Oft overlooked as a dining destination due to its baker's hours and limited seating, Balkan Bakery nonetheless serves up some outstanding food. Bakir Osmic, along with his children Jasenko and Aldijana, fled the Bosnian war of the 1990s and landed in Phoenix, where they opened this cornerstone of the Bosnian expat community. The family prepares a short but robust list of breads and sweets, including Balkan specialties like crescent-shaped kifla and keks torta with its layered biscuits. But the hot savories are the main draw. Aldijana makes cevapi, Bosnian beef sausages, juicy and sizzled and stuffed into bread. Meanwhile, Jasekno deftly rolls up coils of burek, sirnica and zeljanica — flaky, tubular savory pastries stuffed with ground meat, cheese or spinach, respectively, baked up fresh and piping hot throughout the day.

This category nearly became an old-school/new-school battle for the ages in 2023, but Little Pickle's self-imposed hiatus makes it easy to pick a favorite. Goldman's lineage runs through Chicago rather than New York, which is why you'll often find Jerry Reinsdorf sitting out on the sidewalk, chomping a cigar and holding court with a team of White Sox scouts. Jerry knows where to hang. Goldman's doesn't have the panache or cachet of a Katz's or a Langer's, but it's a tasty local joint run by friendly folks who make great soups and a fine sandwich. Chicago roots mean the case is packed with kosher dogs, smoked fish and particularly good chopped liver. Most customers come for the corned beef and pastrami, both of which hit the spot, however you choose to dress them. Plus, the matzo balls are floaters, the chicken broth is salty and intense, and a bowl of icy cold beet borscht with a dollop of sour cream is a helluva tonic on a hot summer day.

Nestled in a row of restaurants and shops on Grand Avenue sits a welcoming and friendly eatery. Twinkle lights shine through the windows and light up a mural of our blue planet with a happy cow, chicken and pig. Earth Plant Based Cuisine is an entirely vegan restaurant that serves a Mexican- and Southwest-inspired menu packed with flavor. Start with the Boss Nachos made with fresh veggies and a creamy vegan cheese sauce or elote with vegan mayo, cotija cheese, chile and lime. Entrees include flautas filled with potatoes or vegan chicken and tacos stuffed with soy chorizo or seasoned mushrooms. There are burger, barbecue sandwich, burrito and chimichanga options as well. This restaurant offers something for everyone, as many of the dishes can also be made gluten- or soy-free upon request. Whichever food you settle on, make sure to pair it with a sweet horchata, or our favorite, the coconut honeydew melon refresher.

Almost every city in the Valley has at least one farmers market perfect for shopping and picking up your weekly produce al fresco. But of all the options, Uptown Farmers Market takes the cake, or bread, or breakfast sandwich. The first benefit to this market is its large footprint at NPHX Church and huge amount of parking. There's plenty of space to unload your kids, dogs and wagon and get yourself situated before entering the sea of white tents. Once you pass beneath the banner into the labyrinth of vendors, grab a coffee and start your stroll. Pick up some fresh bread from Proof or a croissant from Chacónne Patisserie, then fill your tote bag with fresh tomatoes, citrus and kale. If you're hungry in the moment, head to one of the multiple food trucks serving burritos, dumplings or acai bowls. And in the summertime, you don't have to worry about the heat, as much of the market conveniently moves inside the church for comfortable shopping.

The Mesa supermarket and housewares store has everything you need for a Korean barbecue and more. The national chain store sells rice cookers ranging from basic models to top-of-the-line appliances and everything in between; portable barbecue grills are also within reach in the same aisle. Then, the diversity of barbecue meats is sold in bundles or individual portions, with pork belly or sirloin cuts ready to marinate with premade sauces imported from Korea, China, the Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian countries. The market also a wide range of seafood, some of which is flown in directly from the Fulton Fish Market, near where H Mart was founded in New York city in 1982. A Korean barbecue is not complete without banchan (side dishes), and banchan — kimchi, stir-fried fish cake, spicy squid and much more — is abundant and sold in to-go containers. Finish off your feast with unique desserts or a fruity, potent bottle of soju.

Mekong Plaza in Mesa contains a group of Asian-inspired and -owned businesses and restaurants. Some of the restaurants are tucked in the spacious food court. Binh Duong Quan and Hu Gourmet sell Vietnamese cuisine, including Vietnamese chicken salad, a host of rice and glass noodle soups, and crispy deep-fried rolls or fresh rice paper rolls to snack on. Heng's Kitchen has Chinese snacks and dishes, including a smorgasbord of dim sum dumplings and other finger foods, traditional rice dishes and noodle bowls. Wholly Grill has a Filipino vibe with grilled barbecue sticks over rice, lumpia and an array of authentic cuisine made to order. Asian-inspired gift stores and specialty shops surround the food court to entertain you after a hearty, conveniently fast and affordable bite.

If you're an aspiring or seasoned chef, Lee Lee's is the place to explore. Embark on a delicious journey worldwide through the different aisles filled with items from every corner of the globe. If you're looking for authentic curry ingredients for your Thai- or Indian-inspired meal, the chain supermarket covers you with veggies, meats and spices. Are you looking to fry lumpia from the Philippines? You can buy them frozen in various brands or make them from scratch with thin lumpia wrapper packets, ground pork, cabbage and carrots; more than a few sweet chili dipping sauces are also offered here. Though much of the real estate is occupied by Asian food items, Lee Lee's is still the place to find things like Eastern European meats and dairy products, French potato chips and even regional American foods. Lastly, the supermarkets, with over 200,000 square feet spread within its three stores in Chandler, Peoria and Tucson, sell housewares to cook and present the global delicacies you are about to serve.

Family-owned Princess Pita Mediterranean Restaurant and Market knows what it knows, which is falafel, kababs and various sundries from the Middle East, Greece, India and Persia. The aisles won't necessarily overwhelm, and you'll have plenty of time to look at each item and study the ingredients. The market also has cheeses, olives, spices, dates and grape leaves, as well as a full line of halal meats including lamb, goat, beef and chicken. Before or after you take a look at all the grocery items you want to buy to make a meal at home, you can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant, which dishes up beef shawarma, chicken and beef kabobs, koftas, hummus, rice and salad. The bakery counter also has baklava to try on-site or as a take-home dessert.

Walking into Romanelli's Italian Deli is like gliding into an olfactory orgy. As soon as the smells of freshly baked bread, zesty spices, piquant peppers, tangy cheeses and cured meats hit your nostrils, your mouth starts watering, and your eyes start wandering. Where to start? At the deli counter for a George's Special sandwich, overflowing with ham, capicola, salami, mortadella, pepperoni and provolone? Or hit the grocery aisles in search of the perfect pasta or extra-virgin olive oil? The family-owned and -operated Romanelli's has been the site of such dilemmas for almost 50 years. Wherever your senses take you at Romanelli's, you'll be glad you went there.

This mini supermarket in a West Valley strip mall is an oasis for anyone looking for a taste of the old country — or countries, to be exact. No other place in the Valley carries such a stunning supply of canned, jarred and boxed delicacies from Poland and Eastern Europe to help with homesickness or to re-create familiar flavors from family dinners back in the Midwest. Whether you crave imported pickles, beets, sauerkraut, chocolate or beer, you'll find a mind-boggling variety here. The deli counter at the back also deserves a stop for its superior hams, sausages and cheeses, and if you want to speak Polish, you'll feel right at home — all staffers are fluent. Next to the deli are steam tables proudly boasting an array of ready-to-eat foods, including insanely affordable homemade Polish favorites like pierogies, golabki (stuffed cabbages), pork cutlets and creamy cucumber salad. And yes, they make paczki — those irresistible jelly doughnuts so popular around Fat Tuesday — all year long on Saturdays only, but they sell out fast, so get your dupa there early.