International Foods & Spices

Though small, but well located in University City, Philadelphia as a store for People from Bharat and neighboring states. Nice store with items required for the customer of the region. The Owner / Manager speak in Hindi and cooperative. Helps getting items. Parking available. Take cash or card. Enjoyed marketing here.

I have been going there since last year. This place is super good! The best part is as others have mentioned, the samosa is so so tasty and amazing! If you are in diet ( like me), better not to buy, as you won't be able to stop yourself after having one! They are extremely tasty!!!! ❤️

Perfect place to get Indian and pakistani staples. Unique grocery items that are hard to find anywhere else in Philly. The hot bar is also tasty and fresh

Delicious, house made at the front samosas for a little less than $2 each. Stop by and treat yourself! Cheap take out food as well, looked good.

Best Indian grocery in university city area, you will find most of the Indian spices. Frozen vegetables, fresh vegetables, chili.

Good one! Not a competitor but a good, nearer alternative for those who can't go to Patel Brother's every now then. Would love to try their samosas and other cooked food stuff the next time

Their behaviour is so good. And the food quality is also fresh and good. Today It's their anniversary and they treat me so nicely.

Great international supermarket prices are not so bad especially if you're vegan

No, I am not Indian so keep that in consideration. I love this little store- they have all the frozen Indian food that I could ever want, as I have no idea how to make Indian cuisine. Now I can microwave a curry or some naan or bake some frozen samosas and take care of my cravings easily. They also sell fresh samosas for 90 cents which are so good- I highly recommend getting one or three. Cash only for orders under 10 dollars.

We were shopping this weekend and we're told about this little store that's known for its selection of ethnic groceries. We picked up some frozen roti of some kind, but also grabbed some of this little ice cream they have in individual portions. We tried both the mango and falooda ice cream. And the winner was falooda, all 6 of us loved it! It was filled with nuts and candied fruit with some chia seeds, and the authentic taste of a falooda you would get in india. Definitely a must try!

I've been shopping here sporadically over the past 15 years. Today I purchased some, clearly stated, boneLESS curry chicken. When I got home it was nothing but chicken with all bones, very little actual meat, the sauce was watery and really not very good. If I lived nearer I would have returned it. The store appears more organized and cleaner than in the last couple of years but you really have to watch their pricing. Today I bought a packet of basmati rice advertised at $4.99 but was rung up at $5.49. When I queried this the assistant said I was mistaken but rectified it. The prepared foods have really dropped in quality over the past couple of years as well. Their vegetable samosas, (once 90 cents, now $1.39 plus tax), are just all potato filled with no over discernible vegetables. Bottom line: This is a very good store with an excellent range of Indian foodstuffs and ingredients/products but watch their pricing when they ring up your purchases and bring your own bag! They're very happy to pack your purchases for you in one of their thin "cloth" bags and charge you a dollar for it. Be alert with their prices when shopping here.

Amazing little grocery store with Indian food to go as well. There's a small parking lot out front.

For the South Asian grocer, this place keeps the basics including tea and tea biscuits, spices, dosa/idli batters, roti, frozen items and more. I saw the other reviews about concerns with fresh vegetables or items that may have been sitting around for a while as well as less fresh atta; can't speak to that yet. It is one of the few accessible for students and as a result can count on regular business. I would come here for spices, tea etc. but would shop elsewhere for fresh goods or items whose taste depends strongly on freshness.

This place rocks. I come here for the hard-to-find spices and other ingredients in Ethiopian or Indian recipes. Walking in here takes me back to a time when I was living in India for a few months, and I've seen products I thought I'd be unlikely to run into again. Plus, a lot of the things here are cheap! Including the hot bar food and samosas. They sell fresh injera as well, if that's something you're dreading making on your own. The place is small, and the produce will be a little more expensive than shopping at Supremo or Fresh Grocer nearby. But for the unique selection of ingredients and food products, or just pure exploration, I highly recommend.

Wow, so disappointed in this store today - especially because I was a frequent customer. Purchased a rice bag this past weekend and went to go use it today and the zip and plastic bag was open. I called them to let them know I'm coming by to switch it out because of that and the guy who I spoke to said he isn't doing returns - but you sold me an opened bag. I said I don't want this bag- just a replacement and he refused. Then he said you should've checked it before buying? Excuse me - when do people have to check to see if rice bags are open?? I have no reason to just open a bag, waste rice and try to return it. When I said did you not check your inventory - he became really rude and then my husband took the phone to which he hung up. We tried calling back but apparently he cut the line. If you're going to shop here - apparently Qc all your products before buying. Funny thing is - we also picked up a bag of lentils and when we got to the counter - we saw that open too - might have been a cut from cutting the box open but - it was still open and available to pick up on the shelf - and the cashier taped the bag up! I wonder if it's sitting on their counters to sell too. I had gotten a product last year from them which was expired and I honestly thought it was a one time thing and continued to support them. But some businesses definitely deserve to be closed if they're not following health regulations - and this business unfortunately isn't - and is extremely rude - which was very alarming and disappointing. Especially at a time like this. Please don't go there! There are better Indian store options one street over on chestnut and even Alrayyan a block down!

Fantastic selection of spices and many other things. Big jars of garlic paste and ginger paste are great for cooking. Jars of many different kinds of chutney, and my favorite Indian Sauces. Delicious pita bread for half the price of the supermarket. It's a great place to buy rice, couscous, and other grains. And regular spices like chili, paprika, Curry, and many things that I don't recognize, that are a fraction of what they cost in the supermarket. I always end my visit here with a hot Samosa from the takeout counter to take away with me.

Bought the same idli batter we usually buy this last Sunday on 9/5, expiration on 9/23/21 and it was rancid (turned yellow and had an awful taste) And essentially spoiled our dinner plans (supposed to be fasting this week)! Called the store and they said without a receipt they can't do anything and also I should've called in the morning as the truck just left ... ummm ok? Sorry to inconvenience you? Previously also sold me a bag of wheat flour that had a knife puncture at the bottom which I let slide. Haven't had these problems until the recent two weeks! Please I'd encourage better customer service and better responses when speaking with customers. Really disappointed and annoyed.

I been shopping there for years with my family and I usually buy groceries, but today I decided to get a vegetarian platter with an additional two sides for my mom. While eating my mom noticed something hard in her food so she spits the food to find what looked to be a finger nail in her food. The service is always good but this is completely unacceptable.

You will notice that all the good reviews are by non-Indians. If there was a way to give this store a score of "0 out of 5", I would do so. The women behind the counters are pleasant, but the actual owner has a huge attitude problem. Also all the prices are jacked up. Therefore, for people who go to buy samosas or bottles of chutneys or frozen TV dinners, it should be okay. But those who buy Indian groceries, this store is woefully inadequate.

I stopped shopping here. I had bought things from this store several times only to find out that it was old, expired or spoiled. I bought chapati flour from there on a Friday and when I opened up the bag the next day, there were moths in it, so I took it back on Monday and they wouldn't take it back. They accused me of storing it in the heat and that is why it would have went bad. Seriously?? I had just bought it, and took it back right away. And NO I did not keep it in the heat. They wouldn't take it back nor exchange it for me. In fact, the owner and his wife were both extremely rude to me. Maybe that is why they say no returns no exchanges on their receipts, because they know they're selling old stuff and don't want to take it back! Some time ago I had also bought fresh pita bread from there, and the next day, there was fungus on it. I've had friends tell me of similar experiences they've had with this store. So now, I go there no more. There are plenty of other Indian stores in the area that DO care about their customers, are courteous and have very good products and pricing.

I loved coming here when I first moved to philly and didn't have a car. But now I've realized the meat is not that fresh, the Ahmed/mitchell garlic sauce from Pakistan that is my lifeline is always out of stock and its overpriced. Its a great quick stop within university city if I want a few small things. But for bigger grocery trips and if I wanna save money, I'd rather go to Appna Bazar and Asian halal in bensalem, PA

Been coming here for more years than I care to mention, usually for the great samosas. Hadn't been in awhile. Stopped in recently after getting some food from nearby Dana Mandi(excellent bread, disappointing entree...review to follow) for what else? ... samosas!. Some prepared items behind the counter looked good. Went back today and got a platter to go. Some of the best Indian food I've had in quite some time. Chose the vegetarian platter; two choices over rice for $5.95. Got the Chana masala and split chana curry. Chickpeas were perfectly cooked, and infused w/ great flavor. Same for the split chana, a thick, yellow, almost soupy mix of pure deliciousness. The basmati rice was fluffy & buttery. The food was a bit rich for being vegetarian. The heat level was medium for me, but could be considered on the spicy side. Food was very fresh tasting, and the portions are big. They had 5 vegetarian dishes, and 2 chicken. Price is more if you mix veg and chicken. Definitely will be coming back. Basically this is an Indian grocery store. If you need bulk spices, peas, beans,etc. of every kind this is your place. Want a 40 lb bag of basmati or a 10 lb bag of chapati flour? Check! All kinds of frozen entrees,apps, etc. Clean and well organized. Woman behind the counter is pleasant. Don't forget the samosas!

On my way to Makkah Market I saw this market place and it instantly piqued my curiosity. And walking in made me realize how perfect it is for fancying up any kitchen. After all one market gives you the chance to load up on delicacies like rose syrup, Indian mustard oil, and Ghee butter. and for the most part all of the prices were fairly reasonable. They also had a mini food market that I didn't utilize since I had a Falafel and baklava that I was ready to consume. But it definitely looked like it had some good offerings. But the coolest thing about this marketplace was that they had an assortment of hookahs and Bollywood DVD's! Curiosity fulfilled!

"International" in this case, is more along the lines of Pakistani/Indian/(and a little) Arabic cuisine. Just in case you weren't sure. I've come here a lot in the last two years! They offer many isles of neatly, fully stocked canned sauces/goods, spices, olives, oils, frozen veges, frozen naan, pita, baklava, dates, labna (kefir cheese), halloumi cheese, plain yogurt, flour, semolina, bulgur, couscous, ghee, frozen halal chicken and goat(which I've never tried), many teas, ethnic hair and face products. I mean, it's super convenient. The only thing missing is someone to make me fresh hummus for pick up, haha! They also have a small section of fresh veggies such as: lemons, eggplant, cauliflower, onions, tomatoes, garlic ect. I've never had a complaint when buying from them! The owner is very helpful and kind! They have a small parking lot in front of their store; enough for 5 cars.

My favorite market in the area. I used to come for the spices, but they also have the best prices on nuts, rice, and other pantry goods. And they have British items like PG tips at reasonable prices. I get all of my holiday chocolates and baking needs here, and do general shopping here every few weeks. And yes, the samosas!!!!

This is a review of one aspect of this international food store concentrating on the foods of the Indian subcontinent. It is the hot summertime now in Philadelphia and International Foods and Spices has Kulfi!! Kulfi is the Indian/Pakistani version of ice cream. It is made by evaporating sweetened milk as opposed to whipping the milk in traditional ice cream so it is much denser. It def takes longer to melt! The Malai flavor (kinda like vanilla) is the most famous but pistachio and mango are also popular. When you buy a Kulfi, you first rub the thicker end of the plastic container between your hands to warm it up and then you can pull down to open it and eat it. Kulfi is def tasty on a hot summer day!

Another nearby Indian grocery store. Quick one stop shop for grocery but the restaurant doesn't look at all. Only by looking at the food I can say it's a big NO!!!

International Foods and Spices - as Kacie already pointed out - leans more toward the Indian side of things, but that's okay with me. I'm a fan of those little packets of Indian "street food" dishes you just have to dump into boiling water to cook them (pav bhaji, etc). I've walked out with a week's worth of meals here for less than 20 bucks. If you've got a knack for real cooking, then you'll definitely find some incredible ingredients to work with here. Don't forget to check out some of their prepared foods, too - their samosas are seriously to die for. They're great to buy in bulk for a party or road trip (I've done it before). Caveat: This place is closed on Tuesdays. I have no idea why, and I've forgotten that several times.

While the food selections are pretty good and one has a lot of choice, it's a little annoying that they say they accept cards, yet everytime I've been there they always ask if I've a debit card when I try to pay with a credit card. And everytime I say no, who ever is behind the counter, their demeanor changes from pleasant to a little upset. But until this time, they have always accepted the credit card when I've said I don't carry a debit card Once they even lied, I think, that my card was declined. I knew I had enough credit, because it got accepted at another store I went to. I would be fine posting Ruth a debit card if they clearly said they only accept debit card or cash

Went there for the Indian groceries. Did not have time to try the food, but definitely going back for that later. Grocery prices are reasonable with a good selection. The Indian spices for cooking are good value. The store looks like it's family owned and operated. Other than the young indian man behind the counter, I don't think the rest of the people working at the store spoke much english and do not engage in small talk. This is probably why other reviewers felt that the staff was unfriendly. I did have to wait a minute at checkout counter until someone showed up to ring me up. But once he was there, he was friendly and helpful. But this is a family owned grocery store first, so I wouldn't expect resturant levels of service.

By far the best store in neighborhood. Very clean, excellent product selection and courteous service.

The samosas are great. I usually eat them in the car on the way home because I cannot control myself. I spent last summer in India. You would think I would have gotten sick of Indian food- but no, quite the opposite. So, every few weeks I head over to International Foods and Spices (which I refer to as "the Indian store") to buy many many boxes of different varieties of curry-in-a-hurry, plus parathas, paneer, frozen vegetable Hakka noodles, and other random things. It can be hard to find stuff. They rearrange their shelves and freezers fairly often. I'm not sure what their logic is in how they organize the store. Just keep poking around and you'll find what you need. Especially if what you need is SPICES! There's a great variety, large quantities for extremely low prices compared to the regular grocery store. They also have Indian made beauty products. I cannot get enough of that turmeric cream. It smells lovely and does wonders for my skin.

I haven't tried the samosas that everyone's raving about, but I like to get yogurt here (the Desi Dahi brand is just like my mom's homemade yogurt), as well as chapatis, and basic things like onions, tomatoes, frozen grated coconut, green chili peppers, and various spices needed for Indian cooking. For someone who's new to Indian cooking (or just short on time and energy), the spice mix for chicken curry that comes in a little box with instructions makes it really easy to whip up a delicious chicken curry! There are also spice mixes for biryani and other curries. The one for eggplant curry was just okay - not great. I also love the selection of Indian pickles - the lime pickle is delicious with rice and ghee (which you can also buy here) or an omelet. Reminds me of home! I am SO tempted to buy a huge sack of Basmati rice, but I have no way of transporting it without a car :( Oh, and I think there is a $10.00 minimum for credit or debit cards.

As an Indian grocery store, International Foods and Spices is NOTHING to write home about. However, as a place that has Samosa's to go - and to order in large quantities, I would have given them 5 stars. The grocery store carries all the regular Indian items - spices, prepared foods, frozen foods, and rice and such. Alll of those are normally priced, nothing special about the stock, etc. They do have an unusually large number of prepared foods - but I'd chalk that up to them being near so many universities where kids would want that sorta thang. The samosa's however, are amazing. I love them. Maybe I'm not as good at judging samosa's anymore - or maybe I just REALLY crave that Indian taste whenever I go there, so I love them. However, I REALLY think that they are good. Be warned though, they are QUITE the spicy. I mean really spicy. I usually go home and eat them with tamarind sauce and yogurt.

Awesome flavor potato chips, but the bags were dusty and there was no expiration/manufacture date. There was also an open bag hanging on the chips wrack and that too, was dusty. Given that brief experience, I want to assume this shop is not well maintained and I would go back with extreme hesitation, if at all.

Gah I wish yelp had .5 starring! ( more like a 2.5) This is literally like your normal Indian grocery store: mismatched labels, non-existent expiry dates, random pricing (sometimes), barely fresh veggies, and a limited selection of certain items. It is definitely a good go to spot for spices, BUT they don't carry famous brands like Maya, and for Swad, I feel like they only carry a portion of the spices offered. There is a lack of indian vegetables and fruits ( NO MANGO?! BABY BANANAS??!?!?! Where are the string beans and sour snake gourd?!). But if you need garam masala in a jiffy like me ( and can't find it at Fresh Grocer), swing by here. The jaggery though ( hard molasses) is sort of light in color, and not very sweet. The lady at the register is super nice. Unusual thing tho: they actually itemize the receipt! ( never have I seen that before at the smaller, non-chain indian groceries!!)

The samosas to go are worth the trip alone. But you can also find any indian spices and ingredients that are difficult to find elsewhere and the prices are very reasonable. The parking is not great in their lot but you can usually find street parking pretty easily. I have to also note that I like spicy food and their buffet profferings do not disappoint- however if you are sensitive to spicy this may not be for you. I have not yet tried any of the frozen offerings but I will definitely be back to do so as it is quite expansive and looks promising. I highly recommend this spot to any indian food lovers.

Came here with a friend who was looking to buy shisha and realized that this Indian grocery store had the best selection and service in the University City area. The man who owns the grocery store is honest and helpful in picking out shisha and coals. For the most part, they only stock Al Fakher, Starbuzz and a little bit of Nakhla. The AF is extremely cheap at around 10 dollars for 250g, while the Starbuzz is about 15-16. They don't have a great selection of Nakhla, but it's at a really good price. Something like 7 dollars for 250g. For coals, they rotate between brands like Starlight, SmoQuest, Three Kings, and once in a blue moon, Coco-Nara's. If you're a hookah enthusiast in University City who's not interested in ordering shisha/coals online, then this is the place for you.

Your options are less awesome now, the frozen food I got on Diwali Sale was really just freezer burned, Mi Goreng was way more expensive than it should have been, and your "hot prepared food" was not hot. I love you, but you've really been sucking. Still can't beat 20 flatbreads for 3.99. But I dislike your credit card minimum, and wish you had pricing on the readyserve meals on the left side of the back.

4 (albeit small) frozen masala dosas for $1.99...wha? There are so many things here I can't find elsewhere like a huge variety of Indian breads, frozen meals, samosas, spices, lentils, chutnies... I looked for weeks for fava beans and finally found them here. A must go for any adventurous shopper.

Parking is a negotiation here, but don't let that stop you. This store is so fun to shop in, it is worth being uneasy about whether or not you'll have to move your vehicle so someone else can get out. There's an excellent selection of (largely but not exclusively) Indian groceries here, long aisles of goodies more extensive than most such stores. Spices out the wazoo... and if you adore Ethiopian injeeras, you can get a nice sack of them to keep you full for days. Good prices on just about everything, including those Indian instant meal in a bag things.

I'm always searching for stores to buy food and unique ingredients so I'm happy to have found International Foods and Spices. Came in here originally searching for some Tahini and found huge selection of mostly Indian foods, dried beans and rice, spices, Indian flavored snacks, frozen meals and samosas, oils, grains and candy. Small section of milk, eggs, and interesting cheese. Very small selection of produce. A modest selection of hot foods however I question their freshness and holding temperature. I do always get a few hot prepared vegetarian samosas, and at 85 cents a piece these are cheaper than their frozen counterpart. A great place to browse and find something interesting you never knew existed. Staff seems a bit unfriendly, but that is probably a cultural thing.

This is the place to get Indian groceries in Philadelphia. They've got such a tremendous selection of legumes, condiments, chaat mixes, nuts and fruits, I find things here that I can find nowhere else in the city. Plus their freezer has some bangin Indian appetizers at a fraction of the price you'd pay anywhere else, and you can get hot samosas for 75¢. But be careful: They are closed on Tuesdays! Plan your week around that my friend.

Like everyone said, your typical Indian grocery store. A lot of stuff was not priced. The samosas and the vegetable fritters were both delicious!! And cheap!!! 75-85 cents! Also got a pack of the Gulab Jamun to take home. They were very yummy! Will visit again next time in Philly.

Very cheap prices. Wide variety and authentic. They have everything from spices to shisha. Shisha is on the pricer side, other than that, pretty reasonable. The woman at the counter is quiet but helpful if you need her. This is a specialty store so remember that when coming in, don't expect to knock out your entire grocery list. They have a large Indian focus with items you can't get at your typical whole foods or shoprite. I didn't get any sweets but they looked good and people were buying them. Lebneh was only $2.00. It is located right next to the 7/11 and there is parking out front.

I find it surprising that Philadelphia doesn't have more options for Indian groceries, but within those I've found International Foods and Spices offers the best selection. The prices have increased recently, but food prices have increased across the board; and I have found some outdated items, but I can only assume that's because there's not enough turnover, and I'd rather have the option to buy outdated than to not be able to buy it at all. My only other complaint is that the pricing for the produce is hard to figure out, and quite a few items in the regular section are not tagged at all. On the up side, it's fairly well kept, the selection is very good, and the staff is more than willing to help you find what you need. And let's not forget those home-made samosas!!!

Went here looking for Indian spices and was not disappointed. They are closed on Tuesdays which is odd, but we went on July 4th and they were open regular hours. The guy at the front desk was helpful, even recommended a hot sauce. Will definitely be back (just not on a Tuesday!) for more supplies for Indian cooking!

if you shop here, please grab: ***the frozen Indian dishes (Deep brand) ---- they are AMAZING ***chutney, chutney, chutney, chutney ***samosas, samosas, samosas ***Coco vita (they have 1 liter box) ***Indian Pickles if you can cook indian food, you can find everything you need in here from rice to spices and ingredients if you cannot cook indian food but you love indian food, you can find lots of curry here

I love this place, even though they sometimes give me funny looks. International Foods is not an entirely accurate name, because they tend mostly towards the foods of the Indian nation. However, here is the top-secret, so you never have to pay Dahlak ever again- they have big bags of injera. Nice, big, soft, fluffy injera. So, learn how to make Ethiopian/Eritrean food. Your friends will love you (more?). International Foods appears deceptively small from the outside and while it's not a huge supermarket, it does have a great selection. (Beware! The parking lot is VERY tricky.) They have big bags of basmati rice, you can buy big bags of pulses (bulk dals), and as advertised, a ton of spices. The great thing about the spices is that you can buy sizable bags for very reasonable prices (none of this McCormick's $6 for one oz of cumin nonsense). There is also a lot of fun produce, some of which you may never have seen before. There's a great variety of frozen "ethnic" food, big bags of chickpea flour, exciting packaged desserts, ice cream flavors you've likely never heard of, interesting cookware, you name it. They also often have inexpensive and tasty hot samosas at the register. Sometimes the smell of the international spices can be a little overwhelming, but the store is certainly clean enough and easy to maneuver It is crazy awesome. It can be incredibly economical (unless you get carried away like me and buy ten jars of Indian pickle ) and a great resource for those who like to cook and try new things.

Holy shit the samosas here are awesome!!! It's like vishnu is massaging my tastebuds with all four arms! Delicious!

The owners are quite rude. The rice purchased from this store infested my apt with worms and rice weevils and when asked them about it, the owners rudely shifted the blame on me.

Great selection of dried goods including spices and beans, plus they have large freezer section and ok fresh produce as well. They have big bags of fresh injeera on certain days, and some take out as well. They have some things nearby Makkah doesn't, but also are slightly pricier on average.

This is a pretty cool spot. Though, I am not sure how International it is. It seems much more Indian than anything else. But they have a huge selection. I went here for a spice I could not find at the local supermarket. I had a recipe for Chicken Vindaloo, an Indian dish. They had it and it was priced well. I can see myself returning to this joint. But to be honest, if I was not sure of what I wanted, I might get lost browsing. I don't think I know what half the stuff in this place is.

This place is decent. You can find most Indian needs at this place. It can be a little disorganized (and some things are missing pricetags, etc.) Don't expect first world service and standards because that isn't what this place provides. But it has the things you need (Indian foods) and it has them for good prices and high quality. Get's the job done, which is why I come here once a month or so to stock up.

I really like going to this store for Indian foods and other products. I would give it 4 or even 5 starts - especially since the samosas are soooo good - except the last time I was in there, I thought about buying a couple. Until I saw a giant ***ROACH*** crawling on the metal tray they keep them on. :-x Needless to say, I won't buy any more samosas from there that are already cooked. :-( There's also the matter of them taking a day off at the beginning of the week. I always forget if it's Monday or Tuesday, but I somehow manage to go there on *that* day.

Great variety. Awesome and fresh samosas ! Sadly, they will charge you 50cents extra if you pay by card on a bill amount of less than 10$. So, to save that extra buck you need to pay in cash for less than $10 bill amount.

I love going to International Foods and Spices. There food is delicious especially there samosas. The owners there are incredibly nice they help and find whatever you need. The does look like it's family owned and operated. Not just the owners are friendly but the other people working there as well. The prices are really good as well. This store is a life saver, every thing you need is there.