This Massive Wisconsin Mexican Grocery Is A Treasure Trove For Rare Spices
A former Toys R Us now sells epazote, fresh tortillas, and award-winning Birria Bombs. That swap alone makes me grin. The toy aisles are gone, and a full Mexican grocery fills the space instead.
The building covers about 38,000 square feet. That leaves plenty of room for a butcher shop, a bakery, and a taqueria. There’s also a juice bar and an ice cream shop waiting near the end of your trip.
I appreciate that one stop can cover dinner, dessert, and the hard-to-find herbs your recipe keeps demanding. It feels like a pantry and a food hall rolled into one big Wisconsin errand. I can see why people make a special trip.
The real challenge is leaving with only what you came for. Between the fresh tortillas, tempting bakery cases, and ready-to-eat favorites, this is the kind of grocery trip where your shopping list becomes more of a suggestion than a plan.
A Toy Store Grew Up And Became A Grocery Giant
Kids once begged their parents for action figures in this building. Now Monterrey Market fills that same space with chiles, tortillas, and fresh produce.
The family-owned business opened this second location in October 2020. It moved into a sprawling 38,000-square-foot building that once housed a Toys R Us.
Roberto and Leonor Montemayor are the husband-and-wife team behind the market. They describe it as a grocery store with a Hispanic flair, and that phrase fits nicely.
The goal here is bigger than a quick snack run. Monterrey Market aims to be a full-service grocery store with a strong focus on Hispanic and Latin American traditions.
That means you can shop for everyday basics and specialty ingredients in the same trip. It also means you might leave with far more than your list suggested.
I love a building with a second act. The old toy store still delivers excitement, just with mangos and tamales instead of board games.
The size matters too. A store this large gives every department room to breathe, so shopping feels roomy rather than cramped. Plan a little extra time for your first visit. You’ll want to wander before you start grabbing things.
Your Spice Rack Is About To Get Seriously Jealous
Epazote sits in the produce section, and that detail alone tells you a lot. Plenty of grocery stores never carry this pungent Mexican herb. Cooks often use epazote in black beans and quesadillas. Its bold, almost minty flavor is hard to replace, so finding it fresh feels like a small win.
Monterrey Market focuses on authentic Latin American products, which makes it a smart stop for recipes that call for unusual ingredients. You can hunt for items that standard supermarkets simply skip.
The store’s mission also includes international products from Asian and Middle Eastern countries. That widens the hunt in a fun way. A tip for spice shoppers: bring your recipe or snap a photo of the ingredient list. Big stores are exciting, but they can also scramble your memory fast.
Another smart move is to buy small amounts of new seasonings first. Test them at home, then come back for more once you know your favorites.
Fresh herbs fade quickly, so plan to use them within a few days. Wrapping them in a damp paper towel can help. Honestly, your bland weeknight chicken never stood a chance.
The Produce Section Could Pass For A Farmers Market
Mangos, avocados, limes, and cactus paddles all compete for attention here. The produce area pulls you in with color before you even grab a cart.
Fresh produce is a key part of what Monterrey Market offers. That makes sense for a store built around Latin American cooking, where fresh ingredients do so much work.
Nopales, or cactus paddles, are worth a closer look if you’ve never cooked them. They can be grilled, sautéed, or tossed into eggs for a tangy, green bite. Limes deserve a spot in almost every cart. A quick squeeze can brighten tacos, soups, rice, and even fruit.
Avocados can be tricky to time, so buy a mix. Grab a couple that feel ready now and a few firmer ones for later in the week.
Shopping a large produce section works best with a loose plan. Pick your main dish first, then build around it with herbs, peppers, and fruit. Kids might enjoy this part too. Let them choose one new fruit to try at home.
That tiny experiment can turn a regular grocery trip into a taste-testing adventure.
Fresh Cuts Make The Butcher Counter A Must-Stop
Meat gets cut fresh every day at the butcher shop inside Monterrey Market. For anyone planning a cookout or a big family dinner, that’s welcome news.
A full-service butcher counter changes how you cook. Instead of grabbing whatever sits in a sealed tray, you can ask for the cut that fits your recipe.
Planning tacos for a crowd? Tell the butcher how many people you’re feeding and what dish you’re making. Staff behind the counter can often help with thickness and portion size. Thin slices cook fast on a hot grill, while larger cuts suit slow braising.
Here’s a handy habit: write down your order before you get in line. It keeps things moving and saves you from forgetting the chorizo. Bring a cooler if you have a longer drive home. Wisconsin summers can get warm, and fresh meat deserves a cool ride.
Pair your butcher picks with fresh tortillas and produce, and dinner basically plans itself. The whole meal can come from one store. That convenience is a big reason a market like this becomes a weekly routine.
Warm Tortillas And Sweet Treats Wait At The Bakery
Fresh tortillas get made every day at the on-site bakery. Once you taste a fresh one, the packaged kind starts to feel like cardboard. The bakery at Monterrey Market gives you a reason to slow down. Trays of baked goods sit close by, and resisting them takes serious willpower.
Tortillas are the backbone of so many meals. Tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and chilaquiles all start with this simple staple. Warm them on a dry skillet for a few seconds per side. They’ll soften up and smell amazing, which is a nice bonus.
Store leftover tortillas in a sealed bag in the fridge. They keep their shape longer that way and reheat easily. The bakery also makes a great stop for breakfast ideas. A sweet bread with coffee or hot chocolate can make any morning feel like a mini celebration.
If you’re bringing something to a party, consider grabbing baked goods here. It’s an easy way to share flavors that feel special without turning on your oven. Just be warned. Some treats might not survive the car ride home.
Lunch Is Handled Thanks To Montacos And The Hot Deli
Montacos, the on-site taqueria, turns grocery shopping into a lunch date. Hard to stay focused on paper towels when tacos are this close. The deli at Monterrey Market serves both hot and cold prepared foods. You’ll find homemade Mexican dishes and salsas ready to take home.
That’s a lifesaver on busy days. Grab dinner, pick up a fresh salsa, and skip cooking entirely.
The store also promotes Taco Tuesday, a fun excuse to plan your week around tacos. Nobody needs to twist your arm on that one. There are places to sit near the deli area. That means you can enjoy your food on the spot instead of balancing a container on your lap in the car.
A smart strategy is to eat first and shop second. Hungry shoppers tend to fill their carts with way more snacks than planned. Salsas from the deli can upgrade simple meals at home too. Spoon some over eggs, grilled chicken, or plain rice.
Suddenly a basic Tuesday dinner tastes like you put in real effort.
Birria Flavor Earned A State Fair Trophy
Winning a food contest at the Wisconsin State Fair is no small thing. Fiesta Grill & Cantina, operated by Monterrey Market owner Robert Montemayor, took first place in the 2026 Sporkies competition with its award-winning birria creation.
The Sporkies celebrate creative fair foods. Vendors compete to impress judges with new ideas, so the bar sits pretty high. Birria is a rich, slow-cooked Mexican stew known for deep flavor. Turning it into a bite-sized fair snack shows real creativity.
I appreciate a grocery store that steps outside its own walls to compete. It tells you the kitchen team takes flavor seriously and likes a challenge.
The win also connects the market to one of the biggest summer traditions in Wisconsin. Fairgoers line up for wild new foods every year, and this one stood out.
Want to try birria at home? Look for recipes that call for dried chiles and slow cooking, then shop for ingredients in the spice and meat sections. Patience is the secret ingredient with birria. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors come together.
Even if you don’t make it, the trophy makes a great conversation starter.
Save Room Because Juice And Ice Cream Await
Dessert sits right inside the building, which feels a little dangerous. Monterrey Market includes both a juice bar and an ice cream shop. The juice bar makes a refreshing pick-me-up after a long shopping trip. Fresh fruit drinks can feel like a reward for surviving all those aisles.
Then comes the ice cream shop. It sits near the checkout area, so it practically waves at you on the way out. Families will find this part especially handy. A sweet treat can turn a grocery errand into something kids actually look forward to.
Here’s a little strategy for parents. Promise a stop at the ice cream shop if everyone helps finish the shopping list.
Hot summer days in Wisconsin make a cold treat feel even better. Winter visits work too, because ice cream never really goes out of season. Try something new if you usually stick to vanilla. Fruity flavors can be a fun change and pair nicely with a warm afternoon.
Either way, ending a shopping trip with dessert just makes sense. Groceries are serious business, after all.
Getting There Early Or Ordering Ahead Both Work
Early birds get a nice perk here. Doors open at 7 a.m. every day, and the store stays open until 9 p.m. You’ll find Monterrey Market at 3920 S 27th St Ste D, Milwaukee, WI 53221. It sits on a busy stretch of the city’s south side.
That busy road means you should drive carefully. Pulling in and out of the lot takes a little extra attention during peak traffic.
Seven-day hours make planning easy. Weekend cooks and weeknight shoppers can both fit a trip into their schedules. Short on time? The 27th Street location offers Click and Collect, so you can order online and pick up your groceries.
Delivery is available too. That’s handy on snowy Wisconsin days when leaving the house feels like a bad idea. Still, I’d recommend at least one in-person visit. Browsing the aisles is half the fun, especially when you’re hunting for rare spices.
Bring reusable bags and a flexible budget. Between the bakery, the deli, and the ice cream shop, temptation lurks around every corner. Consider yourself warned and excited.