Zamora Fresh Market in Marshalltown

4 E Main St, Marshalltown, IA 50158

Marshalltown is home to a thriving and growing Hispanic community, many of whom came from Mexico to work in the meat-packing industry. Over the years a number of Mexican stores and restaurants have come and gone, and I’ve tried to support all of them, since they bring needed diversity, culinary and otherwise, into the community. A fairly recent addition is the grocery store-restaurant Zamora, right in the center of the old downtown, across the street from the courthouse. It has a good selection of produce and other food products from Mexico, a great meat counter, and a stand in the front of the store that has fruit concoctions, tamales, etc. The draw for me, though, is the modest lunch counter in the back of the restaurant. They make your tortillas on the spot, and offer a selection of meats for tacos, burritos, and tortas. Their tacos are some of the best I’ve had in Iowa, as are the refried beans. There’s also a buffet line of sorts, but I haven’t figured that part out yet. The crowd seems to be getting more diverse, in the sense that I’m not always the only white person there, which I see as a good sign in terms of local acceptance of a great new addition to the town’s cultural make-up, not to mention that the more clients, the greater chances for the longevity of the place. It’s well worth the drive up from Grinnell.