Middle Eastern Market is a Newtown, Wellington grocery store specialising in authentic Middle Eastern products, from dates and tahini to pickles, olives, spices, and household staples. The store stocks well-known brands including AL-Gota, Baktat, Aseel, and Al-Bawadi, alongside pantry favourites like Siniora chicken luncheon and ZamZam water sourced directly from Mecca.
A particular focus of the shop is its dates selection — Sun Dried Khudari, Ajwa, Date Crown Khalas, and Date Crown Lulu varieties sit alongside dates paste for baking and cooking. Shoppers can browse in categories such as Pickles & Olives, Dates, Butter Oils, Ready-to-Eat Meals, Drinks, Spices, and Household goods, with a rotating AL-Gota Collection and seasonal Ramadan Special Products range.
The store operates both in-person from its Riddiford Street location and online with delivery, backed by a 7-day exchange policy and customer support by phone or email.
On Riddiford Street in Newtown, Middle Eastern Market brings together the pantry staples of Middle Eastern cooking under one roof — from dates and tahini to pickles, olives, spices, and household goods. The store markets itself around a simple promise: authentic products, sourced from trusted brands, at a store that Wellington's Middle Eastern community and curious home cooks alike can rely on.
The range is broad. Shoppers will find a dedicated Dates section stocking Sun Dried Khudari dates, Ajwa dates, Date Crown Khalas and Lulu varieties, and dates paste for cooking and baking. Alongside that sits a Pickles & Olives category, a Butter Oils section, ready-to-eat Meals, a Drinks range that includes ZamZam water imported for customers who want it, and a full Spices aisle for anyone stocking a Middle Eastern kitchen.
Household essentials round out the offering, and the store carries recognisable brands including AL-Gota, Baktat, Aseel, and Al-Bawadi Ghee, giving shoppers familiar names alongside the store's own recommended lines.
Among the most popular items are ZamZam Water in 5 litre bottles, tahini in both 450g and 900g jars, and Siniora chicken luncheon — pantry regulars that keep customers coming back. The store also runs a dedicated AL-Gota Collection, featuring products like Syrian kishik, dried broad beans, and a large stuffed eggplant makdouse jar, marketed under the banner "Trusted Products. Exceptional Standards."
Seasonally, the store puts together a Ramadan Special Products range, curating items for customers preparing for the holy month.
Middle Eastern Market operates as both a physical shop on Riddiford Street and an online store with delivery, so customers who can't get to Newtown in person can still order the same range. The site backs purchases with a 7-day exchange policy and offers phone and email support for questions on orders or products.
Customer feedback on the site points to consistent themes: fresh ingredients, well-packaged deliveries, aromatic spices, and responsive customer support when questions come up about an order.
For anyone in Wellington looking to stock a Middle Eastern pantry — whether it's tahini for hummus, dates for the table, pickles and olives for a mezze spread, or luncheon meat and grocery basics — Middle Eastern Market's Newtown store and online shop cover the essentials in one place, with the AL-Gota range and dates selection as the standout draws.