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Aria Super Market & Bakery
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
1552 Webster StAlameda, CA 94501
(510) 337-9831
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Steve K. said: "Amini's is a convenient spot for breakfast or lunch for those who live or work in the Richmond Marina area. They are more of a general store than a restaurant and have a little bit of everything. The outdoor patio is perfect on nice…" read more »
16 reviews for Aria Super Market & Bakery
16 reviews in English
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Review from Snow S.
Oakland, CA
3/8/2011
If you live in Alameda, or somewhere across the tunnel, don't miss this place.
oh god, the bread...I did not come in to this store intending to buy any bread, but it smelled so good..and the cashier assured me that the baker was a specialist. I might have eaten it all myself...It was, indeed, divine.
I came for the ajvar (red pepper spread) from Macedonia, and it was fabulous. straight outta downtown Skopje.
The peeps here are friendly,helpful and happy to make light-hearted conversation -
Review from Allen S.
Alameda, CA
12/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Family run business.
Friendly folks, and products from Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey and maybe other Mediterranean countries. They have pies/cakes/desserts that are freshly made for takeout, but also pre--packaged delicacies.
Sometimes they have fab produce/exotic ones not normally at supermarkets, and fresh picked ones, too.
Some things tend to be out of stock, but they get them in soon.
A lot of the things sold are NOT written in English but have pictures, so be sure to ask or at least bring a dictionary/translator.
They have some meats, mostly Halal, but some non-Halal meat and pork products.
Also, as you know, if you are not sure of a product or if it's not written in English ALWAYS LOOK AT THE EXPIRY DATE to make sure what you are getting is not expired.... and also remember that in Europe/Asia, the format is Date/Month/Year so if you see something 12/01/2010 it means that the EXPIRY DATE is January 12, 2010. Just double check!
Try to support them... I know it's hard in this economy, and they have such a niche market, so open your minds, be creative, and see what you can choose there, buy, and try to cook at home! -
Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2009
Aria is like one of those old 'Choose Your Own Adventure" books. Every time I enter, the ending isn't quite what I planned at the outset. Most of the time I am pleasantly surprised, but occasionally I get a bit of a shock.
Aria has everything: a small selection of fresh produce, European chocolates and candies, Balkan cheeses and international delicacies I cannot even begin to describe. Since the majority of the packaging is in languages I don't read, it can be challenging to determine what everything is made of, but I've never had a problem getting an explanation from whoever is manning the register that day. My favorite food item though is the fresh baked bread made by one of the owners.Listed in: The West Side
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Review from Lucija K.
Alameda, CA
3/23/2008
My husband and I used to shop at Aria when it was owned by an Afghani fellow and had a just few Balkan products. Now owned by a family from Sarajevo they offer even more Balkan products including the cevapi mentioned earlier, incredibly tasty bread called "samun" (baked on the premises) and freshly made burek.
My husband, a Sarajevo import himself, loves the dry meat called "suho meso" and a very tart sheep's cheese from the Bosnian town of Travnik called "Travnicki Sir". I'm partial to the "zeljanica" which is the Bosnian-cousin to spanikopita but baked in a coil-shape--it's very good with "kajmak" a dairy product resembling "quark". If you like the Bulgarian red pepper spread sold at Trader Joe's you'll have at least four different brands to choose from along with dozens of other jars of goodies.
Just stay away from a soda called "Cokta" which tastes like it wants to be Dr. Pepper but ended up as carbonated Nyquil instead. -
Review from Johnny L.
Alameda, CA
6/14/2010
Very friendly folks here and interesting products. I like their fresh-baked breads, and the phyllo dough desserts look great if you like nuts (I don't, but that's not their fault).
Also, insider tip: when local fruits are in season (e.g. tomatoes, watermelons) you can get a GREAT deal on really fresh, non-supermarkety produce. I'm told one of the proprietors and his nephew go pick the tomatoes themselves out in Brentwood. So be sure to stop in during July - September. -
Review from KAI S.
Oakland, CA
11/18/2009
I like this place.
Reasonably priced pita bread, neat imported candies, other frozen & fresh middle eastern fruits, cooked foods, etc.
It's definitely a fun store!
Their weakness is that some of the other items aren't priced as well as they should be. Not the largest selection of products, either, being as the store is relatively small.
The employees at first aren't so personable but warm up when you engage them (one was super helpful when I asked hm a specific question about a product).
Go here to find neat imported goodies! -
Review from T'Hud W.
Alameda, CA
7/24/2011
I just got back from Greece, and have been desperately searching for baklava. Not just any baklava, but the rich, dense baklava I had all throughout Greece.
I finally found it down the street.
Amazing. Just amazing.
Also, friendly, helpful people at the store!
Sadly, I'm going to have to start working out more, so that I can continue to feed my baklava addiction.
*sigh* -
Review from Luba P.
7/13/2009
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!!
The canned goods, the dried meats, kajmak, cevapi, and chocolates!! It is also a bakery where you can get homemade burek!! YUM
Friendly owners, nice neighborhood. 5 stars without question! -
Review from Nobbi L.
10/15/2007
What used to be an Afghan store is now a Bosnian/Balkan market. Great products from all the former YU countries. Friendly owners. You can even get Cevapi!
Listed in: Alameda Faves, Born to Shop, Ethnic Grocers
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Review from Victor G.
12/20/2009
aria market & bakery is on the corner of lincoln and webster. aria looks unlike a typical market. the goods are stacked on stilted shelves. they source products from east europe, specifically bosnia.
they have an in house bakery but there wasn't many items for sale. got a wheat bread, (1.99) that wasn't like acme or any sour dough equivalent. still, the dense bosian type bread was filling and a good bread accompanient for creamy soups and crabs...
friendly service. would return if i knew what i wanted to get there.
metered parking. -
Review from Michael H.
Alameda, CA
9/21/2009
This is a fun place to visit. The former Yugoslavian countries aren't part of my heritage, but I really enjoy seeing unique items on the shelves that aren't in Safeway, Lucky, etc. In typical Eastern European fashion, there are lots of tines neatly displayed, including fish (sardines, tuna, mackrel, sprats.) Also many tins of pate from various animals. They have many dried noodles, cheeses, sausages etc. too. Also on display is a good selection of sweets, including some German items too (Milka chocolates for example.) They occasionally bake breads, meat pies, and lamb too from what I hear. Some "oriental" items too, like coffee for Turkish/Arabic coffee (including the cooker) and locum (Turkish delight.)
Even if you aren't from Eastern Europe, this is a fun place to go. -
Review from Patrick D.
San Leandro, CA
5/31/2010
PLEASE TRY THIS STORE...
...if you like eastern Europe stuff. Or are adventurous...
When we lived in Alameda, we always wanted to go here more often than we could.
Really nice owners: two parents and their two sons, when we went last. The eldest son is a real nice, funny guy. The staff were always nice to us, greeted us a smile. Anyone who posts a negative comment about the staff, please go back and enter store with a smile. I can't imagine a negative experience due to the owners/staff.
The father used to roast lamb on the weekends, not sure if he does anymore. I was in taste-bud heaven with the lamb, fresh bread, cheese, and some hard to find picked stuff...-yummmmmm-!!!
We can't live without Bulgarian cheese, basterma, pickle peppers. Your typical stores only offer Greek "feta", American salami, pickled cucumbers-- what most Americans are familiar with. -Expand your culinary horizons, people!-
Our kids were forever sneaking in candies and treats into the basket that they really enjoyed but could find no where else.
Oh, man! I forgot to mention the meat sausages that look like your typical breakfast "Jimmy Dean" links, but these are to die for, on their fresh bread, with onions, cheese, etc. I need to go back there!
Sometimes we'd buy $200+ 'cause everything is so good, and not regret spending that much, 'cause we'd be in eastern European heaven for a week.
Just a great overall experience. Please patronize this store if you're eastern European or are married to someone who is, or interested in food from this region. Thanks!!!! -
Review from Merricat B.
Alameda, CA
2/5/2010
I'm in Alameda quite a lot. I shop at Marina Village, as well as exercise there, and I go to Thin Man's guitar shop all the time.
Well, I ventured a block down Webster one day to check out that cute little corner market I keep seeing while on my way to Thin Man. Wow, I was so excited to see Bosnian foods!!! My music partner (and sister from another Mother) Marta is Bosnian, so I couldn't wait to take her there on her next visit.
She loved the place, chatting happily away in their native tongue with the woman who was manning the counter.
I got talked into sharing a Cevapi (pronouncd Chevapi) which is a sort of large, fluffy flat bread (that looks a little like a Pita. . .but kicks a Pit'a's sorry ass) stuffed with to-die-for-delicious Balkan sausages along with chopped onions and a big dollop of sour cream.
Ummmmm. . . .it was freakin' De-damn-licious!!!!!!! and it was only $6 and filled us both right up!!!!
They've got these fresh breads and savory pie-things that are bound to be Fan-Bloody-Tastic if the Cevapi is any indication.
Go try it today, but don't go alone unless you've got a terminal case of the munchies. -
Review from Jeff P.
Pleasanton, CA
3/8/2011
please please watch the expiration dates on their products! i bought some meat / salami and it was expired! a whole year..but frozen..thank god i looked at the date otherwise id be sick as a cow...so i give them 1 star for that.
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Review from Michael S.
Piedmont, CA
11/15/2010
Great European style store right here in Alameda. Friendly staff and lots of specialty foods. Sometimes, it doesn't seem to be supplied very well with empty shelf space, but great nonetheless.
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Review from Senka F.
Hayward, CA
7/24/2009
Absolutely love this place for all of my soul food of former Yugoslavia, like Chevapi, Burek and all other things. Heading to pick up my order of Burek tomorrow night, cannot wait!
