Oaks - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

Love stopping here for a large aguas Fresca $4.99 and a three taco meal )comes with sides of you like. I typically just get the tacos. They are a great size. Tortilla shells are handmade. Meat perfect seasoned. And come with two salsas. Service is welcoming, efficient and always a pleasure to visit. Ambiance is your typical grocery experience. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Hot food, bakery area - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I hate to do this because I think Vallartas is a great market with a lot of variety and good customer service BUT the thing with the dogs in L.A. is getting out of control, and as consumers/patrons we have to start speaking up. This is the second time I see an off leash dog at this Vallartas. I love dogs an am a dog owner myself but a market is not a place for dogs. Please Vallartas start enforcing the California Retail Food code. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Non-service dogs (off leash) dogs at market. Second one I've seen. - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

Vallarta Supermarket is a pretty popular supermarket where they make tortillas and bakery items, have a butcher, stations for cheese, Ceviche, sushi, chicharron, floral and so much more. The one thing I noticed...I didn't see or hear staff greeting customers or asking customers if they needed help. They would just walk by or staff would just be talking with each other. read more

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Absolutely amazing it's not one of the largest Vallarta Supermarket but it is fine for what it is there is a huge aquifer Sky drink area with a variety of drinks you can also get jugs to go they are always a crowd pleaser they have to Le they also have hot foods plenty of things to choose from and a large assortment of fruits and vegetables read more

Have there been a few inconsistencies when I've ordered from Vallarta? Yes. But is their rotisserie chicken the best rotisserie chicken I've had in Los Angeles? Absolutely. Granted, I haven't tried them all, but this one is juicy, flavorful, herbaceous, plentiful, and at a great price. You really can't beat it. Their chicken asado is also excellent, packed with flavor, and pairs perfectly with the nicely seasoned rice and tasty refried beans. I always add a large hibiscus juice to my order, which is refreshing and the perfect complement to the meal. Well, I can't speak to the ambience since it's not really a sit-down restaurant, and I haven't been there in person, but I can say their customer service is solid. On the occasions where something went wrong with a phone order, they made it right without issue. This has become my go-to spot when I don't feel like cooking. For under 30 dollars I walk away with enough food for five servings, and I'm always happy with the value and the taste. Everything about the food here keeps me coming back. read more

I purchased some salsa and premium tortilla chips from Vallarta as I was headed to the Hollywood Bowl for a summer concert. Omg! These chips are the absolute WORST! they're hard and thick,I almost broke my tooth off. My husband had to spit it out because of how thick and chunky the chips are. I believe they make them in house. Buyers beware! You will run the risk of choking or chipping your tooth with their tortilla chips. The birds won't even eat them. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Chips that are as thick as a brick! Hard too. - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

I really like the food here and the customer service is really good! I would highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

I love to come here because this is the closest Mexican market for me. I work in Pasadena and I come here straight from work. If I want to do a taco night or want some ceviche. Last night I went to pick up some ceviche and Carne Asad taco meat. Already marinated from the meat department. I was cooking it and when it was almost fully cooked I found some white pieces of foreign material. Thinking it's the fresh onions in it. Come to my surprise when I picked it up to examine it. It was pieces of white hard plastic. Not sure what it was I found a couple of more pieces. Imagine if I didn't see it while eating it. I would have either choked or broke a tooth or something. I called the store took me many calls before someone tried to contact me. Talked to the store Manager. Raul said he apologizes and very sorry that happened. He said to come to the store with the receipt and the stuff I found and he will refund me for the product. I went in today he wasn't there. Talked to an employee. Susana and she help me get my money back for the product. This is not cool I work the food industry and is aware of safety practices and healthy food handling. I hope there wasn't more in the meat and bigger pieces because it would be a problem. Just wanted to let everyone know and Management aware of what's going on in the meat department. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Pieces of hard plastic. - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

Poor customer service, deceptive advertising. I drove all the way to the store based on a weekly ad for a specific cut of meat on sale. When I arrived, the quality/cut of the product that was actually on sale looked NOTHING like the picture that was advertised. I was told by management that the picture in the advertisement was a "USDA choice" quality and therefore a premium price. The manager on duty and subsequently the corporate customer service agent were dismissive and did not take accountability for the deceptive advertising, and rather just reiterated the difference between the two products. Definitely will not be going out of my way to shop here. read more

This place has all the goodies for Mexican cuisine, and serves up food in all the heart warming ways (1) a bakery with fresh cute conchas (2) a bank of steamers with all variety of tamales (I came on Christmas eve and they were super delicious and everybody remarked on the high quality) (3) a special tamale stall if you are coming to buy "family packs" of tamales (4) a guacamole station where the lady makes fresh guacamole to your spice preferences (5) freshly made tortillas (6) a massive cheese counter with Mexican varieties (7) The best in house tortilla chip bags...these chips are solid and crunchy, I've never tasted better chips (8) a suite of freshly made salsas with forward chilli and unselfconscious heat labeling (9) Ceviche all day baby! The whole kit and caboodle of Mexican drinks and snacks including those lovely "japanese peanuts". The vibe is so LA Mexican it makes me want to weep! The parking lot is a cramped maze! The loud speaker announcements are always funny! There's a few gems like this in LA that make me feel so at home in the panoply of people that comprise this mega-city. Vallarta is a destination for all visitors to LA. read more

Blows my usual go-to market, Vons, away. Went there a week ago for the first time and I am jealous of the people who live nearby. Me and some friends met there to get our stuff for a bbq. We got the pre marinated beef and chicken which cooked up great and delicious. The rice and beans from the restaurant were on point too. I saw the big pots with tamales but I decided to save that for next time. Only problem for me is it's on the other side of town. read more

Grocery shopping in Pasadena, California... My friend, Mikey C., posted photos of frankincense and myrrh from Vallarta Supermarket in Oxnard, California. I thought that I could find some at the Pasadena location... No such luck. However, I did find other items... First of all... the name of the store changed. The storefront reads: Vallarta Supermarket. My GPS brought me here to La Cocina Vallarta. Maybe because this Supermarket has a deli section with prepared foods to go? Anyway, the products were amazingly different. It's like I was in a foreign country. The freshly made tortillas, Mexican decorations, spices, earthenware, greeting cards, aprons, party favors, etc. were fascinating! I had to get some horchata mix to try. I also got some Mexican candy and nectarines. I'll have to return again and do more exploring... read more

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This market is a dream come true. It has everything you need for Mexican cooking . Great bakery, I really need to make a bumper sticker " I brake for pan dulce", great selection of pan dulce. Nice beautiful looking fruits veggies, chiles. You may not find a few things ( rare) . There were beautiful Caszuela pots that I've been looking . None of this $59 to $80 but $39!!!' I've been looking for these but unfortunately just visiting and too much to take home. I wanted to really check the whole market out but we were in a hurry. Every time I go home I go to this store, check it out read more

It's a great supermarket.. If it offers a great variety with very fair prices, it's clean well lit and well organized with a professional and friendly staff. They offer a lot of fresh varieties: baked goods produce freshly made food. They also have a large parking lot. With plenty of spaces. read more

The best supermarket! I often stop for lunch here. The burritos are very filling and reasonably priced (like $12 with tax). I also recommend the mamey agua fresca! A super creamy and yummy treat. And don't sleep on the other ready to eat items they have! read more

I love the store in general, but their fresh food is terrible. Ordered food a day ahead for an even we are having. Go to pick up. They have not made it. Told me every 15 minutes for an hour that it would be ready in an hour. Tried to give them a second chance. This time they can't find the order at all. Paid but no order. I will not be trying again. Beware, they take orders but don't know what to do with them after that. You guys need a system! read more

They may have good food but the customer service is AWFUL!!! Truth be told...they have NO customer service!!!

Ok so it's impossible for me to get everything at one place and admittedly I enjoy going to the market between my studies. I love this place! Pretty decent organic produce selection! The ginger is legit. $1.59!! I can buy pears and apples for less than $1 each! The fresh juice bar is always a win, as is the carniceria. When I feel like a cheat the quesa tacos are fire and the meats always tasty and fresh. I love the different counters they have with the ceviche, and tortilla counters. It's way more than you'd expect. Staff is nice and sale prices are great. It's a nice add to my repertoire, lots of variety and I'm grateful they're in the community. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - $1.59!!! - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

This used to be my favorite supermarket--it's still clean, the food smells amazing, and the tamales (though pricey) are worth it. Fresh juice and bread are always solid. But they changed the music, and it completely changed the vibe. It used to feel like home--Rancheras, Románticos, culture in every aisle. Now it sounds like every other store. I was so upset, I wrote a whole essay about it, haha. Bring back the music. Bring back the soul. Hopefully, you don't start changing the food too. read more

Another Awesome experience. Lilliam was so kind and patient with me asking questions about the menu. She was knowledgeable, present and warm hearted. The woman making the food was also kind and wonderful. Great energy and excellent communication skills from both the women working there tonight. 5/8/2024 @7:15pm. Our tacos, tamales and salsa were delicious! Yummy food and feeling welcomed is always appreciated. Parking is super easy in the parking lot. Thank you. read more

It's pretty average store but almost every time I come in my experience is bad because of the customer service. Usually an employee will be rude and act very immature. Professionalism and even just basic customer service is out the window here. They prefer to talk to each other, ignore the guests, roll their eyes, and even make rude comments in Spanish. They should be careful what they say around guests. Otherwise their selection is standard, it's clean but it's best not to talk to any employees if you want a good or decent experience. read more

Ran across this market that sells items usually not found in more Anglo-oriented American supermarkets when I was in Pasadena for an errand. The market is very clean and bright, which makes it really comfortable strolling through each isle. It even got a tortilla department of its own to buy authentic homemade fresh corn and flour tortillas every day. It's definitely a market that differentiated itself by providing Latin foods and products, including custom-cut meats, spices, ready-to-eat hot foods, daily-made sweet breads, and fresh produce. read more

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This is the best Vallarta I've ever been to! It's clean, organized, has a bunch of storemade products fresh right there, and has many vegan products for me :-) it's also one of the few places I can find my beloved Mineragua! I love this store! read more

I buy half a dozen of tamales two cheese three chicken and one strawberry, the strawberry tamal was bad awful smell, my daughters eats the cheese and chicken they say it was good, but you may want to avoid the sweet tamales it tasted old and over due. And $18 for alf a dozen is ridiculous. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

I visited this store to try their Avena even though I was itching to get cafe de olla. I'm glad I did, because the staff member who helped me was super nice and personable; he even added ice in it for me! :) The Avena was very delicious, and I may return more in the future to order it. I do wish that they served it in a wider cup, though, since it's slender shape makes it very easy to tip over when driving. In fact, I spilled some as I made the first turn, and it didn't sit well in the cup holders. My reason for the lower rating was that although I like what I ordered, I didn't feel quite safe here. Regardless, their selection of items and typical browsing experience is everything that one would expect at an average supermarket. read more

Vallarta Supermarkets - Avena - Grocery Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is like a Latin American Whole foods!!! It has an abundance of products and you can take stuff to go.

I called over to ask about a product they are supposed to have according to Instacart. I was transferred four times and waited on hold for 25 minutes for the manager speaking to people that barely spoke English. trying to make myself understood in my broken Spanish. I never did get that answer. read more

The Latin markets are really leveling up their game. Prices are reasonable considering how inflation is now and you can get a lot of what your needs are if you are in the mood to just about anything your heart desire. My favorite? I love their juice bar! read more

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We learned about Vallarta Supermarket when my wife brought me some prepared food from their east LA location. So we tried their Pasadena location for various items. My wife asked an employee about making her own Jamaica (agua fresca) from scratch. That turned out great. Today, we were in the area and decided to try their prepared foods and dine in the store dining area. The food was delicious and tasty. The dining area is clean and neat and we weren't the only ones eating there. We ordered a couple of agua frescas and enjoyed our meals. My wife had three taco plate and I had the green chili. Their rice and beans are good. Overall, the market is clean, orderly and well stocked and organized. Our interaction with staff on each visit has been positive and friendly. For dessert, we shared a lemon ice cream that was refreshing and a real treat. Kudos to management here for making this a nice place to shop for groceries and unique items like special chorizo, homemade tortillas and other Latino specialties. read more

This is hands down one of the coolest and cleanest grocery stores I have ever walked in. So while in beautiful Pasadena for the last couple of weeks I have been driving past Vallarta Supermarket almost on a daily basis and couldn't resist driving past without checking it out. Let me tell you I was blown away by the great layout and the beautiful colors inside this grocery store. Plus they have some unbelievable pricing on certain products which shows how other places are ripping you off! I have to admit that this location is quite far from me but luckily there is a Vallarta in Anaheim which I will be visiting more frequently going forward. I'll be back. Enjoy. read more

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I got caldo de res today, and turns out instead of beef broth someone put chicken broth in it, which combined with pieces of beef gives the soup a very weird, kinda off-putting taste profile. This is the second time it's happening to me within about a month. Please train your food station staff! At this point i'm not even sure if i should try my luck getting caldo de res here again. With the right broth, the soup is phenomenal though. read more

My wife and I aren't Mexican or Hispanic (I'm Middle Eastern and She's white), but we loved going to Vallarta and went there often since we love Mexican food. I said 'loved going' because we moved to Orange County two years ago and truly miss Vallarta since there aren't any in our part of OC. What we love about Vallarta is that it's run very professionally, clean, high quality products, and everyone speaks English (can't say that about many other Mexican grocery stores). Vallarta makes the best guacamole. It's as good as home made guacamole, end much better than Whole Foods or Bristol Farms guacamole. read more

Very clean but rude ass customer service. Wtf never coming here again So hard to find help and when you find someone they give you a shitty attitude read more