Arax Market

by Ani G.

I don't smoke hookah, so for me, the biggest benefit of Arax is that it is open on Sundays, unlike Massis and Sevan. This last time that I stopped in, I picked up a bunch of different things, and noticed that in the pita bread bins, there were some bags that had moldy pita bread in them (more than one bag). Ick. Massis and Sevan are much cleaner. So although the prepared foods I got there were tasty (what can I say? I was hungry, I really wanted some baba ghanoush and their black bean salad), I am just going to make the effort to go to Massis or Sevan on a week night or a Saturday instead.

by Ruzanna J.Pete G.Claire W.

Hi everyone,My family and I are considering moving to Watertown or Boston within the next year. I currently live in California and would like any opinion or advice you guys would have for me. We also have Arax bakery here and so I was wondering if there are a lot of other Armenian shops and how large the Armenian community is there...thanks, i'm looking forward for your feedbacks!Good stuff: the cheese selection in the back is insanely awesome.  Some of the best feta I ever had.  They have a lot of good spices on the cheap; that appear to still be good unlike that crap you find for a buck at Christmas Tree Shop.  Their premade things are pretty tasty,  the tziziki in particular.  They have a massive, awesome selection of olives for cheap.  If I ever need a can of beans or grape leaves or olice oil I know where to go, for they have tons of all of the above.I wish I still smoked so I could buy their hookahs and fancy tobacco: they had tons of it and it smelled great and the hookahs were nifty looking.  Stupid growing up.  Bad stuff: some of their premade stuff is gross.  We bought premade falafel from them that developed mold on 'em after like 4 days.  Was that our bad for not eating them immediately?  I don't know.  I don't know what the shelf life for premade falafel is.  They have a lot of produce, but it was a little sorry looking.  Bruises and wilty.  It's cool that yoou can buy raw olives and all, but when they look like they have the pox...nope.And in August we bought a bag of flour that had an expiration date of September 2008.  That was shady.So...3 stars.  Yes, 3.  Because the falafel thing might have just been a fluke, and seriously: the feta you can buy from here is amazing.Arax really is too wonderful for words.  I really dislike both Massis and Sevan in comparison and stopped bothering to even go in them.  They are far more expensive.  Sure Arex is a  little "untidy" but I like it like that.  The aisles are narrow-- no wheel chairs could cope.  So why bother writing another glowing review?  I have been going to get the "Armenian pizzas"--Lahmajoon--and the amazing cubanelle peppers, lemons, eggplant (skinny ones), and all other produce when I am too lazy to go to Russo's in Watertown, the canned chickpeas and jars of Tahini, the only really fresh Pita bread (grocery stores should be ashamed) but this week I discovered the cheese case in the corner, always a tad dark and I wasn't sure who could help me: find someone!  The Domestic Feta and Mozzarella are $3.99 a pound!!!!  Of course they have lovely imported too, but I can't afford it.So good.  I highly recommend the very cheap Kalamati olives.People are very nice; I was cold and in line the man behind me was talking to the check out man in Lebanese?  I wouldn't know, but I said "I'm freezing" and snuggled up to the man next to me in line who put his arm around me and laughed.  It's a lovely place, trust me.   I've been going there for ten years.

by Liza H.

A fine place to buy  Armenian/Turkish/Persian groceries. Wide array of esoteric provisions authentic ingredients.   Exotic fresh produce, reasonably priced in an unassuming atmosphere.

by Lois L.

Arax is a wonderful Middle Eastern shopping experience. They have three fridge cases filled with homemade foods that will cause you mouth to water in about five seconds.  In addition to the well know basics, hummus, baba ghanoush and tabbouleh, they have a huge kitchen on the premises and make about 15 other kinds of cold spreads, dips and salads. All of them are delicious and great to put out as appetizers for a formal meal or to add a little zip to a cold buffet or BBQ. They make terrific desserts, they have a cookie bar with about 20 kinds of cookies to choose from, huge trays of home made baklava that call your name and a wide selection of breads and rolls. Arax carries more spices and grocery items (teas, coffees, jams, crackers, candy, rice) directly imported from the Middle East than the other stores in the area.Honestly I would not know what to do with about a lot of what they sell but the family who owns the place is super nice and they will tell you and have even written down a recipe for me when I looked really clueless. They also have fresh fruit and vegetables which are very reasonably priced and they often have interesting items you do not see elsewhere. Last week I bought fresh from the tree almonds and the owner told me how to prepare them. Over the past year Arax has been getting spic and span clean which is good I guess but I miss walking through the door and feeling like I am in a real market in Athens or Aleppo.

by Jamie A.

I'm thrilled. I've found my olive bar! Gahhhh, they're so good and so cheap and I'm so happy about this place.I also purchased some really wonderful honey to go with some cardamom tea. Everything has been just delicious.I think we literally walked every inch of this place about four times. I'm so fascinated with foreign and exotic foods, so I was so enthralled by the selection at Arax.My neighbor purchases spices there quite often, as well as tea. Things I want to try from Arax: their cheese, prepared pesto various jams, produce (which looks amazing!), tahini, and various hookah products!

by Ruzanna J.Pete G.Claire W.danny g.Britt H.

Hi everyone,My family and I are considering moving to Watertown or Boston within the next year. I currently live in California and would like any opinion or advice you guys would have for me. We also have Arax bakery here and so I was wondering if there are a lot of other Armenian shops and how large the Armenian community is there...thanks, i'm looking forward for your feedbacks!Good stuff: the cheese selection in the back is insanely awesome.  Some of the best feta I ever had.  They have a lot of good spices on the cheap; that appear to still be good unlike that crap you find for a buck at Christmas Tree Shop.  Their premade things are pretty tasty,  the tziziki in particular.  They have a massive, awesome selection of olives for cheap.  If I ever need a can of beans or grape leaves or olice oil I know where to go, for they have tons of all of the above.I wish I still smoked so I could buy their hookahs and fancy tobacco: they had tons of it and it smelled great and the hookahs were nifty looking.  Stupid growing up.  Bad stuff: some of their premade stuff is gross.  We bought premade falafel from them that developed mold on 'em after like 4 days.  Was that our bad for not eating them immediately?  I don't know.  I don't know what the shelf life for premade falafel is.  They have a lot of produce, but it was a little sorry looking.  Bruises and wilty.  It's cool that yoou can buy raw olives and all, but when they look like they have the pox...nope.And in August we bought a bag of flour that had an expiration date of September 2008.  That was shady.So...3 stars.  Yes, 3.  Because the falafel thing might have just been a fluke, and seriously: the feta you can buy from here is amazing.Arax really is too wonderful for words.  I really dislike both Massis and Sevan in comparison and stopped bothering to even go in them.  They are far more expensive.  Sure Arex is a  little "untidy" but I like it like that.  The aisles are narrow-- no wheel chairs could cope.  So why bother writing another glowing review?  I have been going to get the "Armenian pizzas"--Lahmajoon--and the amazing cubanelle peppers, lemons, eggplant (skinny ones), and all other produce when I am too lazy to go to Russo's in Watertown, the canned chickpeas and jars of Tahini, the only really fresh Pita bread (grocery stores should be ashamed) but this week I discovered the cheese case in the corner, always a tad dark and I wasn't sure who could help me: find someone!  The Domestic Feta and Mozzarella are $3.99 a pound!!!!  Of course they have lovely imported too, but I can't afford it.So good.  I highly recommend the very cheap Kalamati olives.People are very nice; I was cold and in line the man behind me was talking to the check out man in Lebanese?  I wouldn't know, but I said "I'm freezing" and snuggled up to the man next to me in line who put his arm around me and laughed.  It's a lovely place, trust me.   I've been going there for ten years.So much great stuff here!  The (fresh) prepared stuff is better than middle eastern restaurants fare.  Cool funky local vibe.  Great breads and other baked goods.I love Arax.  The bulk olive bar is the best in city. The matnakash is always fresh.  The fruit syrups and bulk feta are very useful.  and mint yogurt drink is a singular treat. Fresh veggies are often well-priced. but be careful to avoid older-looking ones.I don't love the baked desserts and the prepared foods are a little expensive for what they are. and the homemade taramasalata is better a Sevan.  but Arax is the place I start my shopping in that region. I only use the other two as fill-ins.

by Aurelie C.

I use to buy all my hookah supplies online because i never found a decent place to buy tobacco and coals from around here when i found out about arax it was heaven sent, no longer do i have to wait for shipping and i could actually look at the products!       They actually have a very large variety that they  suprisingly update pretty often. The people that work there are extremely friendly and helpful. They also sell some pretty solid, nicely priced hookahs. Not the best and nicest i've ever seen but they're pretty good deals.     THE BEST PART though is it's actually is a pretty good little groceries store. I was in there mainly for hookah and i some blueberries for $1 and they were delicious!!! They're fruits and vegetable are really fresh and scrumptious.

by lothari o.

Really an awesome place, the best Middle Eastern store I've stepped foot in (if Armenia isn't technically Middle Eastern, the food is substantially similar). Besides the ridiculous hookah selection, there is an amazing fresh dessert bar going well beyond baklava. The namora cake is the best I've had--it had a perfect consistency and a nice, subtle hint of rosewater. The katafi was also the best I've had. But there's so much more to try. Good thing I live a ways away, because these syrup-soaked desserts are addictive.Lots of other things made this store interesting. Take the huge self-service olive bar. There are many olive bars throughout Boston (Formaggio and Salumeria for instance), but this one had unique brines and spices, and it extended into a pickled vegetable bar.The zaatar bread I bought here was not as good as that at Massis nearby--it's too dry (but there were at least two varieties).This store would be a lot of fun for foodies.

by danny g.

So much great stuff here!  The (fresh) prepared stuff is better than middle eastern restaurants fare.  Cool funky local vibe.  Great breads and other baked goods.

by Britt H.

I love Arax.  The bulk olive bar is the best in city. The matnakash is always fresh.  The fruit syrups and bulk feta are very useful.  and mint yogurt drink is a singular treat. Fresh veggies are often well-priced. but be careful to avoid older-looking ones.I don't love the baked desserts and the prepared foods are a little expensive for what they are. and the homemade taramasalata is better a Sevan.  but Arax is the place I start my shopping in that region. I only use the other two as fill-ins.