Where to find banana leaves?

Anyone know of a place to buy banana leaf in the chicagoland area?
I've been trying Latin markets with no luck -- any favorite Thai markets?

Thanks for any ideas!!

Happy Holidays!

I'm surprised you didn't find banana leaves at any Latin markets but that's just as well. The Thai leaves are of better quality and easier to work with than the Central American ones. You can find them in the freezer at Thai Grocery (5014 N Broadway).

Thanks!
I found them just where you said they'd be!
The friendly gentleman behind the register assured me they always have banana leaves in stock.

I am in search of banana leaves to wrap a pork roast in for my smoker, keep in mind I live 70 miles from Chicago, and dont have the time to drive into the city, or hit multiple places in a search before Saturday. I work in Burr RIdge so I guess I am looking for any sure bets as to places I can acquire banana leaves in the Western Suburbs.

Anyone know of anywhere between Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, and west to Naperville that I can find these? hopefully on the commute home.

thanks

Jim,

Whole Grain Fresh Market (the old Diho Market) in Westmont has frozen banana leaves.

Whole Grain Fresh Market
665 Pasquinelli Dr # C
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 323-8180

Blown Z wrote:Jim,

Whole Grain Fresh Market (the old Diho Market) in Westmont has frozen banana leaves.

Whole Grain Fresh Market
665 Pasquinelli Dr # C
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 323-8180

excellent, just a couple miles up 83 from me. Thanks alot.

$4.39/ bag @ this the Old Diho.

I also spotted bags in the freezer case at Michael's Fresh Market of Naperville, $1.79 / lb.

For people coming to this thread to look for them in Chicago, Tony's Finer Foods on Fullerton always has them:

Tony's Finer Foods
3607 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 278-8355

Thanks for the rec's, I am going to hit the FIlipino store out in Ottawa, they have the frozen banana leaves, and I wont have to fight the traffic on 83, or Naperville.

They are also at La Unica in a small freezer chest, in front of the wall of freezer doors in the back.

La Unica
1515 W Devon Ave, Chicago
(773) 274-7788

Jim - for future reference- there are a couple of promising looking Mexican grocery stores on the east side of Joliet on Route 30. I have not explored them yet, but I would expect that one could find banana leaves there..

atomicman wrote:Jim - for future reference- there are a couple of promising looking Mexican grocery stores on the east side of Joliet on Route 30. I have not explored them yet, but I would expect that one could find banana leaves there..

thanks for the heads up.

Picked up a 1# pack last night at the Filipino store in Ottawa, IL. for $1.99. Also got a jar of Korean bulgogi sauce for the pork I am going to wrap and smoke in the leaves as well.