Makola African Market Imports — Attraction in Newark

I visited this market to get oxtails yesterday, 2 days before Thanksgiving. I waited in line for about 20 minutes while he was helping someone else. There was another person in front of me but she left. After done he walked away and when he came back he walked past me got a box of some other meat and started cutting it. After done he finally walked over to me and just said yea. No how can I help, would would you like, etc., just yea. I told him I wanted oxtail. He seemed to have an attitude when I asked him to weigh 2 of them and tell me the cost. I told him to go ahead with the 2. While cutting I asked him to cut them small, and to cut the fat. He completely ignored me and cut it in these large and weird chunks and did not touch the fat. When o got home and looked at it I was so frustrated because I did not realize how bad it was. I literally had a piece of rail and just pieces of fat not attached to meat in the bag. Pictures posted. Really disappointed considering I paid close to $50. I did hear from another customer that there is a better guy that cuts meat. But overall no one in the store seemed to cater to the customers. I did plan to get more but noticing his attitude I stopped at the 2 oxtails and went to my normal Dominican meat market at 773 springfield avenue, Irvington and got about $20 more of oxtails. There meat was so much better, no wait time and...

As someone who takes pride in helping African businesses, it is difficult for me to write this negative review. My wife and I are new to the NJ area and we were surprised by the disrespect we witnessed. The gentle man that stood by the door followed us around the store as if we were about to steal something. I almost asked him how much he got paid a month so I could write him a check. The lady or his wife(i assume) behind the glass counter was even worse, they absolutely lacked simple customer service skills. He raises every item to her and she eyeballs it and rings it on the counter without scanning. I doubt i will ever go...

Even though the sign says African market, most of the items in here are Ghanian and Nigerian delicacies. Poor lighting gives you a feeling of shopping in the basement. You will definitely find all you need to make egusi soup in the aisles. The staff can be friendly at times. Paying for the purchase feels like performing a over the counter bank transaction.

Feel like sending money overseas, such services are available. ...