Turn your grocery trip into a dining experience at Mexican market

Late in 2018 La Guadalupana, an expansive Mexican supermarket with a restaurant located inside, opened its doors in Riverside’s Spin-Kemp Shopping Center.

The 20,000-square-foot grocery store is impressive on its own with its selection of international foods, meat and produce that offers everything you’d want for more traditional meals that are steadfast favorites at home, as well as ingredients that will take your food to the next level.

That alongside Marisquería, the large restaurant housed inside the store, turns a grocery shopping trip into a dining experience with hot food to go, or meals to enjoy before or after roaming the aisles.

The beauty of dining at a restaurant inside of a grocery store is that some of the dishes are made with really fresh ingredients.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU

The seafood options are fresh and varied. Chicharron de pescado ($14.99) fish fritters served with Mexican guacamole, shrimp and fish ceviche ($18.99, $16.99), Filete Rey ($20.99) a tilapia heaped with octopus, shrimp, crab and peppers all are wonderfully executed with generous portioning and flavor.

If you are looking for something quick and easy, the sopes ($2.99 each) are a great idea. Discs of fried corn dough are topped with beans and your choice of meat with lettuce, cheese and tomato. Or grab a stuffed burrito for $9.99 with more common ingredient choices like steak, al pastor marinated pork, carnitas, chorizo or chicken as well as unusual options like beef tongue (lengua), chitlin bowls (long), ribeye and onion (lomo encebollado). For vegetarians they have a daily burrito special, but the rajas poblanos burrito made with roasted poblano peppers, caramelized onion and cheese with roasted tomato sauce is where it's at. Each of the burrito options are available as tacos that range in price from $1.99 to $2.99 each. Torta sandwiches ($8.99 each) are served with beans, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, sour cream and your choice of meat.

The clado de pollo o res soups ($13.99) are both savory and flavorful boosted by the choice of protein — either chicken or beef. They are a great to-go option that will travel well.

breakfast burrito ($9.99) made with eggs, bacon, potatoes, beans and cheese is a great option to pair with a bloody Mary on the weekend.

It’s a restaurant that thinks outside of the box — they have charolas or “trays” of heaping amounts of food for $149.99 advertised on the menu with options like fresh oysters, shrimp and crab legs in large amounts.

House margaritas come in regular, lime and mango flavors ($8.99 for 20 ounce) and are fresh and potent. A full bar and draft beers are also on tap.

I have tried to carefully group my outings to maximize what I am able to do into one location. Options like this one where you can shop in a place that houses what you need along with some surprises and has the addition of dine-in or carry-out options are increasingly desirable.

It doesn’t hurt at all that is so darn tasty.

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How to go

What: La Guadalupana Super Market

Where: 5450 Burkhardt Road, Riverside in the Spin-Kemp Shopping Center

Hours: Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant typically opens at 10 a.m.

More information: 937-963-5700 or www.facebook.com/LaGuadalupanaSM


DAYTON EATS

Turn to us every Sunday in Life & Arts for the latest menu updates, special dinners and events, new chefs, interesting new dishes, and culinary adventures brought to you by contributing writer Alexis Larsen. Bon appetite!

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