Where to find mole paste in DC or LA?
February 24, 2018 10:27 AM Subscribe
Looking for a good source of Mexican mole paste in either DC or LA.
My husband and I just got back from Mexico City, where we bought some mole paste to bring home (some verde and some pipian, FYI). It is delicious and wonderful and we would like to have it regularly on hand. We’ve tried some Dona Maria that we’ve found at Latino markets and weren’t impressed. Any good sources in either DC or downtown LA (one of us travels there for work frequently) to find mole paste? Thanks!
My husband and I just got back from Mexico City, where we bought some mole paste to bring home (some verde and some pipian, FYI). It is delicious and wonderful and we would like to have it regularly on hand. We’ve tried some Dona Maria that we’ve found at Latino markets and weren’t impressed. Any good sources in either DC or downtown LA (one of us travels there for work frequently) to find mole paste? Thanks!
Many years ago I had mole for the first time in Tucson. I looked for it in Tucson, in Flagstaff, in Tubac to no avail.
Soon after, I found it at ... the Virginia Square Giant in Arlington!
posted by jgirl at 12:37 PM on February 24, 2018
Soon after, I found it at ... the Virginia Square Giant in Arlington!
posted by jgirl at 12:37 PM on February 24, 2018
Guelaguetza in LA definitely sells jarred mole sauce and is absolutely worth a visit!
posted by KatlaDragon at 1:21 PM on February 24, 2018
posted by KatlaDragon at 1:21 PM on February 24, 2018
I love mole so much, I ended up going down a mole rabbit hole! Here are some more promising leads in LA:
Rivas Food Co sells mole paste in stores across LA including the pipian and verde varieties you mentioned. (Found via a 2012 LA Weekly article that lists some possible sources.)
El Mercado definitely looks worth a visit, as mole is reportedly sold from big buckets of every kind, yum!
Finally, if you happen to be planning a trip to LA in early October, you might want to catch the mole festival La Feria de los Moles.
posted by KatlaDragon at 2:02 PM on February 24, 2018
Rivas Food Co sells mole paste in stores across LA including the pipian and verde varieties you mentioned. (Found via a 2012 LA Weekly article that lists some possible sources.)
El Mercado definitely looks worth a visit, as mole is reportedly sold from big buckets of every kind, yum!
Finally, if you happen to be planning a trip to LA in early October, you might want to catch the mole festival La Feria de los Moles.
posted by KatlaDragon at 2:02 PM on February 24, 2018
In L.A., Chiles Secos at Grand Central Market has a bunch of fresh mole pastes. If you enter on the Hill Street side of the market, they're just right of the stairs.
posted by Scram at 7:30 PM on February 24, 2018
posted by Scram at 7:30 PM on February 24, 2018
Have you tried Best World in Mt Pleasant in DC? It's a market that's more or less intended for the Latinx community around it and it's pretty big.
posted by deeparch at 7:14 AM on February 25, 2018
posted by deeparch at 7:14 AM on February 25, 2018
LA is easy, any place that sells Mexican ingredients. Olvera street ought to have a bunch.
DC: In addition to Best World, Pan Am has a branch on 14th st. If you have a car there's a massive international grocery in Langley Park that sells a couple different kinds.
In my experience it's easier to get the ingredients for Mexican food in DC than to get good Mexican food (although that's changed a lot in the past few years).
There are lots of different moles though (see mole, guaca), and freshly ground will always be better than anything you can buy. The basic ones are pretty straightforward (I do a basic red three-chile one with guajillo, ancho, and morita chiles, onion/garlic, tomatillo, cumin, allspice, chocolate, and pumpkin seeds).
All of that is to say you should make your own!
posted by aspersioncast at 4:23 PM on February 26, 2018
DC: In addition to Best World, Pan Am has a branch on 14th st. If you have a car there's a massive international grocery in Langley Park that sells a couple different kinds.
In my experience it's easier to get the ingredients for Mexican food in DC than to get good Mexican food (although that's changed a lot in the past few years).
There are lots of different moles though (see mole, guaca), and freshly ground will always be better than anything you can buy. The basic ones are pretty straightforward (I do a basic red three-chile one with guajillo, ancho, and morita chiles, onion/garlic, tomatillo, cumin, allspice, chocolate, and pumpkin seeds).
All of that is to say you should make your own!
posted by aspersioncast at 4:23 PM on February 26, 2018
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posted by acidic at 10:47 AM on February 24, 2018