Mercado El Rey Lake Forest — Local services in Lake Forest

So here is the deal. I am half afraid to share this because this place is a gem 💎! I can buy wonder marinated meats.. ceviche.. dairy.. chicharron.. and a bunch of produce and hit only $80. Sometimes $70 and sometimes $50. They have a smoothie bar that’s probably the best one around…. As the produce is right there, The fresh produce looks better and is ripe and great looking and better than Bristol farms or whole paycheck. It’s a fast shopping store with a fresh hot food to go as well - and it’s aaaahmazing!! do not expect big grocery carts here. It’s fresh ripe food that you eat this week or in the next few days. I truly love this shop as it’s perfect for me by myself and even better when there were more of us. Just for reference they had beautifully RIPE RED SWEET SMELLING strawberries for under $3 a pack, like RIPE RED strawberries- not those white topped unripe hard bland berries like at a regular store. Really. Even the butcher shop is really really awesome. It is not the same as a big grocery store chain but everything has been fantastic. I don’t speak Spanish but every single person there has been great and it’s nice to shop in a place without having to listen to the obnoxious thinly veiled racism from other customers directed at others. Bravo to this store. You could in fact get all your weekly groceries here just fine. I mostly do...

I just moved to Lake Forest from LA where I am spoiled with amazing mexican marts like El Super, El Superior & North Gate. I found this place on Yelp/Google and the reviews were good. But my experience was horrible. The service was pretty horrible, and the guy are the carnicera purposely ignored me (although I was thier first with no one else around) as soon as a hispanic gentleman walked up. It was unfortunate. The workers even talked trash about me in spanish and I am 85% fluent in spanish. It was almost like a caucasian female never stepped foot in that market before. The prices were okay, nothing comparable to the markets I am used too. I wouldnt go again, their service was unlike anything I have ever experience in a Mexican Mart...

Good produce, meat, groceries.. but they also have ready made food! Don't love SOME of the check out girls though.. if I didn't get attitude and ignored while she spoke to another worker there (BTW.. I speak Spanish! Never assume!) & pretty much threw my change in my hand... I may have given it 5 stars! UPDATE: Went back and a new (I believe) check out girl was as nice as can be AND the already marinated meat for tacos Al Pastor was BOMB!! I'm...