Patel Brothers

This supermarket’s charming, slightly-confusing-but-apt motto is “Serving Since 1974 Bringing Motherland Closer.” With a wide range of spices, specialty foods and hard-to-find ingredients, Patel Brothers offers everything aspiring chefs need to prepare homemade meals, and it is one of the best New York locales for exploring the flavors and building blocks of Indian cuisine. Fresh tropical fruits are a favorite for locals (especially during mango season), and the aisles of prepared and frozen foods aimed at the Southeast Asian community (Pillsbury Ready to Puff Roti, anyone?) are comprehensive and fun to browse.