The Greater Cincinnati area is home to dozens of international markets and specialty grocers offering products for every kind of meal. Many of these markets have been serving the neighborhoods around Cincinnati for decades. Whether you’re looking for something unique, in need of something for specific dietary restrictions, craving a taste of home or want to try diving into the cuisine of a different country or culture, you won’t regret adding these markets to your shopping routine.

Dean’s Mediterranean Imports 108 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine Dean’s Mediterranean Imports is packed so full of wonderful tastes, smells and textures that it’s hard to fit more than a few folks at a time inside the store’s narrow aisles. Maybe you’ve seen bags of their awesome roasted nuts at bars around town. Maybe you’re a regular patron drawn by the aromatic wall of hard-to-find spices behind the counter. Or heck, maybe you just like dropping by to chat with Dean and his daughters, the charming folks who run this one-of-a-kind gem. Whatever the reason, this Mediterranean shop is the perfect place to pick up Mediterranean spices and Dean’s own unique blends. Dean’s owner Kate Zaidan recently announced they would be opening a new location in Northside in the summer of 2023. Photo: facebook.com/deansmediterranean
The Rhined 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine The Rhined is a little cheese shop located across from Findlay Market. It’s great for grab-and-go goodies, but also features indoor seats and a seasonal outdoor patio. Guests can choose from assorted cheese board options or from a variety of snacks, including a sandwich menu. And the lovely staff can not only recommend a particular cheese based on your preferences, but a perfect wine pairing, too. Photo: facebook.com/therhined
Al-Madina Market and Grill 6 W. Corry St., Clifton This grocery-plus-restaurant boasts a humble yet comprehensive selection of Middle Eastern staples alongside its open kitchen. The chicken shawarma is lauded by savvy students from nearby University of Cincinnati’s campus. Paired with the spicy garlic potato side dish, this chicken shawarma is a formidably flavorful meal. Photo: Paige Deglow Photo: Paige Deglow
Saigon Market 119 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine One of the first Asian grocery stores in Cincinnati was Saigon Market. Beyond the reddish orange exterior at the Findlay Market storefront are tall shelves holding products from Vietnam, Thailand, China and more. The parents of the store’s current owner, Nghiep Ho, immigrated from Vietnam in 1976 and started their business the same year. Photo: Lauren Moretto
Taste on Elm 227 Elm St, Ludlow, Kentucky Stop by Taste on Elm for a selection of locally produced wine, cheese, charcuterie, specialty foods and more. The items served in their market come from small businesses that create delicious offerings like Madisono’s gluten-free ice cream, American Spoon’s sauces, plus tons of specialty grains. They also have a dine-in and carry-out menu that features soups and sandwiches served on local Allez Bakery bread. Photo: facebook.com/tasteonelm
Avril-Bleh Meat Market & Deli 33 E. Court St., Downtown This historic butcher shop has been serving Cincinnati homemade sausages, smoked meats and more since 1894. Avril-Bleh offers tons of varieties of sausages ranging from Irish bangers to Cajun chicken or smoked Polish kielbasa. The shop steers clear of additives or fillers and even use their own blend of all natural herbs, spices and seasoning. Find their metts on the menu at restaurants like Zip’s, Senate and Moerlein Lager House or just grab one to go from the butcher shop. Photo: Sami Stewart
Sen by Kiki 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Sen by Kiki is a fish and seafood butcher shop “focused on sustainably and responsibly caught seafood” that opened June 30. The name Sen translates to “fresh” in Japanese, which harkens to the shop’s sashimi-grade seafood (meaning it can be eaten raw) and its oysters — some of which can be enjoyed at the connected oyster bar. Sen was brought to the market by chef Hideki Harada and will act as a branch of the Japanese restaurant Kiki College Hill, which he owns with his wife Yuko. Photo: Maggy McDonel
Morsel & Nosh 4183 Hamilton Ave., Northside Morsel & Nosh, located in Northside, is now open for folks to find a treasure trove of fine cheeses and cured meats. The shop features specialty groceries such as fresh produce and pantry items, and the deli offers grab-and-go soups, sandwiches and salads. Charcuterie and cheese boards are available as well as made-to-order dishes in Morsel & Nosh’s kitchen. Food items are offered in various diets such as vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. Photo: Catie Viox
Darou Salam Store 4158 Hamilton Ave., Northside Next to Northside’s beloved Shake it Records sits Darou Salam, which carries a variety of African groceries like herbs and spices, tea, fresh produce and even beauty supplies, including perfume. Located right across the street is Darou Salam restaurant — though humble in appearance, it remains Cincinnati’s best-kept secret for authentic African food. Darou Salam offers Senegalese cuisine ranging from lamb dibi, which is grilled lamb paired with an onion-mustard sauce, to firir, a fried whole tilapia. Photo: Adam Doty
Madison’s at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Madison’s has been providing fresh local produce to Cincinnatians at Findlay Market since 1996. Started by Bryan and Carolyn Madison and now owned and operated by Laura Riley and Frank Stier, Madison’s stocks local provisions from Cincinnati favorites from spots like Sixteen Bricks Artisan Bakehouse, Hartzler Family Dairy, Hen of the Woods and more. They also offer pantry staples like rice, beans, flour and grains. Photo: facebook.com/MadisonsatFindlayMarket
Maranata Store 1215 Rulison Ave., West Price Hill This spot is attached to a great Guatemalan corner store in West Price Hill. Don’t let the humble setup fool you; their tacos, burritos, tortas and seafood soups are authentic, fresh and delicious. The tacos are among the best in the city and topped with a refreshing radish slaw. There are only a handful of tables, but each has its hot sauce game on lock. Don’t forget to grab a churro on the way out. Photo: facebook.com/MaranataStore
Healthy Harvest Mobile Market Location and times vary, so check their website for more information Healthy Harvest Mobile Market describes itself as a “grocery store on wheels.” They sell healthy foods and offer a farmers market experience to neighborhoods that have limited access to them. They move around the city every day, so be sure to check their social media to see where they are headed next. Photo:
Gutierrez Deli 1131 Lee St., Covington This Hispanic grocery store/restaurant hybrid serves up real deal Latin flavor, offering made-to-order dishes ranging from tacos to Mexican entrees and everything in between. Check their Facebook page for daily specials like fresh tamale Fridays and items featuring mole poblano, a complex chili-chocolate sauce that typically includes about 20 ingredients. Photo via Facebook/GutierrezDeli Photo: facebook.com/GutierrezDeli
Little Asiana 9731 Montgomery Road, Montgomery Tucked in a small plaza behind a gas station, Little Asiana provides a curated selection of high-quality Korean ingredients in only a few aisles. Some items found at this store include canned, frozen and fresh goods. This family-owned market is the definition of “small but mighty.” Photo: Adam Doty
ASAFO African Market 5150 Camelot Drive, Fairfield This small Fairfield market sits in a tiny plaza. From produce to beauty products, ASAFO is stacked to the brim with fruits, vegetables, kitchen utensils, snacks, fish and even a small selection of African-inspired clothing. Photo: Adam Doty
Sip, Bite and Stroll at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine At more than 150 years old, Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operated public market. Go for the farmers market, butcher shops, flower stalls, OTR Biergarten and eclectic eats. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Halal Market 7755 Tylers Place Blvd., West Chester With an international grocery and café in the same building, you can find ingredients from many regions in North Africa and the Middle East at this market in West Chester. Cut fresh from a turning kebab, the chicken or beef is served hot on pita bread with your choice of toppings. The menu also offers a kofta sandwich (grilled sirloin with onions, parsley, tomatoes, pickles and hummus), and falafel. Photo:
Francis International Market 4414 Colerain Ave., Northside Francis International Market is family-owned and has been around for decades. They have a wide variety of fish and other seafood and a large selection of meats. Shop here for items like oxtail, blue crab, goat meat and lamb, as well as Vietnamese coffee. Photo: Adam Doty
Visit the Foodie Amusement Park That Is Jungle Jim’s International Market Free to wander Jungle Jim’s is an amusement park for foodies, and not just because of its kitschy statues and animatronics. It sells nearly 1,000 different kinds of hot sauce, which makes the Aisle of Inferno (as it’s so dubbed) “the largest retail selection in the United States.” It’s pretty hard to miss — it’s the one with the giant fire truck on top of it. Stop by the bar to grab a glass of wine or a beer while you wander and indulge in several cheese samples. Or, grab ingredients to make a meal together. 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina & Tienda 642 Monmouth St., Newport, Kentucky La Mexicana is a market and taqueria in one. No-frills in décor or any websites, but all serious with the cuisine, La Mexicana is thought to be one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the area. From asada to bistec to milanesa, they’ve got the meats, but they also serve up a host of veggie options. Photo: facebook.com/LaMexicana
B&D Asian Nepali Market 9172 Winton Road, Finneytown; 3091 W. Galbraith Road, White Oak This market has a variety of groceries and even movies. They stock up with Bhutanese, Nepali and Indian groceries to save customers from driving around town to get all the ingredients for their favorite meals — here, it’s all in one place. You’ll find green mustard leaf, red shen choy, Japanese daikon, kabocha and lauka in the produce section. For over a decade, Nepali Market has maintained loyal customers and even supplies religious books and other items like mala beads, a peepal patta leaf Ganesh and Hindu icons, om kurta, Pooja Thali prayer plates, Lucky Lakshmi invocation kits, seashell jhumar chandeliers and more. Photo: facebook.com/nepalimarketFinneytown
India Bazar 4870 Union Centre Pavilion, West Chester India Bazar has a wide selection of all your cooking basics — atta, rice, lentils, flour and poha — and favorite Indian brands, like Shan. Also shop here for snacks such as gazab dates, Maggi seasoning, Britannia milk rusk and Golden Punjabi cookies. Photo: Google Maps
CAM International Market 10400 Reading Road, Evendale The first CAM International Market opened in 1997. Arguably the largest Asian grocery store in the Tri-State, you could spend hours navigating the shelves. Along with snacks, canned goods, noodles and rice varieties, CAM stocks baked goods, produce and fresh meat and seafood. There’s even a section dedicated to beauty products. Photo: Lauren Moretto
La Canasta 7812 Colerain Ave., White Oak This store not only has a selection of dry goods, frozen food and fresh products, but they also have a small dining area in the back where the employees will serve you authentic Mexican food. Their menu includes tacos, burritos, soups, appetizers and more. Photo: Google Maps