Mexican and Latino supermarkets in the United States

The Latino supermarket is its own category in the United States, not an international aisle. The big regional formats — heavily present in California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois — bring together under one roof a butcher counter with Mexican-style cuts, an in-house tortilleria, a bakery turning out fresh pan dulce, a produce section carrying items the conventional chains skip (nopales, tomatillos, seasonal fresh chiles) and a hot-food counter.

How to choose: for a full weekly shop, the supermarket wins on price and range. For something very specific — an unusual chile, a particular herb — the small neighborhood store is often the better bet. Many supermarkets bake pan dulce several times a day, so asking when the last batch came out makes a real difference.

This directory lists verified supermarkets in cities across the country, with address, phone and official website where one exists.