When my family is having an event- we go here for the Special Occasion Meat. Thanksgiving smoked…read moreturkey? It's the perfect consistency and flavor- I could focus on this instead of drinking heavily to drown out my family's opinions about RFK Jr during our feast. Mother's Day Bratwurst cookout? Select your type- they have Philly cheesesteak, Big Grove Beer battered, Korean short rib, creole, and mango habanero. All of them slap like a disgraced debutante whose promenade partner got fresh behind the ice sculpture. Driving to the East Side of Iowa city and simply want a top shelf Cuban Sandwich? Well tough shit for you, they don't have it on the top shelf; it's made fresh in front of your face. (In terms of quality though I will put that in a tip shelf). Finally, the staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The usual stereotype I have of a butcher is a really beefy and gruff dude with chronic meat sweats, who pals around with a baker and candlestick maker (why is that a job btw, that seems like a hobby at best). These guys don't look like that- giving me a lesson in stereotypes and judging books via their cover. As I chomp down on my deliciously spiced sausages, I realize that both my horizons and waistline have expanded. Finally, it is pronounced Toe-Ma's. Get that wrong and they will laugh at you, and you will deserve it.

This place is our favorite local neighborhood spot for grocery staples, lunch sandwiches in a pinch…read moreand awesome grill meats.

I wandered up here after work one day in hopes of finding something delicious and a bit out of the…read moreordinary. What I found was nothing short of extraordinary! The storefront is actually shared by two different businesses, big boy meats and the sausage foundry. They already serve up some awesome stuff at NewBo market, and this place is absolute icing on the cake. Very unassuming front, with a couple of meat cases showcasing some of the brilliance that's going on here. One case was filled with sausage and brats that they make on site here. From Toulouse all the way to duck fat hot dogs, they've got some amazing stuff that we have been totally psyched to try! Furthering the awesomeness, they have Scotch eggs for sale (which are delicious), as well as a giant freezer filled with all sorts of familiar and new meat options. I grabbed an array of hot dogs, some scotch eggs and a pound of ground EMU! They also sell whole ducks, whole rabbits, bison, bison bones, and tons of other carnivorous delights. The selection here is better than a lot of places we seen in major cities, and Papa does love his meats! The prices are very reasonable and the guys working here are super creative, looking for both different meat options as well as different creations. This place is a total home run for what was already an awesome market. If you like meat or know someone who likes me, you owe it to yourself to come check this place out - you'll be really glad you did!

DANG!..So much meat! This is my kind of meat shop…read more The selection is vast with offerings such as pork chops, lamb chops, bacon, meat sticks, hot dogs, brats, duck, rabbit, lamb bacon, beef and pork ribs, brisket, whole and half hogs, venison, bison. You name it they have it or can get it. All the meat is local and the shop owners can even tell you the farmers name and where it's located. Nothing better than knowing where your food comes from and helping the local farmers of Iowa. The menu is always changing and evolving. It just gets bigger and better! The meat is always fresh and great tasting. This is my go to meat shop and it should be yours to!

Outstanding selection of meats. Struggled finding something this nice coming from Texas, but the…read morecuts provided were top notch.

The place to go for Irish Bangers and other great brats and sausages…read more Quality meats at a real butcher shop. Friendly service.

This small market is now called LaReyna Market and is attached to the taco shop. I love to shop…read moretheir spice isle which offers spices is small quantities (sold in the cellophane bags). THE BEST thing about this market is that they sell pre seasoned versions of the meats offered at their taqueria so you can grill at home and impress your friends!!!!

For Christmas dinner, I purchased a beef tenderloin at the North Liberty Fareway. Was asked if I…read morewanted it trimmed up. Told them yes but leave some for flavor. They convinced me to clean it up and they'd put the scraps in a separate bag. Hmmm?...ok. I seasoned the loin and thought, what the heck and laid the scraps on top. OMG!!! That meat was the best ever. No need for a knife. Very little chewing. Made the best gravy. Everyone LOVED it!! Even the leftovers were as tender and moist as the first bite. Trust the folks behind the counter. They know what they are doing.

Great cuts of meat at decent prices. Occasionally they even have gyro meat! Staff is always…read morefriendly, and helpful. I just wish they had lamb. Never seen it here, ask for it frequently, and it will probably never be carried.

The dudes here are definitely on to something is there serving up some of the most bought meat and…read moreSausage we've ever had! They're housed in the same area as big boy Meats and they offer tons of different carnivorous options. The guys in the sausage Foundry specifically are obviously porcine Masters and it shows with the sorts of offerings they have. Their beer brats are solid and use beer from a local Brewery. Every week they have between 2 and 4 new varieties of brats. Most recently smoked sriracha, bacon and blue cheese and mushroom and Swiss graced our plates. It's really need to see how much pride these guys take in their work and how they are looking for new varieties and ways to push the envelope a little with something as simple as a sausage. This place and a big boy Meats or both places that you should check out and plan to come back on a regular basis. Also, try the Scotch eggs - they're legit!

A regular go to place for me. Delicious brats and a great selection of other meats. They have an…read moreever changing selection of specials that are interesting. I l9ve the maple bacon breakfast sausage and the bangers when they're available.

At first I was a little hesitant in switching up my grocery store routine, but here is what makes…read morethis market different from the others -- 1. Friendly face that greets you as you walk through their doors. Most Asian grocery stores do not care to interact with you, let alone smile at you. 2. Their goal of a "world fresh market" is to be able to provide whatever ingredients you are unable to find at other stores. I was approached by one of the employees and he offered to place an order for whatever I needed to make the meals i want. 3. They can slice up large meats for you. I had them slice pork belly into thin pieces so I did not have to chop it up myself at home. From what I see so far, everyone I have interacted at this market goes above and beyond to make your experience as good as possible. As with every new market, It starts off slow and without the large turnover of vegetables. Hopefully as business grows for them, they can start living up to the "fresh" part of their name. Kudos to them for trying to make a difference in the Coralville community. Providing fresh exotic fruits that are rarely seen in other stores and having fresh lobsters? It is extremely rare to have fresh seafood, let alone live ones as Iowa is no where near the coasts. I am excited to see what else the have planned for the future food wise :)

In terms of square footage, I believe this store is the biggest Asian market in Iowa City. To my…read moreknowledge, it is the only one that sometimes has fresh roast duck and (it is rumored) char siu! I only did one quick run through to check it out, but hope to come back soon!

Sam's is a family owned grocery store that has a lot to offer! It's a great place to stop for quick…read moregroceries or on your way out to the lake! They have a deli counter, Chester's Chicken, Produce, Dairy, Frozen Goods, live bait, a Walk-in beer cooler, and a decent liquor section. In the summer they have a nice greenhouse and are even a UPS drop off location! The staff is very polite and helpful, especially the owner Sam. He will go above and beyond to help any customer. I also love that they carry a lot of locally made products from baked goods to dairy products to brews! It's nice to see small local businesses supporting each other, it really instills a sense of community!

Always helpful, owner on site and helpful. I like the deli for a quick meal to go.. generally have…read morewhat you want for small town grocery!

John's Grocery is an IC institution…read more Let me elaborate... BOTH the family-owned business and the building it lives in are. The building is only TWO years YOUNGER than the state of Iowa, having been built in the 1840s. STOP. Let that sink in a minute. And its namesake, John, took over said old-as-you-know-what building in the 1940s. WOWZA. That's some IC history right there folks. The beer room is sexy as hell. (Selection, selection, selection!) The grocery store itself is reasonably priced, available for online ordering and even boasts curbside pickup. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Parking is... well... not the best but doable. Plus, Northside's Oktoberfest is rad. (Which John's has a heavy hand in.) I recently had a party and needed beer. John's is communicative, upfront, professional and everything you could in a vendor. Doug, the grandson of John and the GM, personally dropped off all the items to my venue. He set it up, too. If you haven't been to John's, go. If you need a keg, call them. Period. End of stoy.

This place is great for craft beer. Both the selection (beers from around the US and outside the…read moreUS) and service. Jack was awesome in helping me track down some specific beers I was looking for. They also sell many (most?) of their beers as singles for beer nerds like me that want to try a lot of different beers and breweries but not have to get a 4 or 6 pack. Small but well stocked and easy access from anywhere in Iowa City.

BEST MEXICAN IN CORALVILLE!! I'm from california and have been struggling to find authentic mexican…read morefood in Iowa but finally hit the jackpot. Al pastor was delicious, guacamole was so fresh and creamy, and all the salsas were amazing but the lite green was my personal favorite. It is also a family rum business which I love. I will be back and bring all my family and friends.

To go order with the main mission of trying some Chicharrones. They serve them on weekends so keep…read morean eye on their social media for reminders. My spouse picked up the food and we ordered extra for leftovers. The Chicharrones are tasty with the skin extra extra crispy and the meat chunks were tasty with some smaller chunks drier but overall would order them again. The guacamole super good in general and goes well with the chicharrones. We ordered tamales which we are saving for tomorrow. The choripollo and chile relleno were good. Lots of other items to try that look delish.