Shopping in the West Burbs

I'm moving out from Rogers Park in the city to Villa Park (just west of Elmhurst), and hoping folks can help me find some great shopping options. I lived out there for 15 years, so I know a lot of places, but that was before I had LTH has a resource to find

I'm also interested in dining options in the area, but I'll post a separate thread in the Eating Out forum (and cross link both of these posts in hopes that other suburban dwellers might find these threads and find them useful).

I'm interested in the area around Villa Park, Lombard, and Elmhurst; I'd say between Highway 290 on the east out to 355/53 in the west, and from Irving Park Road on the north to Ogden on the south.

I'm aware of quite a few good places, but there are a few holes in my knowledge:

Here are some of my go-to's:
Mike's Market in Villa Park for butcher shop options and some prepared foods
Whole Foods down in Westmont (I know they're putting one in at 83 and St. Charles where the Dominicks used to be, too)
Standard Market in Westmont

Anyone familiar with the Pete's Fresh Market on Roosevelt in Villa Park? Stopped in when I was in the area, and it looked promising from an ethic food point of view.

How about other ethnic markets in the area? What are the best places for middle eastern, or asian food supplies?

If anyone has any other suggestions on cooking related goodness out in the 'burbs let me know!

People seem to like Petes Fresh Market on Roosevelt. Go a bit further west to Glen Ellyn and you will see Trader Joes. There is a Marianos in Wheaton a bit further west as well as a Fresh Market (not Petes) also on this road. None are too far away from where you will be. Marianos is also on York Road in Elmhurst. Naperville is a bit of a drive but has a Penzey's. Also on Roosevelt Road there is a Bende's which is European oriented and has great Hungarian sausage and paprika. Naperville has Asian food markets too.

Pete's is solid.

There used to be a VERY healthy Mid Eastern Market right on Roosevelt, west of Meyer, on the north side of the street, next door to pet store. It was very decent, indeed. I prolly haven't been there or paid attention to see if it was still there in 5 years or so.

Al Wahid. On Roosevelt, west of Meyer as well, north side of street. Hit or miss Indian Grocer with a halal butcher on site, AND a grill counter with a few chairs and tables and a menu. Temper your expectations. It is TINY!!!!!

Ogden and 355, iirc, has a decent Asian market. I went there once on a goofy day, I guess, because the store seemed like a decent size, but the shelves were pretty much bare.

Next to Katy's in Westmont, there is another Indian grocery in the corner of the strip mall. They have a snack counter in back. Decent selection, but A-1 has way more stuff.

You have Supreme Lobster at your disposal on North Ave.

Outside your range but worth looking into:
A-1 Indian Market in Westmont, I believe. Tiny, but PACKED. Fresh made samosas and a few other snax at the counter, too.

Hop on "The Extension" (the real name of that thing you referred to as "Highway 290" in the other thread*) Take it to 90 west, and go to Mitsuwa. If you've never been, yeah. Go there. You do have that Super H in Naperville, I like both, but I just DIG Mitsuwa more. I'd imagine you have some little mom/pop Asian markets around your new hood, I just have no clue where they are. I KNOW there is/was a tiny Asian market in strip mall JUST south of Roosevelt on one of the major streets, but for the life of me I can't remember which one, and I've never been inside of it-prolly why I can't remember the street.


*Just bustin yer stones a lil'

Also in Naperville is Mediterranean Oasis for Middle Eastern fare and supplies. In Westmont, Solty's Deli & Meats (305 W Ogden 630.434.9129), a Polish deli.

seebee wrote:Pete's is solid.

There used to be a VERY healthy Mid Eastern Market right on Roosevelt, west of Meyer, on the north side of the street, next door to pet store. It was very decent, indeed. I prolly haven't been there or paid attention to see if it was still there in 5 years or so.

I think I noticed that place as I was driving around a couple weeks ago - I'll have to check it out!

seebee wrote:You have Supreme Lobster at your disposal on North Ave.

I've been there a few times back when I was living in the area before, I'll need to check it out more often. I'm more into seafood now than I was back then so I'll need to see what they have, and how the compare to the offerings at Boston Fish Market, etc.

seebee wrote:Outside your range but worth looking into:
A-1 Indian Market in Westmont, I believe. Tiny, but PACKED. Fresh made samosas and a few other snax at the counter, too.

You had me at "samosas."

seebee wrote:Hop on "The Extension" (the real name of that thing you referred to as "Highway 290" in the other thread*) Take it to 90 west, and go to Mitsuwa. If you've never been, yeah. Go there. You do have that Super H in Naperville, I like both, but I just DIG Mitsuwa more.

Mitsuwa is another place I will need to hit more often this go-around.

seebee wrote:*Just bustin yer stones a lil'

Casey's in Western Springs, facing the Burlington tracks, is a top-notch butcher (with prices to match but definitely worth it.) Casey's also have a large, diverse market in Naperville at the shopping center on Washington just north of 75th Street. There's a TJ's there also. There used to be a very nice fish market, sort of on the back side of this center, but I'm not sure it's still there. If you get out that way you should definitely ask if it is.

If you want to venture further west - about 25 miles from Villa Park - there's always Randy Ream's Elburn Market with his splendid sausages. He now carries a wide range of absolutely top-quality meat as well. Do not miss his smoked pork chops. You can go out Roosevelt through Geneva to IL-47 and a mile south on that to Elburn. It's a nice drive in the country and we always have lunch at Knucklehead's, a biker bar with good cheeseburgers around the corner from Randy's. Take your cooler and fill it up; there is no sausage there that is not great. He has an informative website.

You don't have to go all the way to Casey's because their related butcher, Mike's, is in Villa Park on St. Charles at Villa. Mike's Location