Assal Market

by Leila S.

Have you ever encountered a commercial so great that you still remember the jingle to it over 15 years later? A commercial so great that you sing it to your little cousins when they ask you to teach them a new song? So great that you share it with Yelpers? Well, I have!It's an old Iranian commerical for Mika chocolate that goes something like this...::: Salaam salaam, ay bachehaa ::: (Hello hello, children)::: Man yum-yumam, dooste shomaa ::: (I am yum-yum, your friend)::: Man avalesh wafer boodam ::: (At first I was a wafer)::: Baa waferaa too fer boodam ::: (With other wafers I was in the oven)::: Bad shokolaat rikht roo saram ::: (Then chocolate spilled on my head)::: Shokolaati shod doro baram! ::: (And I am now chocolatey all over!)Thankfully, this chocolate treat still exists and Assal Market carries it... and it is still as good as it was when the commercial first came out... mmmm! The only thing that sucks is that everything in this Persian grocery store is a bit overpriced, but I suppose that's expected when there aren't that many markets around that carry the things they do.They've got lavaashak (like a fruit roll-up)... noon-e-barbari or lavash (breads)... noon-e-khaamei (cream puffs)... seer torshi (picked garlic)... limoo amani (dried limes)... pomagranate paste... rose water... doogh-e-abali (yogurt drink)... chai-e-sadaf (sadaf tea)... sohan asali (honey based sweets)... basmati rice... al-nakhla flavored tobacco for your hookahs... Shadmehr Aghili's brand new CD... concert tickets to the next Kamran Hooman concert... and much much more!

by Rowan J.

A great neighborhood middle eastern store that stocks up on daily grocery essentials to specialty items.They have a butcher's counter, a bakery counter and every one of their aisles is stocked to the gills with stuff.A great place to go and pick up new things to try out.The staff is very friendly and will do their best to locate what you are looking for.

by Enoch F.

I would actually like to give this place 3.5 stars, but the half star option is not available. So here's the deal with Assal. It does not smell great, but the place is generally clean and the the staff very nice. The shout specifically goes out to the butcher from Assal. I think his name is Andre and he is the best butcher in town. Once you get to know him he will give you the low down on when the good stuff comes in. To me that means lamb, goat, chicken necks, livers, and generally the strange cuts of meat that the few of us enjoy. Hi five if you like lamb tongue or brain...yup they got it here. The butcher will clean whatever you want....however you want and he does not complain when I ask him to cut the chicken into like 50 pieces. always a smile from this guy and that is what I like the place...just because of the butcher. Everything else is about a 3, but I give the butcher a 5.