Carniceria Jimenez

Un lugar para no comer si lo que quieres ganar es desde un dolor de estomago hasta un pase gratis a la sala de urgencias, pues no comas sus carnitas porque no tienen control sanitario. Sus precios son decentes en lo que se refiere a abarrotes pero no compren su comida preparada.

This is one of our favorite places to go grocery shopping in our neighborhood. They have a pretty big produce section for a not too huge store, very reasonable prices, and a good selection. Although they carry a lot of Mexican food products, they also have things like Feta cheese, Soy milk, and some other health foods to accommodate all kinds of consumers. There is a bakery half block from there affiliated with Jimenez. Be careful if you have a dangerous sweet tooth cuz you’ll find yourself loading up on sweets! Overall a great store where you can stock up without spending too much.

I love this place, it’s a grocery store, bakery and a small little restaurant. What else can you ask, they have a selected variety of mexican dishes, quesadillas, caldo de res, caldo de pollo, tortas, tacos, enchiladas, and fresh mexican specialty water, also fresh squeezed orange juice. The prices are also great and super affordable. I love that they cook your food right there and fresh every order, and the kitchen is wide open for you to see the cooking in process.

The restaurant/​counter service in the front of this market is a semi-​hidden gem. Their tortillas are so soft and tasty, and the hold together even the juiciest of meat. IF YOU LOVE CARNITAS, YOU NEED TO COME HERE. Some of the best carnitas tacos I’ve ever had from a restaurant. All of the toppings are fresh as well. We got six tacos, rice and beans, two cokes… all for under $ 15. I actually haven’t shopped at this market, so I cannot rate the market itself. I have a feeling I would be just as ecstatic with the market as I am with the restaurant. I haven’t had any of their full dishes, so I cannot speak about those either. However, their tacos are just that amazing, they warrant a review. Guess who will be getting dinner there tonight again? This girl.
GET THEM TACOS, you will not be sorry.

My wife wasn’t a fan but in the last year or so they have cleaned up the produce area and the goods don’t look as wilted as before. I like the prepackaged chicken fajita meat as my theory is the longer it sits in the package the more flavoring it has versus the same meat over at the meat counter.
The associated bakery across the side street is disappointing. The flan is good but just about everything else I tend to think «if only they had spend another 20 – 30 cents on ingredients this would be wonderful.» The grocery store carries more options on the flan but oddly not the exact same as the bakery (but some good flan too so I typically don’t go to the bakery). If only the bakery had some simple plain churros instead of the type injected with filling.
Some of my friends swear by the breakfast at the restaurant inside but I’ve only had dinner a couple times. I need to give it a couple more chances — maybe sticking with simple things like tacos is best.
I could do all my grocery shopping between this store and Aldi.

This place is about 2 blocks from my apartment. They are sometimes out of what I’m looking for so I have to come by early in the day instead of the evening to get what’s left but everything I’ve had thus far has been great. My youngest doesn’t do most Mexican food so I usually order him a cheeseburger with fries. I’ve never had it so I can only assume it’s good too. Very fresh. Very good. Very much like home cooking.

This is a bifurcated review.
The Market: four stars. It is large, well-​stocked, especially in the produce department. The butchers will tenderize the arrachera while-​you-​wait, using a fantastic looking device that must be a bitch to keep clean. The house-​made salsas, particularly a reddish-​orange number kept in the cold-​case up front are worth the stop, as is the guacamole, even if its not as good as the guacamole at Windy City on Pulaski. The ceviches and nopalito ensalada are not exceptional, but fine if you suddenly decide you need them and don’t have the time these dishes require to prepare. My go-​to latino market in the neighborhood. Their bakery across the street has good bolillos.
The Taqueria: two stars. They offer a greater variety of platos than most in-​market taquerias, and have terrific specials priced for economy, but the food just isn’t that good. The ambience blows the competition away; I can’t think of any other in-​market taqueria that customers actually hang out in after dining. Excellent if you want to do your weekly shopping not on an empty stomach.

Prepared food is very good. Parking lot is a little crazy.

Dear Don Pepe:
Regarding Taquerias:
I used to take a lunch like 5 years ago, sadly in 2010 get back to eat lunch here not good as before, meat quality on rib eye tacos not good, do not eat this, better ask for Potato Tacos, salsas are dull no taste, people who are working here seems always mad, sad, etc.
Rice and beans don’t like it.
I like Pancho Villa memorabilia and pictures at this location.
Same thing on North Ave.

I went to the panaderia and got an elote in the parking lot.
Is there a way to rate elote carts? Can we tag them somehow? Is this lady always in this parking lot? I liked my elote A LOT. At first she seemed conserned that her chili powder would be too spicy for me, but then she poured it on WENT TO TOWN at my insistance. YUM.
(And just how illegal are elote carts? I’ve tried making my own at home, but something about the mayo and butter sitting out all day makes it taste better.)
Then we ducked into the bakery to satisfy a sweet tooth we’d been nursing all afternoon. S’ok. I enjoyed every thing that we ate; but it didn’t blow my mind. It was super cheap, so I’ll totally come back and try everything else that I haven’t put in my mouth yet.

I was on my way to try a steak sandwich at the much touted El Cubanito on Pulsaki. But when I got there, it appeared that they had hired a tagger-​turned-​pro to spray-​paint a design (sign?) on the south-​facing wall of their little shack of a building. Problem was, this painter/​artisan had parked his truck in such a way that there were no spots left in the eatery’s very small parking lot.
So as an alternate choice, I decided to head south to Fullerton and try the offerings at the Jimenez grocery store’s tacqueria. The joint is the first thing you encounter when entering the store (and of course, the last thing you see when exiting.) The one-​room tacqueria is the size of most store front greasy spoons. And this one wears its greasy spoon credentials right up front at the overhead menu panels. They are nearly illegible due to the years of oil encrustation. Luckily, the week’s specials were stuck on top in bright new printouts. Today, I had a choice of Tortas (carne asada, al pastor, chorizo), Gorditas, or a 3-​Taco plate. All were $ 2.75 to $ 2.95.
I chose the Torta de carne asada. It was prepared on the spot on a large bread loaf the shape and size of a small football. On a base of frijoles, a slow-​cooked, nearly half pound of grilled steak «nibblets» is laid on, with a topping of chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cilantro, and sour cream. You can eat it at one of the dozen tables or take it to go. Was it a memorable meal? No. But it was well worth the price. So among the tasty pieces of steak, I wasn’t surprised to encounter about four pieces that were gristle. Still, this did not ruin the enjoyment. It was a tasty bargain. And their parking lot was easily accessible.

Ok, rating the taqueria here. Look, you get what you pay for as far as meat in the grocery, that being said –the Jimenez grocery part is pretty damn good and cheap too… No one told you to go there to buy steaks!
You will find me in the taqueria after a hard night of drinking having a caldo de res, or beef soup. The best!!! If you like phở, then caldo de res is gonna be right up your alley.
So my faves are (everything is good though)
*Squash blossom quesadilla (flor de calabaza quesadilla)
*Caldo de res or pollo (beef or chicken soup)
*Rib tips in green chile
*Fresh squeezed $ 5 dolla OJ

The large panaderia across the parking lot from the store is awesome! Every Mexican pastry, cookie and cake you can think of. AND it’s really cheap so you can go nuts if you want.
What to do:
In case you’re not «in the know», this is the deal. You walk in, grab a tray and tongs and walk through the place like a kid in a store going «ooh I want one of those, and those, and those». Take tray full of treats to the register and prepare to be amazed that $ 3.00 will get you a lot of sugary shizz.
What to buy:
They had really good cupcakes that were more like mini cupcake shaped pound cakes with custard filling. Smells awesome and everything we got was really soft and fresh.
Laundry and a travel agent in the same parking lot so buy some treats, do a couple loads and plan your next vacation (or just look at the travel brochures if you’re broke).

It is with a heavy heart that I update this and mention that they’ve changed something about the meat. It tastes like carpet– like chemicals. The last 3 times I bought meat there I actually couldn’t eat it and had to give it to the dog… the last time I got ground beef it was pink on the outside and brown on the inside. What? How is this possible? Obviously they sprayed some whack shit on it to keep it pink which rendered it completely inedible. I will not buy meat from Jimenez again.

Grocery stores in Chicago are like people.
If you were having a block party, you’d invite everyone. The family next door — the dad is investment banker, the mom chairs the arts department at a local private school and junior’s well on his way to success. They love cooking organic food on their giant 60″ Wolf gas range and consider themselves progressives because they vote straight Dem and their maid only cleans, not cooks. They bring some delicious cherry compote with orange-​scented marscarpone — in bite-​sized portions.
The next family down is middle class, middle management — the father works in the IT department at the office and the mother is in insurance. They have a sulky teenage son who wears black and skateboards. They seem nice, but constantly bicker with each other and stay on the periphery. Their dish is chicken breasts marinated in citrus juice with oregano on a bed of white rice.
The last neighbor is a single Mexican guy who brings a case of Corona to the party, and he made awesome guacamole AND tacos al pastor. He tells hilarious jokes — real knee-​slappers. He sports nice blazers and impresses all the women — but he’s blue collar all the way. A real Horatio Alger. In fact, all of his jokes and food make up for that damn salsa music he’s always blaring at 2am.
The first family is Whole Foods, the second is Jewel/Dominick’s, and the third is Carniceria Jimenez.
To be sure, their taqueria is good, but the grocery store is reason to drive from a distance. They have a huge selection of food at unbelievable prices. Their deli counter features all kinds of Mexican staples (bistec, al pastor, chicken fajitas, milanesa, tilapia, tripas, etc). They have a decent dairy and bakery selection… tons of different types of tortillas to choose from — flour, corn, big, small, wheat.
To get an idea of the value compared to other stores, CJ sells homemade guacamole by the tub. You can get it here for $ 4, or you can go to Whole Foods and get it for $ 8. To put it another way, those gringos may know their way around a stone oven-​fired bruschetta brushed with organic Neapolitan olive oil and dusted with paprika and goat cheese, but they should leave the guac to Jimenez.
So the next time you’re going grocery shopping or having a block party, just remember — who brings the best, spiciest food and the most beer? The best jokes? The loudest salsa music? Ok, well three outta four ain’t bad.
Also, private parking lot and they’re open late.

The parking lot is tiny… but just go next door to the bigger parking lot (they also have the bakery, travel agency, and a laundry mat in that lot).
The prices are reasonable in this grocery store (a lot less expensive than Jewels, that’s for sure). They mainly carry Mexican items but you will also find American groceries. The butcher shop has fresh cuts but boy is it a mission to get your number called since it is crowded (so don’t forget your list because it will be a byatch before they call your number again). The produce is also constantly being added.
But the reason I deal with the crowds is the taqueria. The food is prepared in front of you and is pretty quick (here’s the procedure for you newbies: just like in HS enter the line, the guy will take your order (shout it to the guy behind unless he’s the cook), keep moving the next station is the garnishment (you decide there if you want sour cream, cheese, esc.), then you pay the cashier (sorry cash only) you also order your drink there and she’ll give you salsa and peppers). In my book, Jimenez is one of the best places to pick up a torta, tacos, quesadillas (with mushrooms are the best), burrito (burritos are huge and only $ 5.95), flautas, huaraches, and wash it down with the sweet hochata… damn I just made my mouth watery! And they’re cheap!

I have been to Jimenez so much over the past few years that I know many people personally there — Eddie, Walter, Gustavo. Excellent place.
Tony’s is great, but anyone who lives in the neighborhood — or just a few miles from it – is foolish to go to Dominick’s and Jewel for normal, everyday groceries (as opposed to stuff like yuppie stuff like soy cheese and low sodium spaghetti sauce).
DON’T FORGET THIS FRUIT SECTION: Jimenez’s produce is awesome, and very economical, but get an even better deal by going to the back wall of the produce section where they wrap up almost-​gone-​bad fruit by first cutting off the bad parts. You can get papaya for $ 0.69 a pound — and it’s in great condition!
THERE IS AMPLE PARKING…: Yes, parking in the tiny main lot is a problem, but a lot of people forget that they can park in their LARGE parking lot right on Avers and Fullerton there by the bakery. I think it’s called «Plaza Jimenez». So you have to walk ¹⁄₁₆ of a mile to get to the front door! So what?
RESTAURANT IS GREAT: Restaurant now accepts debit cards. And the food there is FANTASTIC. This is actually the place where I asked my now-​wife to enter into a relationship with me over horchata and pineapple water! We included the restaurant in a video for our wedding ceremony!

This place is very authentic and cool. They have tons of good quality meat — including already prepared Mexican combination — at very low prices. They have very good fruit, produce, and Aguacates too! The parking can be a little bit of an adventurous operation but manageable.
I asked the butcher if some steak they had in a red sauce was spicy and in true Mexican fashion he replied «Nooooo» … it has been a week, and I still can’t feel my tongue :-)
They have a good cafeteria inside too.

For our cuatro de mayo bbq, we didn’t waste time collecting overpriced produce, and unseasoned meats from various yuppie specialty stores… we went straight to Jimenez’s for the FRESHEST, CHEAPEST, EVERYTHING!
Seriously, for under $ 40, we were able to feed 35 people. They carry a lot of bulk foods, like 1lb jugs of black beans, 250 tortilla bags, freshly grated queso chihuahua, MEXICAN coke (served in glass bottles and made with natural ingredients and REAL sugar).
And the produce… MY GOD, the produce! Twenty limes for a dollar, peppers you’ve never even heard of, a dozen varieties of plantains, and amazing prices. It blew Stanley’s Fruit and Veggies out of the water.
When collecting items for home made guacamole, we spotted a pre-​made guacamole tub, prepared by the Jimenez experts. We figured that there would be no way we could make something better than them. and we were so right! This was the best guacamole of MY LIFE.
If you’re hungry when you shop, theres a taco place IN the grocery store. We were cooking for mostly vegetarians but the carniceria/​butcher area looked amazing too!
The entire block long back of the store was full of the reddest, thinnest slices of steak, and ridiculously bloody fresh meats. I have to admit, i almost started chewing on some raw ground chuck, it looked so good.
A couple of notes… many of the older employees do not speak English, which was cool for us to finally put our bilingual talents to use, but I can see someone who is used to whole foods having a fucking cow here.
Also, said older employees, may grab your cart when you exit the store. They aren’t stealing your stuff… they are kindly taking your groceries to your car.
To wrap this up… I love you Jimenez… call me, anytime.

Jimenez is like mexican wal-​mart. The taqueria is awesome! Good things come to those who wait, so be prepared for a line at lunch, but it’s well worth it. The burritos they serve are large enough to kill a small mammal, very fresh toppings, free avocado, good flan, and cold horchata and some kind of strawberry drink, plus any flavor jarritos you’d want.
Additional warning: their parking lot does not obey traffic laws suggested by the city of Chicago. Stick to the street.

This grocery store is directly across the street from my house– I frequent it a couple times a week. They have good hours — they’re open until ten pm most nights. During the day there’s usually a very sweet nun hanging out in the foyer with a box for donations.
The staff are genuinely friendly, there’s a little taqueria in there, too (I haven’t eaten there yet, though), and produce is very inexpensive and tends to be pretty good (on a par with Jewel produce, generally). They have an extensive meat and fish section– I’ve bought the little trays of mixed seafood– prawns, mussels, crab, octopus, et cetera for pastas and ceviche, and it’s really good stuff.
While it’s obviously a supermarket which caters to the Latino population around here, I can pretty much always find what I’m looking for– and if I need tortillas or Jarritos (yum!) this is the place to get them. They also put up with my bad (Italian-​ized) Spanish, so they definitely get kudos for that!