If you have ever spent a Saturday afternoon driving from one strip mall to the next looking for stockfish, ogbono, or the right brand of palm oil, you already know the struggle is real.
For the hundreds of thousands of African immigrants and diaspora families living across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia, finding authentic ingredients is not a minor inconvenience. It is a weekly mission. The DMV is home to one of the largest African populations in the United States, with Prince George’s County and Montgomery County alone serving as home to some of the most concentrated African communities in the country. That growing population has fueled a quiet but significant expansion of African grocery stores across the region, from small family-run shops tucked into neighborhood plazas to well-stocked markets that feel almost like stepping into a supermarket back home.
Whether you are hunting for Cameroon pepper, kenkey flour, injera, fresh goat, dried fish, or chin chin, the stores on this list have you covered. Here are the ten best African grocery stores in the DMV, ranked by selection, service, community reputation, and how well they serve the full range of the diaspora.
What Makes a Great African Grocery Store in the DMV
Before getting into the list, it is worth explaining what separates a good African market from a great one. The best stores do more than stock a few rows of imported goods alongside general international products. They carry depth, meaning you can walk in for crayfish and come out with fresh oxtail, a bag of broken rice, a bottle of Maggi, Cameroon pepper, Ogi powder, and a packet of bitter leaf without making a second stop. They know their community, which means the staff understands the difference between what a Ghanaian household needs versus an Ethiopian or Nigerian one. And the best stores also tend to serve as quiet community hubs, places where you run into neighbors and catch up on what is happening back home.
With that in mind, here is the list.
1. Afrik International Food World Market, Hyattsville, Maryland
If there is one store that almost every West African in the DMV knows by name, it is Afrik International. Located on Old Landover Road in Hyattsville, the market boasts an extensive selection of traditional African food items, including fresh meats, vegetables, and various staples essential for preparing beloved dishes from the continent.
Afrik International is often described as the anchor store for the large Nigerian and Ghanaian community in Prince George’s County. Shoppers routinely praise its variety, its reasonable pricing, and the sense that almost everything you need for a full week of cooking can be found in one visit. The frozen meat section is particularly well-regarded, and the store serves as a distribution point for several well-known African food product brands. It also appears consistently at the top of Yelp’s ranked African grocery lists across Maryland and D.C.
The store is not the most glamorous shopping experience, but it is deep, reliable, and priced for the community it serves.
Location: 6690 Old Landover Road, Hyattsville, MD 20785 Best for: Full-range West African pantry staples, fresh and frozen meats, Nigerian and Ghanaian households
2. Wheaton Tropical Market, Wheaton, Maryland
Wheaton is one of the most culturally diverse corridors in Montgomery County, and the Wheaton Tropical Market fits right into that identity. The market offers an impressive selection of quality products, ensuring that customers can find everything from fufu flour to raw shea butter, catering to diverse culinary needs. Beyond food, Wheaton Tropical Market also features a range of beauty products, fabrics, and household goods, appealing to a broad audience.
What sets Wheaton Tropical Market apart from many competitors is that its inventory spans both West and Central Africa. For Cameroonians in the DMV, this is a particularly valuable distinction. Shoppers have also praised the store’s cleanliness and the helpfulness of the owner, who regularly assists customers in locating specific items. Reviewers have called it a top choice, noting that of all the tropical markets they have visited, this one consistently rises above the rest for variety and service. Yelp
The store’s location in downtown Wheaton makes it convenient for Montgomery County residents and metro riders alike, sitting near the Wheaton Metro station on the Red Line.
Location: 11406 Georgia Ave, Suite H, Wheaton, MD 20902 Best for: West and Central African goods, beauty products, Cameroonian ingredients, shea butter
3. Abart Foods, Beltsville, Maryland
Abart Foods has built a strong reputation among African families in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and it stands out for a reason most stores cannot claim: you can shop in person or order online for delivery. Abart Foods is an African grocery store based in Beltsville, Maryland, serving customers across the DMV area and beyond. Whether you are in Silver Spring, Hyattsville, Germantown, Rockville, Alexandria, or Arlington, deliveries can reach communities throughout the region. Abart Foods
Customers frequently commend Abart Foods for its commitment to affordability without compromising quality, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff consistently create a welcoming atmosphere. The store carries popular staples like plantain fufu mix, herbal bitters, palm oil, and cassava leaves, with vibrant product displays that invite exploration.
For families who cannot make a long drive mid-week, Abart Foods’ online ordering option alone makes it worth knowing. The physical store is well-organized and regularly restocked, with fresh items including yams, plantains, fish, and meat products.
Location: 11456 Cherry Hill Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 Best for: Online delivery across the DMV, Ghanaian and West African pantry staples, working families short on time
4. Asarco International Food Store, Jessup, Maryland
Jessup sits along the Route 1 corridor between Baltimore and D.C., and Asarco International has become one of the most respected African grocery destinations in Howard County and its surrounding areas. This family-owned establishment is celebrated for its friendly atmosphere and exceptional customer service, making every visit feel like a warm reunion. Customers frequently highlight the store’s impressive selection of fresh produce, dry goods, and essential pantry items, catering to diverse culinary needs.
The owners run the business themselves, which shows in the way the store operates. Shoppers consistently mention how approachable and helpful the family is, and the store’s cleanliness and organization earn repeated praise. Customers highlight the full range of ingredients for soups and stews, including fresh produce and dry foods, and note that the store is reliably stocked with beloved snacks like chin chin and plantain chips.
For African families in Howard County and anyone making the corridor between Baltimore and the D.C. suburbs, Asarco is a genuine community anchor.
Location: 8610 Washington Boulevard, Suite 103, Jessup, MD 20794 Best for: Howard County and Route 1 corridor shoppers, family-run service, Nigerian and Ghanaian cooking ingredients
5. African Grocery and Meat Market, Washington, D.C.
For Africans living in or near the District itself, this market has long been considered the go-to spot, and it earns extra points for being metro-accessible. Reviewers consistently call it the only dedicated African market inside D.C. proper that is also reachable by public transit, which matters enormously for residents without cars.
Shoppers praise the store for carrying almost all the good things from West Africa, with the number of quality African food products drawing loyal repeat visits. Reviewers note finding everything needed to cook their favorite African dishes under one roof. The meat section receives particular attention, with customers praising both the freshness and the variety of cuts available.
Its location in the NoMa neighborhood of Northeast D.C. puts it within easy reach of the Red, Green, and Yellow Metro lines, making it genuinely accessible to city residents who rely on public transportation. This is rare among African grocery stores in the DMV, which tend to cluster in suburban strip malls.
Location: Northeast Washington, D.C. (NoMa area) Best for: D.C. residents, metro commuters, fresh meat selection, West African staples without a car
6. Weyone International, Alexandria, Virginia
For African families living in Northern Virginia, Weyone International in Alexandria is one of the most established options in the region. The store specializes in African and Caribbean groceries and products, including meat, fish, and poultry cut to order right before your eyes, as well as fresh produce such as okra, yams, cassava, potato leaves, and plantains.
Customers praise the store’s organized layout, with a rich selection of West African ingredients, canned foods, traditional pastries, and cosmetics. The store also provides remittance services and sells international call cards, making it a community resource well beyond food shopping. Wheree
Weyone has been in business for over 35 years, which speaks to how deeply rooted it is in the Northern Virginia African community. It is well-known among Ghanaians in particular, stocking kenkey, Fante bread, and suya among its signature items. The presence of remittance and international calling services is a thoughtful addition that reflects an understanding of what diaspora families actually need.
Location: 510 S Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA 22304 Best for: Northern Virginia residents, Ghanaian households, fresh butchered meats, community services
7. Afrik International Foods, Washington, D.C. (NoMa)
Separate from the Hyattsville location, the NoMa-area branch of Afrik International Foods serves the D.C. urban core and has earned its own loyal following. Reviewers describe it as one of the reasons they chose to live in the NoMa area, noting that being near diverse grocery stores is non-negotiable, and that the store carries a variety of fresh and frozen meats alongside household staple ingredients and seasonings.
The D.C. location is compact compared to the Hyattsville store, but its urban placement makes it invaluable for residents of Capitol Hill, NoMa, and nearby neighborhoods. It opens early, which is useful for working parents who shop before the day starts. For D.C. residents who know about it, it has become a reliable midweek supplement to larger monthly shopping runs.
Location: 411 Morse Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 Best for: Urban D.C. residents, weekday shopping, NoMa and Capitol Hill area, fresh meats and pantry staples
8. Super Best International Supermarket, Laurel, Maryland
No honest guide to African grocery shopping in the DMV can leave this one out. Super Best International Supermarket in Laurel is not a dedicated African market by design, but the African community in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties knows it extremely well, and for good reason. The store is massive.
Super Best stands out for its remarkable global offerings, with shoppers praising the extraordinary variety of hard-to-find ethnic ingredients. Its impressive produce section features unusual items unavailable elsewhere locally, and customers consistently commend competitive pricing on both everyday staples and specialty goods, noting better value compared to standard American grocery chains.
What makes Super Best especially valuable to African shoppers is its breadth. The store carries an amazing variety of foods including Asian, African, Caribbean, and American products, alongside a great fresh fish and seafood market. For African cooks, that seafood section alone is often the primary draw. The selection of fresh whole fish, dried and smoked options, and specialty cuts that standard grocery chains simply do not stock makes it a reliable destination for stocking up on the proteins that anchor so many West and Central African dishes.
One reviewer noted finding indigenous African food items such as plantains, cocoyams, and cassava alongside aisle after aisle of international goods at fairly reasonable prices, calling it an international gem. Another customer drives an hour from Bel Air specifically to shop there, and says the selection of fish is one of a kind, with certain cooking spices and items available that would otherwise require an online order.
Beyond groceries, Super Best also carries African medicinal herbs, roots, and wellness products that dedicated African grocery stores sometimes overlook. For families who want to handle their African pantry, their fresh fish, their household staples, and their herbal supplies in a single warehouse-style run, this is arguably the most efficient single stop in the DMV.
The store sits right on the border of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, making it a convenient midpoint for shoppers coming from both Hyattsville and the Bowie corridor, as well as those driving down from Montgomery County.
Location: 13600 Laurel – Bowie Rd, Laurel, MD 20708 Best for: African shoppers from PG and Montgomery counties, massive fresh fish and seafood section, African spices and medicinal herbs, one-stop international shopping, drivers covering the Laurel-Bowie-Silver Spring triangle
9. Makola Market, Alexandria, Virginia
Named after the iconic Makola Market in Accra, Ghana, this Alexandria store draws a strongly Ghanaian customer base while also carrying a broader West African selection. It consistently appears on Yelp’s top African market lists for the Alexandria and Northern Virginia area, and reviewers note the helpful staff and well-organized shelves.
The store carries a reliable stock of Ghanaian staples alongside products that serve Sierra Leonean, Liberian, and Nigerian households. For Ghanaians in the Northern Virginia suburbs, Makola Market represents a familiar name that delivers on what the name promises.
Location: Alexandria, Virginia Best for: Ghanaian households in Northern Virginia, Makola staples, West African pantry depth
10. Heritage International Food, Randallstown, Maryland
For African families in the Baltimore corridor and Northwest Maryland, Heritage International Food in Randallstown offers a well-stocked alternative to driving all the way into Prince George’s County. Located on Liberty Road, the store serves a growing African community in the Randallstown and Reisterstown corridor that is often underserved by the more concentrated grocery scene in the D.C. suburbs.
The store carries African, Caribbean, and international products, with a focus on the West African pantry staples that are hardest to find in general supermarkets. For families in Baltimore County who need egusi, crayfish, stockfish, or fufu flour without a long drive, Heritage fills a real gap.
Location: 8631 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133 Best for: Baltimore County and Northwest Maryland families, African immigrants in the Randallstown and Reisterstown area
What You Should Always Find at a Good African Grocery Store
For anyone new to shopping at African grocery stores in the DMV, here is a quick guide to the staples that the best stores reliably carry. A well-stocked African market should have palm oil in multiple brands and sizes, dried and smoked fish including crayfish, stockfish, and catfish, fufu and garri in multiple varieties, egusi and ogbono, fresh yams and plantains, cassava and potato leaves, seasoning cubes including Maggi and Knorr, a variety of rice from parboiled to broken jasmine, frozen goat and oxtail cuts, and African snacks including chin chin, plantain chips, and puff puff mix.
If a store carries most of that with consistency, it earns a place on any serious list.
Why the DMV African Grocery Scene Keeps Growing
The expansion of African grocery stores across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia reflects something larger than shopping patterns. It reflects a community that is growing in both size and confidence. Maryland alone is home to more than 200,000 African-born immigrants, and community leaders and researchers believe the true number, counting second-generation residents and undercounted households, is significantly higher.
That population demands infrastructure, not just restaurants and cultural events but the everyday backbone of home cooking. Each store on this list represents a family or entrepreneur who saw that need and answered it, building something that feeds the community in the most literal sense.
The next time someone at home asks you where to find the good African store near them in the DMV, send them this list.