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Photo: Photo By Geezy L. Via Yelp
CHINESEMow Lee Shing Kee & Company
774 Commercial St., San Francisco, Chinatown
You feel like you're in a time warp when you step inside this market specializing in Cantonese-style cured meats. Tucked away on an alley in bustling Chinatown, the shop dates back to 1856. Its specialty is artisanal sausages, but you'll also find everything from cured pork belly to waxed duck (pictured).
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CHINESE
Mow Lee Shing Kee & Company
774 Commercial St., San Francisco, Chinatown
You feel like you're in a time warp when you step inside this market specializing in Cantonese-style cured meats. Tucked away on an
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Photo: Photo By Geezy L. Via Yelp
FILIPINOIsland Pacific Market
5201 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo
The fish at the seafood counter is fresh and glistening at this grocery store specializing in Filipino foods. Find adobo peanuts, ube (bright purple yam), suka (vinegar) amd bagoong (fermented paste).
FILIPINO
Island Pacific Market
5201 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo
The fish at the seafood counter is fresh and glistening at this grocery store specializing in Filipino foods. Find adobo peanuts, ube (bright purple yam),
Photo: Chris Preovolos
FRENCHGourmet and More
141 Gough St., Hayes Valley, San Francisco
French cheese, as well as BN chocolat, Pepito, Paille d’or, Puget extra virgin olive oil, French vinegars, Fallot Mustards, Nectars and Fleur de sel. (Photo by Panoramic Images/Getty Images)
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FRENCH
Gourmet and More
141 Gough St., Hayes Valley, San Francisco
French cheese, as well as BN chocolat, Pepito, Paille d’or, Puget extra virgin olive oil, French vinegars, Fallot Mustards, Nectars and Fleur
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GERMANLehr's German Specialties
1581 Church St., Noe Valley, San Francisco
Are the gummy bears you buy in Germany better than those on a typical American supermarket shelf? You'll realize the answer to that question is yes after you've browsed the selection of imported Haribo candy at this old-school German market. Also, shop here for spaetzle, Kinder eggs, Dusseldorfer mustard, sauerkraut, apple pancake mix and curry ketchup.
GERMAN
Lehr's German Specialties
1581 Church St., Noe Valley, San Francisco
Are the gummy bears you buy in Germany better than those on a typical American supermarket shelf? You'll realize the answer to that
Photo: Photo Via Kevin Y. On Yelp
GREEK
Greek Imports Inc.6524 Mission St., Daly City
Honey, sweets, preserves, jams, dried foods, canned foods, cookies, spices, snacks, and many other ethnic delicacies from Greece. (Photo by SFGATE)
GREEK
Greek Imports Inc.
6524 Mission St., Daly City
Honey, sweets, preserves, jams, dried foods, canned foods, cookies, spices, snacks, and many other ethnic delicacies from Greece. (Photo by SFGATE)
INDIANJai Ho Indian Grocery
1462 Fillmore St., Fillmore District, San Francisco
This tiny shop is owned by a family who welcomes customers with friendly smiles and stocks its shelves with everything you need to make an Indian meal such as dals, spices, paneer blocks, kurkure and mango purée. The best secret is they sell homemade samosas on weekends for $1.25 each.
INDIAN
Jai Ho Indian Grocery
1462 Fillmore St., Fillmore District, San Francisco
This tiny shop is owned by a family who welcomes customers with friendly smiles and stocks its shelves with everything you need to
Photo: Photo By Arjan N. Via Yelp
INDIANBombay Spice House
1036 University Ave., Berkeley
The exotic aromas of hundreds of spices fill this tiny, tidy grocery specializing in products from India, and all spices are marked with a "best by" date. You can also find batter for making dosa, cooked and uncooked rotis, ghee in bulk, pre-made chutneys and curries and loads of Indian snacks.
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INDIAN
Bombay Spice House
1036 University Ave., Berkeley
The exotic aromas of hundreds of spices fill this tiny, tidy grocery specializing in products from India, and all spices are marked with a "best by" date.
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Photo: Photo From Jeff B. Via Yelp
ITALIAN
Lucca Deli
2120 Chestnut St., Marina District, San Francisco
Salami hangs from the ceiling and enormous aging Parmesan cheese wheels sit on the racks in this authentic old-world Italian deli and grocer owned by the Bosco family since 1929. It's a place to buy focaccia, ravioli, pesto, Italian wines, olive oil, sliced meats, sausages and baguettes.
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Lucca Deli
2120 Chestnut St., Marina District, San Francisco
Salami hangs from the ceiling and enormous aging Parmesan cheese wheels sit on the racks in this authentic old-world Italian deli and grocer
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JAMAICANMinto Market
4042 Broadway, Oakland
Everything you need to bring the cuisine of Jamaica alive in your own kitchen. Speciality items include ackee fruit, cod fish, salt mackarel, Kola Champagne (Caribbean soda that tastes like bubblegum), bulla (rich cake made with molasses), green bananas, Pickapeppa sauce, gungo peas, Irish moss (used to make drinks), sour sop drink and dozens of pre-made sauces for making jerk chicken.
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JAMAICAN
Minto Market
4042 Broadway, Oakland
Everything you need to bring the cuisine of Jamaica alive in your own kitchen. Speciality items include ackee fruit, cod fish, salt mackarel, Kola Champagne (Caribbean
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Photo: Photo By Victoria E. Via Yelp
JAPANESE Nijiya Market
1737 Post St., Japantown, San Francisco
This isn't a tiny hole in the wall. It's a Trader Joe's-size market with all foods Japanese. Noodles, seaweeds, sauces spices, meats, produce and tons of prepared sushi and bento boxes.
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JAPANESE
Nijiya Market
1737 Post St., Japantown, San Francisco
This isn't a tiny hole in the wall. It's a Trader Joe's-size market with all foods Japanese. Noodles, seaweeds, sauces spices, meats, produce and
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Photo: Photo By Porsche C. Via Yelp
KOREANKukje Super Market
2350 Junipero Serra, Daly City
This hugely popular grocer (be prepared for crowds on weekends!) carries Asian foods, but the specialty is Korean staples. You'll find everything you need to make a Korean meal including thinly sliced meats, fresh kimchee, and all sorts of pre-made banchan (side dishes served with Korean barbecue) like pickled cucumbers, oily bean sprouts and tiny spiced fish. Loads of premade main dishes too such as bibimbap bowls, bulgogi rice plates, sushi rolls and buckets of fried chicken.
KOREAN
Kukje Super Market
2350 Junipero Serra, Daly City
This hugely popular grocer (be prepared for crowds on weekends!) carries Asian foods, but the specialty is Korean staples. You'll find everything you need
Photo: Photo By Donna T. Via Yelp
MEXICAN
La Palma Mexicatessen, San Francisco
2884 24th St.
Come here to buy the tortillas made by hand and also pick up fresh salsa, guacamole and the ingredients to make tamales at home (meat and masa).
MEXICAN
La Palma Mexicatessen, San Francisco
2884 24th St.
Come here to buy the tortillas made by hand and also pick up fresh salsa, guacamole and the ingredients to make tamales at home (meat and masa).
MIDDLE EASTERN Samiramis
2990 Mission St., Mission District, San Francisco
At this family-owned marketing specializing in Mediterranean ingredients, you'll find perfectly crisp baklava, piles of dates and raisins, gigantic flatbreads, massive blocks of Turkish delight, fenugreek, orange flower water, chickpea flour, pomegranate syrup, and more.
MIDDLE EASTERN
Samiramis
2990 Mission St., Mission District, San Francisco
At this family-owned marketing specializing in Mediterranean ingredients, you'll find perfectly crisp baklava, piles of dates and
Photo: Photo Via Jeremy S. On Yelp
PERSIANJasmine Market
307 Third St., San Rafael
Authentic products from Persia and the Middle East, including baklava, lavash and halvah. Deli counter serves hummus, dolma and tabouli.
PERSIAN
Jasmine Market
307 Third St., San Rafael
Authentic products from Persia and the Middle East, including baklava, lavash and halvah. Deli counter serves hummus, dolma and tabouli.
Photo: Photo By Afshin A. Via Yelp
POLISH Seakor Polish Delicatessen and Sausage Factory 5957 Geary St., Richmond District, San Francisco
Links of homemade dried pork sausage hang from hooks on the wall, and shelves are packed with Polish specialties such as gooseberry jam, sliced beets, marinated mushrooms, dill pickles, sour cherry tea, and kurpianka (Polish smoked cheese flavored with garlic). You'll also find 20 kinds of herring, smoked mackerel, salmon and trout.
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POLISH
Seakor Polish Delicatessen and Sausage Factory
5957 Geary St., Richmond District, San Francisco
Links of homemade dried pork sausage hang from hooks on the wall, and shelves are packed with Polish
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Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle
SOUTHEAST ASIANBattambang Market
339 Eddy St, Tenderloin, San Francisco
When you're inside this dark and tiny market, you feel as if the bustling streets of Bangkok must be right outside. Here you can ingredients that embody the flavors of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos including find Thai holy basil, pandan leaves, lemongrass, green papaya, kaffir lime leaves and galangal (which looks like ginger but tastes entirely different). Asian snacks such as dried peppered mango and watermelon seeds also cram the shelves.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN
Battambang Market
339 Eddy St, Tenderloin, San Francisco
When you're inside this dark and tiny market, you feel as if the bustling streets of Bangkok must be right outside. Here you can ingredients
Photo: Photo Via Kevin Y. On Yelp
SPANISH
Spanish Table
Berkeley, Mill Valley and San Francisco
Owners Tanya and Andy Booth opened this third Bay Area location of the Spanish Table four months ago offering a selection of food, wine and cookware from Spain and Portugal, North African tagines and Tunisian ceramics.
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Spanish Table
Berkeley, Mill Valley and San Francisco
Owners Tanya and Andy Booth opened this third Bay Area location of the Spanish Table four months ago offering a selection of food, wine and cookware
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ASIAN
Ranch 99
Daly City, Foster City, Fremont, Richmond
This chain of mega-Asian supermarkets carries more than 100 types of dried noodles alone. Whether you're cooking the cuisine of India, China or the Philippines, you'll find everything you need here.
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Ranch 99
Daly City, Foster City, Fremont, Richmond
This chain of mega-Asian supermarkets carries more than 100 types of dried noodles alone. Whether you're cooking the cuisine of India, China or the
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Bay Area's best international markets offering a world of spices and flavors
The beauty of living in a city like San Francisco is that it attracts people from all over the world. This United Nations of cultures is reflected in its neighborhoods, museums, performing arts, restaurants, and even its markets.
Some of these grocers focus on the cuisine of a single country, offering ingredients and spices rarely sold at a typical chain supermarket. While these specialty stores are often small, many have become destinations for people living around the Bay Area who are seeking out certain ingredients, whether kaffir lime leaves for a Laotian tom yum soup, orange flower water for Egyptian bread pudding, or thin sliced meats for Korean barbecue.
Here in this bubbling melting pot wafting the flavors of faraway lands, you can step inside a small Indian grocer, such as Jai Ho in San Francisco, and find puffy, fried samosas like the ones you bought from street vendors in Delhi.
Also, in San Francisco, you can find a Thai grocer that carries all those unusual ingredients listed on your grandmother's recipe for a curry stew served in her village.
And over in Oakland there's a tiny spot called Minto Market stocking Jamaican goods, from the popular Caribbean soda Kola Champagne that tastes like bubblegum to Pickapeppa sauce for making jerked meats.
You'll find more in the gallery above, where we pulled together a list of 20 favorite international markets by asking friends and SFGATE Facebook fans, and combing through Yelp reviews (Yelp also provided many of the photos in the gallery above).
Now, we hope you'll share where you like to shop so we can expand our list.
http://www.sfgate.com/food/article/The-Bay-Area-s-best-international-markets-11157138.php
