Real ones know the restaurant scene in Cleveland for its multitude of diverse culinary options. You can get great Ethiopian and Guatemalan, Vietnamese and Jamaican. So it’s no surprise that our specialty food market scene is just as diverse. From pierogi markets and ethnic grocers and local butchers to healthy, organic food shops, home brewery shops and Italian grocery stores, Cleveland has it all.

Saucisson 5324 Fleet Ave., Cleveland Melissa Khoury aka the “Queen of Pork” and Penny Barend aka “Local Meat Maven” opened the Slavic Village butcher shop in 2015, after being staples of flea and farmer’s markets around town. Slavic Village used to be home to butcher shop after butcher shop and Saucisson brought some of that old world back to the neighborhood. Credit: Scene Archives
Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. 4464 Broadview Rd., Cleveland and 3441 Tuttle Rd., Ste. 101, Shaker Heights, Prepare yourself to boldly go where few Cleveland cheese connoisseurs have gone before. Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. not only will be selling upwards of 100 varieties of local and international cheeses, including area favorites Lake Erie Creamery and Yellow House Cheese, but the shop also makes its own delicious products in a state-of-the-art production kitchen and ages others on site. And their freshly made cheese forward sandwiches are out of this world. Credit: Scene Archives
The Cleveland Brew Shop 4142 Lorain Ave., Cleveland In the last 10-15 years, the microbrewery wave has taken over the country and Cleveland has seen its fair share of breweries pop up. In addition to breweries, home brewing has grown in popularity. If you need all the materials for home brewing, Cleveland Brew Shop, which supplies the gear and the know-how for brewing up a batch of your own suds, is your spot. They also have fun events like a homebrew competition and Oktoberfest and have brewing and winemaking classes. Credit: Scene Archives
Gallucci’s Italian Food 16610 Euclid Ave. Cleveland Since 1912, the shelves of this fine Italian market groan beneath a vast collection of meats, cheeses, oils, sauces, breads, pastries and pastas. Meantime, customers’ waistbands groan beneath the delicious onslaught of Gallucci’s prepared carryout foods, including subs, salads, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan and — especially — authentic Italian-style pizza, available by the pie or by the giant rectangular slice. Credit: Scene Archives
Jaworski Meats 7545 Pearl Rd., Middleburg Heights There are newer butcher shops like Saucisson and Ohio City Provisions that get a lot of shine these days but don’t forget about the staples like Jaworski’s. In business since 1935, this Polish butcher shop contains hundreds of feet of gleaming stainless steel coolers brimming with hand-cut chops, house-ground beef, slow-roasted meats, and hot-smoked sausages. Behind the counter, mammoth wooden butcher blocks, bowed in the middle from a million little cuts, are piled high with steaks getting a final trim. Want a 3-inch-thick bone-in ribeye? Just ask. Credit: Scene Archives
Astoria Market and Cafe 5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Astoria opens at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. on weekends!) and serves up excellent tapas AND has a great market, but the crowning jewel is their wine and cocktails menu. Credit: Scene Archives
EDWINS Butcher Shop 13024 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland Since opening EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, Brandon Chrostowski has been single-minded in his mission to provide a culinary training center for ex-convicts. With almost no exception, those who do advance and land jobs stay out of prison because, as the moniker suggests, education wins. When EDWINS Butcher Shop opened in 2018, it became the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood’s first fresh meat vendor in almost 50 years. Customers can pop into the 3,300-square-foot shop for rotisserie chickens, braised meats, smoked barbecue and hot soups. Coolers and freezers stock pickles, burgers, ground beef, stocks, bones, condiments and beverages. The shop also sells carryout beer and wine. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Koko Bakery 3710 Payne Ave., Cleveland and 1767 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights For more than 15 years, Koko Bakery has lured Asian food fans to its downtown store for fresh-baked buns, colorful fruit tarts, cakes and pastries, hot lunches and the best bubble tea around. In 2021, they opened their second shop in Coventry Village in the former Piccadilly Artisan Yogurt space next door to Pacific East. Credit: Scene Archives
Gingham Market 17000 Madison Ave., Lakewood Ever since opening Gatherings Kitchen in Lakewood, Ruth Kostadinov has had her eye on the next-door space, which finally opened this July after 13 years of wanting to acquire the space. Shoppers will find a bright and inviting space filled with prepared foods, local pantry items, beer and wine, and more than a few surprises. Rounding out the offerings are more than 90 local products that range from hot sauces and mustards to fermented foods and small-batch cheeses. Cold beer, wine, cocktail mixers and cooking utensils also are in supply. Credit: Scene Archives
Marchant Manor Cheese 2211 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights Kandice Marchant began making cheese as a hobbyist, working her way through a beginner’s cheesemaking book. While she enjoyed the results – straightforward creations like ricotta, mozzarella and cottage cheese – she had loftier tastes and ambitions and opened Marchant Manor Cheese in the historic Cedar-Lee district of the Heights. In addition to producing their own delicious cheeses, shoppers can find other products for charcuterie like pickles, olives, jams and cheese boards. Credit: Scene Archives
Ferrara’s Imported Foods 5750 Mayfield Rd., Mayfield Heights With a sizable population of Italian-Americans, it makes sense that Mayfield Heights would be home to one of the best Italian specialty markets in town. Their deli sandwiches are out of this world and their Italian import section highlights pastas, sauces, oils and much more straight from the old country. Credit: Scene Archives
Asian Town Center 3820 Superior Ave. E., Cleveland If you’re not hip to Asia Town at this point, you’re totally missing out. In addition to all of the great restaurants from a multitude of countries, there are also some great Asian grocers. None top Asian Town Center, an extensive Asian grocer with basically anything you’d want to make a Chinese feast. Candy, duck eggs, shrimp chips? They’ve got it all. Credit: Scene Archives
Rozi’s Wine House 14900 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Get schooled on vino if you’re a beginner, or shop the best selection in town if you’re a veritable sommelier, all at Rozi’s Wine House in Lakewood. Three generations of the family have run Rozi’s for more than 80 years, making them the preeminent experts around these parts and a friendly, helpful bunch to boot. In addition to wine, they have craft beer, they have home brew supplies, they sell Cleveland-centric gift baskets and much more. Credit: Scene Archives
Almadina Imported Foods 11550 Lorain Ave., Cleveland With a large Middle Eastern population in town, it makes sense that Cleveland boasts some phenomenal markets with cuisine from tha part of the world. None are better than Almadina, which is your go to for all things Halal. They have a wide variety of imported foods in addition to spices, soaps and beauty products, Middle Eastern food utensils and even tobacco products. Their prepared foods are delicious too. Next time you want to cook a feast with shawarma, falafel, kibbeh and more, hit this spot up. Credit: Scene Archives
La Plaza Supermarket 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best tacos in Cleveland is venturing to the far back corner of a supermarket. In addition to the tacos, you can find plenty of other wonderful options. Photo via La Plaza Supermarket/Facebook Credit: Scene Archives
b.a. Sweetie Candy Company 6770 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland Looking for the best candy selection in town and maybe the country? B.A. Sweetie Candy Company on Brookpark is where it’s at. Any candy you can think of can be found in the giant warehouse that also contains a mini-golf course and soda shoppe. Best of all, BA Sweetie has tons of vintage candy from your (and your parents’ and maybe even their parents’) childhood that you probably haven’t seen or thought about in years. Credit: Scene Archives
Ohio City Provisions 3208 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, The meat at this Ohio City butcher shop is some of the finest protein in all the Land. Its preparation is great too, with display cases overflowing with cuts that are hand-carved the Old World way. You can order a whole smoked ham or a Frenched rack of lamb for the holidays, or just walk in any day and purchase grass-fed ground beef, three finger-thick Porterhouse, or bacon sliced as thick as you’d like. While you’re there, grab some staples like farm-fresh milk, eggs and butter. Credit: Scene Archives
The Tea Lab 14534 Detroit Ave., Lakewood and 530 Euclid Ave., Ste. 17, Cleveland If you’re a lover of tea, there’s no better spot in town than the Tea Lab. With locations downtown and in Lakewood, you can find any type of tea or tea accessory you’re looking for. Credit: Scene Archives
Lviv International Food Store 4142 Lorain Ave., Cleveland With large immigrant communities from many parts of the world, it makes sense that Cleveland has a ton of international markets. Lviv International Food Store has you covered when it comes to Ukrainian and other Eastern European foods. They also have a bakery that stocks sweets from that part of the world. Try their Russian-style ravioli filled with beef or cheese and their ponchiku, their homemade Ukrainian donuts. Credit: Scene Archives
CLE Urban Winery 2180 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights Nestled into the bustling Cedar-Lee District happens to be a winery where one can enjoy exclusive wines made in-house by a local winemaker. Opened in 2016 by Destiny Burns, the hip, urban environment makes the perfect backdrop for fun community events, small gatherings, or quiet nights on the town by wine-loving couples. Housemade merlots, pinots and chardonnays offer a welcome change of pace from the typical craft-beer lineup found up and down the block (and throughout the city, really). Sip comfortably at the tasting room bar while surrounded by contemporary artwork and (occasional) live music. Credit: Scene Archives
Nature’s Oasis 15613 Detroit Ave., Lakewood and 3385 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights With two locations in Lakewood and Shaker Heights, this all natural grocer that focuses on its small-footprint and natural foods specializes in products made in Northeast Ohio. On the shelves and in the coolers are many brands that have become household names in the past handful of years. There’s Pope’s Kitchen, Saucisson, Cleveland Kraut, Nosh Butters, Root 23, Wild Ohio Brewing, Solstice Roasters and many, many others. They also have a cafe and coffee bar. Credit: Scene Archives
Murray Hill Market 2072 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland Situated in a renovated brick building at the corner of Murray Hill Road and Paul Avenue, the market seeks to bring back the tradition of shopping at a store with personality and consistency. Owner and operator Michele Iacobelli Buckholtz promotes local, natural and organic products whenever possible, with healthy alternatives and options for special dietary preferences. There’s also a nice selection of conventional products available for sale. It’s just the right mix, really. Upstairs you’ll find a quality selection of mid-priced wines, over 90 percent of which is Italian. There’s also a cozy nook with seating, a fireplace and an eclectic collection of cookbooks to peruse. The market’s main draw is its selection of house-made sandwiches, soups and salads. Credit: Scene Archives
Park To Shop 1580 East 30th St., Cleveland Located in AsiaTown, Park to Shop is one of the best markets in that area. They have basically any type of Asian snack you could want with a focus on Chinese items. You’ll feel like you’re stepping into Beijing at this grocery store. Credit: Scene Archives
The Olive Scene 19132 Old Detroit Rd., Rocky River, 100 N. Main St. Ste. 145, Chagrin Falls and 5512 Liberty Ave., Vermilion The best olive oil in town can be found at The Olive Scene’s three locations in Rocky River, Chagrin Falls and Vermilion. Their homemade olive oils and vinegars are top notch and come in traditional offerings as well as infused options like their golden pineapple balsamic vinegar, chipotle infused olive oil and much more. Credit: Scene Archives
Larder 1455 West 29th St., Cleveland At its heart, Larder, which was recently nominated for a James Beard award, is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, and flaky fruit-filled rugelach. But their weekend brunch offerings are so good that we had to include it here. Credit: Scene Archives
The Wine Spot 2271 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights The Wine Spot on Lee Road is one of the most distinctive wine shops in town. In the former Seitz-Agin Hardware spot, you can taste wines, converse with the owners and find that perfect wine for you. Credit: Scene Archives
Pierogies of Cleveland 6869 Pearl Rd., Middleburg Heights, 320 S. Court St., Medina and 4131 W. Streetsboro, Richfield Cleveland is the pierogi capital of the country. And nowhere else in town slings pierogies like Pierogies of Cleveland. With three locations and close to 40 flavors including original items like their egg, bacon and cheddar, chicken paprikash, sloppy joe and taco pierogies, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed if you shop here. Credit: Scene Archives

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