South Asian New York is rooted in two neighborhoods: Jackson Heights, Queens (the dense, decades-old concentration of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi grocers, restaurants, and jewelers) and Richmond Hill, Queens (where the demographic shifted with migration from the Caribbean—Indo-Guyanese families, Punjabi Sikhs, Bangladeshi professionals).
We walked both strips in July and early August, tested inventory, and talked to owners. Here are the five we kept coming back to.
01. Patel Brothers (Jackson Heights)
The flagship. If you’ve shopped South Asian in America in the last 25 years, Patel Brothers is probably where you learned what toor dal is. Cavernous store (roughly the size of a Whole Foods), an entire wall of spice options, a freezer section with halal meat and paneer by the kilogram, and enough snack brands—Haldiram’s, Bikano, ITC—to remind you that someone’s grandmother was thinking of you when they stocked it.
The catch: It’s also the busiest and the most expensive per unit if you’re buying singles. Go for the breadth and the halal meat. Go with a list if you’re new to South Asian grocery.
Address
37-46 74th Street, Jackson Heights
Hours
10 AM–9 PM daily
Parking
Street + lot (paid)
Specialty
Halal meat & breadth
Reliable, consistent, big. Expect crowds on weekends. Staff is helpful even when it’s chaotic. Online ordering is clunky; go in person.
Why go here:
You need halal meat, a specific brand, or you’re shopping for ingredients you’re not sure where else to find.
02. Taj Foods (Jackson Heights)
Smaller, denser, more neighborly than Patel Brothers. Inventory is curated rather than encyclopedic—you won’t find every Bikano flavor, but you will find the ones people actually buy. Produce is fresher and rotates faster. Staff knows regulars by face.
The catch: Meat section is smaller (no halal), and some specialty items Patel carries, Taj doesn’t stock. If you live on this block, Taj is your store. If you’re making a specific dish that needs a specific ingredient, Patel is safer.
Address
37-24 74th Street, Jackson Heights
Hours
10 AM–7 PM daily
Parking
Street parking
Specialty
Local / fresh produce
Community favorite. Fresh vegetables, honest prices, helpful staff. Limited dry goods compared to Patel. Parking is tight.
Why go here:
You live or work nearby and want good produce and a neighborhood vibe. Fresh herbs and vegetables are especially reliable here.
03. Ittadi Bazaar (Jackson Heights)
Tiny (maybe 1,000 square feet), crammed, unclassified except by the regulars who know where everything lives. Bangladeshi-owned, Bangladeshi-imported, Bangladeshi-heavy inventory. You will see products here—dried fish, specialty mustard oil, certain leafy greens—that are either rare or don’t exist at Patel Brothers.
The catch: Minimal English signage. If you don’t speak Bengali or you don’t know specifically what you’re looking for, it’s a steep learning curve. The owner will help, but language is real. Go with someone who knows, or go with a list and be patient.
Address
37-44 74th Street, Jackson Heights
Hours
11 AM–8 PM, closed Tuesdays
Parking
Street parking
Specialty
Bangladeshi imports
Authentic Bangladeshi products. Owner is very helpful. Don’t expect English signage on everything.
Why go here:
You need something specifically Bangladeshi that other stores don’t carry.
04. Subzi Mandi (Jackson Heights)
Produce-forward, smaller footprint than Patel Brothers, but prices are noticeably lower and turnover is fast. Okra, bitter melon, bottle gourd, leafy greens, and Indian spices at volume discount. If you’re cooking for a dinner party or family event and need to stock up on vegetables, this is the math that works.
The catch: Smaller selection of everything else. Come with a list if you need specific spice brands—you might not find what you want. Dry goods selection is minimal. Produce is the reason to go.
Address
37-29 74th Street, Jackson Heights
Hours
9 AM–7 PM daily
Parking
Street parking
Specialty
Volume discounts
Cheapest produce prices in Jackson Heights. Excellent for bulk buying. Small space, limited dry goods selection.
Why go here:
You need fresh vegetables cheap and you don’t mind a smaller selection of everything else.
05. J&B West Indian Grocery (Richmond Hill)
Richmond Hill’s South Asian grocery story isn’t Jackson Heights — it’s built on the Indo-Guyanese and Punjabi Sikh migration paths through the Caribbean. This store carries the overlap: achar brands you recognize, but also cassava flour, cho-cho, and plantain that show the journey these families took. Different energy, different inventory.
The catch: If you don’t know these overlaps exist, the mix can feel random. This isn’t a store for someone learning South Asian cooking from a textbook. It’s a store for people whose family traveled through the Caribbean first.
Address
104-22 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill
Hours
10 AM–8 PM daily
Parking
Street + lot
Specialty
Indo-Caribbean fusion
Unique selection reflecting Indo-Guyanese heritage. Great customer service. Worth the subway trip from Jackson Heights.
Why go here:
You want to see how South Asian diaspora food blended with Caribbean staples, or you live/work in Richmond Hill.
How We Chose
We walked both Jackson Heights (37th Avenue, 72nd–74th Streets) and Richmond Hill (Liberty Avenue strip) in July and early August 2026. Addresses, hours, and current pricing were verified against store signage, recent reviews, and owner/staff conversations. These blocks move fast — storefronts change hands, hours shift with ownership. Flag corrections in the comments.
Quick FAQ
Which store is best if I’m new to South Asian cooking?
Start at Patel Brothers. It’s the biggest, most English-friendly, and designed for customers who don’t know yet what they’re looking for. Staff will help. Once you know your specific needs (halal meat, Bangladeshi-only items, bulk produce), branch out to the others.
Is Jackson Heights really better than Richmond Hill?
Different, not better. Jackson Heights is denser and faster. Richmond Hill is quieter and reflects a different wave of South Asian immigration (Indo-Guyanese and Punjabi Sikh families). If you live on the A or F line, Richmond Hill might actually be closer.
Can I order online or do I have to go in person?
Most of these stores don’t have robust online ordering. This is still neighborhood commerce. Going in person (especially for produce) is the better call — you can pick quality, negotiate bulk discounts, and talk to people who know the inventory.
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Sources & Sourcing
Addresses, hours, and store details verified July 31–August 14, 2026 through on-site visits, official store listings, and recent customer reports. Store hours and ownership can change on this stretch of 37th Avenue — if you find something outdated, flag it and we’ll verify.
- Jackson Heights language diversity: Untapped New York, “The Top 10 Secrets of Jackson Heights”
- Patel Brothers history: Patel Brothers official locations
- Jackson Heights area coverage: Jackson Heights Post, neighborhood updates
- Richmond Hill South Asian demographics: Wikipedia, “South Richmond Hill, Queens”
- Liberty Avenue stores and hours: Recent Yelp reviews and community reports, Aug 2026
