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 Lia M.

Not much to say that hasn't already been said.  I haven't tried my olives yet, but they look good, though I am a little leery of the saffron (saffron for $2? kinda odd), but will see.  They had a good produce selection as well as a good hookah selection.  The olive bar was nice, and I'd like to go back try some desserts (love baklava).  They also sell a wide array of Middle Eastern CD's.  The cashier (possibly an owner) was very nice.

by jesse b.

I have not stopped in since before I moved but I do love this place. Great labneh and many other things. I'll have to make a stop in sometime soon.

by Jeffriana S.

I can't speak on the quality of the food here -- which might sound odd as this is a food market -- but, as far as buying supplies for your hookah (nargila, water pipe etc.) this place can't be beat. Just so you know, the shisha products and coal are behind a rolling bread shelf, so if it is your first time you might want to ask for help. If you like smoking flavored tobacco out of a nargilah, do yourself a favor and check out Arax.

by Charlo M.

i live in the neighborhood and think that Arax has the best produce section of the three small Middle-Eastern groceries.  Their avocados tend to be much cheaper than a super market, their melons are very flavorful, and they have the basics, carrots, potatoes, onions, as well as more exotic fresh fruit like fresh figs and dates.  The olive bar is great, but the other stores have olives too.  The produce here is what stands out for me.

by Zilan A.

This place is ARABIC not Armenian!!! For authentic mideast goodies, come here ... the owner is very sweet ... =) I buy my qamar el-deen [pestil] from here as well as other packaged and fresh sweets ...

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 Ashley M.

One of 3 Armenian grocery stores on the block (there's also Massis and Sevan) this place has the best selection of hookah pipes and tobacco. Most hookahs are made in China now (go figure) but they have both the cheaper and harder to break Chinese versions, and traditional crystal and Middle Eastern ones. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful.  For your hookah needs or middle Eastern eats.. you really should check this place out.

by Nausheen M.

Very good place where you can find ethnic grocery...middle eastern goodies.  They have really good spinach pies, baklawas, breads, fresh humus and many more. They also sell hookah pipes that are really cool.

by Meryl M.

I wandered in here and immediately I felt myself getting excited.  Home made pickles, rose jam, cheeses, the smell of spices.... hookahs hidden in the corners, and great deals on fresh produce (99 cents for a half pint of organic blueberries? what!?).  The pickles remind me of my time in Israel... and thier mangos are never underripe.  I also like that they have mini tea-sets- makes me want to have a middle eastern tea party!!The owner guy is always on the phone but I'm always so engrossed in poking around that I really couldn't care less.  However, here's a tip---- the baklava is better at a place up the street (i'll review it later) as is the zataar bread, so walk a few hundred feet and get those things there.

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 Theresa H.

I'll be honest with you. I might as well be a virgin to Mediterranean, so to me all of the bakeries and grocers in this corner of Watertown seem to carry the exact same food.I don't get why this place has such high ratings. To be blunt and simple, I found it to be dirty, unattractive, and lack a freshness that its neighbors, Sevan and Massis, possess.

by Sarah S.

Wow. I've only been here twice while shopping with my boyfriend, who has made it his life's most dear mission to make me a foodie (It's working...). But I must say, this place left a lasting impression. Broad selection of middle eastern goods/food. The olives! The hummus! The breads! The falafel!At least I think they had falafel.. I was kind of overwhelmed both times I was there by the very competitive prices and huge selection.

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 Kiwi H.

I can understand why most people think Arax is Armenian: most of its nearby competitors are Armenian, there's a huge Armenian population in Watertown, and one of the owners is Armenian maybe. But this place is actually Lebanese, and the majority of owners/staff are Lebanese! (Trust me on this one, I am half Lebanese so we had the excitable "ohhh you're Lebanese too!!!" chitchat..hehe :) )Either way, none of that changes how fantastic this store is. Not only do they have some of the most reasonably priced argileh (shisha) supplies around Boston in general (huge variety of tobacco, coals, etc. and for once I don't feel scandalized by their prices, considering I usually pay 1/4 of the price for this stuff back home in Dubai, cleaning tools, and plenty of sizes, colours and shapes for the pipes themselves), the grocery section here is also phenomenal. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating slightly, but it is bloody good. Their produce is incredibly fresh, they have a huge variety of imported goodies (Greek honey and yoghurt, international/Middle Eastern cheeses, rice, nuts, breads, etc.), they have fresh, homemade Khoubiz (Lebanese flat bread)! They also have plenty of really great zaatar, kibbeh, hommous, baba ghanouj, fatayer (yum!), sambousek, baklava, and apparently (although I've never been lucky enough to find it), knafeh. Their prepared foods section is probably my favourite part of the store actually, aside from the whole argileh supplies section - it's a very warm comfort to me when I'm feeling particularly homesick for Arabic food. Now if only they had Manakeesh.. (Flatbread with either cheese, zaatar or meat in it.. mmmm)For those of you who are interested, they also sell a fair amount of cheesy (but good) Arabic pop by the cash register - Nancy Ajram, Elissa, Amr Diab, Umm Kalthoum, etc.. as well as some DVDs and VHS's of concerts, etc. *sigh* I love Arax..

by Alex L.

My review is solely based on their hookah and tobacco.  I saw they have a HUGE selection of hookahs, the prices are reasonable, and probably the cheapest in Boston, but online is always cheaper.  The tobacco selection is great, prices are pretty meh.  The prices for the charcoal here are way overpriced, but I guess when you have no other alternative here would be the best place.  Overall it's for a spur of the moment one stop shop for all your hookah needs.  If you can wait a few days DEFINITELY order online.

by Linh V.

After trying Sugar Daddy's on Comm Ave this place was like a hookah heaven.The guy working there was so nice and relatable. He made us want to buy every single thing in there. He was not at all pushy and he gave us his real honest opinions about everything from which one to get to which flavors.We ended up buying two of them, one for my friend and one for BFF Phil. They're so pretty looking and very sturdy! and it really wasn't that expensive at all, completely reasonable. They even come with a hard case! When we got home I googled the name brand of the hookahs we got, apparently we its the premier brand and we got them for a realllllllllly good price. They were being sold online for more than double the price. Crazy.Its not only a hookah palace but also a supermarket with THE biggest pomegranites i have ever laid eyes on. It was love at first sight.Once again the customer service was amazing and we'll definitely be back to replenish our supply.

by David H.

This is simply the best Middle Eastern/Armenian specialty store in the Boston area.  Though their outstanding selection of Middle Eastern foods is top-notch, Arax should be praised most for its hookah and tobacco selection, as well as their delicious olive bar.  They probably have the best variety and prices for hookahs, ranging anywhere from $35-$200 per hookah.  The tobacco selection that they offer is also legendary.  They have EVERYTHING!  It's like Orbit gum- way too many flavors to choose from!  The staff are very friendly, though you will receive preferential assistance if you are Armenian!  The guy let me have a $50 hookah, tobacco, and charcoal for $50 after finding out we were of the same brethren!  If you do not wish to buy a hookah online, then purchase one here (do not buy the ones that they sell in the tobacco shop in the Watertown mall; they are overpriced by an additional $20 for hookahs)!The olives here are also unbelievably delicious.  They are mostly small shaped olives, but they do have a nice texture to them and a slightly salty taste.  The price is right as well.    I highly recommend you come here, even if you are unfamiliar with Middle Eastern specialty products.  There's bound to be something that catches your eye here!

by allison r.

Since Arax rocks my hookah-smoking world on a regular basis, I feel the need to update my review.First, if you were skeeved out at all by the vast landscape of uncovered baklawa, olives, and feta, it appears they have been health inspected, since all food is now covered and appears to be stored in food safe conditions.Also, they do sell hookahs here but they aren't top notch. My roommate broke his vase jamming ice cubes into it with a meat tenderizer...maybe that's more wear and tear than these guys should take, but still.And finally, the shisha has moved from behind a random metro shelf cart of bread to behind the register, but don't despair! They have a shisha menu that lists all their flavors!They have the best shisha selection around, which includes Al-Fahkr, Nahkla, and Starbuzz. FYI, Al-F is juicy and burns really well, Nahkla is so-so but less expensive, and Starbuzz is pretty intense, flavor-wise, and leaves funny colored goo everywhere.Anyway, I do want to reiterate my thanks to Yelp for helping me find this shisha heaven on earth. Word. Dear Yelp, Thank you for helping me find the Arax Market. Love, AllisonPS- try the Starbuzz shisha.…

by Ariel G.

Arax is right around the corner from my house which makes it convenient. The fruit and vegetable are always very fresh and VERY affordable compared to regular super markets. they also have a wide variety of dry beans, cheese and other middle eastern food. Huge variety of all different types of baklava... mmm yummy. oh, and a huge variety of hookahs and sheesha

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 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.

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 Claire W.

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.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 Pete G.

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.

by Ruzanna J.

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!

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 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.