Where to Find African Grocery Stores in North Carolina
From egusi seeds to yam flour, discover the best African grocery stores across Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, and beyond — with everything you need to cook authentic African meals at home.
Cooking authentic African food at home requires more than a trip to Whole Foods. From egusi seeds and palm oil to yam flour and dried fish, the ingredients that make African cuisine special can be hard to find in mainstream American grocery stores.
Fortunately, North Carolina is home to a growing number of African grocery stores — most run by first-generation immigrants stocking exactly what the diaspora needs. Here's your complete guide to shopping African across the state.
Charlotte
Carolina African Market
One of Charlotte's oldest African grocery stores, Carolina African Market carries a wide selection of West African and East African staples. Think Golden Penny spaghetti, Peak milk, plantain flour, yam tubers, dried okra, palm oil, dried fish, and more.
Address: 1524 Alleghany St, Charlotte, NC 28208
Hours: 12 PM – 8 PM
Mina African Market
Located on North Tryon Street, Mina is a favorite for Ghanaian and Nigerian shoppers. They stock everything from banku mix and shito to Milo, Maggi cubes, and fresh African vegetables.
Address: 4409 N Tryon St, Charlotte
Hours: 11 AM – 8 PM
Sahara African Market
Known for their wide fresh produce selection — including African garden eggs, ugu leaves, bitterleaf, waterleaf, and more — Sahara is where you go when you want to cook something authentic.
Address: 1125 E Sugar Creek Rd #C, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
Durham
Iwacu International Grocery Market
A Durham favorite carrying West African, East African, and Caribbean groceries. Iwacu has a strong selection of frozen goods, spices, and imported drinks.
Address: 1921 N Pointe Dr #150, Durham, NC 27705
Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
Durham African Market
Located downtown, this compact store punches above its weight with everything from Ghanaian gari and cassava flour to Nigerian bouillon cubes and fresh African fish.
Address: 810 Fayetteville St #108, Durham, NC 27701
Hours: 10 AM – 7:30 PM
Nora's African Groceries
A newer addition to the Durham African grocery scene with a growing loyal following.
Address: 4837 NC-55, Durham, NC 27713
Hours: 10 AM – 8:30 PM
Greensboro
Johreb African Store
Greensboro's go-to spot for African groceries, from ingredients to imported snacks and beverages.
Address: 1461 E Cone Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27405
Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
Fayetteville
Ali African and Caribbean Grocery Store
Serving Fayetteville's diverse community with both African and Caribbean groceries — a great option if you're cooking dishes with cross-cultural roots.
Address: 5439 Yadkin Rd Store 110, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Hours: 9 AM – 7:30 PM
Morning Star African and Caribbean Market
Another Fayetteville option with a broad selection of West African staples.
Address: 6243 Yadkin Rd #103, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Hours: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM
What to Look For in an African Grocery Store
Whether you're a member of the diaspora or someone learning African cooking, here's what a good African grocery store should stock:
- Grains and flour: Yam flour, plantain flour, cassava flour, garri, semolina, ofada rice, jollof rice
- Palm oil and cooking oils
- Dried fish, stockfish, and dried shrimp
- Spices: Yaji (suya spice), pepper soup spice, curry, thyme, Maggi cubes, Knorr cubes
- Fresh vegetables: Ugu leaves, bitterleaf, waterleaf, spinach, African eggplants
- Frozen goods: Frozen fish, meats, plantains
- Snacks and drinks: Chin chin, plantain chips, Malta, Star beer, Peak milk
Supporting African Businesses
Every purchase at an African-owned grocery store supports a small business — often a family who's built their livelihood serving the diaspora. When you shop African, you're not just buying groceries — you're keeping cultural connections alive and supporting your community's economic power.
Browse all African grocery stores on Markeetee →
Tips for First-Time Shoppers
- Bring cash. Many small African stores prefer cash — though most now accept cards.
- Ask for recommendations. Owners love to help you find substitutes or explain how to use unfamiliar ingredients.
- Buy in bulk. Staples like palm oil, garri, and rice are cheaper in bulk and keep well.
- Check dates. Some imported goods have shorter shelf lives than you'd expect.
- Support with reviews. Leave a Google or Markeetee review — it means the world to small store owners.
Ready to cook? Find the closest African grocery store to you on our map and start planning your next meal.
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