A Small Linda Vista Gem

Plus, a Secluded Linda Vista Oasis in Mission Heights

How many times have you driven up Ulric Street on your way to McDonalds, and passed the Linda Vista Market on the right hand side, and said to yourself, “I wonder what they have in there? I’ll have to stop and look sometime.” You might have thought it was another liquor/beer store, or merely a place to buy lottery tickets. Well, if you thought that, you would be wrong.

The old adage “Good things come in small packages” serves as a fitting description for this Linda Vista establishment. Though Linda Vista Market—located at 6939 Ulric Street—is housed in a relatively small building, this store is packed full of interesting groceries, a carneceria, a deli, and a ready-to-eat takeout counter that serves a variety of delicious Mexican food. It’s the place to go to if you are looking for ingredients to make a Mexican dish, or if you want to pick up some ready-to-eat hot dishes.

As we learned during our recent visit, Linda Vista Market has been around for 15 years, and under current ownership/management for 3 years. It is a family owned business—one of three Linda Vista stores owned by the family. The market is conveniently located across the street from the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center and the Linda Vista library. Its selection of international food products certainly adds to Linda Vista’s reputation as San Diego’s most diverse community.

The store offers many groceries associated with Mexican fare, to include corn and flour tortillas, many types of chiles, and the products needed to make such traditional dishes as tamales, churros, flan, posole and menudo.

It also appeals to those Linda Vista residents hailing from Central America, selling fruit such as papaya and plantains, and popular bags of tortilla, corn and plantain chips.

Popular plantain chips

In addition, they have a produce section, fresh salsa and a very well stocked cheese selection in the deli, and a butcher’s display with a good variety of meat cuts.

But the real surprise is, that tucked in the back corner of the store, is a restaurant – take out at this time – which boasts a large variety of Mexican favorites like burritos, tacos (rolled and soft), tostados, breakfast burritos, combination plates, sides such as beans, rice, salsas, and much more. These tasty treats are filled with pork, steak, ham, chicken, shrimp and more.

Deli Section

If you are looking for delicious food-to-go at breakfast, lunch or dinnertime, the Linda Vista Market’s restaurant has what you are looking for, and at good prices.

Reyna, who was working behind the counter when we visited, commented that the Carne Asada plate is one the most popular dishes for lunch time and dinner meals. She also mentioned that all products for the take-out meals are made fresh at the store, with the exception of the tortillas, though she added that they use Sawaya Brothers tortillas, which “are the best.”

Since we don’t eat meat, and had recently enjoyed shrimp tacos at Mr. Peabody’s, we opted for shrimp burritos. They are huge! One can easily feed two people. It was chock full of beautifully cooked shrimp, rice, and seasonings which for me tended to be on the spicy side, but which my husband found to be perfect. It is an entire meal and sides are not needed, except maybe a cold beer or soda. You can see the entire menu below.

Our favorite carnivore sidekick opted for a breakfast burrito, even though it was 7 PM. But that’s okay because Reyna told us that many people come in at night and order breakfast items. Breakfast burritos are also huge, and filled with a choice of meats such as steak, pork, ham, and adobada, along with eggs, hash browns, and seasonings. According to Carnivore, “The burrito’s ingredients were mixed together like a scramble,” which he liked… “because you could taste the ingredients evenly with every bite.” He not only ate the entire burrito, but also the two containers of hot sauce.

Pork Breakfast Burrito (Muy grande!)

Linda Vista Market has a couple outside tables for customers to sit down and enjoy their meals. Unfortunately, the inside dining area is currently closed due to the pandemic.

Linda Vista Market’s Carneceria

In keeping with its neighborhood store atmosphere, Linda Vista Market does not sell alcohol.

If you are looking for some great take-home Mexican dishes, or if you want the ingredients for making your own food, then stop by Linda Vista Market and see what they have to offer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

As Reyna commented from behind the counter, “We love serving the people of Linda Vista.”

---

A Secluded Linda Vista Oasis

If you’re looking for a way to relax and reduce the stress associated with these anxious times, I suggest you pay a visit to Mission Heights Neighborhood Park. This park, tucked away in a corner of the Mission Heights neighborhood, is one of Linda Vista’s best kept secrets. It is located in a secluded area that is off the beaten path, though just a couple blocks away from the major thoroughfare of Ulric Street. It serves as an oasis for busy Linda Vistans, encouraging them to slow down and unwind.

Driving south on Ulric Street, you can access the park by taking a left at Linbrook Drive (before reaching Friars Road) and climb up the hill—as if you are headed to a mountain top retreat—until you take another left at Acari Street, which leads directly into the park.

Once you get there, you will immediately notice an abundance of two things designed to quickly put your mind at ease—trees and green grass.

The trees provides lots of shade for people who want to sit down and enjoy the scenery, watch their kids play in the children’s playground, do some serious contemplation, or share a picnic.

Lots of grass

The abundance of green grass is easy on the eyes and mind, and invites people to toss a football or a frisbee, or maybe practice some yoga.

There is an concrete path that loops around most of the park. It’s great for joggers, walkers, and dog walkers. The loop is 1/3 of a mile long. Taking the loop gives you a great perspective of the entire park.

The park also has a basketball court with one basket and backboard. Rumor has it the money for the second basket/backboard was diverted by the city to pay for the rent at 101 Ash Street.

Lots of trees and shade

At the far west end of the park, (which overlooks Ulric Street) you’ll find a curious area that contains no grass. This area has long been looked at by dog owners as a possible site for a leash-free dog park (though I’m not so sure how the park’s neighbors feel about such a plan).

If grass is not your thing, you can also take advantage of the quiet solitude and choose to sit in your car in the parking lot and eat lunch while looking down the tree tops in the direction of Mission Valley.

If you’re lucky, you might be around the park when the local flock of wild parrots makes a visit to the park. You will see and definitely hear them squawking from atop the trees.

Children’s Playground: Parents can sit in a nearby shaded area

The one drawback to the park is the fact that there is no restroom. It’s as if the city is saying, “Enjoy the park, but don’t stay too long.”

So if you’re feeling stressed out, this may be the place to go for a tranquil, stress-reducing experience. Though you’ll eventually have to leave this oasis and return to the reality of a busy San Diego (because, remember, there is no restroom or water faucet), you’ll at least return to reality feeling revitalized and ready to handle the next wave of stress.

Park’s asphalt path can be seen at right

---

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to The Linda Vista Update by clicking on the “Subscribe now” button. This will ensure you get on automatic distribution for all posts.