- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Balboa International Market
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
5907 Balboa AveSan Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Clairemont
(858) 277-3600
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
99 reviews for Balboa International Market
Review Highlights
-
"Great selection of various Persian foods." In 44 reviews -
"Overall, the chicken kabob was great." In 13 reviews -
"Great grocery store for middle eastern ingredients." In 14 reviews
Loading...
99 reviews in English
-
Review from Dmitriy S.
San Diego, CA
I grew up eating a lot of products from Persian/Middle Eastern/Arabic stores, so it was a must that I had one nearby when I moved down to San Diego last year. Ever since then, Balboa International Market has been my go-to place for the following items:
- Deli Meats & Cheeses. The lady behind the counter is always more than happy to let you sample anything you want. The selection is always vast and all products are fresh and delicious. Prices are a bit high but that's what you get when you want quality.
- Juices. The selection here surpasses anywhere I've seen in the area. I'm not talking about your low quality sugar-filled American Apple juices. I'm talking about pomegranate, black currant, sour cherry, and peach juices. The stuff that tastes 1000x better than what you find at any Vons and is actually good for you.
- Fruits & Veggies. Not always the best prices or freshness, but you can almost always find a good deal on something.
- Hummus. Need I say more?
- Tea. Alghazaleen Sri Lankan Ceylon Tea. So far, they're the only place I've seen that carries it. This tea is extraordinary.
- Chocolate and sweets. They carry a wide range of European, Israeli, and Russian sweets that span half an aisle and more. You're always bound to find something delicious. If you don't want to choose, just head straight to the Kinder chocolates. You won't be disappointed.
- Pita bread. Cheap, fresh and delicious
There are many other things that I pick up here from time to time, but it would take too long to list. They have pretty much everything you might need that is commonplace in an Arabic market. The great part is the variety of Russian products, which are much cheaper here than at Russian markets in the area. It's things like this that keep me coming back again and again. -
Review from Kailey S.
4/30/2012
I come to this market because it is the closest place to buy halal meat. The selection is just okay in terms of meats. I do like that everything is priced fairly cheap, especially the produce.
Sometimes the service isn't all that great. Most every time, the cashier seems like they are just going through the motions and don't even really notice you are there. -
Review from Kelly O.
Updated - 4/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
While I love this market in *theory*, it's letting me down in reality. At lunch, there is often a line at the hot food area and it is SO SLOW. Usually the same really grumpy woman is taking the orders. I just wanted a container of yogurt sauce and had to wait in the same line as everyone ordering food, so it took FOREVER.
I saw a line at the meat counter, too.
Then I went to check out, and again there was a huge, slow moving line and ONE person doing checkout. It was so frustrating that it took me 20 minutes to simply pick up a container of yogurt and check out.
And I've tried a few of their prepared foods, like the mantu (dumplings), ashak, samosas, and spanakopita-- and in general, they are not great. Who knows how long they have been sitting there!? I actually threw the samosa into the garbage after a few bites because it was so stale and gross. I'd go so far as to say to avoid the prepared food behind the glass. I also don't find the food to be particularly cheap.
The only place where this market shines is their delicious hot foods that you can order fresh at the counter for take out as well as their fresh bread.Listed in: Kearny Mesa Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/3/2011
How did I not know about this place earlier?!!
Nearby Kearny Mesa is lousy with Asian markets.… Read more »
-
-
Review from MARIA A.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best kept secret in town! Where can you get a whole entree of lamb shank for $8??? This place is the real deal and I'm so happy it's right near our office!
-
Review from Way F.
San Jose, CA
4/1/2012
3.5 stars - for the market.
It's a nice small market with many middle eastern goods. I saw a lot of olives, feta cheeses, halal meats, and cheap produce. I got a good deal on key limes, onions, and some other produce.
However, the Persian food I got from the takeout area was disappointing. I got two beef kebabs. I liked the saffron rice, it was tasty, chewy, and didn't stick together - the way it should be. However, I'm ambivalent about the kebabs...they didn't smell too good and the taste was kind of off. It didn't taste as good as other beef kebabs I've had.
The kebabs came with a small iceberg salad, which was okay. The saffron rice had a grilled tomato with it, but no other greenery. It only had a little bit of yellow on it.
Also tried some baklava, I liked the gingery syrup sweet taste on the outside of the baklava, but the filling inside the baklava was iffy.
Recommendations: I would come back for the cheap produce prices and the variety of middle eastern goods, but skip the take-out area. I've had far better Persian food before and this just didn't do it for me. -
Review from Zohreh A.
San Diego, CA
3/29/2012
Great place for kabobs! Their chicken barg kabob was really tender and they were very generous with the saffron.Their koobideh was great because it wasn't dry and it was actually soft. Their basmati rice is to die for and the kabob plates come with an awesome salad with a great dressing (i cant tell what it is but it's awesome). Their salad shirazi isn't that great though. The gheymeh (a type of stew) was very good and came with extra rice! The supermarket has a lot of middle eastern goodies/spices. They have dates, martadela, middle eastern food/snacks, and produce. They also have kinder bars!!! Make sure you grab onto a table if you want to eat in and come during a busy hour.
-
Review from Sara B.
San Diego, CA
2/27/2012
This supermarket is just great!
The store offers variety of exported product for Israel, Iran and many other madetrian countries prices are definitely severe and the vegetables and fruits are cheep too in compere to any other store. -
Review from Donna A.
11/8/2011 5 Check-ins Here
To me, the best supermarket in San Diego. It has all the middle eastern Items you need: Fresh baked bread, a large selection of produce, meat department, cheese department and a take out/ eat in food area.
I love it here.
Stop by for lunch and your will not be disappointed. -
Review from Henry G.
Lakeside, CA
9/7/2011
Great place for lunch. Grilled skewered chicken, roasted roma tomato, on a huge bed of basamati rice and salad with what seems like their own house dressing, $5.99! I sometimes get my orders to go and take my parents lunch, they love all their food. A great healthy alternative to sandwich shops. Great prices on their produce but like another Yelper stated, not as clean as the big chain stores but you have to rinse it anyway, amazing selection of herbs and great Persian bread from their on site bakery. The entire store was recently remodeled and upgraded.
Also a deli counter with great international cheeses and meat counter.
The building is behind Chase Bank so you won't see it from the street. Stop in and try it, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Maureen C.
San Diego, CA
8/17/2011
Score! This place really hits the spot for a great lunch break.
Great prices ($6.99 for a chicken kabob plate with rice, salad and bread), wonderful food (fresh meats, fabulous rice), huge portions (recommendation: order the mixed kabob plate for $8.99, grab a baklava and share), incredibly friendly staff, clean, lots of parking - check for everything you need for a midweek lunch :-)
And, Persian food is a wonderfully healthy alternative to so many chain and/or fast food places.
Right next door is their "fancy" restaurant - also open for lunch. I can only attest to the deli area, though I am sure the restaurant (has a different name?) is also lovely, and would be a good choice if you have a group or a bit more time to spare. -
Review from yekta a.
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food!
It's an all-inclusive market really!
We ordered food from here for a party, spoke to Eli, and he was WONDERFUL! Such an awesome guy!
The market has a lot of goodies there as well, there's also a bakery/coffee shop/cafe there as well! -
Review from Melanie D.
San Diego, CA
2/9/2012
Love the food in the mini restaurant in the back. The people that prepare the food are so kind. I asked for no salad and instead they gave me more rice! Amazing service and food!
-
Review from Einna S.
7/13/2011
We wanted to try a different Persian spot from our norm and I found this on yelp. Yes, it is a market however there is a deli in the back. I always order the chicken kebab plate and the bf orders the lamb shank plate which also includes salad and basmati rice.
The chicken kebab plate was pretty yummy but it is not as tasty as Zeytoons. But for $6.99, it's a deal. The bf definitely likes the lamb shank at the other place we go to as well. He felt the lamb flavor was a bit watery, the shank was smaller and more fatty than the other restaurant.
Overall, yes I would give it another try and he would too but not for the lamb shank. It's good and quite affordable.
On to the next. -
Review from Andrew B.
Burbank, CA
11/2/2011
Restaurant part: Kabobs. Fesenjan!! (Not on visual menu, but they had it at least on Friday afternoon.)
Also, a terrific market. Large selections, although purist; only Middle Eastern stuff. -
Review from Rubin K.
8/17/2011
This is a great taste of home. It reminds me just like all the Persian markets around me in LA.
Highlights:
Cheap groceries
Fresh bread
Great prices on fresh herbs!!!
Seriously, if you cook a lot with fresh herbs, here is the place to get it. It's always cheaper than any other store, even Henry's/Sprouts.
Their produce may not always be clean packaged like bigger national grocerers do, but it's the same product for a much cheaper rice.
Here is a list of things that you will not find cheaper elsewhere:
Basil (69 cents/bunch) and any other herbs
Onions - usually 3 or 4lbs/dollar
Tomatoes - usually at least cheaper than 88c/lb
Bell Peppers - 99 cents/lb-ish
Spinach - i've seen it for as cheap as 69cents/bunch, but it's normally i think 99 cents/bunch
Lettuce - 60 cents for green leaf lettuce (i think)
The list goes on...
just come here. -
Review from Zheilla R.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Being that we are middle eastern, we shop here on a regular basis to get some good ol' Persian Cuisine. It's a perfect little ethnic grocery store full of flavorful and cheap food!! The produce section is great, the prices are so cheap! You can buy 10 cucumbers for the price of one at VONS! They also have a little deli kind of mini restaurant in the back where you can order small lunch sized portions if you don't feel like cooking.
The meat and marinades are really good too if you're planning a last minute BBQ for you and some friends. The saffron marinated chicken is my favorite!
The only down side is that there is always one young (18-20ish) man that works there that looks and acts like working there would be his last choice if made to choose between cutting off his finger, jumping in boiling water, or going to work at Balboa International Market. I assume that his parents or family own the place and he was forced, but poor guy ALWAYS looks miserable.. -
Review from Magdalena K.
San Diego, CA
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you want to feel like you are in one of NYC or San Francisco ethnic neighborhoods in a non pretentious, corner grocery with a bustling deli section go ahead and check this place out!
I had a blast on my visit there. The menu is not extensive but very interesting (they have a tongue sandwich) and all the ready made dishes and desserts behind the glass looked simply amazing.
It is one of those places that you get anxious when you stand in line, but your gut feeling is telling you that soon you will be eating and it will be GOOD, no matter what menu item you pick. There is certain feeling of cheerfulness and well being and you want to bond with strangers waiting with you to place the order. The cooks looked like they were having a great time and they were talking to regulars standing in line.
I ordered tandoori chicken plate ($6.99) made as a salad and then proceeded to check out their grocery section. That too brought out the smile on my face again as I recognized some of the brands that are available in Europe and also unknown items, like a jar filled with honey and all kinds of nuts. All the items seemed to be priced well meaning that you can buy your dinner ingredients here and pay as much as you in your chain grocery store.
I bought a small watermelon, a bunch of bananas, two beautiful grapefruits and a couple of tangerines all excellent quality for only $4.08...
The tandori chicken salad I opened later at home was delicious. The meat was tender and seasoned well. The salad had plenty of tomatoes and petite cucumbers. Nobody was being skimpy here. I loved the entire charred grilled Roma tomato that they add to their dishes. It added another layer of smokey flavor.
Luckily I live a couple of blocks away from this gem. -
Review from Faye L.
5/9/2011 2 photos
To all you non-asians that have ever gone to 99 Ranch market and felt outta place, I feel for ya. I use to always stare at non-asians when it was their first time setting foot in 99 Ranch : they look so lost, timid, unaware of where to go, who to ask for suggestions, etc. I would shake my head and frown and think 'oh man, look at the poor bugger, sticking out like a sore thumb and all..."
Well, that's pretty much EXACTLY how i felt at Balboa International Market yesterday . I was the non-Persian that stuck out like a sore thumb. I was the one who HAD no idea how to order, where to go, who to ask for help. Dude, I felt bad for MYSELF man. Like Fck, I look really lost and pathetic right now.
Anyhow, I really wanted to try this place, Sunday late afternoon around 2p or so. After my awesome experience at Parsian Market, I've been jonesing to try this place. AND, on their menu, they offer chicken thigh kabob which is something I don't think Parsian offers.
It was chaos in the market. In fact, the parking lot was kinda like 99 Ranch (packed and wtf-like). If you are going solely to eat their hot foods, you walk to the top left corner of the market and that's where you'll find the girls taking the orders. It was insane b/c there were alot of ppl and some confusion on what to do.
(Side note: kinda cute: I was standing in line to order and the ONE other asian in there, who also seemed lost, asked me "Do you know anything about Turkish food?" I gave him this blank stare and wanted to whisper loudly "DO I LOOKKKK LIKE I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TURKISH FOOD??""" Just found it really hilarious that he asked the only other asian about the market versus someone who actually looks like s/he knows what the heck they're doing )
On to the food:
1. Chicken thigh Kabob , comes w/ rice and salad and grilled tomato $7.99:
- Freakin' delicious. If you're a fan of dark meat, this is YOUR dish. All thigh, no cheapy leg meat. Cooked PERFECTLY (see pic)
2. Filet mignon kabob, comes/ w/ grilled tomato $9.99:
- what a disappointment. It came out hot and the first bite was ok. But it was cooked 'well done' and tasted dry. And for $9.99, overpriced and ridiculous (see pic)
You order the food, pay at back cashier, and they give you a ticket. The cashier rang up my order wrong 3 times and each time when I *mentioned* it to her, she felt terrible and would try to re-do it. So perhaps just make sure you do your math when you're paying.
The seating area is ok. It's in the front of the market. Not sure why, but I waited almost 25 minutes for my food. I think the 6 ppl that ordered after me got their food before me.
I do believe you get better service / bigger portions if you look like you know wtf you are doing or you can speak the language. I was comparing my fellow patrons dish with mine thinking 'wow, my portion seems smaller'. There's this burnt rice piece called Tahdeg that i heard so much about and noticed I didn't get on my plate - perhaps b/c I didn't ask for it or perhaps b/c they didn't think I'd care (?) but just disappointed when I glanced at other ppl's plates and noticed they had it. I use to scoff at my friends who SWORE that if you take an asian to a place like Sam Woo you'd get more food and better service. Well, I kinda believe that for BIM.
Overall, the chicken kabob was great. I'd come back specifically for that alone. But I'd want to figure out when it's less busy.
For those who are wondering who I'd pick b/w Parsian vs BIM, I'd have to say Parsian b/c the service was great, food was great, and it just felt way more comfortable.
Hope this review helps anyone out there wanting to try out this place... -
Review from Darlene G.
San Diego, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty good but it did not wow me but it was all for a really good price.I got a plate with a chicken skewer and a beef one with rice and a salad for about $10, other places this would cost about $15. Its a large portion, i wasnt able to finish it all, i had enough left over to bring to work the next morning.
This place is kind of hidden, you can't see it from the main street. Its a grocery store, deli, bakery, and restaurant in one. It took my friend and i awhile to figure out where to order the food, there isn't any clear signs telling you where to order. there are tables near the entrance of the store to eat and there were quite a few people in line ordering food and eating in. -
Review from Halal E.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2012
Excellent 'independent' supermarket in town. Compared to other ethnic stores, this store is very well managed and professional. they have a great selection of produce and meats at very competitive prices.
The hot food is also really good. excellent option for halal Persian food. -
Review from Yusef H.
El Cajon, CA
Updated - 11/9/2011
Stopped by for lunch again. Ridiculous. Had a chicken salad. Chicken is flavored to perfection. Not sure how they do it, but they cook it perfect every time. The dressing is a mustard vinaigrette which is to die for.
Great job guys, keep it up.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/17/2011
I just had lunch here today for the second time and I am not disappointed. I ordered the combination… Read more »
-
-
Review from c k.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 11/29/2011
Went here again today
This time I only bought tabbouleh,dolmas,halva,and some falafel and a small closed meat pie I cant remember the name of.This is the only place Ive found such cuisine,particularly halva,which is really sweet and cant seem to find anywhere else in SD.
Ill be back here again1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/23/2011
Bought some food here today
The tabbouleh was great,better than great.So were the dolmas,and I havent… Read more »
-
-
Review from Charlton C.
San Diego, CA
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
* Great Persian food, a little hidden but worth finding *
I've been coming here for a few years now and am never disappointed. For around $10 you get some kebab chicken or beef, some rice and a salad. It tastes good, is somewhat healthy and is a good break from what's usually out there.
Sometimes the order takes a bit to get out, but time flies while wandering the aisles trying to see all the unique product.
Definitely give the Balboa International Market a shot, there's a lot of great food in there. -
Review from Tiffany R.
San Diego, CA
12/9/2010 2 Check-ins Here
What brought us here was the Vimto - an overly sugary and overly addicting fruit soda that we once tried at a random hookah place in Anaheim. A friend told us that this was one of the only places in SD that stocks Vimtos, so naturally, we beelined our way over there.
With nothing but Vimtos on the mind, we had no idea that within this grocery store we'd find what is now one of our favorite lunch spots in San Diego. There is an area in the back where they sell freshly made Persian food!
http://www.balboamarke...
Our favorite is the chicken/beef kabob combination. For $10, you get two big kabobs, basmati rice, salad, and a grilled tomato. Paired with a Vimto or other cold drinks, this combo is more than enough to feed two people for lunch - such a good deal!
To avoid passing out in the indoor seating area, we often walk off the combo by checking out the groceries. One of these days I'll learn how to cook Persian food and write a proper review on their products. For now, I still don't tire of browsing the shelves in quiet wonderment.
I haven't been to any other international markets, so I can't do a price comparison, but I'm pretty sure a package of flatbread that is the size of an extra-large pizza for around $2 is very cheap compared to the $3-$4 you'd pay at commercial grocery stores. Their fruits and veggies are very reasonable as well.
And if you haven't gotten the memo yet - try the Vimto!Listed in: Made with love, from the…
-
Review from Tamara L.
4/3/2011 11 Check-ins Here
I love stopping by here and seeing all these exotic looking things, that I mostly have no idea what they are. Check out their "deli" counter to see what they have. It ranges from premade items such as hummus, tabouleh, to halvah, feta, meats and olives. You can also sit down and order a meal to eat straight from the deli counter, lamb, shwarmas, etc. It all smells so yummy.Their shelves are stocked with middle eastern fare, most of which has English translations. I always try to buy something new that I don't know, for the fun of trying something new. They have a decent little produce section, usually with good prices, and a small frozen and refrigerated section where you can get labneh, ice creams, and other middle east delicacies and staples. They also sell fresh made breads. Really yummy! Some of the items they sell are Halal if that is something you are searching for.
Now, here's my issue with them. You're lucky if you can find a price tag on the shelves, which is incredibly frustrating. If you do this price tag will most likely not match the product under which it is placed and more than one time, what I have seen listed as the price did not ring up the same. It is always a higher price. I have learned to watch the screen as they ring up my items and too many times catch the price discrepancy.
*&Note to potential shoppers: It is a middle eastern store and it is staffed and patronized by the such, so if you walk in there wearing a little tank top and shorts you will probably get some not so nice looks. I often stop by there after the gym and out of respect will toss on a jacket or something to cover. -
Review from Stella A.
3/9/2011
I like the fact that they have produce/products that you cant find in regular supermarkets. Their spices are especially unique. They also have a variety of breads (always a plus in Persian culture), as well as fozen products to use as bases for stews (also called Choresht in Farsi).
The mini restaurant they have has decent food as well. Your basic rices and kabobs with some stews.
So if you're feeling adventurous and want to try making some Persian food, you should come check this place out. -
Review from Minerva M.
San Marcos, CA
12/13/2011
You will like the variety they have in this store and my all-time favorite kabobs! Customer service is just as great. Definitely worth the trip if you live/work more than 10 miles from here. Parking is not a problem.
-
Review from Lisa W.
2/13/2011 1 photo
My bf wanted to check this place out, so I was reluctant at first, but decided to go anyway.
So just checked it out, had Persian food, and I love Persian food so I was like hell, I'll try it, and I did. I got the "301" combo which is lule and basmati rice and salad. It took forever for them to make it, I think it was because they were really busy. And the cook sneezed, I don't know if it was in my food or he sneezed on the side, but I saw him sneezed but was too short to see if it was on my food or the side... I was like uhhh... okay. But it took like 15 minutes for them to make my food.
Got the food, it was like a long string of of lule...which compared to the amount of rice they gave you wasn't enough. I'm only giving it 4 stars because it was the best lule ever, maybe it was his sneeze and boogers that made it good, but it was good!
I would come back to try other entrees like the chicken kabobs. -
Review from Natan J.
San Diego, CA
4/4/2011
I was really impressed with this place. So many good options, from meat plates to freshly baked breads. I had the marinated chicken and beef plate (excellent) with Zataar bread and a cheese pie. Everything was delicious.
My only complaint (a small one) is that the store is confusing. You have to go to the counter in the back to order your food, at which point they will give you a receipt. Same thing goes for the bakery, on the other side of the store. Take your receipts to the grocery-store-style register, and they will be stamped once you pay. Finally, bring them back to the counters to collect your food. A bit non-intuitive if you ask me.
There's ample seating inside the market to enjoy your food. -
Review from Arya H.
Woodland Hills, CA
3/3/2011
This review is strictly for the hot food served as i have never actually grocery shopped here.
i stop by here frequently when i visit San Diego. The food is great for the area. It doesnt compare to all of LA's great persian food, but it'll do whenever im in town. i like how they have a huge variety of stuff so i can get specialty rices with my food. -
Review from Mercy B.
1/5/2011
I don't think most peeps would know this place is here if you didn't already know it was behind the Chase Bank way back in the parking lot. You certainly can't see it from the street. I found it accidentally by turning around in their parking lot when I was lost out here once.
Not too far from where I work, so a co worker and I like to go here. I have been craving Fesenjan (pronounced fessenjoon) ever since having it in several places back in LA. It's a chicken dish, but it's the sauce that is mouthwatering. It's a walnut-pomegranate sauce...and it's just unforgettable. So far, it's the only thing I've ordered here, but everything looks pretty good. The rice alone is amazing. They put this crusty piece of egg or something like that on top, but not sure it's egg. This dish is enough for two servings for $8. Served with a salad too with some kind of yummy dressing.
The market itself you could just get lost in. A cultural, culinary maze of middle eastern delicacies, there is something for everyone here. I was also thrilled to find Mashti Malone Ice cream here. It's made with rosewater, a delectable flavor. Mashti's is in Hollyweird and it was so cool to see they "import" it down here.
I keep coming back. Try it, you will be full, fat and happy! -
Review from Sean D.
San Diego, CA
11/15/2010
I got lucky and stumbled upon this place after doing some banking nearby. But what a great surprise! I knew when I walked in the door I was on to something because of all the Persian people eating in the patio and the amazing smell emanating from inside.
I had the tandoori chicken plate and it was amazing. A tandoori chicken kabob cooked to perfection, rice, and a cooked tomato. It also came with a side salad.
I can't wait to try just about every other dish here. If you like authentic cooked to order Persian food.. look no further. -
Review from F K.
La Jolla, CA
5/27/2011
On the scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best)
Food quality: 3
Price: 3
Service: 3.5
Quality of Produce: 2.5
Staff: Friendly
Cleanliness:
Kitchen: Clean
Bathrooms: Horrible -
Review from Jennifer Y.
San Diego, CA
12/7/2011
Omg, I've seriously been thinking about their basmati rice all day. I spent much of the day dreaming about stuffing my face with their warm, fluffy rice and the state of ecstasy I'll be in as I'm chewing and swallowing my food. It's like eating a big pile of rainbows and clouds. It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die! Yum, it's soooo amazing. And the perfect things to go with that rice are their kebabs. I've had their beef and chicken kebabs, and they were both SOOOODALISHUS. The meat is tender, juicy, and packed full of flavor. When you poke the meat, you can see the juices oozing out from it. (No need to thank me for that wonderful imagery.) Glaaargh, thinking about all that food is making my mouth water. But yeah, the best thing here is the rice!!!! Second best part of it all (because the rice is number one forever) is the price. ONLY $6 A PLATE? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! I feel like I'm stealing from them!
It's now 4:30 in the morning. WHY THE EFF AM I STILL THINKING ABOUT THAT RICE INSTEAD OF GOING TO SLEEP?? I'm so hungry... for their rice :( I guess I will go to sleep now so that I can wake up in the morning (or afternoon) and maybe think about going over there for some of that rice... -
Review from Jonathan W.
10/15/2010
Wow. This place is like walking into a foreign supermarket except you're in downtown San Diego. It is a like a bizarro old school Chinese market except a Persian version which rocks.
Some interesting stuff on the shelves and if you go with a Persian friend, you'll like find the right stuff.
Bonus is the food you can order at the counter including kabobs which were nice but I'd had better elsewhere (think Vine Ripe). The rice is fragrant and great portion sizes. -
Review from Morgan W.
San Diego, CA
This place hasn't failed me yet.
The produce is dirt cheap. So are the huge bags of basmati rice.
the little corner in the produce room with all the different types of bread is amazing. we usually get a pack of that HUGE flat bread that still has some slight burn marks from the tandoori oven. even though its in an unmarked bag, its legit.
the meat counter is amazing as well. don't just stand there though and hope someone will help you. speak up or you will be ignored. my only gripe though is that the selection is inconsistent. I'm a chicken gal so that what I'm usually looking for. some days they have the same large chunks of chicken that they use for the kabob plates, some times its only the scraps. once they had huge drumsticks for $1 lb, another time only chicken wings. they always use that marinade that makes the chicken bright yellow. whatever that is, i wish they would sell it in jars and then i would marinate my own stuff. its delish!
the cold deli counter is a little limited. they have this super thick cucumber/dill/garlic yogurt thing that when paired with the chicken in the yellow marinade and that flat bread, make the most amazing meal ever!.
last but not least there is the take out food counter. the chicken kabob plate is a staple for me. the chicken is really juicy and i really like the grilled tomato. they also include enough rice to feed a small family. i like that they include a piece of the crispy rice from the pan or wherever it comes from. my husband says that's a delicacy. also, the honey mustard on the salad is out of this world. i usually ask for a little extra and put it on my rice. once i deviated from the norm and also got an extra ground chicken kabob. it was very good but from what i remember it was almost 4-5$ just to add the extra kabob to my $6.75 plate. it was good but not that good.
also when you pay, don't forget to grab some dessert. in those small reach in freezers at the check out there are the most amazing ice cream sandwiches. pistachio ice cream with coriander between two pieces of belgium waffle? don't mind if i do! -
Review from Jonathan R.
San Diego, CA
8/6/2010
I had been meaning to check this place out for a while and finally made it there. My main reason for going was to try the prepared food. The menu is relatively small but I still had a hard time deciding what to get because they had a lot of tempting options plus some specials of the day including a beef and okra stew. I opted to play it safe and got the chicken kebab plate. The chicken was incredibly moist and flavorful and the rice was cooked perfectly. They gave you a side salad that was rather boring and hand a honey mustard dressing that I was not crazy about. If you eat there, they have some sauce on the table that has a serious kick to it.
As for the grocery part, there are lots of unusual and interesting items. I picked up a few things to try but will definitely have to go back to check out some more. -
Review from Albert W.
5/5/2008
This is a great place to find ghee butter, 2 foot long metal kebab skewers, a Persian film rental service, and fairly cheap vegetables for sale.
Our hero and his friends tried the deli in the back, and weren't too disappointed with the quantity of food they received for between $7-9 for lunch. The kebabs were tender and came with a generous portion of long grain rice and bread. The tomatoes are charred completely black, so it's recommended to peel off the carcinogenic skin before consumption. Free salad with an interesting mustard dressing are included in the combos as well.
PROS:
- Outdoor seating to eat your meal under a rain-proof awning.
- Great selection of various Persian foods.
- Spacious parking lot.
CONS:
- Super long line-ups at the counter. Groceries and deli purchases are lumped together.
- They have no ice machine, so all the meat in the deli just sits out on display at room temperature. One of the customers was complaining about it and the butcher said there was nothing they could do about it. Hence, the "fresh" meat is a bit sketchy here. -
Review from Kriss B.
San Diego, CA
9/7/2011
Food is authentic, made fresh on the spot, the staff is always very friendly and accomodating. Sometimes if I come during lunch time I have to wait to get my food, but they do take telephone orders so I cannot complain.
-
Review from Ryan M.
1/7/2009
This hidden gem is tucked away out of sight behind the Washington Mutual, and you'd never know it was there if no one told you; and if you did happen to stumble upon it you'd never know that there was an eatery in there.. So it was a bit of a find for me. I friend of mine was tipped of by one of his co-workers. So i decided to give it a try.
So the complete name of this place is "Balboa International Market and Deli" what I'm reviewing here is the Deli portion and not so much the market portion.
So upon getting there it was a bit confusing as to where the food or deli section was.. but tucked in the far back corner was a butchers case filled with many different kinds of feta cheese and a mess of things that I was unfamiliar with; Behind the counter were some pictures on the wall of some plates of kabobs with rice. I ordered the burberry (sp?) rice and chicken (rice with dried berries and chicken kabob) upon their recommendation.
They handed me a receipt and as I tried to pay them, they told me to take the receipt to the cash register at the market check out line..
I found the dining area just to the left of the entrance and the napkins and forks and knives in that area as well. They brought my food to the table.. it was a lot of food for around $8. I usually am disappointed when i get chicken kabobs because they are usually over cooked and dry.. this was not the case. The rice with dried berries was good! and the chicken was tender and juicy. A first for me! and also came with a salad. I was impressed..
OK so its not a place you'd go on a date. I mean you're eating in a market or grocery store; But for $7 - $8 its a steal! You would gladly pay upwards of $18 if this was in a semi fancy restaurant downtown.
Pros:
1. Rice with berberries (sp?) and chicken kabob (comes with salad) were good and cooked to perfection.
2. The price is right and you'd gladly pay more if you weren't eating in a market.
3. Lots of parking
Cons:
1. This place is hard to find and cant be seen from the street.
2. The ordering process is a bit confusing the first time.
3. The food takes awhile after you order but i guess its a small price to pay for food that is freshly cooked as you order it.
Verdict:
IF I'm basing the review to include the ambiance and surroundings then I give it 3 stars. But if you go in knowing that you are eating in a market and base it only on the food then it's 4 stars all the way.
