Gori Girl

Hi GG and forum members!

N and I have been looking for a good Indian grocery store where we can find quality spices and ingredients that aren't always available at the bigger Asian markets (like H Mart or Lotte).  Has anyone ever had any luck using the following Web site to find Indian groceries in your area?  

http://diggsamachar.com/grocer…..rocery.htm

We live in the DC area, and many of the stores on the list either don't seem to exist anymore, or aren't really accessible by public transportation. Any DC peeps out there who could help us out with suggestions?

Thanks so much, GG and D!  I will definitely check those places out and see what we come up with.  We've been out of good lime pickle for over a month, and I think we're both starting to get withdrawal!  It's funny when you think about it–a year and a half ago, I had never even tasted this stuff, and now I find myself craving it and lamenting its absence in my household when we're out of it.  :)

Luckily, though, N's mother still sends him packages of mixed dry spices fairly frequently, so we're okay on that count.  

Never used the internet, but I too live in northern VA and we're flooded with desi grocery stores. We've actually started buying meat at a local "halal butcher" because my live-in brother-in-law only eats that kind of meat, and there's a great, really well stocked and very clean Pakistani store in Ashburn called Mahi Bazaar. There's another one I really like in Herndon called Fair Price Groceries that is a little less shiny and new, but the store owners are incredibly nice and I have never felt so welcomed in a desi store in all my life. They have little or no accents, so I think they're first gen, and they actually walk around the store asking if I need help and don't balk or double take at my Urdu when I ask for things by their Urdu names. (I don't know what Maash ki daal is in Urdu, and Methi slipped my mind at the time.) There's a really large market near that one too – it's called Madina Market and it's run by Afghanis, but they have a very large selection as well.

What, specifically are you looking for that you can't find? A lot of things are specifically Indian so I couldn't help there (like Coffee Bite – never heard of it) but otherwise I can tell you if I've seen it anywhere I shop.

where are you?  If you are in commuting distance to NYC perhaps in NJ or SEPA, I could probably give you some suggestions on shopping areas.

Post edited 6:25 pm – October 24, 2010 by DJain

Uyzie, where are you in the DC area? Are you actually in DC? We live in Fairfax. Our favorite Indian grocery store is actually out in Sterling–but it's worth the drive because it's much cheaper than the others we've been to, plus it's large and has a good selection. It's called India Bazaar. We do our main grocery shopping at the Super Wal-Mart in Dulles, so we usually hit them up in the same trip. Closer to home, we like the Indian grocery next door to Bombay Cafe on Route 29 (also, BC has a simple but excellent and cheap buffet). Indian Spice in Falls Church is pretty decent too.

Grocery delivery is a big thing for me, also. As a blind person, it is hard to get to the store, anyway, but to an Asian market or Indian store, it is even more difficult. I already posted about going to the halal Asian market, having a non-english speaking Hispanic assistant and looking for Indian food. If anyone has lived in Indy and knows of other Indian stores, we would love to hear about it. the only good thing about this Asian market is that they will drive you to and from the store. this started because of all of the refugees that live in Indy. but, I have been able to use it. But, they are a bit expensive! I guess some of that expense pays the drivers. Anyway, any suggestions from Indianapolis, let me know.