It's nice to see more specialty stores opening in this neighborhood. Albmini is an Albanian mini…read moremart with selections of Balkan and Mediterranean goods. This store has taken over the space formerly occupied by Chronos Pharmacy. While the space isn't very large, it looks very inviting. The first thing you'll notice upon entering is the great selection of olive oils which is displayed prominently in the center. In addition, they offer a good variety of specialty snacks, drinks and desserts. I've tried a few of their chocolates and desserts. Prices are reasonable for these kinds of imported goods, imo. Also, ALBmini offers free delivery services for orders over $30, which is a great perk. This space has been vacant for a couple years now, so it's wonderful to see it in its new incarnation.

Queens, NY (Astoria + Ridgewood) - I seem to be on a (sausage) roll, so for my 300th review, allow…read moreme to highlight a deli & butcher shop that's a beloved New York institution to those in the know, but not yet a secret that's out to the masses. When I was in the Astoria store earlier this month, I overheard an obviously epicurean gentleman who spent some time in Austria (with presumably some appreciation for well-crafted old world charcuterie) share that he had come down from Boston and made a special trek out here to experience this Mecca of meats in person. I myself came all the way from the distant shores of NJ that day, enduring horrendous holiday traffic down FDR Dr. and across Queensboro Bridge, but likewise, finally made this pilgrimage after I became addicted to their superlative pork cracklings (chicharron / čvarci / jumări), which is the best on the planet! It's weighed by the pound and the prime time to get it fresh & hot out of the fryer is late morning, though best to come earlier on the weekend. 90% of the products are made in-house, and one can find a dizzying array of cured and smoked meats, multiple varieties of bacon, prosciutti (including hard-to-find duck and lamb!), sausages, salami, pâtés, purées, cheeses, steaks and chops, as well as pickled and jarred foods, canned delicacies, and shelves of dried goods and snacks from Europe. The founders came over from the Balkan region and likewise the counter staff are well-versed in multiple tongues (Serbo-Croatian, Romanian, Hungarian, as well as Spanish) and can fluidly navigate between ethnic product names according to what the customer is asking for. The staff are welcoming, warm, and helpful, and will offer you samples of everything to try. We stocked up on our favorites and also picked up some new goodies: - Chicharrones (always!) - Tarska bacon (a house speciality) - Rolled garlic bacon - Some other bacon (cos yes it's the land of bacon galore) - Duck prosciutto - Various sausages - Goose & pork liver pâté - Liver - Szalonna (pork fat) - Brânză de burduf, a handmade cheese that's a traditional salty Romanian cheese originated from Transylvania. (Muncan is very popular with the local Romanian community) I've always said Queens is foodie heaven and is worth a trip from the boroughs if not the tri-state, and Muncan is definitely a destination stop!

Great neighborhood butcher that has fresh meats but also tons of deli meats. Lots of things you…read morecan't find in a regular butcher store including duck prosciutto. I love the fresh pork rinds and chicharrons that are sold by weight. I was served quickly and with a smile. Def will be back to try more things.

Everything is halal!…read more Bonoful is my place to go. Ever since its inception a couple years ago, it has been the only bazar where I shop for Indian/Bengali/Pakistani goods and delicacies. I have gone during rush hour, even during Ramadan, and the lines are not that crazy; in fact, it is organized unlike other Deli's and the other grocery stores across the street. The staff is nice and attentive, furthermore, the owner himself is a helpful guy in choosing certain spices for certain dishes. Vegetables are a high standard for cooking in Indian and Bengali cuisine. Although you may not be able to get every single fruit/vegetable here, they are not essential to Indian cooking. You can get many herbs, garlic, ginger, rosemary, sage, and saffron etc. The shelves are organized and highly-stocked; and the best part is, the prices are cheap. You get more than you pay for. Furthermore, it is essential to note that the frozen food section is full of palak paneer, sausages, somosas, shingaras, hot dogs, beef and chicken patties, ilish fish, salmon, rui fish, migal fish, boro fish, dried fish, shrimp, kofta, etc. This selection cannot be found anywhere else. I don't eat frozen fish but I am not ashamed to eat this. The selection of pantry items, such as the indian spices, are more than adequate. I highly recommend purchasing the myriad of whole and ground spices: cardamom, cumin, mustard, dried peas, lentils, etc.

My favorite grocery store to go to! It helps so much that everything is Halal as well. The owner…read moreand staff are always so friendly and helpful, I would recommend this store to everyone. They have an amazing variety of fresh food and items, thank you!

Funky little Indian Bodega with ethic staples, halal meat, and fruits and veggies…read more I only come here for the Kulfi ice cream pops (Mango, Pistachio and Cardamon) and the Paan. . They make Paan, one of the strangest things you will ever try if you didn't grow up around a lot of Indians. Its a highly flavorful, sweet, aromatic spice blend that you chew as a digestive aide and palette cleanser after a meal. The strongest flavor is anise. If you've ever noticed odd red and brown splotches all over the ground around 74th these are the reminants of the Paan juices that men spit out. If you guys spitting what might look like chewing tobacco in the area, they are likely enjoying Paan. (Many older men actually get it with tobacco, but yuck, it doesn't come with tobacco unless you ask for it) Anyways, if you are up for a crazy textural sensation and an ethnic specialty, come here for the Paan. If aren't quite so culturally adventurous, stick the the Kulfi ice cream pops. Delish!

The owners of this store are very friendly here and the prices are unbeatable. They also remodeled…read morethis store and it looks a lot more spacious and wonderful. Good job junaid keep it up!

This place never disappoints. The main meat dishes with sides are quite simple, but always…read moreperfectly prepared. Probably the most underrated item of all on the menu is the (beautiful) salpicao chicken salad, but it is a gem - don't sleep on this one. It's very carroty and has a unique flavor that is hard to describe - nothing like any American chicken salad you may have tried - and a bit saltier. The picanha is grilled to perfection, and if you choose rice, the rice is lightly seasoned and soaks up some of the meat juice. As I mentioned, it is very simple food, so don't expect a side of sauce or elaborate marination. It's more about the appreciation of well-made food and allowing its natural taste to really shine. Additional notes: Also worthwhile is their passion fruit salmon. When I went there in person, they always had a delightful coconut rice pudding with a prune. If they still have that, it's a must-get item. Thank me later. The vibe here - in the neighborhood and this place - is just feel-good like no other :)

Their Brazilian cheese bread is fantastic and the coffee is nice and strong. But the star of their…read moremenu is their $6 breakfast specials. You can't beat that deal anywhere. Eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, toast, and coffee is a mega steal.

I must have walked by this place 100 times and never thought about going in. I was on a hunt to…read morefind lotte xylitol "lime mint" gum and my sister brought me here to see if they had it. When I walked in I was really surprised that this was a fully stocked Japanese store. The person behind the counter was just so nice and friendly. This store had a bit of everything. It's a small store, but I was truly amazed how everything was organized so neatly. They had so many Japanese snacks, grocery items, frozen item, plus more. If I had more time I would have stayed longer to really look around. I really was so happy to find what I was looking for and their prices are so reasonable. They only accept cash and this is really one of my new favorite store.

I stumbled on this place completely by accident while passing by it on the street. Looking in the…read morewindow, I realized it was a cute mom and pop Japanese grocery store and hadn't found one in the area yet (I've now come across another but this was the first!). Upon entering, you notice that it is a pretty small space but they try and make use of as much shelf space as possible storing different snacks, some drinks and other assorted items. There was a small Japanese grocery store in Manhattan that I used to frequent so I couldn't help but compare this store to that one (that one is small too but bigger with more variety) which probably isn't a fair comparison. I'll speak to what they have and what they don't. If you're looking for snacks that are nostalgic, check. If you're looking for basic cooking needs like curry, sauces, kewpie mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, mirin, etc, they've got you covered. They even have a small freezer section with different things. They don't carry sake but have teas and other beverages. They don't have much in the way of fresh produce but they do have things like tofu and other refrigerated items. They also don't carry raw sashimi grade fish or frozen shabu shabu meat. They do have some non food items in the back if you're looking for certain household items. When I asked the staff if they carried certain items, everyone was super nice. Note, they do have a $10 minimum to use a credit card. I'll admit I 100% went in there because I was in the mood for shrimp chips. I was super excited when I found that they had hot garlic which is one of my favorite flavors (Calbee brand) so that was a win! If I'm in a pinch or need things they carry, I'll definitely be back!

They are card payment scammers be alert and they sell expired food too…read moreAnd super rude people

As a result of the recent outing to the Ganesh Temple Canteen (read:…read morehttp://www.yelp.com/biz/ganesh-temple-canteen-flushing#hrid:Yl62Nji9yB8N9GVmNw2RSA/src:self), I have been craving kulfi bars and wondering where is the nearest place where I can get them. A friend and neighbor told me of this grocery store on 75th Street and 31st Avenue, just about twenty blocks away from me and definitely a location I can quickly ride my bicycle to. Aside from fruits, vegetables and the usual grocery items, the store carries products from India as well as Mexican products. I'm just glad I know where to get mango kulfi particularly as the days get warmer. Now, my friend promised me the recipe for mango kulfi and I am looking forward to getting my hands on that. :)

Staff are really helpful, tons of products, not American, so needed a bit of help, and they were…read moreexceptional. About 10 or 12 different kinds of fresh feta cheese to choose from!! many Turkish products, which we love. The store has an amazing selection. We're definitely coming back.

I love this place for fun international finds, grocery staples, and all the delicious fillo dough…read moregoodies up front. They also have automatic doors, no step up/down and wide aisles - which is a blessing when you have a stroller and I can't say the same for a lot of the other stores in Sunnyside. The cashiers are also aways super nice and helpful...one time I needed a specific type of pickle and the worker literally walked down the aisle with me and investigated every single jar to make sure I found what I needed. So glad this place opened up despite there being another Parrot a couple of blocks away!