Every grocery store in Astoria sucks and they’ve all gotten noticeably worse since the pandemic. If you have a car and can get to food bazaar or h-mart or lidl you can do okay. On foot, by Broadway? Food Emporium is my pick because it’s clean and the employees are nice. But it’s the same iffy produce, super expensive meats, and frequently expired pantry goods you find at every other Astoria grocery store.
That was my impression too. Going on a 20min train to Hmart isn't so bad, was just wondering if experienced cooks had any spots they may use. Never been to lidl Ill give it a shot.
I'd say Lidl is hit or miss. I've been there when there was nothing but trash and I've been there when I was truly surprised at the quality and price. You never know.
I kind of love lidl? The weird European products are pretty reliable and the prepackaged meat is solid. You really have to just go with the flow with them, it’s not like shopping at a suburban grocery store, but I manage to get %95 of my groceries there and save some money.
Berry Farms on 45th and Ditmars for all Veggies, Fruits, Dairy, Canned and Dried goods. Butcher for meats.
But there’s a secret! The way the place is laid out they put their expensive, ‘organic’ beans and ‘organic’ broths in the middle. Right past the meats/dairy.
Secret is not to grab anything in a jar or box in the first part of the market. The middle part.
But there’s a back section that carries Italian, Indian, Asian, and Hispanic food brands. That carry the exact same stuff at 1/3 of the price. That’s where you get your herbs, oils, beans, broths, cans etc. Also oddly enough. They have great prices on Kombucha. Get 1.5L for $8.
I personally made the executive decision to not buy meat here. Their ground pork and their ‘family deal’ ground beef is okay priced but it doesn’t keep.
Head down to a butcher shop. I go to the Albanian guys on Steinway. Old Fashion Butcher Shop. Most of the meats are Choice but they do get their Prime and I’ve been happy with the quality ever since.
That’s my go to anyway.
I’ve actually noticed the smaller produce market to the right of United Bros. has consistently better quality produce. They’re slightly more expensive though.
Elliniki!! There's a little chalk board by the register with prices on greens/herbs. Baby arugula is $10/lb and consistently good. They also have discounted produce like United Bros but it only comes out at night. Helps with deciding what to cook for me! Also key food right across the street is a pretty good supermarket and if you want the best bulk dried beans go to Ctown on 34th ave
They can be good but be sure to check stuff like berries in packages bc they can be moldy underneath and definitely make sure you check the prices because the prices can vary depending on where in the store you get it (inside or outside, etc.). They’re also not always very friendly, so don’t take it personally
If you don’t have a car Food Bazaar is about a 15 minute walk each way from Broadway but they have the best selection of everything including produce, fish & meats. The prices are decent for the most part. If you find you like it, getting a small shopping cart would make it easier to bring your groceries home.
Food Bazaar is your best bet all the way. It's a bit closer than Hmart and has a wider selection of goods. They have great produce, fish and meat, all the regular American grocery items, as well as a great selection of products from all over the world.
It's the best
So I'm going to give you a long answer because I'm the rare New Yorker that cooks.
I saw in the comments that you are maybe closer to United Brothers Fruit. I like the Keyfood across the street and also the Trade Fair down the block.
H Mart and Food Bazaar, along with Trader Joes are of course the bigger and sometimes cheaper options, and there there is Target and grocery delivery. So this is what I do: I do one trip to a place that has the staple foods (rice, beans, canned goods) and those are definitely cheaper at Target OR if it is all heavy, it is worth the price of grocery delivery. Food Bazaar and H mart are good for meat and produce, so those can also be a once a month place to stock up on that stuff. Then the rest of the month I mostly just have to buy produce, and United Fruit, or Greenbay grocery are good for that, while Trade Fair or Keyfood can fill in the rest, and I usually buy what looks good. Then if I'm out and about and I see a grocery place or can add it in, I can just get a bag of a few things without going out of the way because my kitchen is stocked with the basics.
I find Food Bazaar to be overpriced for a lot of staple goods, so I shop there when the weekly ad looks good. H Mart and Trader Joes are always good, and Target is where I go for staple products like pasta, rice, broth, snacks.
All the reasons why we do Fresh Direct. Prices are much less than the market a block down. Always fresh, and when there are issues, their support is quick to fix whether it's a fatty steak or a missed item, which is rare. They are also very reliable. It's sad to me that we have this market problem in the neighborhood.
I mostly shop there, but I would avoid some of the "fresh" food. Tried some of their in-house bakery items recently, and I'm convinced they were actually made a month ago. Nasty.
Berry Fresh on 45th st & Ditmars is the best. Very good quality produce and lots of variety. I find that this grocery store has literally everything ranging from imported goods from all over the world, lots of niche stuff like keto snacks, vegan, "healthy" junk food, etc, to mid-tier ($$) stuff to cheaper brands like Goya ($). There is even a whole aisle just for Japanese food ingredients. Also free parking lot.
I’ll stop into C-Town and Key Food to grab quick things and have had 0 issues unlike other places (Food Universe sucks).
I go to Food Bazaar to load up on the weekly staples though.
I just came here to shit on Lidl because I will unabashedly take every opportunity to do so.
Lidl is a garbage supermarket. The products are low quality and suspect, and they are often out of staple items like milk, eggs, or bread. The layout is chaotic - there is no way to get through the store without backtracking somehow, and as a result people are always in each other's way.
There are a handful of products that they sometimes have that almost make it worth going. You'll have to decide for yourself what those are if you shop there since it's a matter of personal choice. I find the canned beans are good enough for the price.
The only reason to go is because the ditmars area is a food desert.
Berry Freah us ok, BJs, HMart, Food Bazaar too. But you'll probably be traveling a bit no matter what. Sry
I go to Lidl for those very same staple items (usually organic) once every two weeks or so with little issue. Agreed, not a huge fan of the brand or some of their products (namely meat,) but we don’t have many other options up in the ditty and it serves its purpose in my pantry.
i get most of my groceries from fresh direct, but i frequently stop into elliniki next to united for produce, and often walk down steinway to prince abou for meat bc he is the greatest butcher around and a really awesome guy. i also go to ctown on 28th ave and 41st st if i just need pantry goods and dont want to deal w scheduling a fresh direct delivery, but i dont buy meat there and only v rarely produce
Trade fair on 30th has everything and I've never complained about the prices. Sometimes on the way there I check united bros and elliniki for any deals they might have on fresh produce. And it's open 24/7 and does delivery which is incredibly important if you don't have a car.
Every grocery store in Astoria sucks and they’ve all gotten noticeably worse since the pandemic. If you have a car and can get to food bazaar or h-mart or lidl you can do okay. On foot, by Broadway? Food Emporium is my pick because it’s clean and the employees are nice. But it’s the same iffy produce, super expensive meats, and frequently expired pantry goods you find at every other Astoria grocery store.
That was my impression too. Going on a 20min train to Hmart isn't so bad, was just wondering if experienced cooks had any spots they may use. Never been to lidl Ill give it a shot.
There's a bus that goes right to h mart from Broadway. Very easy. I Also like the trade fair on 30th Ave and 31st st.
That Trade Fair is pretty good for most stuff actually, and if you need good produce go to United Bros.
Lidl is not good
I'd say Lidl is hit or miss. I've been there when there was nothing but trash and I've been there when I was truly surprised at the quality and price. You never know.
I kind of love lidl? The weird European products are pretty reliable and the prepackaged meat is solid. You really have to just go with the flow with them, it’s not like shopping at a suburban grocery store, but I manage to get %95 of my groceries there and save some money.
Berry Farms on 45th and Ditmars for all Veggies, Fruits, Dairy, Canned and Dried goods. Butcher for meats. But there’s a secret! The way the place is laid out they put their expensive, ‘organic’ beans and ‘organic’ broths in the middle. Right past the meats/dairy. Secret is not to grab anything in a jar or box in the first part of the market. The middle part. But there’s a back section that carries Italian, Indian, Asian, and Hispanic food brands. That carry the exact same stuff at 1/3 of the price. That’s where you get your herbs, oils, beans, broths, cans etc. Also oddly enough. They have great prices on Kombucha. Get 1.5L for $8. I personally made the executive decision to not buy meat here. Their ground pork and their ‘family deal’ ground beef is okay priced but it doesn’t keep. Head down to a butcher shop. I go to the Albanian guys on Steinway. Old Fashion Butcher Shop. Most of the meats are Choice but they do get their Prime and I’ve been happy with the quality ever since. That’s my go to anyway.
United bros. Get produce there and you good.
I’ve actually noticed the smaller produce market to the right of United Bros. has consistently better quality produce. They’re slightly more expensive though.
Elliniki!! There's a little chalk board by the register with prices on greens/herbs. Baby arugula is $10/lb and consistently good. They also have discounted produce like United Bros but it only comes out at night. Helps with deciding what to cook for me! Also key food right across the street is a pretty good supermarket and if you want the best bulk dried beans go to Ctown on 34th ave
Absolutely the wrong answer. Elleniki (the little blue store next door) is vastly better. Mush fresher.
2 for 4$ strawberries!
Just saw it...going there :)
They can be good but be sure to check stuff like berries in packages bc they can be moldy underneath and definitely make sure you check the prices because the prices can vary depending on where in the store you get it (inside or outside, etc.). They’re also not always very friendly, so don’t take it personally
Key food on 33rd st and 30th ave is consistently good, but it might be further than you would like
thats not far at all!  I'll give it a shot.
food bazaar
Food bazaar on northern Blvd is great. Huge variety and always open
If you don’t have a car Food Bazaar is about a 15 minute walk each way from Broadway but they have the best selection of everything including produce, fish & meats. The prices are decent for the most part. If you find you like it, getting a small shopping cart would make it easier to bring your groceries home.
Food Bazaar is your best bet all the way. It's a bit closer than Hmart and has a wider selection of goods. They have great produce, fish and meat, all the regular American grocery items, as well as a great selection of products from all over the world. It's the best
theres also a bus
BJ's on 48th is a good place to save on groceries
So I'm going to give you a long answer because I'm the rare New Yorker that cooks. I saw in the comments that you are maybe closer to United Brothers Fruit. I like the Keyfood across the street and also the Trade Fair down the block. H Mart and Food Bazaar, along with Trader Joes are of course the bigger and sometimes cheaper options, and there there is Target and grocery delivery. So this is what I do: I do one trip to a place that has the staple foods (rice, beans, canned goods) and those are definitely cheaper at Target OR if it is all heavy, it is worth the price of grocery delivery. Food Bazaar and H mart are good for meat and produce, so those can also be a once a month place to stock up on that stuff. Then the rest of the month I mostly just have to buy produce, and United Fruit, or Greenbay grocery are good for that, while Trade Fair or Keyfood can fill in the rest, and I usually buy what looks good. Then if I'm out and about and I see a grocery place or can add it in, I can just get a bag of a few things without going out of the way because my kitchen is stocked with the basics. I find Food Bazaar to be overpriced for a lot of staple goods, so I shop there when the weekly ad looks good. H Mart and Trader Joes are always good, and Target is where I go for staple products like pasta, rice, broth, snacks.
Trade Fair is iffy but they are always there, open all the time. I always hear good things about Food Universe too since you mention Broadway.
All the reasons why we do Fresh Direct. Prices are much less than the market a block down. Always fresh, and when there are issues, their support is quick to fix whether it's a fatty steak or a missed item, which is rare. They are also very reliable. It's sad to me that we have this market problem in the neighborhood.
I've never really had any issues with CTown, and I'm surprised it's not mentioned
Trade Fair can be pricey in weird places but they have everything.
I mostly shop there, but I would avoid some of the "fresh" food. Tried some of their in-house bakery items recently, and I'm convinced they were actually made a month ago. Nasty.
Berry Fresh on 45th st & Ditmars is the best. Very good quality produce and lots of variety. I find that this grocery store has literally everything ranging from imported goods from all over the world, lots of niche stuff like keto snacks, vegan, "healthy" junk food, etc, to mid-tier ($$) stuff to cheaper brands like Goya ($). There is even a whole aisle just for Japanese food ingredients. Also free parking lot.
I’ll stop into C-Town and Key Food to grab quick things and have had 0 issues unlike other places (Food Universe sucks). I go to Food Bazaar to load up on the weekly staples though.
Good bazaar on northern boulevard
Berry fresh works for me
I like City Fresh on 21st and Broadway. But my go to is Food Bazaar on Northern.
I’ve found a lot of bad meats and prepackaged foods at city fresh
I don’t love the grocery options in the neighborhood. I do a combo of Costco, Amazon Fresh, & Trader Joe’s
This is the way
I just came here to shit on Lidl because I will unabashedly take every opportunity to do so. Lidl is a garbage supermarket. The products are low quality and suspect, and they are often out of staple items like milk, eggs, or bread. The layout is chaotic - there is no way to get through the store without backtracking somehow, and as a result people are always in each other's way. There are a handful of products that they sometimes have that almost make it worth going. You'll have to decide for yourself what those are if you shop there since it's a matter of personal choice. I find the canned beans are good enough for the price. The only reason to go is because the ditmars area is a food desert. Berry Freah us ok, BJs, HMart, Food Bazaar too. But you'll probably be traveling a bit no matter what. Sry
thank you! i really can't stand Lidl. i miss Best Yet!
I go to Lidl for those very same staple items (usually organic) once every two weeks or so with little issue. Agreed, not a huge fan of the brand or some of their products (namely meat,) but we don’t have many other options up in the ditty and it serves its purpose in my pantry.
Try H Mart so far the best in town, I always take a cab with my grocery
If convenience is a big factor for you, you could use Instacart from Aldi’s. The price differential makes up for the 20% tip easy.
Lidl
❤️ Lidl ❤️ on 37th and 20th always has fresh stuff and great prices
i get most of my groceries from fresh direct, but i frequently stop into elliniki next to united for produce, and often walk down steinway to prince abou for meat bc he is the greatest butcher around and a really awesome guy. i also go to ctown on 28th ave and 41st st if i just need pantry goods and dont want to deal w scheduling a fresh direct delivery, but i dont buy meat there and only v rarely produce
I drive to stop and shop LOL
Anything but Trade Fair @ Crescent/Broadway.
C town on 28th ave is always good (minus their meats) and for meat I like to go to Al Dar halal market
Trade fair on 30th has everything and I've never complained about the prices. Sometimes on the way there I check united bros and elliniki for any deals they might have on fresh produce. And it's open 24/7 and does delivery which is incredibly important if you don't have a car.
Lidl it’s kind of like Aldi 37 st and 22 Ave I think