Let’s face it: San Diego grocery stores are dominated by huge national chains, and while they can carry some great selection, nothing beats shopping local. Below is a list of smaller, local grocery stores in North Park, San Diego and the surrounding area that are easy to access and can fulfill most, if not all of your shopping needs.
Baron’s Market
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Conveniently located off of University Ave, just a stone’s throw from the heart of North Park, Baron’s Market is a great alternative to your usual San Diego grocery stores. With a handful of stores throughout Southern California, Baron’s is a family-owned local chain.
The prices here are fair, and while nothing stood out as a “steal”, there was no egregious price gouging that is so commonly hidden in large chains. They boast a diverse selection of meats, both pre-marinated and not, and their veggies were fresh and clean. The only drawback was the parking situation can be a bit tough, but they have an underground lot close by.
Another added bonus is that Baron’s is right down the street from Panchita’s Kitchen and Bakery. The bakery location in Golden Hill is one of my favorite spots to get baked goods. From fresh, soft, bolillo rolls to chocolatey donuts, Panchitas is a must-visit if you’re in the area. Overall, if you want to start shopping local, Baron’s is the place to begin!
Pancho Villa
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Pancho Villa’s is a great Mexican grocery store found off of El Cajon Boulevard, just East of the 805. With an enormous selection of veggies, meats, and salsas, this is the perfect spot to pick up ingredients for a party or gathering. You won’t find much cheaper prices than here, and overall the quality is pretty decent for the price.
The veggies are fresh and I have had many good experiences buying carne asada, chicken quarters, and sausages here. However, I would keep close tabs on when you buy your meat because it tends to go bad after about three days in the refrigerator. That’s not a problem for most people, but for a procrastinator like myself, I have had to toss some meat before.
The best part of this store is the massive tortilla-making operation in the middle. As far as I know, this is the only San Diego grocery store with cooking up fresh tortillas on this scale. Hot tortillas are taken straight from the grill and bagged and the quality rivals your favorite taco shop. Paired well with some carne asada and salsa from their huge selection, Pancho Villa’s is a great option for grocery shopping in North Park.
North Park Farmer’s Market
Where better to shop local than straight from the source? Held on Thursday evenings, from 3:00-6:30 PM in between 29th and Ray on North Park Way, the North Park Farmer’s Market is one of the best options for fresh produce.
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While known for having a variety of hot food options, the North Park Farmer’s Market has a great selection of locally farmed foods. From microgreens to berries and nuts, this market is a great place to stock up on fresh veggies.
Admittedly, the selection here is pretty pricey. People pay a premium for truly local, small-farm products, and while you’ll be getting it as fresh as can be, you should expect the prices to reflect that. While parking is limited and it is only once a week, it is conveniently located and always worth a stop.
Even if they don’t have the fresh produce you are after, there are almost too many hot food vendors to take advantage of.
Leon Produce
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Right across from one of the best burgers in San Diego (The Friendly), lies Leon Produce, a small corner store that offers some essentials for when you’re in a pinch. True to their name, Leon Produce pretty much only offers vegetables.
However, staples such as tortillas and telera rolls are available. The telera rolls are soft and enormous, making them perfect for avocado toast or any other snack. The meat selection here is extremely limited, and almost only processed, packaged meats.
That being said, I am almost always in need of things like fresh vegetables and canned beans and tomatoes.
North Park Produce
Not to be confused with the grocery store of the same name in Poway, North Park Produce is a grocery store in San Diego close to Pancho Villa, just off El Cajon Boulevard. Offering a huge selection of Mediterranean foods and ingredients, North Park Produce stands out for their prepared food sections.
From hot, prepared food to dips and sauces, this store is perfect for anyone looking to add a little Mediterranean flair to their meals. In all honesty, while their prepared foods and shelf-stable ingredients are great, I would stay away from their meats and veggies. I have often seen flies around the meat counter and can not in good faith recommend it.
That being said, their fresh pita and meat pies are to die for and I find myself returning weekly to stock up on dips, breads, and soups from their counter.
