Nestled in downtown Ypsilanti is a little-known gem called the Dos Hermanos Market, which boasts quality products, affordable prices and delicious tacos.
The main entrance is hidden in the back attached to the parking lot.
Upon entering the market, you are immediately immersed in Spanish, from the customers to the signs to the products.
Some might be intimidated by fluent Spanish speakers or a foreign atmosphere, but it shouldn’t be reason to fear.
According to employee Rodolfo Gonzalez all different kinds of people come by; there’s no reason to feel out of place. The staff is warm and welcoming, he said, and is definitely helpful for someone who asks a million questions.
Mexican merchandise like piñatas and fútbol jerseys ideal for fiestas line the ceilings, as well as household products imported from Mexico like shampoos and laundry detergent.
Coolers are filled with domestic and imported beers as well as sodas like the popular Mexican soda
Jarritos.
There’s no shortage of sweets, which you’ll learn immediately after entering.
Near the door you’ll find a case for pastries and baked sweet bread — pan de dulcé. Adjacent to the pastry case is a wall covered in candies native to Mexico.
There is a large selection of products targeting the staples of Hispanic cooking: canned beans, spices and rice line thoroughly stocked shelves, leaving the shopper with lots of options as far as brand and flavor.
The market’s produce section features assorted fruits from fresás to peras, strawberries to pears and limes.
Most produce is sold at a price cheaper than those at Meijer and Kroger.
Dos Hermanos is a vendor of enough delicious cooking necessities to make this writer wish she had a kitchen.
A real draw to Dos Hermanos is its full-service meat counter, which offers a wide array of meats fresh or precooked.
The staff claims pork meat is the most popularly sold item on the weekends.
Aside from the meats, the sandwiches and fajitas are also well -recommended.
What also makes this grocer truly special is the taco and tamale stand at the heart of the operation.
Upon the recommendation of the staff, I had to try it for myself. I watched as my food was being prepared.
Each tortilla was pressed on the grill and filled with juicy beef, cilantro and topped with a lime. The sight alone was mouth-watering.
“Dos Hermanos won two awards for best tacos in Ypsilanti,” Gonzalez says.
After tasting the tacos, this does not surprise me at all. Tacos go for $1.60 and tamales for $1 each, which is a steal for such a amazing treat.
As a Chicago native and having been lucky enough to experience culturally diverse foods at their finest, I must say that the prepared food at Dos Hermanos is stellar.
The tacos were as authentic and savory as homemade food from a tamale cart in Pilsen without the worry of unsanitary preparation. Trust me, it’s no Taco Bell.
This establishment still remains unknown to many students at Eastern Michigan University.
After two years on campus, student Adele Johnson said, “I didn’t even realize there was a Mexican
market in this neighborhood. I have to go there.”
The store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located on Michigan Avenue near the College of Business.
The location has not only street parking but also a full lot in the back, so there’s no reason not to make a visit.
