Ferrara’s Imported Foods
Sculptures of Catholic saints greet you at the entrance while jerrycan-quantities of olive oil raise your eyebrows. Full sheets of Sicilian-style red pizza entice from the back. It feels like an Italian home and smells like heaven — that is, if heaven also sold bottles of red wine at closeout prices. 5750 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights, 440-442-3700, ferrarasimportedfoods.com
La Plaza Supermarket
Come for the dried, fresh and raw chilies and stay for the $2.50 tacos. You’ll find plenty of Mexican staples here — and by staples we mean 8-pound rounds of queso fresco and pickled pork feet. Wander at leisure so you can catch the mariachi music playing throughout the store and the staff singing along. 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood, 216-476-8000
Rumi’s Market and Deli
Roti, chapati, puri and other flatbreads line an entire freezer aisle at this Middle Eastern store where coolers are stocked with Khalas, Tunisian and Sukkari dates and dried apricots. After making your way through checkout, head to the food court to feast on kebabs and gyros with spit-roasted beef and lamb. Pair it all with a liter of mint yogurt soda. 8225 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, 216-229-7864, rumis-market.com
Tink Holl
Located in a nondescript factory building in the heart of AsiaTown, this food emporium is easy to overlook. But move past the ancestral shrine guarding the doors and you’ll find row upon row of exotic, pungent, striking and sometimes unidentifiable imports. There are safe options such as jackfruit and green tea pumpkin seeds. But for the adventurous cook, try the spicy shredded squid or jellyfish cutlets. 1735 E. 36th St., Cleveland, 216-881-6996
