Sunday morning, it's raining here in SoCal, so what better way to start the day than with some…read moreArgentinian pastries and goodies? It was about time I finally gave my review to Gaucho Mercado in Downey. They open at 10 AM, and of course I was the first one in line . I went a little overboard and got a dozen and a half facturas (Argentinian pastries), some goodies, two ham & cheese pebetes, and some chipas. No regrets! This place never disappoints. Everything is made and baked right there, and you can absolutely tell. The facturas were fresh, soft, buttery, and tasted like they had barely made it out of the oven. The chipas were warm and cheesy, and the pebetes made the perfect savory addition to my pastry haul. But what really makes Gaucho Mercado special is the experience. The customer service is always great--good conversations, plenty of laughs, and that warm, welcoming Argentine vibe. For a little while, you forget you're in Downey and feel like you've been transported straight to Argentina. Rainy Sunday + fresh facturas + mate/coffee = felicidad.

We went the specifically to try the Yerba mate and it was very good and refreshing. We got the…read morelemon flavored cold Yerba mate and some sweet treats which we enjoyed. Afterwards we bought some skirt steak to grill at home and a bottle of the medium spiced chimichurri to accompany our meal that evening. The skirt steak is a bit pricey but so worth it because it was very tender and juicy cooked medium rare on the bbq grill. The chimichurri sauce is an excellent accompaniment to the skirt steak for a unique and delicious Argentinian flavor!

The selection of meat and fish was very good. I also noticed they had lots of seasoning. There was…read morealso a good variety of tea. The store was clean and well kept. I visited The Store on Saturday around 5 o'clock. The guy behind the counter was helpful. I didn't catch his name, but he was from Msr. I will definitely be back. Now I don't have to bring seasonings from EGYPT anymore.

From the owner: this is the spot where u can get all what u want and need for ur health, stomach, mood, craving and…read morebody. if u come once, you won't stop coming after that because u will love the place and what it has.

Cute little grocery story for basic needs. On Saturdays they apparently have fresh food items in…read morethe morning around 10am like meats and rice plates and dessert. They sell out by 1pm we heard. Worker was super nice and welcoming!

8/12/23 Finally got around to visiting my neighbors' shop, corner of Downey & Alondra. It's a small…read moreshop compared to most markets but it has many items worth trying. I didn't have much time to peruse coz hubby was hurrying me up. By chance, met Paul, our neighbor (about a half a block away) who was busy minding the store, dressed sharply and welcoming, friendly. Most of the food that was prepared from home is written in Thai, so I inquired what's in the containers. Hubby chose the shrimp & rice, I selected the pork meal. There was so much to see & I wanted to but more but that's just being greedy lol. I picked up dessert as well. I would love to come back to check out the rest. He also had Thai eggplant, chilies, mushrooms, very small produce table but it looked fresh! Come check it out for Thai inspired items.

If you love exploring incredible flavors, this market is an absolute must-visit. It is a fantastic…read moreplace to taste your way through all kinds of foods from around the world. Their international selection is impressive, featuring everything from Spanish to Asian specialties, but there are two things you absolutely cannot leave without: ​The Phenomenal Cheeses: Their Gouda and overall cheese selection are out of this world. Rich, authentic, and high-quality. ​The European Gummies: I have been a certified gummy candy lover for 60 years, and I can confidently say that the European gummies they carry are better than any other gummy I have ever tasted. They are unmatched!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for the first time in at least a decade. I was immediately…read moregreeted by a man with a pony tail as I went directly to the deli counter. I waited for a while and received no assistance so I asked the guy for help. The man did not speak Dutch so I explained to him what I wanted (salami deli meat). I asked him for a pound of deli meat. I went to shop around the store and noticed the fridges were empty as were the isles. After a few minutes I came back to the deli counter and found my uncut piece of meat (in tube form) placed on the weigh scale? To my dismay I asked him if he was going to cut it with the pretty slicer machine near him? I mean that's how it used to work and how it works at any other deli meat counters. As the man cut the salami I continued to shop and picked up a jar of silver onions that looked brownish ( the onions inside the jar) and I thought well maybe they are supposed to look this way. Maybe they were a different type of onions. When I thought to look for an expiration date again to my dismay I observed that it had been expired since 2023. Unfortunately I purchased extra pedas chili which looked ok but when I got home I found out that it has been expired since 2018 (please see attached picture). This wasn't the worst of it though because we found a jar of something with leafy green bits that had been expired since 2013. Yes 2013! Bro! You think I should try the chili? You think I'll survive? This place has gone to the pits. Hopefully a health inspector straightens this place out. Furthermore when I got the salami back the slices looked as if my he deli meat cutter blade was very dull.

I spent a lot of time in the Netherlands while I was living in Germany for almost a decade. I have…read morea lot of Dutch friends that I texted immediately (with photos!) after I visited Holland International Market. This store is an authentic experience. Not only are the products Dutch (mostly), but they also have an extensive selection of Indonesian cooking products. Super authentic. The radio is tuned to a Dutch station for full ambiance. So many questions as to what that radio station was. I bought a coffee mug that had a "gezellig" joke on it. They had fun magnets with jokes about being Dutch on them. I also spotted an Anton Pieck birthday calendar while I was there. This store is so fun and if you are homesick for the Netherlands, this is your spot in Bellflower.

I visited here looking for snacks from Indonesia to buy as a gift for a friend. Maria was wonderful…read moreand generous with her time helping me identify everything in their store that was from Indonesia (versus their many goods from Holland). Everyone was lovely and the foods were reasonably priced. I look forward to visiting here every time I pass through on the same trip to see my Indonesian friend.

Padekwa This is a…read morereview for my experience at Padekwa. It is a coffee shop/creative studio. Padekwa is Haitian Creole for "You're welcome." Words to describe Padekwa: Positive vibes, Great spot to work/study, Relaxed, Artistic, Creative, Serene, Peaceful, Safe, spacious Location: It is located by Dollar Tree/7-11. There is plenty of parking because it's in a plaza. Drinks: I ordered their specialties-bananas foster latte and beignet cappuccino. Both served hot. They were delicious! I can taste the sweetness of the bananas and beignets, with the warm combo of the hot coffee. Way to go baristas! After sipping on the coffee nectar, it inspired me to get to work on my work projects. Food: I also tried their brownies and coffee cake. They were both generous slices and appetizing as well! Environment: I really love the aesthetics and atmosphere at Padekwa. You see the personal touches of family life and community. I also love the poem on the wall about art. Thank you for providing a wonderful home for people to create and share! If you need a cup of coffee, inspiration, and a place to work, I highly recommend visiting Padekwa!

First impression was amazing! I thought I was entering someone's home that's how cozy it feels…read more.. you walk in to an intimate nook with a library of books and plenty of seating in the front... they also have a boardroom/meeting room to brain storm ideas over coffee and treats with a team you might be working with... in addition to that they had ART EVERYWHERE! It was like a free art show with a cup of coffee and good vibes! They had art in the front area and the back lounge area! THEY CRANK THAT AC!!! So if you are looking to escape the heat grab a coffee and snack and chill awhile! The staff is sooooo friendly! I'm 99% sure this is family owned and by the looks of it all female owned as well. They take the name to pa'dekwa seriously cuz I felt very very welcomed! Now the coffee! I got the collagen crush!!! And DANG! That drink is super tasty especially knowing there is healthy benefits from it. I took the suggestion from the lady at the register and added a touch of hazelnut to make that "Nutella" flavor (THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION) Overall I WILL be back! When I'm treating myself to coffee solo or with friends this will be my top spot! I can't wait to "catch" their FISH FRY!! (They try at least once a month)

We've been coming to this market for decades! Love the small business feel to it, even after it's…read morebecome so popular. The salsas here are top notch. The meats are incredibly seasoned! The customer service is great. A great place to grab your local grocery needs!

Came here to grab some steaks for Father's Day and was so impressed! Not only is it a butcher shop,…read morebut it's a mini grocery store with all the essential and a restaurant inside. I grabbed a bunch of cuts of beef and they were so delicious. The butchers were great and the workers were attentive and extremely helpful. Great spot!

I am so bummed out that they have permanently closed down this location…read more Another great eatery gone!! Support your Local Eateries, share them and let others know of the hidden gems they may be driving by and not checking out or the spots they didn't know existed!!!! RIP S&F Social Eatery

I have been dying to try this place for a while, but could never convince my husband to take me. As…read moreluck would have it, we went to a concert over the weekend and decided to find food somewhere between the venue and our house on our way back home. The food did NOT disappoint!! The dining room was pretty empty but I was eyeballing the patio section (cuz I WILL be coming back)! I didn't realize it was counter ordering, (which sometimes gives me a sense of pressure cuz I like to take my time reviewing every item on the menu first), but luckily there were folks in front of us and nobody behind us (so I had a little time). I ordered the brisket grilled cheese and waffle fries, while my husband had the Nashville hot chicken fries. They had a BOGO deal on beer (he approved of the Mexican Lager) and I had the strawberry lemonade. Everything was amazing and the workers were really nice. We'll be back!!

I normally don't leave negative reviews, but I wanted to share my experience…read more I placed my order in advance and picked it up on Saturday. I specifically ordered a mix of carnitas, buche, and cueritos. When I got home, I realized my order only contained carnitas. On Sunday, I called the restaurant to let them know what had happened. I wasn't calling to argue I simply wanted to inform them that my order had not been prepared correctly and to understand how situations like this are usually handled. Unfortunately, the owner was very disrespectful throughout the conversation. Instead of listening or trying to resolve the issue, he repeatedly asked, "What do you want me to do?" When I calmly asked what their usual process was for handling order mistakes, he became even ruder and ultimately hung up on me. Everyone makes mistakes, and I understand that. What disappointed me was not the incorrect order, but the lack of professionalism and respect when I tried to address the issue. Customer service is just as important as the food, and based on this experience, I cannot recommend this business.

The ranchera preparada (marinated carne asada) is very good. I also got some green salsa which was…read moreexcellent. The staff was very helpful and attentive. Thank you.

Just want to say we had a great experience, bought tons of candy for our school from Candy…read moreKravings. They were very helpful, helped with the purchase, gave us a great variety. Would definitely recommend for all of your party needs or school needs or any fundraising. They have a great variety. Thank you so much for your help.

Needed specific candy (gummy bear flavor) for an engagement party. They didn't have it when I went…read moreinto store but gentleman there told me they'd have it for me within a week. As promised they got it. What more can you ask for? Saved me a trip to DTLA. That's worth 10 stars. Place is clean and well organized. I'll be back for my candy needs.