Update: More info on Argyll Foods can be found at a September 2010 posting here.
I love finding new ethnic food shops in the city and have to say muchos gracias to Cathy Walsh of Walsh Cooks for mentioning Argyll Foods in her blog. You wouldn’t know it by the name, but Argyll Foods has one of the largest inventories of Latino products in the city. I planned to make duck enchiladas for supper and wanted to stop in at Argyll Foods in hopes of scoring some ingredients for the dish. Boy, did I ever.
The grocery store is tucked between a tattoo parlour and a hair salon, at one of Edmonton’s busiest intersections: 99 Street and Argyll Road. The store stocks a lot of North American products as well, but that, according to owners Bernardo and Carlos (who hail from the Mexico City area), will change in time. As it stands right now, they have a pretty fair selection of Mexican and Argentinean products including Mexican cheeses such as Oaxaca (stringy style for melting), Queso Fresco (for sauce) and Cotija (a Romano, crumbly style cheese). You can’t possibly have an authentic Mexican dish without one of those cheeses.
They also carry locally made empanadas, Mexican chorizo, fruit sodas in all sorts of tropical flavours, hot sauces galore, canned and dried peppers, and sauces for enchiladas, tacos, etc. and a variety of sweets with unusual names. The list goes on.
I went in for enchilada sauce and came out $100 later. I needed absolutely everything. Even the guava paste. (?) But I love finding stores like this where the owners are genuinely happy to see you, talk to you and take you around the store to show you what they have, and let me tell you, these guys are proud of their store. Carlos and Bernardo’s enthusiasm for absolutely everything was so refreshing.
Their genuine love of food and life feels like sunshine itself. I’m glad to have found them.
And the enchiladas, by the way, were fantastic! 
This place is a treat, isn’t it?! So happy to read about your experience.
Definitely a treat, and thanks for bringing this store to our attention!
I will have to check it out next time I am in the south end. I bought some dried chilis in the north end and they were well past their prime.
definitely do that, they had a pretty good selection! The Queso Fresco was so nice to find…made me feel like I was almost back in the Mayan Riviera…well, minus the heat, and sand, and rum…and ocean, but close.
Just came across your blog from a link on Eat My Words. So happy to hear about a store in Edmo that carries a good supply of Latin products! Hoping they carry Masa so I can make my own corn tortillas! Will be checking it out for sure and checking back here frequently too.
Thanks!
Natasha, thx stopping by. I can’t remember seeing the Masa there but I’d be surprised if they didnt carry it. If by chance they don’t, they do have some authentic corn tortillas in the cooler (Don Pancho brand) that I used for my enchiladas and they were very, very good.
Hola, son cliente de su tienda, y me gustaria saber si me pueden ayudar por favor, el pasado diciembre, para ser exactos el 15 de diciembre mande dinero a colima, pero se me perdio la hoja que tiene los datos de la persona a la que le mande el dinero, nada mas tengo el recibo de pago que dan ustedes, y para la declaracion de impuestos me urge tener algun comprobante con los datos de quien recibio el dinero, les repito, tengo el recibo de pago si les sirve de algo, me podran ayudar? algun comprobante? gracias.
Querido “Anonymous”…póngase en contacto con Bernardo o Carlos en Argyll Foods (la Tienda Latina)
9844 63 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB, Canada T6E 0G6
teléfono: 780-438-3684
Make cuban pasteles de guayaba with the guayaba paste! I buy the puff pastry sheets at superstore, cut them in squares, put a bit of the guava paste in the square,and a small piece of cream cheese. Close the pastry squares pressing on the borders, brush an egg wash over the pasteles and pop them in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden. You’ll thank me 🙂
Buen provecho.
Danysedai, this is wonderful! I am going to definitely give this a shot, thanks so much for this 🙂 I’ll let you know how it goes.
Now they have lots of Peruvian products, treats and pops!!!!
do you know if they sell yerba mate thanks
Not sure about the Yerba Mate but if you give them a call, they’ll be able to tell you. (780) 438-3684
I’ve been to Argyll foods and the owner was so nice, and the store had a great selection of wonderful foods. Sadly I tried another latin store in the north side today and the staff were not nice and the selection was not great. I guess its back to Argyll foods for me! (ps. the frozen enchiladas are to die for!)
anybody know where i can buy ready made menudo soup?
Rita…I’ve never seen nor heard of menudo soup offered anywhere in Edmonton, but if you stop in at Argyll Foods, talk to Carlos or Bernardo – they’re sure to know.
DO you know if they carry Lizano Salsa from Costa Rica?
I am so happy I discovered this blog posting! I just returned from Mexico and am looking for some authentic ingredients…especially the corn tortillas!