La Tiendita

Not much to say — this is a little Latin grocery attached to a restaurant. We came here because they have good, fresh corn tortillas in different sizes and thickness. We were also able to buy queso fresco and a tortilla warmer (we’re those people now, I suppose) plus a few neat Latin foods we weren’t familiar with.
The store is jam-​packed with a very eclectic assortment of, yes, tortillas, but also beans, rice, spices, cooking tools, dry goods, souveniers from trips you’ve never taken, clothes, etc., but the cashier, who also seemed to be the only one working at the restaurant while we were there, opened early for us when he saw us waiting was *extremely* friendly and helpful. (As opposed to my visit that morning to Herb and Spice, where the cashier had visibly sighed when he saw me waiting to buy eggs for breakfast, then disappeared until he unlocked the door a minute late… just saying.) They also had a fairly good assortment of dried chiles at a reasonable price. I would happily give La Tiendita four stars if they had a wider selection and maybe some produce but it’s just not big enough to fit anything more. (If it was, they would have fit it!)
We’ll definitely be back for more tortillas, which were excellent once reheated properly. I’ve heard the pupusas at the restaurant are quite good, so we’ll check them out the next time we’re here, too. Don’t let the fact that the place is bursting at the seams set you off if you’re looking for Latin American groceries in Ottawa.

Viva La Tiendita — friendly little Latino grocery store that offers up all the hemispheric specialties from lots of hot sauces, to Goya beans, to jalapeño and chipotle tortilla chips, to lots of fun soda pops. Worth a stop for the curious and the serious. Friendly staff too …