🇦🇫 Albany’s global grocery aisle has a new star: Afghan Int'l Market

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Hey 518 readers! We’re heading to downtown Troy tomorrow night for the next 518 Dinner Club, generously sponsored by Bootlegger’s on Broadway. If you love to light one up, check out their Cigar Night on Saturday.

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🛒 Today, we’re taking you to Central Avenue, where Afghan International Market is bringing fresh-baked naan, quality halal meats, hard-to-find spices, and a seriously prestine shopping experience to Albany’s growing global grocery scene.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

🇦🇫 Albany’s global grocery aisle has a new star

Tucked behind a sad looking Family Dollar store is a wonderful new addition to the cluster of ethnic markets dotting Albany’s Central Avenue.

Afghan International Market is where you go if you’re looking for premium halal meat like lamb or beef, high-quality basmati rice and lentils, whole spices, and ingredients for qabuli pulao (Afghanistan’s famous rice dish) or mantu (steamed dumplings filled with seasoned meat and topped with tomato sauce or yogurt and lentil). 

Stepping into this compact store, we couldn’t help noticing one thing—dang, it’s so clean in here! As much as we love ethnic grocers, they aren’t always the most pleasant places to shop. The shelves can be grimy and there might be bugs swarming the produce (more on this later). 

Opened a few months ago by several young Afghan Americans, Afghan International Market will defy your expectations. Everything is neatly shelved. The meat and produce look fresh. The floors are bright and clean. And it smells like fresh bread.

That’s because everyone comes here for their traditional Afghan bread (or naan), made fresh inhouse every day. It comes in a huge round that’s as big as a hubcap. For $3.

We got two rounds for six bucks. The bread has a pleasant chewiness and a yeasty, fermented aroma. Toasted and stuffed with olives, hummus, cucumbers, and grilled kebabs, it would make for some bomb sandwiches.

The market is also known for its selection of spices that would be hard to find in a regular grocery, like whole turmeric and basil seed. And don’t sleep on their small but mighty bulk section with ingredients like golden raisins and dried chickpeas.

But before you go, be sure to head to the back of the store. That’s where they keep the Persian rugs for sale! A 4 meter squared carpet (about 43 square feet) will run you $160.

The market’s only drawback is the tiny produce section. That’s intentional, says owner Farhad Safi, who runs the store with his cousins.

“Fresh produce goes bad quickly,” he says. “We only want to offer high quality stuff. The produce will spoil before we can sell it so the selection is limited right now.”

Contrast this with Farmer’s India Market, which we visited on the same day. Also located on Central Avenue (about 5.5 miles away), this grocer has a much bigger produce section with some good deals (3 cartons of strawberries for $3). But we noticed that a lot of the fruits and vegetables were past their prime. Most of the raspberries had mold, and there were swarms of fruit flies in the store.

We did walk away with two 12 oz cartons of blackberries for just $3, and a bag of dark chocolate-covered dates. Yum!

Catering to the Indian American consumer, Farmer’s India Market is huge for an ethnic grocer. It probably has the largest selection of fresh mangoes anywhere in the Capital Region. And we lost count of the different varieties of basmati rice alone.

Neither of these stores will replace your Market32 or Hannaford. But Afghan International Market will draw us back with that bread. There’s also something called the “Afghan burger” on the menu.

“It’s not really a burger,” Farhad admits. “That’s just what we call it for non-Afghans. It’s got a lot of other stuff in it. It’s really good. You should try it.”

Next time, my friend!

Afghan International Market, 484 Central Ave, Albany (behind the Family Dollar Store). Check out their latest items on their Instagram.

Farmer’s India Market, 1814 Central Ave, Albany. Follow their Instagram for the latest.

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🐎 This is tragic. A barn fire in Saratoga this morning killed at least 17 horses. [WAMC]

☕️ Collar City Coffee is opening on July 1 in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood, in the plaza at 7 Northern Drive. The cafe features drip coffee (but not espresso drinks), breakfast sammies, omelettes, and pastries. [News10] Don’t miss: Coffee culture in the Capital Region is hotter than ever

👕 Goodwill is opening its third Capital Region location in Clifton Park, at the Village Plaza. [Albany Business Review]

🍺 Fidens is moving closer to opening a location in Malta, thanks to $13.6 million in tax breaks. [Albany Business Review]

🍸️ From the owner of ROCKS and Just a Bar in Albany comes a seasonal bar concept called Hudson Shores Tavern, opening Fourth of July weekend in Watervliet. [Times Union]

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Note: The 518 Weekender now publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes! 

SUMMER FUN

👩‍🌾 Good Friend Ecological Gardens kicks off the summer season with tours of their lush learning garden. Grab a stunning fresh-picked bouquet from the flower shop. Come see why we featured this Nisky gardener who creates beauty with purpose.

👩‍🎨 Artist and educator Allison Debritz is now offering one-on-one mentoring for early-career artists looking for individualized guidance on your work, career, applications, or MFA programs. Contact [email protected].

WEDNESDAY

🎻 Sam Torres and Sophia Subbayya Vastek, the folks behind the fabulous Troy Listening Room, bring the Blue Ranger | Lift Series to the Troy Music Hall. At these shows, the audience is invited to be seated on stage with the musicians, creating an intimate concert experience.

🎷 The Capital Jazz Collective plays Dove+Deer.

🍕 We’re excited for this one! Wood Fired Wagon is throwing its launch party at Nine Pin.

THURSDAY

🎸 It’s Afrobeats Night at Alive at Five, featuring B.o.B. At Tricentennial Park.

👕 Get rid of the old and bring in something new (to you) at the Summer Clothing Swap, hosted by Nine Pin. Remember that 518 readers always get 10% off all cider drinks by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

🚲️ Do you know about the Albany Social Club? Check them out at their Thursday night rides, at Washington Park.

FRIDAY

🎭️ R'Ville Stage Creations presents “The Laramie Project” at Bridge Street Theatre, exploring the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.

🎬️ Movies Under the Stars screens “Goat” at Swineburne Park.

📷️ Come experience the magic, the music, and the memories of Amsterdam’s iconic Riverlink Park Summer Concert Series, captured through the lens of local photographer Stanley Johnson. Meet Stanley!

🖼️ ☕️ Our friends at Tortoise & Hare Coffee will be the baristas at the Albany Institute of History & Art’s free Family Fun Day on Juneteenth.

SATURDAY

🏳️‍🌈 It’s the 20th anniversary of Say It Loud! BIPOC Pride, honoring two decades of allied resilience, visibility, culture, and joy in the Capital Region.

🏡 Historic Center Square is the center of attention at the 2026 House, Garden, & History Tour (& Stoop Stroll).

🖼️ Albany Center Gallery’s Summer Art Fest is back by popular demand! At Quackenbush Square & Clinton Market Collective.

🎡 Nine Pin turns Huck Finn’s Playland into an adult playground with Summer Solstice Celebration. This event is 21+ and each ticket comes with a 12 oz cider.

🌎️ Celebrate the Capital Region World Refugee Day with an international food tasting, talent show, and more!

👟 The Good Karma 5K Run/Walk promises Indian street food and henna after the race. Where do we sign up?

🐈️ 🐕️ Forever homes are found at Curtis Lumber's 16th Annual PetAPalooza Pet Adoption Day & Fair.

🖼️ Seeing a show on the last day is a special kind of treat, especially with an artist talk to close it up. Go deep with Bog Body: An Artist Talk with Phoebe Rotter at Context Collective.

🏡 Get to the historic Ten Broeck gardens for a lovely Juneteenth celebration.

🚘️ Cars on Union brings some of the most coveted automobiles ever produced to Saratoga.

🎈Big Bounce America bills itself as the world’s biggest bounce house. At Ellms Family Farm.

☕️ Get to Crossgates for Sip, Sweat & Stay Social, featuring a free Pilates class and fun espresso drinks, hosted by the Sip Society.

SUNDAY

👴🏽 Shower thought of the day: It’s interesting that two of Albany’s biggest events all year are held on Mother’s Day (Tulip Fest) and Father’s Day (DadFest).

🎹 Make Music Day Troy is part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration on the summer solstice that brings together all ages and skill levels to make music.

🎨 If you’re up for the drive on Father’s Day, the Catskill Summer Solstice festival looks like some fun family time.

✊🏾 It’s your final day to see “Designing Power: The Black Panther Party” at the Tang Teaching Museum.

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