Chiles Seco

Come try the mole! The lady that owns this spot sells the best mole that I've tried; it's better than any of the restaurants I've been to (although I haven't been to southern Mexico yet). Most of the food I've tried at Grand Central hasn't been particularly impressive, but Chiles Seco is a gem that sadly doesn't have the customer base it deserves. The shop was closed due to covid-19 when I went last week, but if you like mole, try this place out when it reopens! It would really be a loss to dtLA if this business isn't able to recover from the financial strain that the outbreak is imposing on small businesses...

This is definitely a wonderful spot. Calling all cooks! #TEAMSMILEY

Buy something... anything! It's all great!

I already heard about you that you are quite good. Do you have pure honey ?

Addicted to the pineapple and mango with chile.

Valeria's is AWESOME! I was coming to Chile Secos, but it was closed during the Covid-19 slump. Valeria's had even more choices of mole pastes, and they were priced lower. I got 7 lbs of different mole pastes for $6 each. Outstanding! They also have beans, dried chiles, rice, spices and some limited groceries. Friendly staff too! Last night, I fixed a pound of Mole con Ajonjoly Telolopan with a quart of chicken broth and some fresh blue corn tortillas to make enmoladas. Incredibly flavorful - a smidge spicy for my family, but I loved the deep flavor with some heat.

I don't do much cooking, but my friends Michael K. and Gino G. do. I accompanied Mike on a grocery trip to Grand Central Market when he was home for Thanksgiving. Gino had sent him with a shopping list of Mexican ingredients that are hard to find in Seattle, and Mike found most of them right here, at Valeria's Groceries. Valeria's is a vendor in the thick of the market, where you can buy spices, chilis, beans, moles, and a whole lot more, at what struck me as very reasonable prices. Most of the products were displayed in big bulk cases, clearly labeled for easy browsing. The man working the grocery was friendly, helpful, and efficient. He got Mike what he needed and bagged it up for him right away. I love Mexican food and fantasize about making moles at home now and then, but like, my lunch today was a soup that came out of a pantry bag and a frozen Tupperware of brown rice that my mom gave me in early 2018. If I ever get motivated, though, I know I can find what I need at Valeria's.

Great service. All the ingredients you need to make moles and pipians! Beans, rice, and other legumes. Found different sizes of piloncillo to make champurrado. Neighborhood gem for a while now!

Only have tried two of their homemade MOLES and WOW! Shopkeeper told me they get them freshly delivered from a woman in Mexico and they can last up to a year in the fridge. You simply add 2-3 cups of chicken broth mixed in with each tub of Mole they sell (for a bargain 3 bucks!). They have about 7 different kinds and the one we had was very authentic. Just throw in some chicken breasts, shrimp, or whatever and sauté until done. Pour over rice and you have a restaurant quality dish. Will certainly try them all!

My favorite spot at GCM. This vendor sells dried chilis, herbs, spices, grains and other goodies for your cooking needs. Great if you want to buy in bulk. (Located smack dab in the middle on the lower level) I buy chia seeds in bulk, 5-10 pounds. Mostly for me, but also to share with friends & family. The price per pound is way less expensive than at Sprouts or Whole Foods. It should be noted that the price varies according to current market value. No matter, it's still a great deal! I love inhaling the scent of the dried chilis. The guys working the counter are always friendly and I appreciate that they take note of which customer to take care of next. Since other customers are buying multiple items in bulk, it sometimes takes a while. But that's okay because I've always been helped ASAP. Valeria's has always been one of the main reasons I'll go to Grand Central Market. Worth dropping by. Especially on Sundays when you can find nearby free street parking.

Great little store! They seem to have everything - sugar, flour, lentils, quinoa, hot sauce, vanilla, everything you need for your pantry.

Purchased all kinds of nuts and spices here, they are super nice.

Valeria's is located in the Grand Central Market downtown. This is a specialty grocer which carries a large variety of dried items such as spices, chiles, beans, rice and other dry food products. I really like this place for two special reasons which are the two meat seasoning blends they sell. One is for chicken and the other is for beef or pork. Both are superb and much better tasting than any other comparable meat seasoning blends I've ever tried. They are also amazingly inexpensive. Sold in bulk, they are only $1.99/lb.

Not to be confused with Valaries, another shop at Grand Central Market. Products More than just spices, though that is what you'll notice as soon as you walk up. They carry all sorts of dry goods, rice (white and brown), turbinado sugar, as well as the more common spices such as black-pepper (pre-ground and corns) and salt. They also carry cacahuate (peanuts), dried pepper pods, and powdered moles. Service The gentlemen running the store are fast, efficient, and friendly. They will also measure out any amount your want as long as the scale can display it. If you are exploring the health benefits of south of the border cooking or are a long-time aficionado, this is an excellent place to get your spices, herbs, and dried goods.

We always come And get our fries chiles from This place! The guys there are nice and are very fast as they always have a line. We buy pounds and pounds of chiles and have continued to do for over 6 months. They also have spices which you can buy there too!

They have bacalao-- dried salted cod...Puerto Rican delicacy.... my mom is from Puerto Rico and has been looking for this fish...11buks a pound! Wow!

This store is selling something else pretending it is cod fish. It is not! I paid 60 dollars for 5 pounds of what I thought was salted cod fish that I could not use at all. The fish they sell has so much fibroses that it makes it impossible to eat.

One of the best places to get chiles and authentic Mexican food ingredients. I always keep their green mole Telolapan in my refrigerator, where it lasts forever. Made with pepitas (pumpkin seeds), chiles and many more ingredients, it's spicy and a beautiful green color. All I have to do is dilute it with water or chicken broth, and add chicken, and I have a delicious chicken in mole for dinner (usually served over rice). All the other moles are great, too, but that one's my favorite. Try their turbinado sugar in your coffee, and you won't go back to ordinary sugar. Valeria's has been at the market for a long time, and I hope it's there forever.

Hole mole!! The Mole Negro is amazing. Heat it up with some chicken broth and smother chicken and rice with it. Nothing is better.