I have come a few times for their fresh produce and bread. The selection of rice and canned good,…read morefoods, meats and spices can't be beat. It's amazing

I remember my very first visit to Paradise Fruit Market & Bakery before moving to Michigan. I had…read morenever been to a Middle-Eastern grocery store before, but after checking out the local H-Mart, I decided to walk over on a whim and see what this place was all about. When I went through the front doors, I found a long line of people standing in a line. At the end of the line? A baker furiously inserting diamond shaped dough into an open oven, and removing the puffed up bread soon afterwards. When I saw the price, five for a dollar, I knew I needed to try some. And when I got to the front register, an additional surprise awaited me: fresh falafel, four for a dollar. Who can beat that pricing? Several years have passed by, and the store has gone through a renovation and bakery remodel, but I can still say that the food here still retains the same quality. The samoon is now three for a dollar and somehow, I have no idea how, the falafel are still four for a dollar. Samoon (Iraqi Bread) ($0.33) - These are some seriously delicious samoon, some of the best you can get in the area, straight from the oven. There are always a line of people waiting so they have a constant stream of fresh bread coming out. The exterior has some of that delicious fire-charred flavor and interior is fluffy and chewy with an almost mochi-like chew. There are some good samoon in Dearborn, and Dream Market down the street has some fantastic sesame seed and olive oil brushed samoon, but I think this my favorite rendition in Metro-Detroit. Falafel ($0.25) - Let me just reiterate - 25 cents a falafel. Where can you get that in this inflationary era? They're the normal, standard sized falafel but the quality is no slouch. The exterior is crisped up, with a delicate outer coating studded with sesame seeds. The interior is moist and fluffy with a well balanced flavor. There are herbs mixed in, but the flavor doesn't overpower the chickpeas and spices. It's Just a great falafel at a great price. The bakery in Paradise also inconsistently bakes khubz - they've only had it once or twice in my dozen visits or so. They also have kahi. It used to be a large round of phyllo dough, but it looks like recently they've changed it to be two smaller rectangles. I wish I lived closer to Paradise Market. As it stands, I can only venture up to Troy a couple of times year. Note: I can't really vouch for the quality of the produce or meats because I go here pretty much purely for the bread and falafel. Edit: I went back to get more Samoon two weeks later to compare against Dream Market. I have to say, Paradise has the superior bread by a hair. The samoon here is slightly larger and has quite a bit more of the fire charred flavor. Texture-wise, both are pretty much identical, and price-wise, Paradise is 33 cents a piece, whereas Dream Market is 25 cents a piece. We also got the Aroog this time (only $1 for 2). First time trying it and we found it to be very interesting. Almost South Asian in flavor, with a heavy dose of curry and other spices. Not sure it has any meat in it though, seems to be mainly vegetarian?

Newly designed 168 Asian Mart:…read more One of my favorite things to do is take people on what I jokingly call international food tourism around Metro Detroit. Not because I'm trying to convert anyone into a foodie. I simply enjoy watching people discover how much of the world exists beyond the handful of grocery aisles they've known their entire lives. For many Americans, walking into an authentic international market can be surprisingly intimidating. We become accustomed to recognizing brands, labels, and packaging. Remove that familiarity and suddenly a routine grocery trip becomes an exercise in navigation. My route usually starts in Clawson at Noble Fish. Anyone who only knows Noble Fish today would have a difficult time understanding what it used to be. The original operation was tiny. You walked into a modest Japanese grocery store and somehow found one of the best sushi counters in Michigan tucked away inside. The closest comparison I can make is the scene from *Wayne's World* when Wayne opens a random door and discovers a room full of highly trained ninjas. You weren't expecting it, which somehow made it even better. Over the years demand did what demand does. The restaurant grew. The market grew. White Wolf arrived. Additional space was absorbed. What was once a small hidden destination has evolved into something much larger while still maintaining the character that made people seek it out in the first place. From there I usually take people to the plaza where ZZang's BBQ is located. I call it the toy store. The plaza contains restaurant supply stores, bakeries, specialty grocers, and enough cookware to make most home cooks reconsider their life choices. There are roasted meats hanging in windows, commercial equipment sitting on shelves, and ingredients most people have never seen before. For newcomers, it is often the first moment they realize these foods were never designed for tourists. They were built for communities. The next stop is H Mart. By this point people have usually relaxed. The initial hesitation disappears and curiosity takes over. Instead of asking what something is, they begin asking how it's used, how it's prepared, and what they should try first. Then we arrive at 168 Asian Mart. Located in Madison Heights on John R Road, 168 has become one of the largest Asian grocery destinations in Michigan. Recent expansion and renovation have transformed the store into something far beyond the market many people remember from years ago. The footprint has grown dramatically, the selection has expanded, and the new food hall has turned the location into a destination rather than simply a place to shop. What I appreciate most about 168 is that it serves as a culmination of everything people experienced throughout the day. The market itself represents dozens of cultures and cuisines under one roof. The food hall allows visitors to sample dishes from across Asia without committing to a full restaurant experience. Just outside, the neighboring plaza connects visitors to an authentic Lebanese marketplace and restaurant, creating an experience that extends well beyond a single grocery store. What starts as a shopping trip often becomes something else entirely. People arrive worried about buying the wrong thing, unable to read half the packaging, and unsure where to begin. A few hours later they're filling baskets with ingredients they had never heard of before and discussing what they plan to cook when they get home. That transformation is probably why I keep bringing people here. Not because the markets are exotic or that the foods are unusual. Because every trip reminds people that entire communities, traditions, and cuisines have existed around them all along. They simply hadn't taken the time to walk through the front door. I love being a personal Food Tour Guide

This review is for the 168 BBQ and restaurant section of the store, located in the back, inside the…read morestore. The 168 restaurant offers a large selection of prepared Chinese dishes sold by the pound - meats, vegetables, noodle dishes, including fresh warm soy milk. You can also place an order for items pictured on the wall by number. We placed an order for the duck soup $10.99 - duck was good but soup broth wasn't flavorful and noodles weren't fresh and were overcooked. It came in a carry out bowl, comparable to an XL size instant ramen bowl. Service in this area was ok, the cashier taking the order was impatient because we could not understand what she was saying and thus took longer to place the order. BBQ - we ordered the roast duck rice meal which came with a lot of rice, chopped duck pieces, steamed green veg and a small container of sauce. Duck meat was very tasty but very cold, and deceivingly a small amount of meat in the meal because it was full of bones. Regardless it was still a decent value for $8.98. Service was quick, but a bit unfriendly as well. I would come back to buy the roasted meats but would buy whole or large cuts (I.e. whole duck, whole chicken), cut it up myself to minimize bones in each bite and warm it up at home.

So the good part about this is that they've managed to cram a decent chunk of variety into a pretty…read moresmall store. The bad part is, the customer service here is absolutely horrible. I've been probably four times and every time has had me scratching my head. To start with, a lot of the stuff is missing the price tag on it, so you have to keep going up to the counter with the item and asking them how much it is. Secondly, it always seems like there's someone different at the counter, and it takes them quite a while to check you out because it seems like none of them are familiar with how to process the Cash register, are familiar with any of the prices they should be charging, or are just generally very slow.

I wanted to try cooking Indian food for the first time and came to this store to find the specialty…read moreingredients. The store had everything I needed and had a large selection. It also sells fresh produce, some of which you can't find in a standard grocery store. The owner was friendly. It's a nice specialty grocer that is reasonable priced. Will definitely be back.

Place: This place is super nice and cool! Very spacious and…read moresafety measures are set for COVID-19. Service: The service is nice and there is a hidden Babel restaurant inside the store. They are super patient and can make the food right on the spot. Food/price: The food is pretty good for the quantity and quality. The price did go up from the previous menu but makes sense during these times. Last time I checked the kabob is 1.50 each for 10 of them (the deal was a little confusing for me so I did not look into it). I would have to say that you NEED to buy the hummus, garlic, and cucumber dip for the bread or you will miss out! Audience: The audience is good for families and they have an amazing catering option. Recommend/tips? I would recommend and try the mixed tray if you are confused.

Updated review: Since my 1st visit I've bought more things…read morefrom here, including hot items from the grill area and salads from the deli. They have a great menu of made to order hot items including kafta kabob and pita sandwiches. You can either call in your order and have it ready when you arrive or place your order at the back counter and shop while you wait. Everything from the grill/deli has been fresh, delicious and worthy of return visits. I recommend this place- yes. I wound up on this side of town and seen this market. It wasn't on Yelp so I quickly added it. I was hesitant to go in, as I wasn't sure what it had to offer. But my kids noted the pita bread sign in the window and we're set to get some, so I figured I'd go in and see they actually made fresh pita on site. Sure enough they did! 5/$1 like they place I frequent near my house. The gentleman was pulling the hot pita bread out as I stood there and bagged up my pieces. They also had fresh made meat, spinach and cheese pies for only $1 each. What a deal! I grabbed 2 spinach and 2 meat to enjoy later at home. I walked over to the produce section and it was nicely organized. The fruits and veggies looked good and fairly priced from what I quickly looked at. I was happy to see my tiny lemons were plentiful and even a better deal then what I usually pay. They were 8/$1, my local place sells them 7/$1. The store was very large and similar to other Mediterranean markets. It was clean and organized, from the walk through I did that day. The 4 fresh made pies were delicious- I'd definitely buy them again! I had a bag full of goodies for only $5.60 and I was a happy customer. I'd definitely return if I ever end up near it again.

Convenient location and a good selection of Indian groceries. However, there is a recurring issue…read morethat management should address. Groups of people frequently gather outside the kitchen and parking area, especially during evenings, to drink tea, socialize, and smoke. The cigarette smoke often drifts into the parking lot and around customers' vehicles, creating an unpleasant experience for families, children, and non-smokers. As a grocery store and food establishment, the customer experience should be welcoming and comfortable for everyone. A designated smoking area away from the entrance, kitchen, and customer parking spaces would greatly improve the environment. I hope management takes this feedback seriously, as this issue has been ongoing for quite some time and affects otherwise loyal customers.

This is a new grocery shop.. good thing about the place is the meat shop next to it is also owned…read moreby these ppl and also the mini takeout restaurant inside it.. We usually order appetizers from here as the goat biryani wasn't as good so we decided to just stick to appetizers from this place which is fairly good for snacking

I like this store better than 168 across the street. It is small but it has everything essential…read more Meat , seafood, dry goods, snacks and drinks. Faster checkout and better service. They have some selections of cold Chinese buns that you need reheat at home. Surprisingly taste better and cheaper than dim sum place around Detroit

Stopped by this market last Saturday after the restaurant of choice Satay House was out of power…read more--its amazing to me how they manage to continue having the store smell nice despite selling & cleaning fish in the back --/- 10/10 Service is good & ingredients/food is good---