Gadget Bazaar
Owner: Romala Rajendran; originally from Sri Lanka; has owned her own business for 1 year; has been in Buffalo for 10 years
Languages spoken: Sinhala, Tamil, little English
Payments accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 400-4899
About Gadget Bazaar: Romala sells a variety of products from Sri Lanka. She sells children clothing, jewelry, handbags, hair accessories, and Hindu religious items from Sri Lanka. Her beautiful jewelry, especially the necklaces and earrings, are a huge customer favorite.
Romala Rajendran is very satisfied when customers are excited about her Sri Lankan products. She enjoys hearing her customers say how pleased they are with her designs and patterns. She also loves speaking with customers because it gives her an opportunity to learn conversational English. In the words of Romala: "I am a people person!"
M Asian Halal Food
Owner: Mohammed Yaseen; originally from Burma; has been in Buffalo since 2011 and owned his own business since 2013.
Languages: Bengali, Burmese, English, Hindi, Thai, Urdu
Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 533-8558
About M Asian Halal Food : Mohammad sells an assortment of Indian and Pakistani dishes that are all Halal. Many of his dishes are also vegan and vegetarian, which makes M Asian Halal Food a great stop for those with dietary restrictions.
He came to the United States from Thailand in 2007, and learned how to cook Pakistani food at a restaurant in Missouri. After cooking for over 10 years, Mohammed opened M Asian Halal Foods to serve Pakistani and Indian dishes. He is proud to offer the cuisine he's learned to prepare throughout his journey, here at the West Side Bazaar.
Check out the write-up on M Asian Halal in The Buffalo News!
Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine
Owner: Zelalem Gemmeda; originally from Ethiopia, has been here in Buffalo for 9 years
Languages spoken: Amharic (mother tongue), Arabic, English
Payment accepted: Cash and Credit Card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 563-6602
About Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine: Zelalem Gemmeda sells a variety of authentic Ethiopian Cuisine. She uses spices sent to her from her sister in Ethiopia to create her own flavors.
The national dish of Ethiopian cuisine is injera, a sour dough flat bread, which is served in many of Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine's dishes.
These dishes are meant to be eaten with your hands and are can be topped with cabbage, spicy lentils, potatoes and beets.
In her own Ethiopian restaurant, Zelalem would sell original dishes on handmade plates.
From Ethiopia to Yemen to Buffalo, Zelalem Gemmeda has a heartfelt story to share.
To learn more about Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine and the owner's trip from Ethiopia to Buffalo check out her article on Buffalo Rising: https://www.buffalorising.com/2014/03/abyssinian-ethiopian-cuisine-west-side-bazaar/
Rakhapura Mutee and Sushi
Owner: Win W. Shwe; originally from the Arakan State of Burma; has been in Buffalo since 2004
Languages spoken: American Sign Language, Arakanese mother tongue, Burmese, English, Thai
Payment accepted: Cash and Credit Card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 308-7640
About Rakhapura Mutee and Sushi: Rakhapura was started by husband and wife team Khaing M. Thein and Win W. Shwe. Now primarily under chef Win, Rakhapura sells over 30 varieties of sushi and mutee, which is a type Arakan soup. Our top selling sushi is the Buffalo Roll, Banana Mango Roll, and the Khaing Sushi Roll. We aim to operate a sushi bar that uses the best ingredients, while still maintaining affordable prices for our customers.
To learn more about Rakhapura Mutee and Sushi and the owners' trip from Burma to Buffalo, check out their article on Buffalo Rising here.
Nine & Night
Owner: Htay Naing, originally from Burma
Languages spoken: Arakanese, Burmese, Malay
Payment accepted: Cash and Credit Card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 541-7963
About Nine & Night: There’s something for everyone on the menu at Nine & Night. Chef and Owner Htay Naing opened Nine & Night at the West Side Bazaar in 2016. Since then, the Malaysian-born chef has been proudly serving up authentic Thai dishes to the diverse customers that make up Buffalo’s West Side. We provide carry-out, delivery, and catering so you can also enjoy our food from the comfort of your home or work. Our food travels exceptionally well and everything can be made to your liking, from mild to extra spicy.
"My customers are mostly American and 25% Burmese, which is great because I get to serve all kinds of people."
― Htay Naing
Review us on Yelp!
Zigma Naturals
Owners: Raine & Jerry Manuel; originally from Burma; have owned their own business for 8 months
Languages spoken: Shan (Raine's mother tongue), Tamil (Jerry's mother tongue), & other languages they speak include Burmese, Hindi, Malay, Thai
Payment accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 544-7565
About Zigma Naturals: Raine and Jerry carry natural products for skincare for both adults and kids. They also sell vitamins for both adults and kids. Vitamins for memory is a customer favorite. Hindi & Shan traditional clothes, accessories, and everyday clothing are sold at their business as well. Their clothing comes from Burma, Korea, Thailand and the United States.
Raine enjoys getting to meet and talk to people from all around the world. She loves that people come to visit her and that many people love her products.
"This is my first business in the US and being in the Bazaar is training for me, I'm still learning so I can someday open my own store. Also, being in the Bazaar helps me improve my language skills." -Raine Manuel
007 Chinese Food
"Best authentic international cuisine in the city of Buffalo!" - Yelp
Owners: Maung Maung & Than Than Nu Saw; have been in the United States for 4 years
Languages spoken: Burmese, Arakanese (Rakhine), Malayu, some English
Payments accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 951-2535
About 007 Chinese Food:
007 Chinese Food is run by husband and wife team Maung Maung and Than Than Nu Saw. Originally from Myanmar and Malaysia, they enjoy owning their own business and sharing their Chinese cuisine with the citizens of Buffalo.
They want to introduce their dim sum in a similar way that sushi has been brought to all parts of the U.S. You can find sushi in various supermarkets, and they want the same for dim sum.
To learn more about 007 Chinese Food and the owners trip from Malaysia and Myanmar to Buffalo check out their article on Buffalo Rising. https://www.buffalorising.com/2015/12/007-chinese-food-west-side-bazaar/
What is dim sum?
Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. It is customary to order family style, sharing dishes among all members of the dining party. Because of the small portions, people can try a wide variety of food.
We recommend ordering 2 - 3 dishes per person for a full meal.
DUMPLINGS have a ground meat and/or vegetable filling, wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together
BAO is a type of steamed, filled white flour bun. They can be filled with meat and/or vegetables.
Julienne Boutique
Owner: Julienne Nyiranjishi; originally from Rwanda
About Julienne Boutique: Julienne sells a variety of products from all over Africa. Many of the goods come from her homeland, including Rwandan peace baskets and other types of specialty woven baskets. Her brother, who still lives in Rwanda, makes cards from banana stamps and woodcarvings. She sells handmade jewelry that is also made in Rwanda, along with shawls from Namibia. Julienne also sells unique instruments from South Africa including drums and an instrument called the kalimba, a thumb piano.
"I hope to graduate from the bazaar and have the opportunity to open my own store because I like business. I feel connected to the products I sell as many of them come from my homeland and my family members that are still there." -Julienne Nyiranjishi
From Rwanda to Congo and back to Rwanda, it took many journeys to get Julienne and her family here to Buffalo NY...
To learn more about Julienne's Boutique and her long journey to finally reach Buffalo NY check out her interview in Buffalo Rising: http://buffalorising.com/2014/01/julienne-boutique-the-west-side-bazaar/
Languages spoken: French, Kinyarwanda, English
Payment accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone Number: (716) 903-7619
Moonlady Arts & Crafts
Owner: Ma Theint; originally from Burma; has been in Buffalo for 11 years
About Moonlady Arts & Crafts: Ma Theint sells arts and crafts from her country such as gem paintings, lacquerware, traditional puppets, and Burmese musical instruments. She also sells clothes, accessories, and religious items.
Words from Ma Theint on how she ended up starting her own shop in the Bazaar: "I wanted to start my own business before I retired, in the future I want to open my own Asian market. I have big dreams!"
For more information on Moonlady Arts & Crafts, and how/why she ended up in Buffalo NY check out her interview on Buffalo Rising: http://buffalorising.com/2014/02/moonlady-arts-crafts-the-west-side-bazaar/
Languages spoken: Burmese, English
Payment accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 951-2386
Gysma's African Style
Owner: Gysma Kueny; originally from South Sudan; has been in Buffalo for 14 years
About Gysma's African Style: Gysma's African style sells everything from Shea butter and black soap, which are both made in Ghana, to necklaces made out of paper that her friend makes back in South Sudan. She sells unique and colorful earrings and rings made out of everything from cow horns, to metal and wood. Gysma recently had the opportunity to go back to her country, and while she was there she purchased baskets and necklaces to sell at her shop.
To here more about Gysma's shop and her journey to Buffalo NY check out her interview in Buffalo Rising. https://buffalorising.com/2014/01/gysmas-african-style-the-west-side-bazaar/
Languages spoken: Arabic, Denka (mother tongue), English
Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 464-8688