PHOENIX \u2014 Cooks work diligently inside Phoenix grocery stores, making fresh and warm tortillas that sell for just a few dollars. With roughly 4 in 10 Phoenix residents being Hispanic, according to DATOS, providing this authentic food meets a huge need in the community.<\/p>\n
Spanish chatter fills the air alongside colorful signs, creating an atmosphere where food tastes like home. Mexico native Jose Angel Vega loves shopping at Fry’s Mercado in west Phoenix for exactly this reason, saying in Spanish, he gets the best quality food at the Mercado.<\/p>\n
“The one and only Mercado that Kroger offers. You’ll see elements in this store that you will not find in any other Kroger across the nation,” Daniella Lerma said.<\/p>\n
Lerma serves as Fry\u2019s Food Stores\u2019 multicultural specialist, and highlights how deals stack up throughout the store. From flame-grilled chicken to traditional sides, customers find authentic options at competitive prices.<\/p>\n
“You buy one of our chicken meal deals, we’re going to give you a 12-pack of tortillas for free, included in that with some of that red or green salsa,” Lerma said.<\/p>\n
The store features flavored masa and breathtaking baked goods, with cakes starting at just $9.99.<\/p>\n
“Number one store for tres leches!” Lerma said.<\/p>\n
The main attraction remains the tortilleria, which sells 10,000 packages per week statewide.<\/p>\n
“See what you smell right now is a lot of fresh corn,” Lerma said. “We get folks from Yuma, Flagstaff, Tucson coming up to buy these.\u201d<\/p>\n
A small pack costs only 89 cents, making authentic tortillas accessible to families throughout the Valley.<\/p>\n
“In this store within the five-mile trade radius, 85% of our customers identify as Hispanic,” Lerma said. “It definitely makes me feel uplifted to have our culture, my culture, represented.”<\/p>\n
ABC15 Smart Shopper Viola Lucero shares that cultural pride. Born in New Mexico with family roots in Spain, she finds her heritage comes to life at Food City.<\/p>\n
“Just growing up in that culture, it’s amazing, because it’s so colorful. It’s fun. We did all the parades and just celebrated the culture of being, you know, Hispanic,” Lucero said.<\/p>\n
At Food City, big value awaits in the tortilleria, whether customers grab a pack to go or plan Taco Tuesday celebrations.<\/p>\n
“$1.25 a taco, that’s a great price!” Susy Ferra said.<\/p>\n
Ferra works as Food City’s public relations manager and showcases seasonal offerings like large menudo for $7.99. New Mexico favorites include stuffed green chile bolillos on sale for 99 cents.<\/p>\n
“I’m going to come and get these for sure,” Lucero said.<\/p>\n