The Wild West Mini Market is a bad cook's paradise.
If you’re anything like me, you may crave the comforting, warm flavors of a home-cooked meal, but don’t have the kitchen skills to whip up a steaming bowl of pozole.
I tried to recreate Spanish rice once; let’s just say I now know I can never stray from the simpleness of Minute Rice.
But as I walked down the aisles of the Wild West Mini Market at 4889 W. Ajo Hwy and saw all the tubs of refried beans and bags of freshly made red chile tamales, I almost shed a tear: I had finally found a way to eat authentic, delicious Mexican food for dinner without burning down my kitchen.
Now this mini market is no Circle K or 7-11, right when you walk in you’re met with a refrigerator full of vibrant produce and homemade salsa. Depending on the size you grab, you can have fresh guacamole or pico de gallo for either $5.89 or $8.99. NEVER underestimate the power of handcrafted guacamole, your tacos will taste a million times better and your guests will be so happy to see you’re not using a generic store brand.
Need something with more of a kick? They also had a whole section dedicated to all kinds of hot sauces if you’re looking for something to spice up your life.
The next aisle over is where you can find all their pre-made meals. They had trays of marinated chicken thighs for $24, perfect for those on their protein grind. All you’d have to do is throw them on the stove and bam, you have flavorful chicken. The best part: no need to worry about thawing anything! (Can we all agree that having to thaw chicken is the WORST!)
Bags of freshly made tamales from the Wild West Mini Market.
They also had bags of red beef and green chile tamales for $16 and frozen bowls of pozole for $9. You could buy one of each and have a cozy, comforting dinner for exactly $25. This meal would be perfect on a stormy monsoon evening.
As summertime approaches and the weather gets warmer, more people are gathering around the pool and having cookouts. If you stopped by the Wild West Mini Market first, you could grab a pack of bacon-wrapped hot dogs for $9. Chowing on a Sonoran dog while lounging by the pool sounds like the ultimate Tucson day.
A pack of bacon-wrapped hot dogs from the Wild West Mini Market.
They even sell buns made by Mendez Bakery and Tortillas so your dogs can lie in fluffy, soft bread.
What really caught my eye was sitting right next to the hot dogs: a beautiful tray filled with four plump bacon-wrapped chiles. Like I’ve said a million times before, toritos are one of my favorite things in this universe so I didn’t even have to think; these were coming home with me.
When you’re about to pay, your gaze will suddenly focus on a towering display of bombs. These aren’t no Lush bath bombs, these are birria bombs.
Wild West is known for their locally made birria bombs; a compact sphere that’s made of all the chiles and spices needed to make a rich pot of birria. All you have to do is toss the bomb in some water, add in some chuck roast and let the mixture simmer for hours. In the end, you’ll have a juicy, deep red bowl of birria for dinner.
Birria bombs from the Wild West Mini Market.
Their bombs are $15 and Jamie Eats approved! I tried one for myself this winter and couldn’t believe how easy it was. The birria was so flavorful and exactly what I was craving. I would definitely buy again and don’t worry, it’s beginner-chef friendly!
Jamie Eats?! More like Jamie Cooks 😎
I brought my $9 toritos home and couldn’t wait to get them in the oven. I preheated my oven to 400 degrees, spread them out on a pan and patiently waited for 20 minutes.
Soon, my apartment was overwhelmed by the smell of bacon and roasted chile. I was practically drooling as I stared at the timer, hoping that would somehow make it cook faster.
When my alarm finally began beeping, I sprinted over to take out my sizzling pan of chiles. As I waited for them to cool, I whipped up a quick dipping sauce. (You HAVE to eat toritos with soy sauce and lime, it makes them even better)
That first bite was heavenly. The slight spice of the chile meshes perfectly with the gooey cheese and savory, crispy bacon. I was ecstatic, I could finally have my beloved toritos without having to worry about buying ingredients or stuffing cheese into chiles.
My only regret is that I didn’t buy two more trays!
The Wild West Mini Market at 4889 W. Ajo Hwy is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
