El Gran Bodegon

Since I live in the area, there is not a more reliable store than this one within walking distance. The name El Gran Bodegon is exactly what it is, a large bodega. They have a small produce section in the front as well as a carniceria (butcher station) in the back. I tend to do most of my groceries at larger supermarkets because the prices are more wholesale, but when I forget to get something or just plain too lazy to do all that shopping, I can get everything I need here. I swear, any Latin American meal you wish to prepare within an hour’s notice, they have ALL the ingredients here. During the summer, I’ve gotten charcoal and bags of ice here for last-​minute barbecue plans. Oh, and unlike many other places in the area, everything I’ve gotten here was fresh, never expired.
They share a small parking lot in the back of the store with the pharmacy next door so parking is a little easier just in case you need to fill your trunk with groceries. They even have mini-​carts. However, its benefits are almost its undoing, as it can get packed as hell in here. Be prepared for some physical contact with some of the less slim clientele while squeezing through the aisles, which is the only downside, but common in places like this. I think they have a minimum of $ 10 or $ 15 to use a debit or credit card. They also have a decent variety of cigarettes and household items behind the counter.