Mid-East Market — Local services in San Diego

Like a middle eastern bazaar plopped into little Saigon.

they have everything from amazingly fresh home roasted nuts (try the peanuts and cashews), dried fruits (golden figs are amazing), fresh dried spices (zaatar), a rainbow of teas (we got sri lankan ceylon), and baklava made by the owners wife (one of the best I've had in socal**) and even home made cold pressed black seed oil (apparently a natural super ingredient westerners haven't caught onto). There was also this yummy pistachio thing from Lebanon. Never heard of it but if you like nuts this is like crack.

**note this baklava is less sweet and super crisp. Others may disagree on the yumminess if they are used to over honey/sweet baklava

Thank goodness the restaurant we wanted to go to next door had a small wait. We popped into mid-east market while waiting thinking it would save us a trip to North Park produce. SO MUCH BETTER. Will always come back here to try something new and not commonly...

Da Real Deal Black Seed Oil

I shop here for five reasons: 1) black seed oil, 2) Jerusalem olive oil, 3) whole coffee beans, 4) teas and 5) hard to find spices.

Although this market offers a lot more to a variety of culture and diaspora cultures. The black seed oil is pressed every single day. It can't get more organic than that.

Jerusalem olive oil is only sold here. Can't get more original than that. It's an all purpose oil in my home. I dip my bread in it with French sea salt. My hair is luxurious. My skin is radiant. My make-up is removed easily. And my DIY body scrub is buttery soft.

No need to comment on customer service because every single customer is "the family."

Prices are incredibly fair

Hey you..reading this...you will be given immeasurably more than you...

A little tricky to find at first, but I think that was because we had the address wrong. It's located in a VERY busy section of El Cajon Boulevard and they don't have a parking lot. We lucked out and scored a curbside spot on the street right next to it. We ventured there because it was the ONLY shop my husband found that carries a very specific spice needed for an Indian stew we planned to make. So, if you ever need any asafoetida, this is the shop. And according to my husband, we got a good sized bottle for a very reasonable price. We didn't really get to browse because we stopped in on our way elsewhere, but they looked like they have...