New Staten Island market offers a culinary haven for Middle Eastern food lovers

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A new neighborhood grocer, Al Quds, has opened in Travis, appealing to the borough’s Middle Eastern food lovers with its produce and deli sections.

Located at 3579 Victory Blvd, the halal market is co-owned by Ali Asous, a West Shore resident with experience in Brooklyn markets. Asous emphasizes, “We are here for the community — for everybody.”

Al Quds features a butcher department within its deli area, offering cut-to-order lamb, beef, and goat meat, along with various chicken cuts and grill-ready kebabs. The deli also serves freshly prepared sandwiches, including wraps and heroes.

Signature rice plates, priced at $10.99 and including salad, come with special titles like The Sultan’s Feast (lamb), Kebab Kingdom (beef kofta), and Green Delight (falafel bites with tahini sauce). The menu also includes burgers, tuna and chicken salad, salad bowls, and a few Italian items.

In addition to sundries such as soaps and dried pastas, the store offers yogurts, feta and feta-style cheeses, juices, sweets, and seasonings. The bread section includes pita and locally-made Italian breads from Brooklyn and Staten Island. The produce aisle features fresh staples like lettuces and cucumbers.

Beverages, frozen foods like French fries, and a few aisles of dry goods round out the options. Asous notes that all the ingredients for a traditional Middle Eastern breakfast can be found at Al Quds. He suggests an easy formula: pita, lebna, and hummus sprinkled with za’atar, an herb blend made primarily with roasted sesame seeds, thyme, herbaceous sumac, and salt.

Al Quds occupies the former location of Julian’s Market and, before that, a taqueria. In September 2022, the complex, which housed the market, was home to former tenant Top Tomato, which was damaged in a fire.

Al Quds comes to a commercial hub already rich with food destinations. It is anchored by Fun Station USA with Francesco’s restaurant, Maynila Filipino food store with its to-go buffet, Ti Amo Pizzeria, 24-hour Brooklyn Bagels and Cafe, Taqueria Allison plus a wine and liquor store.

Other businesses in the shopping center include GlamOur Nails, Ultimate Collision II, We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym, J&A Vape Shop, Who’s Next? barber shop, Fun Station and Hollywood Cleaners.

Al Quds can be found at 3579 Victory Blvd. and can be reached at 718-285-4030.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance/SILive.com food editor. She can be reached at [email protected].