Suggestions for great ethnic markets, please...

[radiogrl1]

I live in Atlantic Highlands and am not averse to a bit of a drive. I make the trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater pretty frequently, but I think I am ready to branch out a bit. I'm looking for a terrific Indian/South Asian market that is not buried deep within some inner city locale - same with Korean. Maybe Polish and/or Russian, too. Do such places exist?

I love poking around the markets in NYC, but it is often not so convenient for me.

Thanks in advance.

-----
Mitsuwa Marketplace
595 River Rd, Edgewater, NJ 07020

[youatewhat]

OK, here's the best I can offer:) Some are chains, but I just list ones I've been to

Asian- Hong Kong Supermarkets- one in River Edge, one in East Brunswick on Rt 18
Asian Food Market- Rt 22 in Plainfield
Rt 27 in Edison has one too but I can't remember the name

Indian- anywhere on Oak Tree Rd in Iselin- Subzi Mandi, Bhavani Cash&Carry, Patel
Subzi Mandi- Parsippany

Italian- Corrados- Paterson and Wayne
Pastry shop- Westfield

Russian- On Rt 18 East Brunswick about a mile past the Hong Kong Supermarket
Also Staten Island has a decent one

Spanish- Universal Meat Market- Linden- name is deceiving cuz its more of an overall grocery

Phillipine- Noypi- Pompton Lakes
Phil-Am- rt 27 Colonia

Indonesian- Indonesian Grocery rt 27 Rahwayish area

International Food Warehouse in Lodi used to be AWESOME but now their selection is pretty limited

Hope that helps u:)

[arpad]

http://polishplate.com/

Not always up to date but useful .

[glutton]

In the Trenton area, you can go to Food Bazaar, which has a good latino section. I don't care for their meats and fish, but the packaged foods imported from South and Central America is very good. I go there a lot for Colombian products and very often find what I need.

[menton1]

I gotta lol. OP wants to stay out of "inner city locales" and New York City (the best place for ethnic).

Then we get recs for Ridgefield, Linden, and Perth Amboy, which are even MORE inner city than Manhattan!!

I say go th NY, there's nothing even remotely close to the food you can get there.

[joonjoon]

What NYC markets are you specifically talking about menton? I have never seen anything Korean/Japanese in NYC that I couldn't find at HMart or Mitsuwa.

[radiogrl1]

I mention NYC because I work there...but I am curious about what is available within a reasonable drive from Monmouth County.
I'll google your suggestions. For Chinese, I tend to just wander thru Chinatown - where I have also found a small Thai store that keeps me in kaffir lime leaves.
Brian - I would love suggestions for great Latino markets and Middle Eastern markets...and thank you all! Keep the suggestions coming.

[BrianYarvin]

The big Middle Eastern neighborhood of New Jersey is Main Street in Patterson and the best Latino food shopping is at the Supremo chain.

After Menton1's comments about neighborhoods like Linden and Ridgefield - both of which seem perfectly fine to me - I'm dubious about recommending Patterson or Plainfield, even though I have no problem with them.

Certainly, if you comfortable in Manhattan Chinatown, Main Street in Patterson should be fine. To my eye, Plainfield has roughly the same feel to it as Corona, Queens. So if you're okay there, you'll be happy with the store.

What New Jersey lacks when compared to NYC is neighborhoods. There are few places in the state where you can do what you do in the city; stroll from store to store. Instead, we're in suburbia with mega-stores and long drives between them. The few strolling neighborhoods we have are worth visits and some have no equivalent anywhere else in the area.

[johnlockedema]

Corrado's has a diverse variety.

[menton1]

Linden and Paterson are "fine", Brian, it's just that the OP mentioned being averse to "inner city" locales, which these certainly are.

[BrianYarvin]

I'm glad to hear it. I disagree with you about Linden though, the downtown area where Pulaski Meats is located is pretty pleasant. While it may not be Clinton or Chester, it's a fine place for Polish food fans to go.

[menton1]

"Pleasant" would get a red rating symbol instead of a black one in Michelin. Stick to "fine".

[BrianYarvin]

What Michelin guide rates Linden?

[menton1]

Exactly.

[arpad]

Have to agree with you about Linden - there's a good deli diagonally across from Pulaski on Price ... Bratek Deli . And there's Big Stash' restaurant also on Wood Ave on the other side of Rte 1 .
I'm still trying to figure out that ' inner city ' bit though ?

-----
Big Stash's Restaurant
1020 S Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036

[joonjoon]

If you're in the Highlands you have a lot of options in Edison. There's a Chinese market on 18, and also on Rt 1 in edison.

If you're gonna go to the Mitsuwa area you should also check out Super H Mart in Ridgefield...that place is awesome.

[eleeper]

There's a giant Asian supermarket (Hong Kong Market) on Route 18 in East Brunswick that covers all the East Asian cuisines.

Patel's on Ernston Road & Route 9 in Parlin is closest to you, but you should visit Oak Tree Road in Iselin at least once (it's basically "Little India"). (Don't go on Mondays, as a lot of places are closed.) See <http://www.indianj.com/oaktree/defaul...> for details.

[bakersma]

For Polish groceries & meats, I like to shop at ---

European Provisions: 301 Old Bridge Tpke, East Brunswick (South River), NJ 08816
Joe's Meat Market: 437 Smith Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861-3830

A nearby Indian market would be Patel Food Market at Rt 9 & Ernston Rd interchange in Parlin NJ.

Always have been pleased with service & merchandise at these establishments.

All of them are within a relatively few minutes/miles drive from Atlantic Highlands.

Hope this helps !

[BrianYarvin]

Radio:

I think that you'll find the ethnic markets in New Jersey to be much more impressive than what you see in NYC for one reason; they have much more floor space. And the terrific markets here are rarely in urban areas.

First, when you go to Mitsuwa, how about also visiting Piccolo's Gastronomia at 484 Bergen Boulevard in Ridgefield? Or Super H Mart at 321 Broad Ave in Ridgefield? Both are outstanding in their respective cuisines. (Italian and Korean.)

Any Patel Brothers store will give you Indian. Try the one at 1551 Oak Tree Road in Iselin for a real sense of neighborhood. http://www.patelbros.com

For Polish, how about Pulaski Meats at 123 North Wood Avenue in Linden?

You didn't mention, Chinese, Arabic, or Latino and great stores exist for all these. It just takes a bit of poking around.

[exoram]

The new Patel Brothers In South Amboy is pretty nice as well.

http://socialroots.com/reviews/Patel-...