Jaffa Supermarket

While small this place has some fantastic stuff! :) Was able to find my favorite spread cheese here, called KIRI only second time in 30 years living in the US that I have found it. Not even in NY have I been successful. In addition they also stock my favorite German chocolate candy called BOUNTY and they have both types! Unbelievable that this small place has both. :) The meat looked good too… I told the owner that I would become a regular customer here… :) Right next door is a REAL Mexican taqueria with Horchata and Aqua de Jamaica… what a bonus! :)

This place is awesome. Original owners were not very friendly. The new owners are superb. They bake fresh Pita bread… and it’s to die for. The bread melts in your mouth… super soft and warm. The price is unbeatable…5 for $ 1.99. Will definitely stop in again.

I used to love this place. Last time I was in however, I saw something that will keep me away. Here it is, a vegan’s worst plant based nightmare: Moldy Produce. Not just one item, many. The tomatoes, which I went in there for since the place is a quick walk from my place and I didn’t want to run to a major chain for one thing. All of the tomatoes were moldy. The cucumbers were rotten. The lemons were dried up and mold was starting there as well. This makes me wonder, if they are showing me and other customers this, what does it look like in the back where I can’t see? If I need tahini in a pinch I may consider running in, but there are two much cleaner Middle Eastern markets also within walking distance. So unless those two places are closed, I will not be returning.

This is a fairly small Arabic market, but it has a nice selection. The French feta in the dairy case in the back is to die for. I often get their hummus; sometimes it’s divine, sometimes it’s just OK. I believe they make it fresh, so perhaps it depends on who’s in charge of the recipe that day.
The olives are really good, too. Arab olives are different from the olives we usually get in American grocery stores. They’re much saltier, and to me, much tastier.
Jaffa offers food like falafels and shwarma, but I wasn’t aware of that until one of the workers told me about it. The falafels are amazing – the best I’ve ever had. I haven’t had the shwarmas yet. Need to get on that, now that I think about it!
They have a butcher area in the back, which of course sells halal meat. I’ve bought lamb there for Moroccan tagine. When I asked for the lamb, the butcher asked me what I was making, then nodded in understanding. He selected an appropriate cut for me and then cubed it as well. Love those guys!
Every time I’ve gone there, I’ve been greeted warmly, and I usually learn something new. It’s a great store and I urge you to check it out.