A veritable wonderland of Central and East European fresh and packaged foodstuffs for your consuming pleasure and curiosity. Located in the far Northeast Philadelphia on Bustleton Avenue, the most diverse community in the City of Brotherly Love, NetCost Market is as much a cultural phenomenon as a supermarket. Go there for those semi exotic cuisine products unavailable almost anywhere else, and just for the foodie adventure of it all. We were there for our first visit. Walking in, we were immediately overwhelmed by the produce on display. For example, their Fuji apples were gorgeous and about .50 per pound cheaper than anywhere else. We bagged over 2 lbs for the cart. Similarly, their greens were verdant and priced to move. Next, we reached their prepared foods and deli area. Where to start?! It all looked great and set off our salivary glands. We decided to buy a sampling of delicacies, rather than a little of everything that attracted us. Polish kielbasa, potato pancakes, mushroom blintzes were wrapped up and put in the cart. The bakery sang to us next, so we grabbed two varieties of bread, light and dark. Pickled veggies? Yes! Small cukes and cherry tomatoes soured in Moldova were thrown in the cart. Swiss cheese from Poland and 2 lbs of house made chicken and veal dumplings were scooped into a plastic bag. A few Russian chocolate bars finished our food safari. Last night we enjoyed a feast of all the things we bought. Everything was delicious and even surprisingly great. Standouts included the blintzes, pickled cherry tomatoes and both breads. Not a dog in the spread. Will be eating those crisp sweet Fujis for the next week. Service was outstanding, too. Although spoken English was at a premium, all the counter people were hospitable and capable of communicating with us with a smile. We dealt with at least a half dozen ladies in aprons, and each approached us with warmth and interest. Any small misunderstandings were easily corrected. NetCost Market is a cornucopia of culinary delights that we will be making an integral part of our food shop circuit going forward. read more

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If you ask to use the restroom at this store (located in Philadelphia's Leo Mall), you may encounter rudeness and hostility reminiscent of the post-Soviet era. Even a full cart of groceries purchased at this store makes no difference. Furthermore, the large number of young employees with virtually no command of English raises suspicions regarding the use of illegal migrant labor--though that is a matter for ICE to investigate. read more

"Do you have pasteurized eggs?" "Sorry I don't speak English" *Notices she IS the manager* Solid operation you guys are running here (Update) Manager responds with generic "contact us to get to the bottom of this" What exactly are we getting to the bottom of? Maybe a Duolingo subscription? It was bad enough when I called looking *specifically* for pasturized eggs they said they carried them. So I rerouted and stopped in. Looks at packages "Pasture raised eggs" Honest mistake but it compounded the annoyance with "I'm paid to help you but can't" read more

I went shopping here, filling my cart and ready to drop some serious cash. After spending some time there, nature called and I politely asked to use their restroom, the staff gave me the royal flush-off, saying it was 'not for public use.' The irony? While they wouldn't let a paying customer use their actual toilet, they had no problem treating me like crap! Talk about a toilet paper thin customer service policy. You'd think after the 2018 Starbucks incident right here in Philadelphia - where two Black men were arrested after being denied bathroom access, sparking national outrage and lawsuits - local businesses would understand that denying restrooms to customers is a PR nightmare waiting to happen. But apparently NetCost missed that memo. Here's a business that's literally sitting on a goldmine of customer goodwill, but they're too busy being number two at customer service to notice. They've got the whole 'crappy experience' thing down to a science - who doesn't treat people like crap in 2025? Save yourself the trouble and take your business somewhere that doesn't think customer service should go down the drain. This place is the toilet of grocery stores. One star - because zero isn't an option! read more

The breads here are amazing!! Just come in for the fresh bread. Not sure where they get it but it's amaZing. read more

NetCost Market - They have the best breads - Grocery Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The way I was treated at Net Cost Supermarket was disgraceful. After spending over 35 minutes shopping and making significant purchases, I urgently needed to use the restroom. I was flatly refused and told it was 'not for public use'--even though I was a paying customer. This is not just bad customer service; it's a basic human dignity issue. To deny a customer a restroom, especially in a supermarket where people spend time and money, shows zero respect, zero empathy, and zero regard for the community they serve. I will never return and I will make sure others know how they treat their customers. read more

As soon as I entered into the store I can see it was very busy and everyone was excited to be in there it really has a huge selection of freshly made pickles and salads and entrées and sides for you to have the most delicious insanely exquisite meal at home. One of the things I picked up was stuffed peppers big beautiful peppers stuffed with rice and meat. I called them the next day and spoke with a very friendly manager who told me how to cook it properly. The gentleman was so nice patient and kind. I had great customer service also when I was checking out. The lady in my checkout line was so friendly and cheerful and very helpful. I really enjoyed looking around and seeing all the offerings I looked around the Sweets area just to get a little something to take to work and I was overwhelmed with a huge selection of beautiful little cakes and cookies and treats. One of the things I was surprised to see were the individual slices of frozen cheesecake in the freezer section. I'm used to seeing a little individual bins of ice cream... But in this case there was little slivers like a little bar it was... A cheesecake bar and some had vanilla cheesecake, there is also a chocolate dipped cheesecake and it was about a buck and a half. I brought a bunch of these in to work and everybody was pretty excited. I would definitely like to come back to this place. And I'm really really pleased with the service that I got here. From produce to cashier check out as well as the deli area where the prepared food area is. (^^) Delicious stuffed peppers!! read more

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Very good staff and low prices, comparing to the same products in Virginia. We love it! read more

A clean grocery store that you'd never guess had Russian things when you look at it from the outside. Good deals with a store card, which they'll probably scan at the front even if you don't! Many types of candies, pilmenys, dumplings, meats, cheeses, salads, and more! The entire buffet made me wish I hadn't eaten directly before. Pierogis, gelatinous salads with meat and food inside, cookies, fish, soups, everything my friends saw in Russia was here! The buffet price by the pound was reasonable and diverse. From the bakery, I got a chocolate croissant, and though it looked different than usual, it was as soft and chocolatey as I wanted. The baked pierogi was sweet, filled with potato, and definitely something I'd want to try with cheese or other meat inside. They've got the ingredients to fix up anything from Eastern Europe that you've been craving, or if you'd just like some burgers and fries, the price is right for that too. I wish it was closer! read more

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It's got great products that I can't find anywhere else. I no longer live in the area though....I'm in North Carolina now...it would be nice if I could read Russian....a lot of the products have labels I can't read. LOL read more

You can even have lox sliced to order in front of you. Delicious danish, bagels,and wide selection of produce. Full dairy products available. Deli meats , like the stuff you crave. Salads. read more

Long drive for me but so worth it! I restock on all of my favorite things and treat myself to some caviar and cake. Their red currant smetannik cake is to die for. read more

NetCost Market - a variety of desserts - Grocery Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Going to Net Cost is like visiting a market in some remote small city in Russia. The prices are high the packaged bread is often stale the clerks are not accommodating. We tried to buy something on special, our phone number was no longer in the system and even though we had our own Net Coat bag they would not use a courtesy card. The aisles are narrow, the customers are unsmiling and rude. Go to Bell's Market and have a better experience. read more

I had a terrible experience here and won't go back. A female employee, possibly a manager got in my face, really close, during the time of Covid19. It was horrifying and outrageous. I really like the other NetCost market on Welsh rd. and go there just about every week. But I'll review that one separately. It's amazing how one person can ruin a store for you. But I've spoken to other people and they've also said that the employees there have an attitude. read more

Great variety of European and International food. Fresh Produce always stocked including the amazing deli counters, wonderful bread variety and delicious cakes and pastry. So glad that we found this amazing store they have two locations but this one is bigger and has a better variety of international food. We always come here for the great deli selections and of course the bread the" AMAZING BREAD variety". The produce is fresh they are always stocked you can see this since the friendly employees are constantly filling up and cleaning the aisles maintaining a clean store. You will not be disappointed if you come here I can highly recommend it. Our trip to this location is usually stocking up on deli cuts, fresh bread, salads, fresh produce, international food including their great selections of dairy and meat products. read more

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Every time I go there hoping the place has changed, it's a stress. The items don't have corresponding price tags, price tags are missing, cashiers don't know the prices and always overcharge. Couple times I has surprise items in my receipts that didn't buy. Manager Victoria is incredible rude. I do not recommend this store. read more

Da! This is an amazing place. It is like someone took a shovel and dug up an entire Russian market, air lifted it, and dropped it in northern Philly. Don't shy away if you don't know Russian or are afraid that you'll be confused about what to buy. The selection is huge, the prices are great, and it is an adventure. Foodies will be in heaven. They have a nice produce section. Of course they have dill. However, they also have a little bit of everything you'd expect. Great fruits. A wide variety of vegetables. All at good prices. They have a huge selection of deli meats and cheeses. They have home cooked prepared foods that you just need to take home and heat up - such as shashlik, cooked chicken, cutlets, etc. They also have fantastic salads that far exceed the typical American selection of potato, egg, macaroni, and cole slaw options. You can also buy fresh pickles that appear to have been made by the ladies manning the stall. I picked up a quart of half sours and they are fantastic - the pickles even have the flowers still attached at the ends. They also make an incredible pickled cherry tomato. You can also find smoked fish, caviar, and beautiful pastries - all at great prices. They have a huge selection of sausages, salamis, smoked meats, and cheeses - including a large selection of home made cheeses. They have European style butter, Greek style yogurt, pilmeni, frozen desserts, breads, nuts, dried fruits, "exotic" meats, etc. They have one side of an entire aisle dedicated to "sok" (juice). You have your standard apple, pineapple, and banana - but you'll also find pear, peach, cherry, pomegranate, currant, mixed fruits, tropical fruits, vitamin enhanced juices, etc. You can find a huge selection of jarred pickles, sauces, spreads, etc. They have the widest selection of teas that I have seen. They have hot and cold cereals, crackers, cookies, and a veritable Willy Wonka aisle of chocolates and candies. You can get mixes for blini and plov. There are spices and spice mixes. It is truly amazing. Their frozen pilmeni comes in the widest assortment I've seen in the states. There is even a book/magazine store close to the cash registers so you can pick up something to read on your ride home. The Russian music (pop and classical) as well as the announcements (made in Russian) add to the cultural experience. If you can read Cyrillic things are a little easier because so many things are similar. For non-Russian speakers, rest assured, many of the shelved items also have English labels added so you know what you're buying. Honestly, they don't have everything you'd find in a large Russian market but they do have a lot and they also have a lot of things from other countries like German Chocolates, oriental teas, and Polish Relishes. They even have a small assortment of American items. It really meets the needs of transplanted Eastern Europeans. Overall, two thumbs waaaay up. Worth a drive from Harrisburg every few months. So two thumbs up. I'll go have a glass of kefir and some tea with whortleberries. read more

Very extensive international supermarket. Many fresh prepared foods, meats and cheeses. I felt like a stranger in a strange land navigating around trying to find the basics. Got some lamb kabobs, flat breads, taziki sauce and lots of fruits and veggies. I'm going back for sure with a Russian friend who can help me to better shop their extensive options! read more

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Netcost has been on my list of places to check out for a while. While it's not typically convenient to get there, I've noted plenty of the reviews that discuss the breadth of ethnic food they stock. If you're looking for Eastern European foods - and a really broad selection thereof- this is definitely a place you want to stop at. It's grocery destination shopping. The sausage /cured meat, cheese, caviar, smoked and picked fish, and the pickle selection alone are worth the trip. It's easy to forget that you're in the US, as Slavic languages abound - over the loudspeaker and all around you. People watching is the second most fun thing here, as well as attempting to converse with the staff. Prices are pretty decent, but they do very as any as in any store. If your venturous from a culinary perspective, and like to try new things or even Eastern European versions of things you had before, then I suggest making a stop here at least once. read more

Three stars because even though they have a huge selection of hard to find items, to include nice produce, I was turned off by the fact that they do not gave a public restroom. I couldn't stay long enough to shop so I left and went to Dunkin' Donuts. Good excuse, right? Next time I'm in the area, I may go back and stroll every isle. read more

Rich variety of food and produce!!! Not cheap but one can find a really good food! Deli is very good! Fish caviar salads very fresh! It also has some european produce , choco cakes etc. Bakery is nice too! The best cake that they have is called "lakomka/pcholka, (with almonds) smetannik"! Amazing taste! read more

I would give one star if I could. The employees are as bad as the people who shop there! I waited in the deli line for 15 minutes while this woman behind the counter took a woman ahead of me. I said excuse me I've been waiting and she said something in her native language to the woman and they moved away acting as if they didn't understand me. I pointed to them and told them they were both disgusting and left. A woman waiting for me agreed with me and told me the entire store was a hot mess! First and last time I shop there! read more

Hello comrade. I'm going to tell you what to expect when visiting for the first time. The store smells like dill. You probably have never seen this much pickled, cold smoked, and cured items all in one place before. There's an entire aisle dedicated to fruit juice. Sea buckthorn juice is very viscous and sour. There will be gross dudes and attractive women dressed to the nines throughout the store. Five inch stilettos and grocery shopping just happens here. Try not to smile or show any emotion on your face, you'll stick out and might bring attention. Ordering anything from the deli is very intimidating if you can't speak the language. I go to Net Cost every other month and I still haven't had a clue. I think I need a Russian chaperone. read more

This place is pretty funny. Everyone there speaks Russian and they look at you like you are strange if you speak to them in English. They also may or may not understand you. Regardless, the food is great. They carry like 100 different kinds of feta cheese and classify them by their nationality. Lots of teas too. This is the best place in Philadelphia to go shopping for Eastern European groceries. read more

The supposed mecca of the Russian food stores celebrated its fifth year in Philly this year. Starting in New York and working its way to our neck of the woods, this cornucopia of Slavic wonder was clearly, since its inception, intended to be the one stop shopping powerhouse among the Eastern Europen community of Philadelphia. Has it achieved that goal? Is it the place to shop for all your Eastern Europian goodies, be they kielbasa, shishlik, Keifer, Kvas or mildly confusing food description translations in form of deli counter signs? Or is this just another Russian food mart in what is sometimes affectionately, and sometimes not so affectionately, called the Kiev village? Well, the simple answer to these questions is this: When you try to be everything to everybody something gets lost in the translation, shall we say. Though the store sells ethnic food, the trend it has followed over the years is all too akin to American supermarkets. That is to say, the effort and ingredient quality has suffered in attempts to maximize profit to such a degree that, in my humble opinion, the end product is at times not worth the asking price when taking into account places such as Bell's Market. Its important to note that this criticism is squarely directed at the the prepared foods section in the store, and though I feel this section is the center of such a stores appeal for most folks, it in no way reflects upon the rest of the stores many other offers. There are many items that are quite good scattered throughout the store; The smoked duck breast, for example, which can be found in the vacuum sealed meats freezer area. Though rich, it is a can't miss if you enjoy smoked meats and are not opposed to treating yourself. Another nice item is the 100% not from concentrate pomegranate juice which NetCost carries. A very good value, especially when compared to something like POM, a from concentrate juice which is still more expensive. Furthermore, this is not to say that the store's prepared food is terrible, but rather, over time has gotten less diverse and complex while , in efforts to stay competitive, allowing cheaper ingredient occasionally creep in. (i.e using more flour and less cheese when making sweeten cheese paddies ) As Zanna H. summarized " Some other little Russian markets in the area have better prepared food but Net Cost's are still pretty good." So,on the whole, an excursion here is worthwhile, but if your making the trip from someplace other then the northeast then you might as well go to the comparability sized, previously mentioned, Bell's Market. read more

Well known to every Russian in Philadelphia is Netcost Market, a supermarket that specializes in Eastern European foods. Its a market we may have imagined when we still lived in Russia had markets actually stocked food instead of the basic staples like bread and milk. This is destination shopping for every foodie in the know and daily shopping for the thousands of Russians who live in North East Philadelphia. While some items cater strictly to their Russian clients, there is something here for every taste and appetite. The first sensation you feel when you enter this store is strong smell of hearty black bread and dill. There is an entire row of jarred pickled foods and a fresh dill bar. Here you can find 4 or 5 kinds of pickled mushrooms, a few varieties of pickled eggplant, tomatoes, watermelon rind, and even pickled sardines. There is an entire smoked fish section with a choice of cold-smoked or hot-smoked fish of your choosing. The deli case has both traditional favorites like Boar's Head and unique Russian items like cured Salo. There is a caviar station with at least a dozen varieties of caviar sold by the ounce and canned caviar ready to bring as a gift to a special gathering. While caviar is not cheap anywhere, you'll find the cost is a small fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. The store is a unique cultural phenomenon. Here you will be surrounded by a sea of people, some with hardened Eastern European faces, some dressed like models with high heels. Everyone speaks Russian and will assume you do too. As an outsider it may sound like they're yelling at each other. The signs are in Russian and the loud speaker announcements are only Russian as well. This store is a must visit for the adventurous foodie. read more

After having lived in post soviet land and Istanbul for a number of years, I have an affinity for eats that are hard to come by. And they're pretty much all here....beet salad, red pickled cabbage, xachapuri, potato/mushroom cheese wraps and ravioli, soft farmer cheese 'salad' with herbs, chorchella (totally not spelling these things right), borjomi, tkemali (spicy, red and green, I'll take all three, thaaaanks!), the better variations of baklava, little smoked fishies, lobio salad, ayran, egg plant salad done right, turkish pide bread, small halva treats with sesame seeds... There's a decent section of organic produce and hard-to-come-by dairy (ayran, pequea yogurt, kefir cheese, etc). The bakery section... I don't see myself staying away for any sort of extended period. read more

Excellent location. Insanly large selection. Delicious prepared food and deserts. As a Ruski, it's easy to distinguish authentic/well prepared russian comfort foods and Net Cost is on target. The katleti are grade A and the salads are always fresh. There is nothing this store does not have. Its a prime destination for 1 stop shopping. From groceries to produce to breads to deli to prepared food, this place has it all. Everything is neat and clean and presented very attractively. I do, however stay away from the desert area....because everything is amazing and I must watch my girlish figure. For an outsider (any non ex-soviet or european) I would suggest avoiding Net Cost on the weekends to evade the Housewives of Northeast Philly fashion shows. But this place REALLY sets a high standard for Russian markets in Philly and 100% lives up to all the hype. read more

Not friendly. Good products. But food in the fridge needs to be checked for expiration including bakery items.

As the main competition for Bell's Market, I had to check it out. Newer building, more brightly lit and offering a larger prepared foods section. Like Bell's, this store is a veritable worldwide food tour. I could spend hours at Net Cost roaming the aisles looking at the exotica while trying to design suitable recipes to make the newly discovered ingredient shine. Juice selection appears to be smaller than Bell's but the pickle bar is larger. My purchases to date have been limited to pre-packaged items, so I cannot comment on the employees' willingness to assist customers or their facility with English. I look forward to providing an update that addresses those issues. N.B. Be aware that the parking lot is a little challenging to navigate and some drivers make slick moves as they search for a spot. read more

I do love everything about this market but the one thing that is lacking is costumer service is was looking for orange juice for 10 minutes then decided to ask someone and spent 10 minutes looking for someone that can help then I finally found someone and when I asked she and she showed it to me but spending 10 minutes for one item to ask is to much I think. read more

Decided we would check out Russian North East Philadelphia and wanted to go to a Russian supermarket.This was a last minute unplanned adventure and I wasn't sure where to go.Again , Yelp to the rescue ! I found it through Yelp and Yelp got me here.The selection of Kvass is awesome!Admittedly I don't like Kvass but Levin in Anna Karenina discovers it and if it's good enough for him , it probably should be for me.Lots of smoked fish, desert items and Birch Juice! and pine nuggets! Lots of tea and keffir! It was fun.Ukrainian candy ,Lithuanian cheese and Uzbek rice- you can't get these at 7-11! read more

I love this place. The veggies and fruits tend to be a bit higher than other markets but the deli and fresh meat department are amazing. The cheese aisle has so much variety and way cheaper than if you were to go anywhere else. I frequent this place several times a month, I stock up on items that I can't find anywhere else read more

NetCost Market - Best place for European snacks and sweets - Grocery Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The Net Cost Market always seems to be bustling with activity when I go there, and for a good reason - they have a large selection of just about everything. Usually it's the deli counter that is the most crowded; you will have to take a ticket if you want to be served, but that is understandable because they have a wide variety of meats and cheeses on display. To give you an idea of their stock, I saw at least 10 different types of salami when I went there today. They have a large selection of tea: Numi, Republic of Tea, Twinings, Adagio*, and some more obscure brands. However, the area with the Republic of Tea products is a little bit tight since it's on a separate shelf right next to the other teas in the same aisle. My only issue with this place is their baked goods section. Their Unknown Pastry #21 did not have a description and when I ate it, the cake was dry and the lemon meringue was unexpected. The store clerk seemed impatient, seeing as she skipped to the next person while I was asking her questions. Before that, I got a French Napoleon which, aside from the chocolate frosting and raspberry jam(?), was utterly tasteless. I have had better luck at the Bell's Corner Market; I've only had the Italian Napoleon, which at least tasted like a dessert rather than a bunch of ingredients slapped together. In short: Net Cost Market has a lot of good products, but their baked goods aren't a part of that category; go to the Bell's Corner Market for that. *Net Cost Market seems to buy things from various places and sell them in their store. I remember seeing Kirkland brand chocolates, which are only available at Costco. Although Adagio has retail stores now, they are actual retail stores and not simply stores that happen to carry Adagio tea. Also the Palmer Valentines Lips looked oddly out of place with the rest of their chocolates. read more

I am sitting here writing this review thinking about the market and I am literally excited about going back to try everything else. This is the best market that I happened to stumble upon since first walking into trader Joe's many many moons ago. Great selection of smoked meats and fish. A fantastic soup selection and prepared foods. The ravioli section is fantastic, oh and did I mention they have an olive bar that puts Wegmans to shame. Seriously, check out this market, even if you don't need groceries because I promise you will find something you want. They have a huge selection of fresh fruits and veggies at fantastic prices, I was doing a double take the whole time. So far I've eaten half of the fruits I bought and they are fantastic. read more

I come to NetCost every couple of weeks, perhaps twice a month, to re stock my fridge on Eastern European/Armenian Delights. I love this place for their Hungarian Salami, Armenian Blinza, Pickled Korean Carrot Salad, the wide selection of delicious caviar, bread, and perogies. The list just goes on. This place has been approved by my Ukrainian mom; so I know it must good. Knowing Russian is not a pre-requisite. read more

When my family first moved to the area, we went to this market. Very good prices and fresh food. A bakery, a selection of freshly cut meat and hot food. I would recommend going here. There are very interesting Russian foods, such as Russian sodas that are very delicious. Very clean. The deli is the best part. Fresh meats. Excellent. read more

If you like to purchase spoiled food and than get laughed by a manager of the store than this store is for you. I purchased to peaces of a cake, one of those were spoiled. I through out the spoiled peace, so I or anyone in my household would get sick from it. I did keep the receipt, do I can address it next time I'm at the store. Few days later I came to the store and was told that I need to speak to a manager, manager came up and I explained to him what happened, so instead of apologising to me, he laughed in my face because I didn't bring the spoiled peace for him to taste or whatever he wanted to do with it. So basically I came back there to still a $4.00 peace of cake or that what he implied, so he laughed at me and told me he can't do anything for me. "Great customer service" read more

Most time everything is okay, customer service acceptable, cashiers nice and food is very good. They are not perfect, but they are working on it. read more

Wow what a cool store my Ukrainian grandmother and Polish grandfather would have loved this place. If you are looking for anything Russian, Polish or Eastern European this is definitely the store to go. I have never seen so many different brands of Kielbasa and pierogies in my life. If someone did not know better they would think that they were at a grocery store in Russia The bakery was amazing the loaves of bread were labeled by country. I picked up a sourdough bread and sunflower seed bread that were both out of this world. The prices also cannot be beat Krakus cookies 2 for $1, Salmon fillet $5.99/lb, Finlandia butter $2.49 Akbar tea 2 for $1. I was so excited to find things that I have not had since early childhood. Cannot wait to try the homemade potato and cheese pierogies and birch juice that I picked up. Next time I will bring a bigger cooler only wish that I lived closer as I would be there all the time. read more