El Metate Market

Bad Customer Service! I came here because of the hot food section and bought carnitas. That is where the stars are for because it is good but the service is disappointing! A bald short guy wearing long sleeves perhaps the manager was working the register and he NEVER said a word to me even after I said hi and thank you. And he had an extremely mad face like he hated what he was doing or he was too good for that. Please work on the service and I might come back.

Carnitas, Carnitas, Carnitas

They so need to close this place down I know allot ppl who will never buy any type of meat of fish there because its gone bad and talk about fly’s on the produce really this place should be closed down and soon before someone gets seriously ill

it’s the best Latin market in the area, and that doesn’t say much since this area of Costa Mesa doesn’t have a lot to pick from. They have the necessities and for reasonable prices. Their parking lot is ample so there’s no worry of finding a space. Their staff is always friendly the times i’ve been there. It’s definitely not like El Super in Santa Ana, but it will do since i don’t want to drive as far. For you Bay Area folks, El Super is like Chavez or Mi Pueblo.

Okay this is not Trader Joes, Whole Foods, or even an upscale ethnic market like Wholesome Choice in Irvine. This is a small neighborhood market in a divvy shopping center. (PS the person who owns this center should have to walk around town holding a SHAME sign. How about just a few little trees and landscaping? I wish the city would force the issue here)
I rarely shop here even though I live about 200 yards away. I come here for the following:
1. Basics in an emergency.
2. Tomatillos– they have them for REAL cheap and they make fantastic fresh salsa. I love making this all summer long.
3. Shredded hard Mexican cheese and fresh tortillas that are so warm they sometimes melt the plastic wrap.
But the best reason to go here is…
4. Fresh Mole! You can buy a plastic container of REAL Mole in the deli section. It’s fantastic. Just add some soup stock and you are ready to roll.
The workers are always nice when I stop in and I just wish the center owner would care about their property just a little bit.

This place is like the Mexican whole foods! Love this place for some of the simple things and some of the things you won’t find anywhere else. I go here usually for meats that I’m braising for a couple hours (pork shoulders, shanks, and beef rounds and chuck) or taco meat. I have even picked up octopus a couple times. This place has the best prices for all of that.
The vegetable and herb section is pretty awesome also. Dirt cheap. The cool part about the spices is the dried chiles. Perfect place to start if you plan on making a posole.
If you don’t feel like starting from scratch the pre marinated meats, the ceviche, and the salsa selection are a great way to go.
Although the décor of this place isn’t the greatest its just an easy place to shop. It also makes going there a lot of fun because you never know what you might come out with. Check It out!

3.5
I have mixed feelings but at least the carne asada is amazing as well as their queso fresco. Oh and their tortillas are warm and cheap. The produce is alright with the occasional swatting of the flies. I didn’t browse much, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be back.
I was not intimidated at all going into this establishment that looks a bit dilapidated.

I would go back, if I were in the neighborhood and there was no other place to go.

I frequent this place, and do like it but you have to understand a few things to save here. You simply have to shop smart to make it worth your time. More about that later.
They have a decent selection of produce at reasonable prices. I love it because they have Collard Greens at a competitive price. For other vegetable needed for «Hispanic» inspired dishes, this is the place to go. Most items for that are fresh and much lower priced than you’ll find at chain stores.
They have a decent variety of meats at average to good prices dependent on the day of the week. See other reviews for an explanation. The guys that run the meat counter are friendly and efficient. They also have small bakery section that is decent, and have good prices on Tortilla’s compared to other chains. Or to be more specific major non-​Hispanic chains.
Here’s the bad:
Prices on items that you can buy with WIC coupons are more expensive here than other chain grocery stores Mom & Pop stores, or even convenience stores. This can be a little frustrating if you pop in to get a few things, and those happen to be on your list. Now, that in mind it does mean that there is a whole list of other foodstuffs that are cheaper here than anywhere else because of this fact. I have no problem with that.
They do sell some previously frozen produce. Not a huge problem, but it does mean things always need to be thoroughly checked prior to purchase. Onions seem to be the most popularly frozen item here and the most damaged. So be careful before dropping one in your bag. Freezing produce is pretty common, you get that most places. I do like that they don’t have any shame about doing and you’ll oft times find things still frozen in the bins. Just be careful like anywhere you shop produce.
If you go during peak time lines can be long. Also there are some creepy people hanging out in front at times, and if you’re not a regular they can be intimidating for some. (Oh, and that guy with the KC royals hat is a-​hole watch out for him.) Traversing the parking lot can be a little funky during peak hours as well. Check out some of the other reviews for good times to go. Other have covered that well.
All things considered:
As long as you’re a smart shopper, it’s a great place to shop. The staff are always very nice and the place has that Ma & Pa small store feeling as the cashiers always remember you. When it’s super busy, and it very well can be, they do what they can to get more checkers open and even have the manager open up a check stand. I appreciate these types of things and frequent this place more than once a week.

I love the metate. It’s close to home & great deals on produce. Staff is friendly.
I’ll be honest, I’m one of those Mexicans who stares at gabachos, but I wouldn’t be starring if you weren’t going crazy finding out that they sell bell peppers by the pound instead of for each like in chain stores or you playing charades with the staff on something you are looking for example a specific piñata.
Here are a few hints & common sense on having a great experience along with great produce since I see many people give it bad reviews. It’s a Mexican grocery store so you would have to go by Mexican tradition, which goes way before the Mexica (Aztecs) on everything on it:
1. The best time to go to this store is early in the morning. The afternoon would have all the bad produce especially on the deals.
2. Wednesday is the great deals on produce. Follow rule 1 for more details.
3. Thursday is the great deals on meat.
4. Anything exotic was most than likely frozen.
5. Most American products are more than likely pricier than your typical chain stores.

Typical carniceria off West 19^th street. Close to Detroit. Came in here while on a hunt for Adobo. I had planed to make barbacoa for a potluck dinner party at my place and I was bummed to find out that they didn’t have any. What is up with the carniceria’s in Costa Mesa. El Toro Bravo didn’t have any either. Disappointed I walked out knowing I would have to either head out to El Toro in Santa Ana or switch my entrée. Other than that this place is decent. Tons of specialty foods that the «Hispanic» aisles in Ralph’s wouldn’t normally carry… and fresh salsa!
I’m a little disappointed in the carniceria. they really should make adobo.

**LONG BUTT REVIEW, you are forewarned**
I frequent this local market on my grocery outings and I am rarely dismayed by their prices, service and selections.
A lot has changed for this market, there used to be a hot foods section but is now replaced by a deli department serving Mexican cheeses, hand-​made chorizo, salsa, salads and tortillas.
Every Wednesday and Thursday are the specials for this market and like every other market that sells items at affordable prices, you have to come bright and early to stock up on their produce and meats. I come here around 8AM, it gets busier around 12 — 1PM so around evening time a lot of the produce has either been sold or you’re left with the runts, leftovers and not much to look forward –plus, it’s busy as hell in the evening, since this market caters to the working class, lots of people come out of work around that time. The employees don’t stock up as much produce as they do on Wednesdays, that’s when they receive their truck loads of produce, as one of the managers explained to me.
You will find produce that will still have dirt on’em, I just thoroughly wash my produce. I used to work with my uncle, growing up, helping out at a produce stand so dirt and residue really doesn’t bother me.
Lots of the produce at this market are given to you at very low prices, for example, a few weeks ago they were selling 5lbs of oranges for .99¢, Roma tomatoes 2 lbs for .99¢, bananas 3 lbs for .99¢, avocados 8 for .99¢. Because the prices are so cheap, don’t except to come in to the store and find an avalanche of fresh, crisp and dolled up produce –you’re given, produce, you have to use your arms and your knowledge to dig through and find what you’re looking for. But I’m actually thankful they don’t do away with some of the produce that still has some life left in it, I normally cut off the bad part and use the rest.
The meat section always looks great to me, there will be specials where you can get 10 lb bags of quarter legs for .45¢ per lb; the seafood is indifferent, nothing special, they have a smaller section of seafood but their poultry and red meats are very large. There are some language barrier issues, nothing difficult, they are very willing to help you.
Like many ethnic grocery stores, American items are expensive or priced the same as any other American grocery store. Their sweet Mexican bread selection has gotten bigger over the months, and a bit cheaper, not as cheaper and not a wide selection as El Super, but it’s fine. Tortillas are fresh and made by them, you can still buy them hot in the mornings.
NOTE: They accept credit/​debit at no minimum
The lines are long on Wednesdays, not as much on Thursdays though, lots of kids running everywhere and bumping into people. The interior of the market needs to be updated, just like most of the stores that neighbor it, it also needs color. The markets interior isn’t really dirty, at all, it’s just very outdated and small. With as much popularity this grocery store is getting for its’ affordable prices their small store won’t be able to hold a lot. There are times when you will find better deals at other grocery stores, seldom does it happen, trust me, I’m such a penny pincher these days.
Around 12pm to evening Wednesdays (Sometimes other days), you will probably find it difficult to find parking and a shopping cart or basket. There’s the infamous old man in a wheelchair that has been loitering the store, ever since I moved here, asking for change when you walk out the store. He’s actually pretty nice and blesses you with all the godliness he can harbor for giving him pocket change. I don’t know his story but the employees seem to idly chatter him up during their break hour.
So this grocery store has a personality of its’ own, it needs some updates, but their prices are excellent. As equivalent to Super King but not as big, unfortunately. I am hardly disappointed with this local gem.

I loved doing my grocery shopping here. Their produce were continually decently priced or cheaper then what I expected. The workers in the meat market were always so helpful. An employee even told me not to get the tamales there because they weren’t that great and recommended another place to get them from. Ha! Love it! I always got their homemade tortillas, which were freaking awesome. And they even had a van that could take customers home if they needed it. That’s so nice. But I never got a chance to take advantage of that service. My only complaint for this store is that I don’t like to be stared at when I’m shopping, but I’m sure the store has no control as to what their customers do. And it was always kind of musty in there too. But I don’t think that would stop me from coming back.

It’s nice to have a local place for meat and produce that is affordable.
I live nearby and i often stop by here to pick up fresh produce. The prices are really good but the quality, well, not always great. I think they have several sources for their produce because the fruit and vegetable look and feel different week in and week out. The butcher shop has a lot to offer for anyone cooking up a classic Mexican dish and they feature several fresh salsas and sauces as well, Their meat is low quality but if you are going to season it anyways then they have what you need at a GREAT price.
The overall consistency of the produce is definitely lacking. Cheap fresh Roma tomatoes one week, and the next week they are 90 percent soft and nearly rotten. 14 cent tiny avocados one week and gone the next. Sometimes you get a great deal and sometimes it’s better just to pass it up completely no matter how cheap it is.
They also make their own tortillas. I usually shop there in the evening and their fresh tortilla bundles are still warm. A 50 pack goes on sale for 1.99 so if you like to eat a lot of tacos they have a great deal.
Random Fact: They have a van out front that will drive you and your food home if you need a ride. I’m guessing you probably have to spend a certain amount but I’ve seen it out and about so i know somebody is using the service.

I really wish I could give this place more stars. But I just can’t. I came here recently when I was home with my Dad. This is his little secret market, where he gets all sorts of vegetables and fruits and then pretends that he got them at really crazy places, such a liar.
Well the last time we were here we grabbed some shallots and jalapenos which were great. But we grabbed a couple of what looked to be good looking Plantains but they turned out to have at one point been frozen. When we sliced them open and were about to throw them in a pan with some butter we saw that the inside were still slightly frozen. If we had been planning on cooking them a different way this might not have been a problem. But to pan fry them up like this made them turn out incredibly dry, and they just plain tasted nasty. Even with syrup the plantains were just wrong.
They do have some great deals and ingredients that you won’t find in your average neighborhood grocery store. Worth stopping in if you’re in the area.
I’ll definitely be coming back, there’s no question, but I just might be a little more weary of what I buy.

Don’t be fooled by the grungy exterior/​interior nor the abundance of Hispanics that roam this market. Don’t be fooled by the runned down carts or people starring at you while you make your way to the door. Just do it! I love this market. It’s close to my place so I can get a good walk, therefore eliminating my carbon footprint. Me and my roomate frequently walk here and pick up some groceries/​neccesities for our night in grilling/​bbq nights. The one thing I do love love love about this is their fresh pico de gallo and salsas. Refreshingly spicy! Plus all the other items are relatively cheap as well so you can’t do any wrong there.

Bummer.
I always get the ads in the mail about this market, and finally got off my behind to check it out. I’m a sucker for produce, so I thought I’d stop by and try to get something because it looked like they had great prices, too!
I was sorely disappointed with the quality of the produce. Most things were wilted, bruised, or just plain rotten. Out of an entire display of roma tomatoes, I could only find a few that were up to par. Same for just about everything else, save the onions and tomatillos. The store was pretty dingy, too.
Well, I guess I will have to try out the other market down the street, or stick to my usual spots.

I love El Metate, even though I don’t go here nearly enough. I’m obsessed with all of the great, cheap, local produce they have and I know they will always have the ingredients I want when I’m cooking up something new and yummy; I love their great selection of different peppers! Bottome line: Medium sized store, can get a bit crowded in the evenings, but worth the trip. El Metate always leaves me with a happy ending :)

A medium sized Mexican grocery store with fresh produce, a very good selection of meats and other parts of the animal used in Mexican cooking. There is also a cooked food section where you can purchase lunch boxes to go.
On the day we went there was a woman cooking up quesadillas using fresh queso and offering them up as samples. It was quite delicious. I really liked that they had blue corn tortillas available and they were still warm.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to shop here, but if you were in the area, it’s a pretty good market to get your Mexican goods. Staff are really friendly as well.