Homewood’s ethnic markets: Mediterranean Food Market

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Mediterranean Food Mart

Mediterranean Food Market on Green Springs Hwy. Photo by Intisar Seraaj-Sabree.

Food can lift one’s spirits, take your taste buds to an unexplored place and make you feel at home. As an ethnically diverse city, Homewood offers several alternatives to chain grocery stores, giving customers a chance to internationally enhance their taste buds

Best known for their halaal meats — or Islam’s standard of kosher — Mediterranean Food Market is well-known in the local Muslim community for providing well-cleaned meats since it opened 15 years ago.

“[The store] targets the ‘eat clean’ movement,” said 24-year-old Muhammad Mubarak, the store’s butcher. “When people try to eat healthier, you see an increase in this kind of thing.”

Although Mubarak describes the store as “one of Birmingham’s best-kept secrets,” it has plenty of non-Muslim customers.

“People come in unexpectedly,” he said.

In addition to halaal meat, this market offers sweets from Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, olive oil from Palestine, fresh produce and hookahs.

“Be prepared to be surprised,” Mubarak said.

What it offers: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern

In their own words: “It’s like bringing back the taste of home for international people.”

Best-selling item: halaal meat

Unique items: lamb tongues, seasonal lamb’s head and goat

See other Homewood ethnic grocery stores: