Yasar Halim

Sami

Great Turkish/Cypriot/ethnic supermarket 9th May 2007

4 found this helpful

Located in Palmers Green, Yasar Halim is a Green Lanes institution. With 2 other locations in North London, this is probably the best Turkish supermarket in the area and famous in North London as a pureyor of baked goods, cheap produce and the best "olive bar" I've ever seen in my life.

They have a great selection of fresh, cheap produce and sell a lot of vegetables that you wouldn't find in your local grocery store, such as Persian cucumbers which are thinner and more tender than English cucumbers and absolutely delicious.

Their bakery is fantastic, baking fresh bread, baklava, pide, lahmacun (Turkish "pizza"), and a vast array of cookies and other sweet bites.

There is also a butcher there if you're looking for lamb - and the other week I bought poussin there, something I couldn't find in any of my local grocery stores. They make excellent kofte as well which you can easily prepare at home on the grill, barbecue or even fry.

They carry a great selection of dry and canned goods, spices - all sorts of yummy things that people should try at least once. Persian saffron sugar candy and Turkish delight were some of the great things that I picked up on a recent trip.

But my favourite part, by far, is the olive bar that they have at the back of the store where all sorts of types of olives are marinating in garlic, lemon, chili - you name it, they have it. But ask to taste, and let the lovely ladies serve you as they get extremely (and rightfully so) upset when they see people's dirty fingers in their precious olives.

This grocery store has even been named by "Retail Week" (the retail industry bible) as one of the top 100 shops in the world to visit. Please check it out, it's well worth the trip and with two other locations, you can't go wrong!

Just for reference, their 2 other shops are in
495, Green Lanes, London, N4 1AL
1338, High Rd, London, N20 9HR