The butter chicken they serve has bones in it and sometimes the creamy sauce btastes like cheese, which indicates that the milk ingrediants have curdled or spoiled. I came into find some spices and ingredients for some Middle Eastern recipes and when I asked one of the staff he told me that they don't carry 'Eay-rab' food and I saw some products and the spices I need on the shelf right behind the goof. Also as I left I heard some of the staff speaking in their language, Greek I suspect and they laughed when looking at me and I wondered what 'Mallaca'; means. Is Mallaca (spelled right? I don't know) a good thing or a bad thing? read more

Don't get there an hour before closing. There's not much nice food left. This place is so much fun. Eating is just a small but final part of the experience. A fitting part of Greek town. read more

2 words: chicken shawarma, you won't regret it! It's made to order with a checklist of your choice of protein, then you choose how much or how little veggies / fillings from parsley to tomatoes and choice of sauces customized to your preference, the chicken is grilled, delicious! It's under $11, you're welcome. read more

This place is a really neat place to grab lunch for around 10-$12. If you go to the counter you can have a donair fully loaded with fries inside for about $12. The staff were friendly and service was prompt. This grocery store stocked a lot of the best of Europe and especially Greece! Do expect to pay up for the quality. Cozy lunch table and European supermarket vibe. read more

Parthenon Market - The wraps are inexpensive and absolutely wonderful - International Grocery Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Pastries were sooo good. I love everything they have especially the rice pudding. Not expensive either.

Nice place with good service. Prices are a tad higher but their overhead must be pricey. Was asked if I needed assistance and given suggestions for dishes. Nice touch! Has a nice array of olives, the Tangerine spicy ones were amazing with a Spanish evening of Seafood Paella and Manchego cheeses. They have a nice hot food corner too! read more

I've always been intrigued by this market and I finally checked it out today. I'm leaving town for a while tomorrow so I didn't want to buy any groceries (although the fresh pitas looked really good), so I'm just reviewing the deli section. They have some sandwiches, moussaka, salads, dips, made-to-order pita wraps, and desserts (pastries and puddings). They also seem to have coffee and tea, but I didn't see a menu anywhere so I just went with the Strawberry Iced Tea that I saw in a cooler by the register. I wanted to use my personal cup, but I was told they don't accept personal cups "for safety", but they were able to put the tea in one of their house water cups. They don't have house cups available for hot drinks, though, so it's upsetting to me that they don't take personal cups. I also wish they had small paper bags for takeout, I saw them giving another customer a plastic bag (that looked like it was meant as deli packaging) for their takeout containers which we are definitely not supposed to do with the plastic bag ban! I got a Falafel Pita and a Milfe (layered pastry like a Napoleon). The pita took a long while and I'm not sure why. I saw the person who took my order heat the pita and then pile a bunch of toppings on it, and then stand in front of it, seemingly not doing anything, leave to do something else, then come back and seemingly just stare at it for a while again. Eventually another worker came and finished it. I'm sure there was a reason for what he was doing but it was a little frustrating to watch, especially since other people who ordered after me and were helped by a different staff members got their pitas much faster. The pita was still warm when I got it, so I guess it's not a big deal. It was super messy because the pita wasn't really big enough for all the filling and they were heavy-handed with the sauce, but it was delicious. I loved the thick and fluffy pita. One of the dips I chose (you can choose 2) was their "God's Dip" which lived up to the name. I can't remember exactly what was in it but I think it was basically a creamy red pepper dip. A little smoky and spicy, a little sweet. They also do a very good tzatziki and decent falafel. The Milfe was also very good but difficult to eat because the pastry layers didn't flake apart easily, especially the bottom layer. I loved the thick pastry cream though. The pastry was still crisp so it seemed like it was relatively freshly made. The iced tea was very refreshing and not sweet, which was preferable for me. The deli prices are very good value - $8.95 for the wrap, and $2.95 each for the milfe and iced tea. The quality was just as good as anything you'd get at donair or pastry shops that sell similar items for a lot more - it's definitely one of the best meals you can get in the neighbourhood for the price. I plan on coming back to try their veg sandwich or a pita with different spreads, and to grab some pitas to take home! read more

Parthenon Market - Falafel Pita Wrap, Milfe, Strawberry Iced Tea - International Grocery Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Its an interesting supermarket that sells goods from oversea. Mostly from the mediterranean. You can find things that you don't normally find else where. It has lots of variety in terms of cheese. They also have sandwiches. Nice and fresh. this place is busy but not exordinary busy. The bus stop is right in front. Have to say its located in a good location. When you walk in you will be able to smell the mediterranean spicies smell. But the things inside are not cheap and is quite expensive. Some items that you can find elsewhere will be more expensive at Parthenon. read more

You know, I have been coming to parthenon supermarket since I was a baby. They opened the same year I was born. They give away their lovely black parthenon shopping bags when you purchase $50 or over of merchandise. Of all the years I have spent at this store, my total today was $49.71 and tge cashier refused to give me a black parthenon supermarket bag. In this day and age, is the $,30 THAT important to you to disappoint a long standing customer? I don't think so. It made me very sad today. read more

Best take-out moussaka trays- delicious and affordable- honestly why cook? You have to order ahead and give extra time for pick up because they're pretty busy. 5 stars for moussaka! read more

Get ride of that annoying woman greeter at the front door of the store. I don't need her giving a lecture on COVID everytime I go in to buy a hunk of cheese. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place already. AMAZING. If you like Greek food, stop buying it at your local grocery store and come straight to the source! Basically anything you can order in a Greek restaurant you can buy here. They have the best tzatziki I've ever tried! Great selection of dips, cheeses, meats, desserts and other delicious items. read more

Parthenon Market - Butters & Spreads - International Grocery Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I only have positive memories of this place as both being fun to shop in, and getting products I feel are sort of specialized but still within my repetoire to cook with. Greek focused but probably more "mediterranen" the shelf itesm and deli alike are worth a visit as much for the experience as for the products. We make this a regular stop in Kits along with Young Brothers and the Dan-d-pak store. read more

Check the items before you buy. MAKE SURE NO ONE OPENED IT BEFORE! My Taramasalata (fish eggs spread) that comes in a small jar by Kronos (?) was already opened(no vacuums seal, and a corner was moldy. Who does this sort of thing? Disrespecting assholes who dont give a shit. I hope they get food poisoning. This ruined my dinner entré. But overall i like this market. The home made stuff is great and lamb souvlaky great value for the money. The lamb shank meal is also delicious. Pre-check your items!! read more

For overall ambience, products, service and value. Oh Amex too ;) Totally stumbled upon this as though it is rare for me to here instead of 4th Ave. Looks a lot bigger than fr the outside. Left side is the main bulk of retail, like $10 extra virgin olive oil for just 500ml, and the deli for meats, cheeses and tons of olives! Right side is where all the action is, a big lunch rush that already occupied about 6 small round tables, kinda like a market :) Ppl lining up to put in their order for soups and sandwiches. But the biggest baklavas I've ever laid my eyes on: an easy repeat so after engulfing one on the spot, I ordered one to go; and then some hehe. Also ordered the walnut cake and vanilla custard which just looked so so fluffy and sexy ;) Friendly service as she let me sample this custard. read more

Parthenon Market - International Grocery Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Wow. First time back since the renovation. Chicken wrap at the deli was great. From the service, to the new layout and design, to the prices, everything was top notch. Great fixture in the neighbourhood!! read more

Really disappointed to see that they are selling FROZEN bread and passing it off as fresh! Buyer beware. I really expected more from them.

The place is my favorite place to buy Greek products however, I am really upset about the quality control and the responsibility of the store manager. For weeks now, this product shown on the foto and sold by the store is all wet and full of mold. I was totally embarrassed to buy couple of them couple weeks ago, give them as gift to friends and find out that they were disgusted by the mold when they opened them. To check for myself, I went twice to the store and sure enough, this problem persists. This is unacceptable and a health hazard! read more

Parthenon Market - wet cookies full of mould that have been on sale for over a month now - International Grocery Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The closest grocery store for me to get Mediterranean goods without going into East Van to Bosa or Santa Barbara Market. Their selection is not bad for the stuff I want, but it is a bit limited when I compare it to the stores mentioned above. Smoked mozzarella is what I get when I am in a pinch, and I usually walk here. read more

The saddest, mushiest, tasteless cucumber wept in it's own cucumber tears. The tomatoes moaned, groaned before submitting to their fate. The onions stood guard with overpowering flavour... the only flavour. The feta felt sabotaged: "this never happens when I'm thrown into a Greek salad in someone's kitchen," it couldn't help but think. Why kitchen gods, why? With amazing feta and olives, spices and olive oil at your disposal would you allow them to make such a terrible Greek Salad? Why all of this horror on my Monday afternoon lunch. Salad soap operas aside, Parthenon has taught me a huge lesson: Don't be lazy. Buy my own feta, olives and proper produce and make my own Greek Salad. read more

This place is the best small market on West Broadway, and quite possibly Vancouver. If you're looking for any fine cheeses, deli meats or olives, I seriously doubt if you could find better value. I remember when I first moved to Vancouver five years ago I bought some medium gouda cheese at Capers for something like $35/kg, and later stumbled upon Parthenon which was selling aged gouda for around $22/kg, and really, my mind still marvels at the markup I paid for a lesser cheese from Capers. I don't know the price difference now but I do know that the aged gouda at Parthenon is still under $30/kg, and undoubtedly still a better value. My only complaint about this place is that their garlic stuffed olives are soooo good and such a good deal that they often have stock outs, which makes me want to cry tears of infinite sadness. read more

A taste of Greece in the heart of Kits. The Parthenon offers a wicked selection of cheeses (can you say Feta?!?!), hams, olives, olive oils and Greek pastries (mmmmmbaklava!!!!). They also make their own spreads in house (make sure you try their tzatziki and pesto hummus, just to name a few). The prices are fairly reasonable and if you have the time, feel free to sit down in their makeshift cafe area to enjoy a nibble of your purchase and a bit of conversation. Overall, a definite MUST if you 're in the hood. read more

Great deals on amazing food. It's almost hard to believe how cheap they're selling such good products - a giant, stuffed-to-the-brim container full of top quality olives will set you back around $6! I've paid twice that for awful olives at chain grocery stores. Also, check out the Halva located near the cash; it's so good I swear they put an addictive substance in it that makes you crave it fort-nightly. They've also got tons of preserves, oils, vinegars, sauces, etc. that are difficult to find elsewhere. A decent dried goods and bulk section rounds out the place, with a great selection of dried beans and lentils. The only negative experience I've had here was one of the deli staff got snarky when I didn't specify what type of feta I wanted when I ordered - forgive me if I don't know your current stock of cheeses. In contrast, the rest of the staff were quite nice. All in all, one of my go-to places for excellent groceries. read more

This is my first visit post-fire (their 3rd fire I think) to Parthenon. The store looks a little more upscale than it did pre-fire but the breadth of merchandise appears to have remained the same. They continue to have a nice variety of all things needed to prepare a nice mediterranean meal, I especially like their selection of packaged spices along the east wall - really good value. What I do have an issue with is the freshness of their cheeses and cold cuts. Although reasonably priced, unless I plan to use them immediately they turn bad far faster than those purchased elsewhere. It is definitely a fun store to walk down every aisle and check out all of the interesting products. read more

Parthenon is my local source for 3-L cans of olive oil and loose chamomile tea. The latter they sell in bulk for about $3 per package--a way better deal than individual tea bags. There are lots of other options here, a bulk selection and an extensive deli. The store fills up quickly on weekends so be sure to prepare yourself for claustrophobic aisles or plan to visit on a weekday. Parthenon Importers is one of the many local businesses that reflect the strong history of Vancouver's Greektown. read more

When I stop into this market/deli, it's usually for a quick bite to hold me 'til dinner. The counter staff in the deli never gives me that "ohmygod-c'monhurryup" look when I explain my food allergies. I always get just what I need and it's always fresh and tasty. I really like the Greek gift area too. You can easily combine a lovely hand crafted dish or mug with some Tea's for a nice presentation. Or assemble a gift basket of Olive Oil and Balsamic with...? (-a dipping dish maybe?) Really it's up to your imagination. read more

I've been to all kinds of specialty stores in Vancouver and this is one of my favorites. It's bright, clean, and organized. They stock all kinds of Mediterranean specialties like flower waters, halvah, nuts, beans, rice, pasta, grape leaves, lots of olives, many varieties of cheeses, olive oils, deli meats, candies, breads, etc. They also carry really hard to find ingredients such as quail eggs and (gasp!) frozen artichoke bottoms, which interestingly enough are nearly unheard of in Vancouver. The prices are reasonable. The cheese I purchased was a bit on the pricey side but honestly it's hard to find good, low-priced cheese anywhere, especially if it's an unusual variety. I found browsing this store to be very pleasant. If you like to cook, you should definitely check it out, because it may be a very valuable ingredient source for you. read more

Update: - May 11/16 - great friendly service today! :-) - Oct 8/16 - and again today. Good job. -------------------- I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Parthenon. The food at the deli is fantastic(!), and I would eat there several times a week if my metabolism allowed it. I'll include a list of my favorites at the end - you may never cook again. Unfortunately, this great food comes paired with some pretty bad customer service. After two years, I certainly don't go in expecting prompt, friendly service with a smile. I can't speak for all of the staff of course, but the experience my spouse and I have (and see others having) is bad enough consistently enough that we often settle for other options when craving our Parthenon favorites. I hope the owners take some action to step up their game we really would like to support this otherwise-awesome business. That said, here's a few of our favorites. Remember - with great Greek food comes great responsibility - domathes - God's Dip*** - pesto hummous*** - pressed greek yoghurt (oh my god!) - tzatziki (made with that awesome pressed greek yoghurt) - Italian prosciutto - dill havarti - castelvetrana olives - kalamata olives - goat feta*** .... and Turkish coffee pots! read more

Hello, people! The Parthenon is very definitely NOT closed! It simply moved across the street to 3089 West Broadway into a new and larger location. Whoever walked by the closed old shop and didn't notice signs in the window or the lovely new shop directly across Broadway at Balaclava is sleep-walking! read more

I love this place! Best Greek market in the city with homemade treats to boot. They have a more than decent selection of meats, cheeses, olives and other Greek specialities. If you are a serious garlic lover get their Tzatziki - it's yogerty goodness jam packed with a spectacular garlicky burn. They have a decent selection of olives too that won't cost a fortune for a generous tub - I always get their Sicilian Oiives, spicy, briny and just delicious. You can also sit and enjoy their hot food offerings. Authentic Spanikopita where the filo is light and crispy. YUM! The employees are also super nice and helpful and are always more than happy to let you try and sample their goods before you buy. I shopped here a few days ago and I'm still digging into my stash of goodies. In fact I haven't had to leave the house yet as I'm still bathing in my tub of Tzatziki. Hmmm...dunno how useful this tidbit of info is for you, but there ya go. read more

The Parthenon has moved into a swanky building across the street from their old digs. So disappointed - more gentrification in the neighbourhood. Prices seem to have gone up. Staff is still 'nice' - new owner etc. Not the man and his wife who had worked very hard for such a long time. Have lived in this neighbourhood for more than 30 years. Loved the first Parthenon (a few blocks east) too but that went the way of the dinosaur. This new one - next to yet another Starbucks (owned now by Nestle who is stealing our water...) well, guess it couldn't be helped as that side of the street will be torn down to make more new stuff. Such a shame that this city has such little regard for history. It's all about money and development. read more

There are a lot of little grocery stores in the lower mainland that offer specialty/unique food items. Parthenon is one of these stores that does Greek and Mediterranean inspired food items the best in Vancouver. Located on Broadway in the heart of Kits, Parthenon Supermarket is a one stop shop for a large variety of spices, olives, oils, vinegars, pastas and more. Not only does Parthenon Supermarket have a large variety of such items, but they are very reasonably priced, being usually several dollars cheaper than traditional big chain grocery stores (i.e. Save-on, Safeway, etc) or other larger grocery stores (i.e. Choices, Whole Foods, etc.). What originally brought me to Parthenon Supermarket and it's kept me coming back again and again is their spices. For usually less than $2 you can get small packages of standard and organic spices. For example, you can get whole nutmeg (not pre-ground) in a pack of 5 or 6 for about a dollar, or 20 star anise for about 50 cents. For comparison, the same items at Whole Food cost $5 and $8.50 respectively. What has been a draw for many of my friends is Parthenon's feta and olives. In a deli format, you can browse all their different bricks of feta, and marinating or stuffed olives. For olives, for less than $7, you'll walk away with a large container of top quality goods. Just like the spices, a container the same size as a larger grocery store will cost two to three times as much. Although it was not my intention, many times I've been enticed by their fresh breads (especially focaccia) and high end olive oils that are cheap and incredibly flavourful. If you have a car and are concerned about a place to park in Kits or that the cost of parking in Kits will off set any savings you may obtain, there's no need to worry as there are several free parking spots in a private lot right behind the Parthenon Supermarket reserved for the store. Parthenon Supermarket is a great place to go for all food things Greek and Mediterranean. Not only do they have a huge variety of items, but they are great quality and priced better than almost anywhere else in the lower mainland. I highly recommend this as a store to check out. read more

Decent place for your ''imported'' products. Make sure to check the due dates on EVERYTHING you buy. They have a pretty good selection of olives and feta chesse, that's what I usually purchase when I go to Parthenon Importers. I find it a bit pricey and there's a couple of other stores that sell the same products for a bit less. read more

Great place to shop. Excellent Greek food and pastries. The staff is not very friendly, and not eager to help. I waited at the cheese counter for 10 minutes while staff were talking, then finally was approached when they were done talking. read more

I like the selection of items, but stars off for 2 items... 1. The stuff they have on the deli counter, I am short and so are a lot of the staff and I am quite often ignored when waiting for service at the deli counter. I don't think they need that much stuff up there. 2. Some staff members could learn to smile, some are great but some are just plain surly. read more

My first visit to the Parthenon supermarket was not that great. I was needing help in finding a certain product, but when I tried to get the attention of some of the staff, they basically pretended like they didn't hear or see me. It wasn't busy either at this time either. I ended up finding the product after a while on my own. This first visit was a little discouraging for me to go back in future, but seeing as how I live quite close to this supermarket, I thought I'd give it another chance. Fair enough, my second visit was much better. I was greeted by the deli counter staff, and was asked if I needed help with finding anything. They were very helpful. They also have a fine selection of Mediterranean meats, cheeses, olives treats, and fresh made ready to eat food. There's also a small sitting area where you can sit and have a bite to eat. I'm definitely going to be a regular. read more

Just called Parthenon to find out the grocery is opened for business after that arson in late 2010. Thank God, I can get our Rega, a dried type herring, no other store in town has it. Efthapisto !!! read more

Used to go here more when I lived in Kits, but when I get a chance, I still pop in for feta and olives and sometimes cold cuts, cheese, and spices. They are much cheaper for all the above mentioned items, than most other places I have been too. I love loading up on multiple types of olives, which is possible due to the prices. read more

If you're having guests over for drinks, poker, games night then stop here and stock up on some goodies. I always get a variety of their Olives, Feta (ask for it packed in the brine), haloumi cheese, and do not forget the God's Dip. read more

If you like garlic then the pesto hummous is for you; addictively delish! The deli meats always seem fresh & it's hard to beat their prices. They have a solid backlava! The only downside to the Parthenon is the staff aren't always that friendly. "They don't suffer fools" and aren't usually that happy when you ask for the luncheon meat to be shaved...sometimes I think they just pretend not to hear the "Shaved" request. read more