Located in Rahway, Universal Food Markets is one of the 10 chain supermarkets in northern NJ. This renovated establishment has a wide selection of international products, especially from Hispanic countries, as well as American products, and sells hot prepared foods for breakfast and lunch to take out. I've frequented this place in the past and decided on lunch today. There is no menu, so the food varies daily. Today they had empanadas, sandwiches, salads, pupusas, rice, and soup. I opted for pernil (pork), plantains, and salad. The food was made fresh but needed some seasoning on the pork. Their interior was well lit, clean, well-stocked, and organized. However, the prices are not cheap. I can recommend this place. read more

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I can't thank this spot for being here. My hubby's drop off was next door at 7am. Their parking lot is huge and we parked overnight. We got up at every hour starting at 4. 4am,5am and 6am thinking the manager was going to tell us to move. Never did happen. We stayed till 7:15am in the Parking lot but on the side. After we moved the truck next door, we came back over to buy couple things, pack of Arizona green tea and wafers. Workers are nice and there isn't no foul smell walking into the store. Overall store is neat, stock and clean. Big bonus: Restroom in store Thank you Universal Meat Market! read more

Universal Meat Supermarket - a woman shopping in a grocery store - Grocery Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

We'll keep it nice & short. This supermarket is down the street from us so it's very accessible. It's great for last minute runs & stops. However, its not convenient at all as it's supposed to be "Universal" yet there is a huge lack of universal items here. The biggest issue for us is that they are way too OVERPRICED in comparison to other supermarkets in the area. Rather go to Super Fresh, Shop Rite, or Wal-Mart. Not a supermarket we recommend to anyone in the area. read more

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If you wanna buy expired items here's the place to go!! Got franks hot sauce from here. Mold all over it! smells rotten! They scratch off the expiration date on them so you won't know! The bottle is covered in dust like the rest of their items! Beware! All expired!!! read more

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DO NOT BUY FISH HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS ON SALE! THE GUY DROPPED A FISH AND PUT IT BACK IN THE BUCKET. Ive seen hotdogs growing mold on display! They are overly priced, i normally get the things that i wont find in other markets around me. Im going back to my old fish market though. I bought fish here and the inside was brown, edges were kind of dry. And of course if you know how to cook, you'll tell from the eyes when a fish isnt fresh. Shame on them for selling bad fish! Im calling the health dept! read more

Universal Meat Supermarket - Brown on the inside! I had to throw it out!! - Grocery Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

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If I could give less than one star I would I bought 5 lbs of boneless chicken breast. The amount of fat, tendons, and bone fragments were ridiculous. $4.99 a lb I expect the chicken to be a better quality. Don't waste your time or money!! read more

Never had an issue shopping hear! Short lines .. they serve great ceviche in the back of the place always fresh . Just cash only for that part! They have lots of exotic fruits and a variety of foods from other countries which are cool! Checkout is fast ! Lots of parking out front ! read more

Personally, my shopping experience here is always great. They always have what I need and they're so close to home it's excellent for emergency pickups. Asiles are always clean, organized and fully stocked shelves, staff is very very helpful. Prices are ok, they run about the same locally. The only negative I would have to comment about this place is the smell .. the butcher area REEKS! The smell is so foul it passes right through your mask. I've been to a few of these supermarkets and I'll tell you I've never smelled something this bad. read more

Be careful shopping here! They sold expired Kraft Mac and cheese and tried to replace the best use by date with there own stickers! read more

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They have my favorite kind of arepas so I go there all the time. I find a good variety of latin products, like Vancamps tuna, Ive never had an issue. read more

Universal Meat Supermarket - Arepas - Grocery Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

The supermarket looks clean and spacious but the meat department and produce doesn't seem to look so fresh maybe i just went there on a bad day price are not to pocket friendly read more

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When I go I never have an issue. They always have what I need or want. They even have aloe water which is a little hard to find, and I love aloe water. I don't see a problem with this supermarket. read more

When I first going to the Universal Meat Market back in the early 2000's, I thought it was a little pricey, but as the other reviewer said, it has all the Latin American imported foods, and it was convenient, so I overlooked the cons, and shopped there twice a month. However, a few years ago, the supermarket was sold and a new management took over, and I was not impressed with the changes. The smell in the store is atrocious, the food is sold regardless of it being past its expiration date, and the customer service is nonexistent. I decided that I would not go back, and now I travel to Twin City in Elizabeth to stock up on all of my necessities. It is a much longer drive, but it is worth it. I went to the Universal Meat Market today, against my better judgment, and once again, I am convinced that I made the right decision by not giving them my business any longer. The place is D - I - R - T - Y!!!! The overpowering bad smell hit me as soon as I walked in the door. I had my little girl with me, and she almost threw up! The place is disgusting, it is overwhelmingly overpriced, and the customer service is horrible. Universal Meat Market no more!!! read more

Good prices for certain things but it's mostly overpriced. I understand you can get things here that you can't get at most places but still... It's pretty pricey here. The meat department smells so bad that I cover my nose and would never consider buying meat there. Customer service is crappy and it's hard to find things here. It's not that clean either. read more

As a Mexican from California, It is very hard for me to find the products I need to make comfort food from back home. This Mercado has all the Latin American foods and imported I can get my specific brand of chorizo there as well as a great selection of pastries. The produce department has many hard to find items such as fresh yucca, sour oranges, fresh oregano and fresh epazote. True, the staff are not too friendly to the non Latino customers, but they are not rude. The prices on all fresh and imported products are really quite affordable and I go there at least twice a month to restock on all my goodies. read more

There prices are high compared to other meat markets. However you will find what you need to cook your Caribbean pot

my dad's been taking me here ever since i was a little kid to buy hispanic cookies. i do look forward to coming here and a majority of the employees are okay. the smell, though, is horrible. you always get a whiff of that rotten fish that never goes away. even with the mask now, due to corona, you still get that icky smell that makes your stomach sick. some of their fruits were rotten and the bread spoils a day or two after purchasing which sucks. most of the time, it's not even fresh. also, i've never purchased meat or fish here but i wouldn't recommend it. it doesn't look all that great and don't really want somebody to get salmonella :) read more

I was a frequent shop until I had an issue with a cashier. I was.next and had my stuff on the belt and the lady told me that she was closed . I decided to talk to the manager who then told me that they have enough customers and don't care if I shop somewhere else. To my face too....am so gone. I will now shop at the new spanish place in St georges ave. read more