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International Food Bazaar
Categories: Food Grocery Restaurants Delis Restaurants Persian/Iranian Food Bakeries Grocery, Delis, Persian/Iranian, Bakeries [Edit]
2052 Curtner AveSan Jose, CA 95124
(408) 559-3397
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
110 reviews for International Food Bazaar
Review Highlights
"Great place for hard to find Middle Eastern food."
(in 24 reviews)
"Great olives, great selection of teas, and they have the..."
(in 13 reviews)
"This is our favorite to buy Halal meat in San Jose."
(in 8 reviews)
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110 reviews in English
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Review from Tee S.
San Jose, CA
1/11/2012 1 photo
Yelp not sure what would do without you! You saved me a long trek to a halal butcher in Santa Clara!!!
Stopped here for ground lamb as planned to make my famous spicy lamb burgers! OMGoodness what a gem of a store! Love my Indian stores but this Persian rooted jaunt is probably one of the most extensive in choice, clean and awesome. Produce fresh and inexpensive even if going for the organic choices. The butcher which finally had the guts to ask what folks do with the goat head, He looked at me like I was silly. "THEY BOIL IT!"
Okie I could have guessed that:)
Breads.. lovely from pitas, lavash, others and even fresh baked french rolls daily! I had picked up one bag and it was still warm from the oven:) Cheeses, yogurts, olives, spices, jams, pickled this or that, sweets, oh my wish I had more time.
Irony of this strip mall is the myriad of business's which for me is an awesome mix. Next to a liquor store, next to a popular Goan restaurant, dry cleaners and yesssss a kabob jaunt located next to a neighborhood bar that seems clean and full of old timers during the day. Assuming like anywhere else the younger crowd hits after work!
If they had a recycling center and a indy bookstore, will definitely think have died and gone to heaven but back to Intl Food Bazaar... just absolutely lovely grocery store and definitely will be a regular!!!! -
Review from Nate R.
2/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
A friend of mine recommended this cute little store to me a few months back, why did I wait so long to finally check this place out?? LOVE this place.
I grew up getting stuffed with all kinds of tasty Armenian delights every summer at my grandparents' house in Fresno, CA where there is a large Armenian community and a ton of little Armenian shops and restaurants. Generally, the only time I find decent Armenian food in the Bay Area is when local churches have their once yearly festivals in the fall. Can't tell you how stoked I am to have this place so close to my home!
So this place features an interesting mishmash of Middle Eastern, Turkish, Greek and Eastern European foods. When they say International Food Bazaar, they ain't kiddin'! I found two things that I truly love here - fresh baked Gata cookies and an odd Armenian treat called roejeeg. Gata is a sweet pastry, kind of coffee cake meets biscotti. Rojeeg is a confection made from grape juice and walnuts and the guy has a huge stack of them right next to the cash register. The guy at the register told me they have both of these items delivered straight from Fresno of course! (good to know Fresno's actually good for something!)
I also found a really nice selection of hummus in the cold section and a ton of fresh pita and lavash from various bakeries. I'm guessing the owners are Muslim, I didn't see any alcohol on the shelves. If I could get some vodka with my kebabs this place would be 5 star worthy for sure. -
Review from Lindsey A.
San Jose, CA
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small grocers are slowly slipping away in favor of large chain supermarkets. Fortunately, International Food Bazaar keeps it fresh with an ever-expanding selection that appeals to a diverse population.
When we moved to SJ in 04, IFB really only appealed to Middle Easterners (and lovers like me). Their produce was hit or miss and their prices were always slightly higher than similar shops around. Now, however, this place has a pretty high output of produce, dairy, meats, and breads, which allows to keep all foods fresh, all with a lower price than many supermarkets around. You can find all kinds of stuff you want that you won't find at Trader Joe's or Fresh and Easy. We shop here often and can regularly find everything we need for our week's grocery shopping for a family of 4!
I recommend this store! -
Review from Richard G.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2012
This is a great place to get good produce at a reasonable price. I came here on a few occasions and they have a great selection of produce and I did notice that they also carry Harris Ranch meat. This a great local business I'll fully support!
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Review from Ben H L.
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend brought me here last night before heading to the Kebab House and at first, I wasn't expecting to get anything when I go inside...I see the produce outside and then I see the small aisles and refrigerated section and then I start to get the idea and appreciate how unique this tiny market is. It looks family owned and they definitely stock a couple of items that I've never come across before. Walnut and saffron ice cream? Yogurt flavored soda? But what got me hooked was the wonderful array of Sabra and other brands of hummus. I picked out the spicy cilantro along with a very warm bag of freshly baked naan bread. It's the equivalent of the French bread loaf at Safeway! The other parts of the store stocked various spices, jarred goods, and meat/poultry in their meat section.
I'll definitely be back here for more hummus and naan! -
Review from Sarah Jane W.
Las Vegas, NV
7/6/2011
I found this place to be well-organized, well-stocked, clean and reasonably priced. The staff was suuuuuuuuuuper friendly, and the produce was **awesome**. And they didn't overcharge me for anything!
Lots of fun, funky foreign foods. Good times! -
Review from Amelia S.
San Jose, CA
10/8/2011
This place is awesome! The family staff is super friendly and they always remember me. I've been going there on and off since 2004, and they keep expanding. Business is booming, and that shows what a quality place it is.
The have such a variety of multicultural foods. As, one reviewer wrote, my favorite thing there is also the fresh Turkish delight! The halal meat section it excellent. The fresh cheeses are amazing, and they even will give you samples of food sometimes before you buy a whole bunch. They have olives galore. The fresh produce is excellent. They have a great selection spices, tea selection, juices, jams, sweets, breads, calling cards, nuts, beans... Just look and all the pictures that people have posted. You name it; they have it, and their prices are actually fair.
They are neat, clean, and organized. The only down side is that it is usually a bit crowded with smaller aisles, but it is sooo worth going there!
The customer service and quality selection keeps me coming back over and over. -
Review from robert k.
8/9/2011
Excellent neighborhood store with all the ethnic stuff you grew up on. Great selection and huge variety of frozen items, such as lahmacun (Armenian pizza), cheeses, filled pastries like perogies, spanikopita and cheese boureg, and other good stuff.
The main store has mostly packaged goods, from drinks to sauces to deserts (such a wide variety of baklava!)
Also has a great selection of fresh fruits and veggies, fresh meat including beef and lamb, and a big olive & cheese bar which has some of the freshest feta I've ever had!
Oh, and they have a great rack of very fresh pita and lavash breads. We saw it getting delivered one day and grabbed one of the fresh ones - it was still warm, and it was softer than a pillow!!
Great staff and very friendly people, too.
Not really for your regular grocery shopping (unless all you eat is ethnic food) but great to grab stuff for a Mediterranean lunch, or for some gifts for friends and family. -
Review from Julia J.
San Jose, CA
8/7/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I love the variety of most things in this market. Only thing I was disappointed in was the sad variety of hummus and that they only carry the Sabra brand. I wish they carried more of a "homemade" style hummus and not your regular store brand. Besides the hummus, they have lots of other items to chose from. So many different kinds of breads and lavash. My favorotie part of this store is the fresh Turkish Delight!! You can get it with and without nuts.
Staff is usually very friendly and helpful. -
Review from Tim B.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2012
This family run business always delivers. Bread and produce deliveries are plentiful, meaning there is always something available am to pm. Garlic mortadella, fresh walnuts, pomegranates (from better sources than many supermarkets), rice, etc., really make this store a one-stop shop. You make bump into elbows at times, but the overall experience is well worth it.
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Review from jen o.
Campbell, CA
6/6/2011
A friend recommended this market and I'm so bummed I didn't know about it sooner!
I have lived in various parts of this neighborhood my entire life and somehow overlooked this small gem.
I'm shocked at a lot of the reviews about rotten produce because I was amazed at the quality on my visit today.
I picked up everything on my list, and I was impressed when I got my total. The sweet man behind the counter was delightful and helpful. -
Review from Elaine S.
San Jose, CA
4/18/2011
International Food Bazaar is fantastic for all things Middle Eastern and Mediterranean. I love it. They have a great selection of produce that can be difficult to find (Fresh Gigandes in the shell) and at reasonable prices. The meat, cheeses, and olives are varied and delicious, as is the selection of baklava and breads. Also, any dried beans, spices, etc. are a steal in bulk. Oh, and the selection of olive and grape seed oils is one of the best. Finally, the refrigerated and freezer section doesn't disappoint with a selection of mezedes, ingredients for mezedes, etc. Oh, and pierogies! Yay International Food Bazaar.
ps - they also frequently have a stand out front with all kinds of kebob that look amazeballs! -
Review from Jennifer M.
San Jose, CA
We stumbled upon this market after lunch at International Kabob House. The cheery display of fresh fruit in front of the market looked too good to resist, so we decided to do a little grocery shopping. I am so glad we made the decision to check this market out! They have fresh produce at fairly reasonable prices, I picked up some delicious nectarines and tangerines that we have been enjoying all week. Look the produce over carefully though, as the peaches that I bought turned out to be a bit mealy and overripe.
Inside are shelves of exotic international delights, Russian chocolates, an olive bar, halal meats, etc. I bought a giant sized tin of loose leaf Earl Grey tea for just $8, what a steal! The people who work here are very friendly and were happy to answer questions I had about different products. We were a little bit short on time, so I didn't get to wander around as much as I would have liked. After reading some of the other reviews the next time I return I am going to take a look at their spices.Listed in: Eat your veggies!
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Review from Sam H.
Campbell, CA
11/3/2011
Great place for english tea and baked beans plus loads of other cool exotic food.
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Review from Jennifer P.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2011
Produce Quality:
Most of the produce is pretty much rotten. Sometimes, you can come across something decent.
***
For some reason, everyone who shops here complaints about being overcharged. I personally was overcharged every time I shopped here. Fortunately, I was careful enough to point out the extra charge to them. Even then, they dont apologize for their error.
One time, They charged me $25.99 for a $5.99 item. I was shocked of the enormous total. I said a 20 dollar overcharge? He tried to ring everything up again, and then we found another error. the total came down to half of what he originally told me. Are you kidding me? Often times, people don't notice and pay the extra. The funny thing is that he thought that I wouldn't find out! Overcharging people for something is a dishonest way of running a business. -
Review from Pauline D.
Gilroy, CA
11/2/2010
Tahini, pita,
spices, oh my!
If you're planning to whip up some Middle Eastern cuisine, this is a one-stop shop to find every single (and sometimes obscure!) ingredient you need. I've been dying to make authentic hummus of my own but had the hardest time finding tahini in Safeway and the like that wasn't expired or close to it. FINALLY found a reasonably sized (18 oz) and priced ($3.99) bottle at IFB, and it doesn't expire for nearly two years!
There's a large selection of pita, lavash and naan -- white, wheat, fluffy, flat, you name it. My mom loooooves the fluffy, individually sized, whole wheat pitas (14ct/$2.99). Don't get me started on the spices! Tons to choose from and cheap (most less than $1/bag)! They also have premixed spices for kebobs, falafels, kibbeh, schawarma, etc.!!! Don't forget about the bagged and bulk beans, lentils, rice, and nuts... Oils, dairy, meat...
The produce is more affordable than your standard grocery store, but not holycrap!-cheap. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come here just for it. There's a whole section of organic herbs and produce if you're picky about that sort of thing. I noticed they carried a few apple varieties from the local Gizdich farms (in Watsonville), so it's nice that they make an attempt to source locally despite being an international-themed business.Listed in: Hunting & Gathering
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Review from Linda M.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2011
This place is a gem! I love this market. They have tons of fresh produce. Some of the prices are a steal (99 cents a pound for beautiful pomegranates) and some are in line with what I would pay at any other big chain supermarkets ($2 for a bunch of dandelion greens). But they have an awesome variety.
They also have a great herb and spice collection. Any spice you can imagine needing for any recipe they have it, and the prices are unbeatable. Most bags are in the $2 range and bottles are $3-$6, depending on the size. A fraction of the cost of most markets.
They have a great meat counter and have a variety of hard to find items like goat and they have a vast selection of olive oil.
The staff has always been warm, friendly, and helpful to me. -
Review from Christine E.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2011
A very popular market located in a small strip mall on the corner of Curtner and Union. (this is not a restaurant). International Gourmet Foods is a small family run business specializing in European and Middle Eastern foods. Very good produce prices - the cheapest fresh pineapples I have ever seen! An array of fresh and dried herbs and the bread/naan/pita varieties are plentiful.
They have a cheese counter and meat counter. If you like to cook vegetarian you have to check out this place!
They even sell Hookah pipes and the fruity herbs!
European chocolates. Need I say more? Turkish coffee, so many sauces and beans!
If you are in this neighborhood definitely stop in and have a look! Say hello to Jon (I believe he is the owner and looks just like the actor Pete Postlethwaite) -
Review from Tanya C.
San Jose, CA
8/17/2011
Nice place to buy vegetables and international products you cannot find in your regular supermarket. Prices are good and the staff is friendly. Often times my son gets a free candy bar form the cashier... that makes his day. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish they added more organic produce to their vegetable variety.
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Review from Katarina L.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2011
I love this place so much. They have all the international foods I loved in my childhood that are hard to find. Their fruits and vegetables are always fresh and decently priced. My favorites to get there are smoked meats and produce.
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Review from Cheri M.
5/29/2010
OMG this place makes the most bomb koobideh kabobs. Now I don't know when they grill I've only been twice and both times were on a Saturday but what I do know is that the koobideh is awesome.
You order outside at the grill.. they give you a receipt and you take it inside the market & pay. Then go back outside and wait for awesomeness. When the meats done grillin' they give you it served on lavash bread with some onions & mint. I've only ever gotten the koobideh and chicken and both were delish. I'm not sure what else they offer besides chicken, koobideh, lamb, and tomato.
If you see them grillin' stop in and grab a kabob. They are truly awesome and the people there are extremely nice. -
Review from mark m.
Campbell, CA
7/20/2011
Great prices, and very friendly bunch that work there. I usually pickup my spices there (super cheap), and the fruits and veggies are good, but not a huge selection, mostly catering to arab style dishes (duh) and seasonal stuff. They have a lot of other great items there, I would recommend going there to pick up stuff like olive oils, spices, etc. They also carry some russian items like pelmeni, and have my fav rose water flavored ice cream sandwiches! The tzaiki (sp) they sell at the deli counter is very good as well. I have yet to buy any meat from them though, but it looks good too.
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Review from Douglas L.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 6/24/2010
I need and must have fresh vegetables, olives, fruit and meat. This store has it all plus rice that is dried. If you love rice try the India rice in the brown jute bag. Olive oil from Greece at half the price of other stores.
All the meat is very fresh and they butcher to your order, no problem. On the weekends they have fresh made, while you shop Nan Bread. Come on your mouth is watering right. Parking can be a trial but the people more than make up for it.
Service is over the moon. Every person knows what they are doing and know you are the client. Really go shop eat enjoy!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/19/2009
The greatest shopping place in town! They have everything you know and a lot of stuff you have never… Read more »
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Review from Yuki K.
Belmont, CA
8/16/2010
Having been treated pretty poorly at a lot of places lately, particularly those catering to various ethnic groups of which I am not a member, I have come to appreciate good service even more. (Despite this recent poor treatment, I usually thrive in such atmospheres, so I'm not sure what's up.)
I've just been in here a couple of times for some basic items, but they seem to have a decent selection of some pretty intriguing foods. I am not as familiar with what they sell here as I am with some other ethnic foods, so I have had a few questions.
Each time, I've been treated extremely well by the people working the cash register. I suspect this place is family-owned and run. Nobody has given me attitude or been anything other than humorous and helpful. Even the customers were happy to jump in with input on my questions. Sometimes info from fellow shoppers is more helpful than anything else.
If I were to guess, I would say that this is a culture that tends to be more chauvinistic and not as friendly towards women, but I have never experienced that here. In fact, they sell a chocolate bar called something like "Not for Girls". You can imagine how fascinating this item is to me. It sounds like it is so wildly popular that they were out of it last time I went in. The cashiers and I have gotten lots of mileage out of that name, and I look forward to the day when I might actually get my hands on it. -
Review from Ida B.
San Jose, CA
12/13/2010
I love this place! fresh fruits and veggies, spices, international treats galore! The people who work here are so nice, they answered all of my questions on the phone and was ready for me when I arrived. I bought a whole rack of lamb for a really good price and got all the fresh herbs I needed to prepare it with at the same place. I also bought a 6 pack of delicious baklava! It really is a one stop shop. As if all of this wasn't good enough, when I went to pay the nice man (who I assume is the owner) gave me a chocolate bar for free!
Getting great deals and free candy--as good as it gets! -
Review from Joe S.
San Jose, CA
11/9/2008
I am seriously questioning the validity and taste of the people who write reviews on this site.
This market is a joke! ROTTEN produce everywhere!! What small selection they have was mainly spoiled. The tomatoes are refrigerated! That's a cardinal sin in my book. I got a huge WEED in my cilantro when I got it home and started cooking I noticed it!
WTH are you people thinking? The check out/line up area is the worst planned out route ever! It's a cramped horrible maze taking you up isles to wait in line!
I had to go to another store to complete my list because of the LACK of products. Half the products you don't know what the heck they are because it's in some other language! English.. -
Review from Flor D.
3/15/2008 1 photo
Wow...this place was lots of fun today. Busy Busy Busy...and I think I heard the cashier say it was close to Persian new year(Norouz.) I was pleasantly surprised by this joint.
Minus 1 star due to lack of organic produce and they had no MANGO's. I guess Whole Foods is where it's at.
+4 stars for the happy go lucky cashiers, broad selection of middle eastern items, and "regulars"with great tips. I finally found my Halva!!! Thanks Eugene F for this neat recommendation.
I love this place, and am glad it's so close to my home. I had never even known it existed, but was looking for fruits, veggies, and any other snack I could take to my mother. I walked out with some strawberries, bananas, cilantro, tomato's, onions, garlic, cookies, and some powder hummus. Sounds like someone is going to be cooking!Listed in: The "I told you" LIST
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Review from Eugene F.
Campbell, CA
So, this is my fourth update on this review. Pathetic, I know.
I was FINALLY able to try the kebabs a few weekends ago, and all I can say is, thank you to the folks at International Food Bazaar. I no longer need to drive to Mountain View to get me some comforting, freshly cooked kababs near my home. I overheard one of the guys that manages the place that they only do the grilling on the weekends--starting on Friday night, through Sunday--due to health regulations (something with air quality, I believe). Fine by me, cause that's when I'd probably go.
Here's how it goes:
- you go inside, and make your order at the register
- they offer three types of kababs: kubideh (ground meat), chicken, and steak
- you pay at the register, and use the receipt to tell the guys outside what you want
- they grill it fresh-to-order, and give you the option to have it wrapped in lavash, or put it in a container with lavash on the bottom
Prices range from $3-$6 and actually not that bad! Definitely worth a try if you are in the area on the weekends!
Also, as Aisha K pointed out, they are opening the International Kabab house in the same plaza. I'm stoked!Listed in: Give me some produce ...
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/4/2009
I finally was able to test out the expansion of the store today, and purchased some of the fresh… Read more »
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Review from Chris O.
7/15/2010
Great place to get some basic produce or anything middle eastern from spices to hookah tobacco.
They also had EV Avocado oil for only $10! Hard to find stuff and that is a good price indeed.
I got a big old watermelon for cheap too, will review that later :) -
Review from Naomi Y.
Los Gatos, CA
4/4/2010
Wow! This place has been open since 1979!!!
I actually stumbled upon this place just because I wanted to eat at the International Kabob House, and since I wanted to buy some lavash and Kefir Cheese the manager referred me to this market.
They actually have a huge bbq grill outdoors where they grill and sell fresh beef koobideh as you grocery shop. This feels like I'm actually going to an authentic meat market! The koobidehs were big and they smelled good! Great variety too---they have a nice selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, halal meats, and fresh baked breads. If you are looking for a big meal go next door to their family owned Restaurant, International Kabob House.
One of the owner's, Sam, was very friendly and knowledgeable. I got everything I needed and it was cheap too! He said his parents started the Rose Market in Mountain View years ago; so, I'm guessing they really know what they are doing.
They have a little bit of everything, Persian, Iranian, Afghani?, French, Greek, Lebanese, and more. -
Review from Amanda G.
10/28/2008
I normally do all my grocery shopping at Cosentino's and most of my produce shopping at the Farmers Market, but I was out of town and missed the Farmers Market last weekend.
My hubby and I have poked around at this market a a few times, but hadn't bought anything before.
After being disappointed in the tomatoes at Cosentino's, we headed over here.
They had very reasonably priced local tomatoes.
We had them with dinner tonight, and they were good! (Especially for so late in the season!)
They carry a variety of local and organic produce, all of it reasonably priced, or at least comparable with other markets.
I was also happy to see several kosher items, which are hard to find around here.
I also purchased whole wheat pita, it was delicious!!!
I'll definitely be back here, they have so many things I want to try. -
Review from Julie K.
4/4/2009
My friend and I came here after eating lunch at the International Kabob House to get some pita bread to go with the mezze leftovers. I'm not sure why I never checked out this store before, but I will definitely be coming back in the future.
They have an amazing selection of products from across the globe, though mostly from the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Come here for good buys on fresh fruits and vegetables (oranges were 2 pounds for $1, whole ripe pineapples were $2.99), a variety of breads (now I know I don't have to drive all the way to Fremont for Afghan bread), Halal meats, hard-to-find spices, and delicious baklava.
My friend and I had met one of the owners at lunch and saw him again at the market, so we learned that both places are owned by the same family. Super nice guy and very helpful. I'm always in favor of supporting the smaller, family-run businesses, so I will definitely be back! -
Review from Aisha K.
Campbell, CA
Updated - 1/23/2009
So over half a year ago, I reviewed this place and proclaimed that they should take over the entire plaza and start an Arab monopoly in Campbell...
People, call me Nostradamus...a.
Not ONLY has the amazing place that is the Int'l Food Bazaar already expanded to finally house their fruits & veggies inside, as well as broaden their deli and bakery areas, but across the plaza in a matter of weeks, they are opening the International Kebab House!!!! EEP!
I'm stoked. Good Middle Eastern food can be found, but is hard to come by in Campbell. Now, there's a place that will literally be down the street from my house and a stone's throw away from the best market ever! Sigh...sooo happy.
Stay tuned for an update on the Kebab House. Although if the quality of their restaurant is as good and as fresh as what they already offer in their store, then I really have nothing to worry about, and loads to eagerly anticipate.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/27/2008
My family and I have been weekly market-goers of this place since I was a wee little one. They carry… Read more »
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Review from Mary R.
Sacramento, CA
2/19/2008
This is a wonderful store run by womderful people. The owner and his wife are very cosmopolitan, multilingual people who treat all of their customers respectfully.
I moved to the San Jose area in 1996 from Los Angeles, where ingredients and products needed by cooks of cuisines from the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Iran, etc. had their pick of places.
Until I found IFB, I was at a loss. Other stores had sparse offerings, and most of the groceries were geared to only one population, e.g., persian or Israeli (nothing wrong with that,but they didn't have everything I needed.)
International Food Bazaar is the bomb! It can compete with any bigger city store of its category. It also appears that the owner continuously improves and broadens his offerings based on market demand. The veggies he offers are of the variety that can't be found in one of the supermarket chains or when they can, the price per pound is astronomoically expensive.
If you are a nut for middle eastern sweets and other dessert foods, this is the place. There are a lot of Armenian, Greek, Arabic pastries. The bread variety is great: pita, lavosh, tzourekia!
If you go there on a Friday afternoon, it feels like the market of the UN: Arabic, Russian, Greek, Hebrew, Farsi, English, Spanish, Armenian...
The spice selection, olive selection, and cheese and deli offerings are remarkable as is the coffee selection --- remarkable as in middle eastern (includes Israeli), Greek, or Slavic varieties . For example, "Would you like Greek, Bulgarian or French feta?" "Would you like Hungarian or Krakow salami?" "Which variety of fresh halvah or loukoum would you like?"
I myself love a Greek sausage called lokaniko, known for its orange rind and black pepper ingredients. It's hard to find on the west coast, but it's definitely there at IFB.
Only one wish: please check date stamps of foods in fozen section. Most are up-to-date but if you're not careful, an old product can pop up. But I still give them a 5-star, because this happens lress and less and they are cognizant of the problem and will correct the problem for the customer. -
Review from Didi p.
San Jose, CA
10/21/2011
The place is basically just behind the ex-Cosentinos. It takes skill, personality and cheap prices to compete with Cosentinos. I have always been happy with the quality of the produce and the meat section person is always helpful. The best part for me is that the place has a variety of Mediterranean, East European and Arab foods that I cannot get anywhere else.
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Review from Berg W.
San Jose, CA
4/24/2008
I really like the International Food Bazaar. You're a fool to buy spices anywhere else.
The produce is pretty nice and seasonal, but I'm a little wary of food that's been sitting out with flies buzzing around. It's not that big of a deal to me, but kinda weird.
They have all kinds of middle-eastern ingredients, which isn't something I'm particularly well-versed in, but they are stocked with many other kinds of international foods as well.
Their spice selection is ridonkulous. They have everything you could imagine, plus tons of stuff you probably never heard of. I got bags of cumin seed and coriander for like two bucks. This equated to maybe five normal-sized spice jars at Safeway that would cost you like 6 bucks each. Great deal.
They have halal meats and tons of middle-eastern and other kinds of pitas and flatbread.
One caveat, don't think you're going to buzz in and out of here at 5:00 on a weekday...not gonna happen. It was super-busy at this time today. That may have something to do with people hoarding rice, which I noticed...craziness.Listed in: My Grocery Stores
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Review from Miyumi H.
CA
11/10/2008
I went here yesterday and was disappointed and actually disgusted by the quality of the produce.
I am amazed people compared this to a farmers market! The cantelopes were rotting, the oranges were yellow, the plums, almost prunes, the avacado's were hard as rocks, the eggplants also shriveled. What small selection the had was rotten. The only thing purchasable was some grapes and bananas and bell peppers (which i did not need). They even had rotten stuff in the refrigerated case, including artichokes and tomatoes.
When I did go to purchase the one thing I found (barbeque sauce) the line was really hard to get into, in fact the whole store is hard to get around in because of it's small design. With a hand basket in your hand everyone is bumping into each other and hitting each other with their baskets. I will not be back. -
Review from Jenny G.
San Jose, CA
2/20/2009
I was on a mission to find ground lamb and called ahead to see if this grocery store carries it - JOY! They do! I quickly punched in the coordinates to this place on my GPS and off I went to this delightful grcoery store.
I needed ingredients for Rachel Ray's Morrocan Chilli and 10,000 Grains of Sand (aka Couscous) with my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. Not only did I find every single ingredient including those hard to finds like - dried pine nuts and ground lamb, I also enjoyed a little entertainment from the Butcher!
I asked him for my ground lamb and jokingly he exclaims "What? Ground fish?!" Oh you silly butcher! He even gave me a couple extra 0.1 on top of the 2 lbs of ground lamb I requested.
Will definitely come back here again!Listed in: Safeway's Too Far List
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Review from Jacquee p.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2008
TOTALLY FUN.
I've never seen such a large and extensive collection products in a Middle Eastern supermarket!
Saffron and pistachio ice cream! It's served in slices.
The cheese/yogurt fridge was full of cheese and yogurt but also dips, spreads, and frozen things!
The spice selection was impressive.
Olive oil soap! All natural and good for you.
SIGH. This was a good trip to the market. I felt like I was away for a brief moment on my staycation. One Persian melon and a box of couscous will do me just fine.
PS They carry the LARGE (12" x 4") Milka chocolate bars that I've really only seen in Europe. -
Review from Christina G.
San Luis Obispo, CA
2/2/2009
This place carries haloumi, pastichio noodles, pistachio halvah, and a dozen varieties of hummus. I love the atmosphere of this place... you feel like you're in a middle eastern market.
And how is it that all of their vegetables and fruits are cheaper than safeway while tasting a million times better?
I LOVE THIS MARKET!
