Press & awards
In the press
A Monterey County Weekly Readers' Pick nine times: Best International Market in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and Best Ethnic Market in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Here's what writers have said about the store over the years.
Best of Monterey County
Nine times a Readers' Pick
Voted by Monterey County Weekly readers. Each award went to International Market & Deli, our name before Basra Bay.
Member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
Best International Market
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
Best Ethnic Market
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2016
- 2015
- Mention
Edible Monterey Bay
Edible Monterey Bay on our block of Lighthouse Avenue
Lists International Market & Deli among the reasons the 500 block of Lighthouse Avenue is the best single block for food in the region.
- Award
Monterey County Weekly
Readers vote the market Best International Market for 2024
Readers' poll winner, praised for shelves of za'atar, saffron, freekeh, bulgur and Turkish coffee.
- News
Monterey County Weekly
The Weekly on International Cafe opening two blocks away
Morsels column on the family's sister café at 296 Lighthouse Ave — gyro, shawarma, falafel and Turkish coffee in a sit-down room.
- Award
Monterey County Weekly
Readers vote the market Best International Market for 2023
Readers' poll winner.
- Award
Monterey County Weekly
Readers vote the market Best International Market for 2021
Readers' poll winner.
- Mention
Edible Monterey Bay
Edible Monterey Bay names our block the best stretch for food
Mark C. Anderson names the 500 block of Lighthouse Avenue the best stretch for food in the three counties, listing International Market & Deli first.
- Feature
Monterey County Weekly
The Weekly's feature on the market
Asaf Shalev's feature on the market's dates, custom orders, the weekly supply run to San Jose, and the Basra roots behind the counter.
- Award
- Feature
Monterey County Weekly
The Weekly's Taste column on the beef and lamb gyro
Dave Faries' Taste column on the beef & lamb gyro.
- Listing
The Lighthouse District
The Lighthouse District's profile of the market
The New Monterey Business Association's profile and a decade of posts by the business — anniversaries, Youth Day, gift baskets, Ramadan dates, ethical sourcing.
- Listing
Zabihah
The market's listing on Zabihah
Directory listing — frozen meats, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Eastern European groceries, hot wraps and plates.
Press kit
Boilerplate
Basra Bay International Market & Deli (formerly International Market & Deli) is a family-owned international grocery and deli at 580 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, California. Iskander Keremian opened International Market & Deli in New Monterey in 1992; Adil and Gloria Altamimi have owned it since 2015, and the Basra Bay name was introduced in 2026. The market carries imported groceries from the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, and serves made-to-order gyros, shawarma, falafel and baklava. Readers of Monterey County Weekly voted it Best International Market in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and Best Ethnic Market in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It is a member of the National Federation of Independent Business. The family also operates International Cafe at 296 Lighthouse Ave, Unit C.
Media contact
Zeyad Altamimi
General Manager
zeyad@basrabay.comStore · (831) 375-9451Owner bios and approved photographs on request. Ratings and review counts change daily — please check the platforms directly.
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