Hazlo International Foods in Baltimore: Latin American Groceries and Hard-to-Find Staples

Hazlo International Foods is a single-location independent grocer specializing in Latin American products, with particular depth in Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean items. Located on the west side, it operates as a neighborhood market rather than a supermarket, stocking fresh produce, prepared foods, and imported goods that major chains either don't carry or mark up significantly.

What Hazlo actually stocks

The store divides roughly into fresh departments (produce, meat, prepared foods) and packaged imports. The produce section rotates with availability but consistently carries plantains, yucca, malanga, and fresh cilantro year-round. The meat counter offers cuts specific to Latin American cooking: beef tongue, pork belly, and bone-in chicken at prices typically 20 to 40 percent lower than Whole Foods or Harris Teeter for the same items. The prepared-foods section includes fresh tamales, pupusas, and rotisserie chicken; orders for larger quantities (50+ tamales) require advance notice by phone.

The dried-goods and import aisles stock Mexican spices, Central American chocolate brands, Caribbean hot sauces, and masa by the pound. Corn tortillas are made fresh daily in-house. The freezer section carries frozen plantain, frozen okra, and Latin American ice cream brands unavailable at supermarkets.

Pricing and what to expect to spend

Individual items: fresh corn tortillas cost around $1.50 per pound; plantains run $0.59 to $0.79 per pound depending on ripeness; beef tongue averages $3.50 per pound. Prepared foods are priced for volume: a single pupusa is $1.25; a dozen costs $12. A rotisserie chicken is $8.99. Imported canned goods (beans, coconut milk, peppers in specific regional varieties) typically cost $1 to $2.50 per can, undercutting supermarket prices by 30 to 50 percent for branded items.

Prices on produce and prepared foods shift seasonally and with supply; confirm current rates when ordering in bulk.

How Hazlo compares to other Baltimore grocers

For Latin American specialty items, Hazlo has no direct competitor at the same scale in Baltimore. Harris Teeter and Safeway carry a token Latin aisle (masa, canned beans, salsa) but lack fresh plantains, yucca, or prepared Latin foods, and their imported prices run 40 to 60 percent higher. Whole Foods stocks some overlapping items (plantains, fresh cilantro, limited prepared Latin foods) at premium pricing; a single tamale there costs $3.50 versus $1.25 at Hazlo.

For general grocery needs (dairy, breakfast cereals, frozen vegetables), Hazlo is not a substitute for a supermarket. The selection outside Latin American goods is minimal and inconsistent. Use Hazlo for specialty items and bulk staples if you cook Latin American food regularly; use a supermarket for your base shop.

Who this store serves and who it doesn't

Hazlo suits home cooks preparing Mexican, Central American, or Caribbean meals, particularly those who buy in quantity or want cuts and varieties unavailable elsewhere. It works well for people restocking specific pantry items (particular brands of masa, sofrito, or achiote) between supermarket trips. The store also draws people seeking lower prices on items like plantains and fresh herbs, which supermarkets stock sparsely and mark up.

Hazlo does not work as a one-stop grocery. There is no produce beyond Latin American staples, limited dairy, no significant selection of packaged American breakfast or snack foods, and no deli counter beyond prepared Latin foods. If you need to buy milk, bread, and chicken alongside yucca and plantains, you will still need a supermarket trip.

What a first visit involves

The store is small enough to navigate in 10 to 15 minutes once you know the layout. The front section holds fresh produce and the deli counter; the middle aisles stock packaged imports and dry goods; the back freezer runs along the rear wall. Staff speak Spanish and English. If you are ordering prepared foods in volume or requesting specific cuts from the meat counter, ask by phone a day or two ahead; walk-in orders for individual items are filled same-day. Cash and card are both accepted.

Hours, location, and logistics

Hazlo is located on the west side of Baltimore. Hours are typically 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; call ahead to confirm, as holiday hours vary. Street parking is available on the surrounding blocks; there is no dedicated lot. The store is not wheelchair accessible due to narrow aisles and a single entrance step.

Hazlo fills a specific gap in Baltimore's grocery landscape: it stocks items at prices and freshness that supermarkets cannot match, but only within a narrow category. For anyone cooking Latin American food regularly or seeking hard-to-find fresh staples, it saves both money and shopping time.