I needed some Kashmiri chile powder to make a recipe for Kerala roadside chicken. I wasn't…read moreconfident my regular Asian food stores, which specialize in Korean and Chinese foods, would have this Indian ingredient. I have driven past India Foods for quite some time but never stopped. I was surprised by how large the store was. From the outside, it looks rather small but it was nearly as large as the Asia Market and Orient Market in town. They had the powdered Kashmiri chile pepper and many other spices and food products. Many products that I hadn't seen at the other stores, because of their emphasis on Indian foods. Fresh produce items didn't seem at their peak, so that's something that I would look for other sources. The Asia Market gets its fresh produce on Fridays, the Orient a day later and they're always in good condition. Overall, though, I was pleased by the selection at this store.

I loved their spices selection! The lady who works there helped me find everything I needed (I had…read morea long list). The only thing they didn't have were curry leaves. They also have a nice selection of veggies, some fruit, and fresh herbs are very inexpensive. Very enjoyable shopping experience.

[covidtime - 8/15/2020 visit] Seemed pretty standard,…read morenothing to make it stand out. Average selection, nothing to say "come visit again", especially if you have another place that has the same or better selection. I had been checking out about 3 international grocers this day, trying to find a go-to. This one didn't make the cut; I didn't buy any items at this store. That said, there was nothing at all wrong with the store, which is why I give it 3 stars.

Saturday is the can't-miss day at the Orient Market. That's when they get fresh produce and fresh…read morefish in and the scene seems like a farmer's market, inside a small grocery store. On that day they also carry such treats as Vietnamese egg rolls, buns and yau ja gwai, fried Chinese bread sticks. The store also carries a large number of Asian sauces and seasonings, canned Thai curry bases and the like.

Thana's Little World Market in Boise, which recently moved to a larger space, is a family owned and…read moreoperated business. The day I visited, Owner Kahm was there, with two of his adult children, Thana Vy "One" and Kilo. I recently visited for the first time and was beyond impressed with the wide variety of food items from all over the world. My plan was to stop in and take a few pictures, but I was there for over two hours, because there was so much to look at. The produce section includes items you won't find anywhere else. Much of the produce is grown locally by Kahm, on his farm in Kuna. Kahm kindly invited me to visit his farm next spring/summer. I can't wait! Kahm's future plans include offering cooking classes, and fresh made food. Thana's Little World Market is the best International market in Idaho. Many of the products are from Southeast Asia and East Asia, but they also carry items from the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Samoa. Highly Recommended!!! Location: 3621 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83705 Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10 AM to 7 PM Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM

Thana's Little Market is a hidden gem in Boise, located near Auto Zone. This market specializes in…read moreSouth East Asian groceries in which you can find some a great selection of snacks, drinks, seasonings and frozen seafood. My husband and I decided to stop by here while we were staying in Boise last month. When we came in, we were greeted by the employee behind the register. We walked the narrow aisles, pushing our shopping cart, looking at everything. We ended up only purchasing dried squid for $3.29 (prior to tax). We opted for the non spicy version but there is also a spicy version for those that prefer the added kick. I have never seen dried squid come in long sheets like this before at the other Asian markets that I have gone to back at home in Los Angeles. The squid was good with a light sweet tomato flavor. It had a nice light chew as well. If I lived in this area, I would be back to purchase more snacks and drinks. I would probably also consider purchasing some of the frozen seafood too. Parking is available in their parking lot.

I loved their coconut dessert. Everything was delicious... but the coconut one was my favorite…read more Spectacular!

Our greetings crossed paths in the air as I opened the door to this family owned Iraqi bakery when…read moreFatima, the lovely young woman at the counter, said, "Welcome in!" at the exact moment I said, "It smells SO good in here!" She said the aroma was from the Iraqi bread that was not long out of the oven and she was right. The bag we bought (a bargain price of only $9 for 10 pieces) was still warm when as we carried it to the car. But bread isn't the only delightful to eat thing inside this space because there are over a dozen kinds of baklava, a variety of cookies like sesame and date filled ones, and pastries featuring katafi and many are filled with pistachios, including one of my all time favorites, birds nests, along with other sweets like Turkish Delights. All of the pastries are petite sized which is appropriate given they are all sweet and rich and just right to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee at home. I think they are priced by the pound, ranging from $11 to $20. In addition to bread, we bought a large container if sweets (they have small and large) that we filled with our selection of pastries and cookies to try so we could start to reach our goal of tasting every one of them made here! FAMILY BUSINESS: Another impressive thing, is that all of these pastries and the bread is made by Fatima's father and sold in this business which is owned by her brother. The family is originally from Iraq then lived in Turkey before coming to the United States, so the baker has the heritage and life experience to create these authentic treats. LOCATION: On the Bench in one of Boise's many decrepit and very old strip malls. I imagine this building hails from the 1960's. The space leased by the pastry shop used to be Toby's Treasures so if you look for images on Google, that's what you'll see. In the mode of don't judge a book by its' cover, go inside! PARKING: Private lot, a big advantage in Boise. ACCESSIBILITY: There is no ADA parking. There is no need to step up onto a sidewalk, the walkway is level with the parking lot. Parking cement blocks make it difficult for a wheelchair user to get through in between them to access the walkway. But if you can do that, then it is level in the door to the pastry shop and all on one level. SHARING IS A GOOD THING: We introduced a favorite neighbor who had never had Iraqi bread to it by sharing some with him along with a note about ways to use it and the shop's contact information. This family relies on word of mouth, including social media sites like this, to spread the word to keep their business open. HOURS: Closed Mondays, otherwise current hours are 10a - 7p six days a week.

A delightful "mom n pop" owned Korean foods market that is small but mighty for product selection…read moreand which displays pride of ownership in the best possible way of well stocked shelves and sparkling clean spaces. I hope Diana's will not be lost in the shuffle as Boise adds 'mega-store' sized Asian food markets as has happened in 2018 with more rumored to be on the way. SERVICE: This little market may be the only one specializing in Korean foods but the others sell Korean products too. I hope the pattern of mega-stores upending the little ones like this doesn't happen because the advantage of Diana's is the nice people who own it. They speak more English than I speak Hangul, which is to say I speak none, and so although most of the packaging is in Korean characters for labels and ingredients, they can always help me out. PRODUCTS: There are packaged goods like dried mushrooms (at bargain price), Gochuchang, dried Korean chilis (which really have no substitute), noodles, kimchi and...endless other items. There is a refrigerator and freezer in the back of the store for marinated meat products and although I've never tried them, I understand they are house made. They also have a few selections in serveware and homegoods. WE LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER: On a recent visit my hubby and I were one of only three customers in the store. The other customer was a Korean woman who asked me, in delightfully halting English and with obvious surprise in her voice seeing the items I was buying, "How you know what to buy? You have Korean friend who cooks for you?" I laughed and answered that I didn't and that I was cooking myself since I was reading about Korean dishes and asked if she wanted to be my friend and cook for me. She laughed too as she replied, "I don't cook. But we be friends and go to HIS house. HE cook." HE meaning the owner who was at the register that day. Alas that he didn't take her up on the swell suggestion! But the point is food is a great connector for people across cultures, as this nice woman demonstrated. We all eat and have things to teach and learn from each other across a dining table. ACCESSIBILITY: Located in one of Boise's many woefully maintained strip malls, the parking and path of travel from parking to the sidewalk are not ADA compliant (although that law is 28 years old) and will be difficult for people with mobility disabilities - like me. That is the fault of the strip mall owner and not the owner of Diana's.

Mom and Pop Korean grocery store! I been coming here about once a week since the first time they…read moreopen their door! The owners are nice Korean older couples. They carry all sorts of things made in Korea not only food. If you can't find the thing you need then they can try to order it for you! Like the last time I was looking for flavored soju (Korean rice wine), then the following week they ordered 5 different kinds of flavored soju for me! They also have some fresh produce every Friday morning! I love coming here!

Shankaron Market is has great Beef Sambusas ($2.25) They also have sambusas filled with lentils…read more($2), but they were out when I visited. Sambusas are a fried or baked pastry filled with a savory filling such as spiced potatoes, peas, cheese, meat, or lentils. They are often served with a hot dipping sauce. Sambusas are also known as samosas or samboosa's. They originated in the Middle East and Central Asia, before spreading to Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia and beyond. They are usually served as an appetizer or snack. Add a salad or rice side dish to a couple of these and you have a meal. My first introduction to samosas was when I was 10 years old and living in the Congo, known at that time as Zaire. Those samosas, influenced by the Indian community, were made of beef, onions, chili peppers, cumin and turmeric. They were sold at the market and various shops. They were sometimes served with pili-pili sauce, but they were delicious without. For me, those remain the best samosas I've ever had. Shankaron's sambusas are not as spicy, but they are delicious! By far, these are the best version of this food that I have had locally. I like that they are made to order, not simply reheated. The pastry itself is perfection. Deep fried, but not greasy. Nicely crisped on the outside, but soft as you bite into it. In addition to beef, these have chopped onion and cilantro, maybe some garlic and various spices. These are served with Shidni sauce, a spicy green chili hot sauce made with tamarind and lemon. These would go great with an ice cold beer. Perfect for those Sunday afternoon's watching football, or anytime. In addition to sambusas, Shankaron Market has other menu items, and lots of other great products. Highly recommended!!!!!

[covidtime - 8/15/2020 visit] Very nice specialty grocery and restaurant. The selection isn't…read morelarge, but it fits the African/Somali vibe. I only purchased one item, and it was a lark - canned Baba Ghanouh. I thought it would be terrible, but it was actually not bad for a canned item. The people were friendly, and the restaurant felt like a friendly local bar. The folks that were there were engaged in conversation (in Somali language I guess) and they didn't seem to mind me checking out the menu, although I didn't order that day. Overall, it was a nice experience, even if it was pretty much a "check this place out for the first time" kind of thing.

OK, I will say I just moved here. Just moved from a city with a great Farmers Market, amazing I…read moremight say so I am a little bias...but this is not really a bias things, more a question. I have spent the last 25+ years going to the Minneapolis Farmers Market every weekend from April to Sept/Oct. Even on weeks that I wasn't going to be home I would come down for the people, the sounds, the smells, the fresh produce. I have this thing in my mind about Farmers Markets and supporting local businesses, local growers and buying good clean healthy products from people who do this year after year! Watching young and old, rich and poor come down to buy locally grown, seasonal products! As a trained Chef, lover of food, lover of people and crowds everything about a farmers market hits for me! I have been to a lot of famers markets in a lot of Cities and States as well, all along those lines for the most part... Now the Boise Farmers Market is very nice, lots of great vendors, good food trucks, Awesome Bagels (shout out to @Good Time Bagels) but the pricing for produce is quite honestly bizarre ! I have been here only 3 months but I find Boise overall to have a much lower cost of living to what I am used to. Restaurants, stores, coffee, alcohol...the little things I enjoy in life are much less expensive...except veggies at the Farmers Market! I would routinely pick up fresh lettuce of various types at the market for $1-2 dollars a head...Boise $7-10??? $7 dollars for a bag of lettuce, are you kidding me, $10..WTF??? $3 for a very, very small bunch of carrots...something that I would expect for $1...This is NOT the markets you would pick up your weekly need of veggies at, you couldn't afford to. $11 for a loaf of fresh bread, really...that's like double what I would pay at Whole Foods (whole paycheck as it's known). Now I get getting a fair price for your product, for your work, what you do...but it's a head of lettuce, it's a carrot...are the costs of growing that much more? That is a general question. MN is a very high tax State, especially compared to ID...not why I moved here at all, love the Boise vibe from the first time I came for work! I very much love this city, the people are so nice but the farmer market both confuses me and disappointed me all at the same time! I will come down ever weekend, I will enjoy the people, the smells, the food and coffee...especially the Bagels...but I will NOT buy lettuce which is such a shame! If you have ever eaten freshly grown lettuce compared to the stuff you get from the grocery store, everything about it is so much better. It actually has flavor, a crunch, taste...but not for $8 (using an average) that's just stupid! Where do the chefs buy fresh produce? Where do the families who want to buy local, want a healthier life for their families...where do they shop? Curious!

What a cute market! Tons of parking in the area or on the street as well as bike parking in the…read moremarket. Every one of the vendors we spoke with was friendly and the myriad of products available was great. We spit a breakfast sandwich (olive tapenade, sausage, egg, and more!) as well as a mango smoothie (tart) from one vendor, before walking through the market. We ended up buying a bottle of wine and a jar of jam for our journey home. Minus 1 star because it was a) a bit expensive and b) full of dogs even though signs say no dogs (I like them, but not everyone does - for those who don't, it would be good to enforce or at least be aware, it's not a dog free market).

Stopped in for lunch on a Friday. Not busy at all. Cute Mexican market with a great variety of…read moregrocery items, meat, and food to order. There are a handful of tables to eat there or they offer to-go. Hubby got a burrito with asada and I got a torta with carnitas. The carnitas was by far the stand out of the entire meal. We agreed we'd be back just for that. But both our meals were good. The salsas they brought to the tables with our order were also great! Friendly staff, clean tables and store. It's a little cramped with the groceries, but not too bad. Very authentic Mexican food and market.

Amazing meat counter. Got all we needed very quickly and the staff was very nice. We were in and…read moreout of there in no time. We will definitely be back and look forward to sitting down and having a meal there.