SAFA Middle Eastern

The prices are expensive. I read the reviews before going and was hoping it would not be true, but I found the prices were too expensive compared to those in Kitchener and Mississauga.

Thankful for a Middle Eastern grocer so close to downtown. Halal butcher an added bonus. Great prices, lots of interesting and well priced goods. I need to visit more often.

Bought chicken from this shop and cooked it next day. It was spoiled meat. I called them to give a review but their response was very rude.

Today (April/5/2023), I went to safa and bought 2 kunafah (recommended brand by the sales girl.) It's fully fungus infected damaged product as you can see in the picture.

After viewing the reply to this review, I called the store. First they ghosted me saying that they will call be back within minutes. And when I called them again, the guy, manager I guess, was too rude and impolite. He was like " why are u calling and wasting his time for this silly 15 dollars. He goes on questioning where the other kunafeh is, seriously, he wants me me to open the other one and get infected.even after seeing the condition and severity of the one i opened and then he said that he didn't serve me and don't know what or when i bought. (For safa stores information, for you money might be silly, for me each and every penny values and more than that my health and safety). Such a double standard store. First in the reply to the review they went on with such a polite and concern manner, asking to dispose the product right away. And then when called in person rude and unapologetic for selling such product without proper food handling.
Never in my life, i had such a bad experience. Feels like i made a mistake by not complaining to the health department.
Hope this review helps other customers.

Safa middle Eastern is a shop that we need in Guelph. You can find something unique in this store, otherwise you need to travel to Toronto. Thanks for providing us so many high quality products here in Guelph. The staffs are very friendly and kind.

I went shopping from this store many times in the past 4 years. Most of the time the price at this shop is higher that other persian, afghan, and arabian stores. Also the quality of the material like fresh vegetables and nuts are very low and they seems to be very old. I prefer to drive to Waterloo or Mississauga to buy better quality with lower price.

I’ve been in to this store 2-3 times, providing the greatest costumer service, I got meat and some dry fruits it was really fresh and with reasonable price (since now a days every where we go the prices are way up high).

It is good that we have like this shop in Guelph but as there is no other option close to Guelph we have to buy with HIGHER price at this store. I want to share two experiences at this shop.

1. I bought Marjan rice, 20lb, from Safa and it had the lowest quality ever. I bought the same rice from other shops in Toronto with better quality and lower price. When I asked him to return it after half an hour bargaining, he finally took the rice back. It wasn’t good attitude. Specially in Canada which the customer and providers act very respectfully together

2. I asked the shop manager about the quality of the canned vegetables and told him that some of the canned veggies has some tiny stones. He told me in a very impolite manner that these are Iranian vegetables and that’s why it has stone. It was totally not respectful.

I prefer not buy anything from this shop to let the manager knows that he should respect all nations and be more polite and fare to his customers.

As a chef in the community we source many of our products from Safa, the quality is excellent and the prices very affordable. They contribute hugely to community based intitatives and donate significantly to the Hope House. All around fantastic business. Very much recommended

First time there and my last. While they have a great selection of groceries my experience with them is terrible. I waited for a long time to get service at the butcher station carrying my 1.5 old with my elderly dad (80 years young). I had to go back to the front and prompt them to come serve me. While I was translating back and forth to the butcher and my dad to get the order right, my daughter knocks over big glass stacked jars of tomato sauce. I apologised and I said I’ll pay for them (but who stacks big jars at the order station/anyone can knock them off). I picked two more items and I go pay for my meat. He of course charged me $40 worth of tomato sauce which poorly placed to begin with (you can imagine how big $20 worth of glass tomato sauce stacked on top of each other). After I paid he looks at the receipt reviewing it and hands it over to me. On my way out my dad says how disappointed he was with the meat and service. I look at the receipt and review it and realise how he added an additional item I didn’t have. I go back and point it out to him he then starts making excuses and hands me back the money cash and not on my card (to keep the taxes). Anyway I don’t fret on little things but your customer service is terrible and we felt they try to rob people. You could do better.

Hi, I got some meat? And sweets (Afghani kolcha) they were very old and dry. It looked good behind the display glass. But when I got home to try it, very old and out dated.

Good selection of groceries, fair prices, and a very friendly owner/manager. I like the new store they opened here.

Nice store! The baklava is really delicious and cardamom forward. Stewing some goat tonight so eager to try that. I will be back:)

Don't miss this store! There are so many traditional Middle eastern dried or canned food, classic dairy (cheese, butter, cream.), some kinds of bread cooked by old-fashioned recipes you may have never tried before, cookies and candies made by ancient formula, dried nuts and fruits as well as many other things you need to cook. The most important point for this grocery store is the polite seller with friendly attitude! So, "Don't miss this store".

Exceptional food variety, excellent customer service and help in finding items.

I really liked and found the items that I was looking for.

Went there a few days ago for some steaks and my wife went today to get some kebab skewers, chicken, eggs and produce. Very friendly person greeted both of us at the front and the butcher was very helpful and friendly as well. Amazing to have something like this in the neighborhood, lot of selection with very fair prices. We will be going a few times a week at least.

Amazing selection of quality middle eastern products and such a welcoming atmosphere! I most highly recommend this lovely store!

At last, a well-stocked, clean and well-managed middle-eastern ingredients store in Guelph downtown!

So glad to have this place in the neighborhood! Such great middle Eastern food, and fresh veg, meat and other staples. Convenient, friendly, reasonably priced.

I visited this grocer for the first time this year and was very pleasantly surprised at the world of flavours inside! Friendly, helpful service. A great opportunity to experience the richness of the Mediterranean these days.

A must visit place! Very clean, very nice staffs. Fresh meat.
You will definitely find whatever you are looking for! Very satisfied.

Rafi is a very nice man, very caring and I really enjoy his food. Keep it up Rafi and stay safe from this horrible virus, my friend. Take care

I just discovered Safa and I'm so happy I did - I've been searching for pomegranate molasses everywhere in Guelph and finally found it here! The customer service was excellent and I'll definitely be coming back to try some of their desserts:)