I've been on a Indian-ish cooking streak this past week. Borrowed a few cookbooks from the library and have been riffing on the cuisine. Well my comprehensive spice cabinet is mostly European centric. In order to make Indian recipes I need asafetida, cumin seeds, amchur powder, curry leaves, chaat masala, etc... You get the picture. Fellow Yelpers brought me here. I'm impressed with the inventory of box, bottle, package and frozen offerings. I had a written grocery list of 15 items. Every item I wanted was in stock. Prices are not rock bottom. The 16 oz jar of organic ghee (clarified butter) is priced at $19.99! I didn't see that until I got home. But in toto, I'll use this Indian market in the future for my culinary needs. Owner is a nice guy. He helped me find all the items as I blundered around the crowded and somewhat confusing shelves. read more

I have shopped at this store many times and they have a nice selection of Middle Eastern products. I like to cook and I find the things I need at the store. They have the best Pita bread. I have had good service from the people working there except for one older man who I think is the owner. Every time he is working there he is very grumpy looking and he glares at me like he doesn't want me there or something. I usually just ignore it, but the last time I went there he was extremely RUDE and disrespectful. I left without buying my items and I will never go back. I noticed there was another customer commenting here who noticed the same thing about this man when he shopped there. He should not be working in customer service. read more

I discovered Apna Bazaar about a year ago when I was looking for a place to find some Indian spices and Middle Eastern ingredients. My first visit when I needed help Irene was quick to come over and showed me where the pickled turnips were. I felt quite welcome. My second visit a few weeks later I found the garam masala easily but had difficulty finding a couple of other herbs so asked the gentleman up front for assistance and he was most gracious. He found one easily but the other was a bit more difficult. He told me to finish my shopping as he searched and sure enough, a few minutes later he came over to me and gave me the Asafoetida. At checkout I mentioned that I had just gotten into Indian cinema and loved Aamir Khan, two of his films, PK and Laal Singh Chaddha (An Indian remake of Forrest Gump that was portrayed so brilliantly by Aamir Khan.) being some of my favorites. He then wrote down the name of another film for me to enjoy. And today I visited again and got everything I needed ( I love those MTR Minute meals! Just pop the packet in boiling water and in 5 minutes a delicious meal for when I am too tired to cook.) and checked out. My bag was a bit heavy and as soon as I paid Irene, she was up front today, picked it up and said she'd bring it to my car. (These days I am having mobility issues and use a cane.) I am sorry others have had a bad experience but for me I love this place. I have always gotten great service and love the selection. And I am not one to write reviews, I've written less than 10 on Yelp. Many thanks to Apna, and thank you Irene. :-) I hope I spelled your name correctly. read more

Absolutely horrible service and overpriced items. I've had some bad experiences with this place, including a bag of rice I bought that was infested with bugs. But, I still went back because part of me wanted to support a local Indian business. This last visit though is the final straw and I've had enough of their dismissive rudeness. It's a spot I'd go to if I'm really in a pinch, but would avoid it like the plague otherwise! read more

Bulgarian cream cheese, nice selection of frozen samosas, butter, spices, sweets, Dettol antibacterial soap

I been coming here for long time and there was a friendly nice lady behind the counter. Today I went it and they had a big notice outside the place was under new management. This old man behind the counter, I said hi to him and he looked at me as if he didn't want to be there. It's sad he doesn't know how to welcome customers. Also he was very rude when I asked him simple questions about food product. They need to fire him and replace him with someone who can do better. Really sad to see this business change their management. The previous lady who used to work there was super friendly and helpful. read more

Apna Bazaar - Grumpy old man. - International Grocery Near Me - Cotati, California

The owner of this store is one of the worse owner I have ever seen. They sell goat meat and on Saturday I stop by to buy some goat meat. The owner showed me the packet of goat meat. He told me he just made small peaces put In The refrigerator . It was 67 $. I ask him how much weight it has. He refused to tell me the weight and told me he don't want to sell .He even tell me to get out from his store. He is so rude. We don't need this kind of people doing business in our society. Customers have right to ask the quantity and quality of the product. Otherwise business is suspicious. He didn't even sell anything to me . Suggest me what to do to this guy..... read more

That they exist at all is fantastic! No other store in the SR area. The person working the counter helped me pick out prepared foods which turned out to be delicious and explained Diwali candles to me. I'll be back. read more

First time here and I will be back Very clean and well organized Indian grocery with a great selection of food and spices The woman at the counter was very pleasant and welcoming Worth the drive from Santa Rosa read more

I was so excited to discover this well stocked store. So many spices and treasures from India! Sadly the old Man behind the counter treated me with disdain and disgust. I will never enter that store again alone. read more

Kind and helpful service for a newbie to Indian cooking. They seem to have a plethora of ingredients and helped us find everything we needed. Bonus for having British chocolate! read more

Cute authentic shop filled to the ceiling with ingredients and complete packaged dishes. I found the south Indian food that is so hard to get and the proprietors were very gracious. It really felt like India. read more

Great store - awesome selection of spices, lentils, and everything else you need for Indian cooking! Considering how small the store is, I got everything from drumsticks to urad dal to fresh okra and eggplants. The lady who works in the store was super friendly and I'm happy to have found this store since I normally went to Fremont for my Indian groceries! Don't be fooled by the 3.5 stars - it's a 5 star place!!! Some people prefer to make a stink over a small charge to use a credit card instead of understanding that it's hard for small businesses to pay big fees to credit card companies! read more

EDIT: 8/22/16 Was just by there today. A brand new owner, I'm going to miss the Indian lady that worked there for over a decade! The new owner says she's going to bring in some African & Middle Eastern items in addition to all the Indian groceries. read more

They sell stale products and if you go back and try to get refund or exchange they tell you sorry can't do after 24 hours. Typical small street vendor type mentality read more

Small cute shop! I finally found a place to buy all my international stuff! I've been buying them online so happy I found this place. They have many international spices you can't find at your local grocery store mostly south Asian and middleeastern spices and products. read more

We came here once many years ago & it was very disorganized, & they didn't have much of anything in stock. I decided to try it again, & it was so much better this time. Being the only [Eastern] Indian food store in the county, they have a corner on the market. However, it pales in comparison to the real Indian Super Markets in San Diego, especially the big ethnic shopping center near the center of that county. The International markets down there are far superior to what little we have up here in the north bay. This store also uses the fraudprone internet based system where you must sign with your fingernail, instead of using a pen. Not me. read more

I have shopped at this store few times, I usually get Basmati rice or spices. I bought brown rice a month ago and I noticed few days ago that it is infested with worms. I called the owner and mentioned it to him. He was very nice anout it and told me he can credit me if I brought the rice back. After few days I took it back. He first asked me for receipt, I don't keep reciepts from a convenient store. So, I told him I don't have it. Then he said, how do I know you bought it here. Then I showed him my online credit card activity that shows clearly I bout the rice from his store. Then he insisted O have to have the receipt. He was very dishonest. For me $14 is not much but it bothered me that he does not stand by his product. Obviously, I will never buy from this store again. read more

Find this to be a great store for spices, rice, lots of things. Wish the guy working there was more friendly and helpful. If you know what you want you are good to go. read more

I always get the sweetest care when I go here. The woman who works there is lovely and always very helpful...I feel lucky to have a store like this in our area. read more

I went for a big shop at Apna Bazaar in Cotati. I was really looking forward to getting some curry leaves, but they were out of them. The Punjabi guy was not very friendly, he seemed to be bothered by me asking questions. But it was my first time at this store. Naturally I had many questions about where I might find certain of the many items I had on my list. I came 150 miles to go to this store. I was stocking up. However the Peruvian lady who actually was the one to check my friend and out at the register was a lovely person. When I got home , couple days later I was in the process of making Matar Paneer, the Kashmiri Red Chili Powder was so incredibly hot I had to throw out the whole dish. I like heat for sure, but this product labeled as Kashmiri red .chili powder was Not what it said it was. I'm sure it was cayenne. Kashmiri red chili is not supposed to be real hot, actually it is very mild. I recently read that there is a shortage in India these days of the Kashmiri chili's - perhaps the company they got the chili from ( known as DEEP) was trying to pull one over on their customers..... I wouldn't doubt it. read more

Went in to buy some alphonso mango pulp. Everything indicates that they take card. Get up to the register and the women tells me 50 cents charge. I'm not paying 50 cents on something like that! Are you even kidding! Post a sign if there's a minimum! Post many signs if there's a minimum! Don't waste my time! Clearly I was the only customer thus far today. That's ridiculous! Don't worry, won't bother coming back. read more

The couple that runs this place are very sweet and Helpful! The prices seemed good to me. They have a lot to choose from!

This is the worst customer service that I have had in my entire life if there is any way that I can give them 0 star I could have given them but..... ..The lady was so lazy too and was very loud while speaking . I will have to say she is not for sales person. I thought she doesn' t have any politeness so how she becam......... read more

Great store, and amazing people. I have been a regular at the store, and never been dissapointed

This place is even more wonderful than it used to be. I called looking for a very tough find. The woman on the end of the phone was cheerful, and helpful and she said she had the holy grail that I was searching for! I would not have to drive to San Francisco after all. they are open 10-8 daily. I nipped in, was actually greeted by a smiling friendly fellow who helped me locate the dried lemons, dried limes, and citrus powders I needed for some moroccan dishes. I also picked up other items (Iranian type dessert) I had not seen in sonoma county. Another gentleman behind the counter told me how to make a tea with cardamom pods. DELICIOUS! This place is a find and they are expanding. Business must be good, and I can see why. I've not had such a pleasant shopping experience in ages. I'm going to have to learn about the other items in the store just so I can keep shopping there read more

Excellent prices and products. One of the few stores that have halal meat in Sonoma County.