Where to buy lamb?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
socal78

socal78

Well-known member
Anyone know where to buy lamb chops? I've been shopping at Ralph's for the last 10 years and have never seen them carry it. Before that, I shopped Albertson's and same thing. I have visited Trader Joe's during that time but didn't look for it.

It's strange. As a kid growing up here in Orange County, my mother regularly prepared lamb chops. She shopped at Alpha Beta, if anyone here remembers that store.  :) Anyway, since becoming an adult and doing my own shopping, I've never found it at the grocers I've been to. It seems to have disappeared.
 
Ranch 99 in the Unicorn city?

SoCal78 said:
Anyone know where to buy lamb chops? I've been shopping at Ralph's for the last 10 years and have never seen them carry it. Before that, I shopped Albertson's and same thing. I have visited Trader Joe's during that time but didn't look for it.

It's strange. As a kid growing up here in Orange County, my mother regularly prepared lamb chops. She shopped at Alpha Beta, if anyone here remembers that store.  :) Anyway, since becoming an adult and doing my own shopping, I've never found it at the grocers I've been to. It seems to have disappeared.
Click to expand...
 
The Motor Court Company said:
Ranch 99 in the Unicorn city?
Click to expand...

Seriously?! I had no idea lamb chops are part of Asian Cuisine! Never would have guessed to look there. Thanks. Now, I will definitely have to go. I've never been to 99 Ranch. Now I have an excuse.
 
C'mon... you know Irvine is full of "sheep".

Have you tried any of the Persian markets? Wholesome Choice off of Culver/Michelson, Super [forgot the name] off of Culver and the 5 (where Denny's and Buffalo Wild Wings is). Or that new market next to the Tustin Ranch Costco (where KMart/Sears was)?
 
Are you saying Wholesome Choice is a Persian market? Who knew! From the sound of it, I expected it to be just another organic grocer. I've never been there, so I wouldn't know. (I don't get out much.) No, I haven't tried any Persian markets because I am not familiar with them or where they are to be found. My recipe is French / American. Didn't think to look at Asian & Persian markets. I prefer to buy the chops already cut, not a rack of lamb.
 
Wholesome Choice is largely a Persian market, but I would say it's very "international"- it has an Indian section, Kosher section, etc. 

What I like about Wholesome Choice's meat is that it is all hormone free.

Also, I think the fruits/vegetables are MUCH cheaper than Ralphs/Alberston's.  But items like cereal, chips, etc are probably a little more $.
 
Yeah... I would say Wholesome is Middle Eastern. Usually they have cheaper fruits... so we bought a ton of strawberries there for a party one day, only to find Ralph's had the same size trays for half the price... sad face.

But Irvine isn't very diverse... we only have Chinese supermarkets, Korean supermarkets, a Japanese supermarket, Middle Eastern supermarkets, Trader Joes, Ralphs, Albertsons, etc.
 
What about a Carniceria?

irvinehomeowner said:
Yeah... I would say Wholesome is Middle Eastern. Usually they have cheaper fruits... so we bought a ton of strawberries there for a party one day, only to find Ralph's had the same size trays for half the price... sad face.

But Irvine isn't very diverse... we only have Chinese supermarkets, Korean supermarkets, a Japanese supermarket, Middle Eastern supermarkets, Trader Joes, Ralphs, Albertsons, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Just 5 minutes away... La Bodega.

Same reason why Santa Ana doesn't have a 99 Ranch... they can just go to Irvine to find shrimp paste.
 
Shrimp paste is half the price than that overpriced 99 Ranch in Irvine. Only stylish people go to Irvine 99 Ranch. I shop frugally so I can live in a spacious estate not carelessly to live in a sardine can.

Most of them carry lamb at the most 60% of Irvine meat prices.

These Asian markets are all within a 5 miles radius.


The original 99 Ranch on Magnolia
Shun Fat
ABC Market
My Tuan
Saigon City
Trai Cay
Dong Phuong
Adong
TK Market
Saigon Market
Quang Minh
Hoa Binh
AR Supermarket
Arirang
Dalat
Viet Dong
Sieu Thi Thuan Phat
H-Mart
Hannam

Would you like a list of Carnicerias?

 
I usually cook rack of lamb and not lamb chops.  The rack of lamb at Costco is better quality than Trader Joe's and comparable in pricing.  But if you want to save money, go to ethnic markets instead.

For more premium selection/special orders, try El Toro Gourmet Meats in Lake Forest.  Laguna Culinary school orders from them:http://www.eltoromeats.com/

Also, the former owner & chef of Black Sheep Bistro orders from Newport Meats in Irvine.  Unfortunately, they do not sell to the general public, so you'll have to ask around and see if any restaurant owners can do a favor for you:http://www.newportmeat.com/

For the more adventurous, google "Lamb barbacoa Los Angeles", go eat and ask the owner which carnicer?a they go to for lamb.
 
Momo, I'm impressed how much you know. Do you work in the culinary world or is it just a hobby? If you don't work in the field already, you should!
 
Try Mission Ranch Market in Mission Viejo. They're off of Los Alisos - 23166 Los Alisos Blvd - 1 m North of Jeronimo, 1m South of Trabuco. Great Middle Eastern grocery store. Meat department has a terrific variety to it.
 
SoCal78 said:
Momo, I'm impressed how much you know. Do you work in the culinary world or is it just a hobby? If you don't work in the field already, you should!
Click to expand...

I just like to eat.  :D
 
Just went to the relatively new Aria International Market in Tustin (next to the Costco on El Camino Real)--that place is huge! The interior dimensions feel larger than a Target. Lots of interesting choices--lots of Persian/Indian food, food court, deli, freshly made bread, deserts, and of course the meat section. A lot of lamb choices--whole leg, shank, etc... There weren't many customers (or at least that was the impression given how large the sqft), hopefully they stay in business.
 
Interesting. I was just at that shopping center last weekend when I went to Costco. I noticed that "Aria" sign but had no clue what it represented.
 
I noticed lamb chops at Wholefoods a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't pay attention to the price or quality since I was looking for the $1 hamburger patties they had on sale.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top