Reader’s Choice

Pete’s Fresh Market

Though it doesn’t scream Latin grocery, Pete’s Fresh Market has inspired chef Dudley Nieto to ferry in Kendall College students on field trips introducing them to the incredible range of ingredients in traditional Mexican cuisine. Pete’s has multiple locations and looks like any other corporate food barn, but what sets this particular outlet apart is the dazzling selection of raw materials: bags of fresh jalapeños and other chiles; several types of Mexican zucchini, chayote, and masa; and huge varieties of corn, beans, and tortillas. In the large butcher section you can buy typical American cuts as well as those done Mexican style, goat, and house-made carnitas. Though it may lack the mom-and-pop charm of some La Villita supermercados, Pete’s is where I go when I need fail-safe certainty that one stop will net high-quality Mexican goods at a fair price.  2526 W. Cermak, 773-254-8400, petesfresh.com. —David Hammond

Readers’ Choice

La Unica Food Mart

1515 W. Devon, 773-274-7788.

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