Locavores be damned. In the Bay Area, cooking unfamiliar cuisine for a romantic meal at home or a sprawling dinner party for 10 has become a regular form of culinary grandstanding. To replicate those Keralan egg curries and Jalisciense pork tamales, we need the finest ingredients from around the world. Thankfully, they’re just down the road.

Samiramis Imports in the Mission, which sells exclusively Middle Eastern products, is as close as you’ll get to a souk around here. You can pick up all the traditional spice blends, tahini, cheese, grains, and rice, plus falafel mixes and a smorgasbord of roasted seeds and nuts. Samiramis also sells the latest beats from Egypt and Lebanon, ornate arghile (water pipes), a large selection of flavored tobacco, and cultural gifts like tabla drums. 2990 Mission St., 415-824-6555

Compact and pristine, Super Mira will finally inspire you to roll your own sushi. Along with organic produce, fresh tofu, and mochi (sticky rice cakes), this Japantown market carries gorgeously packaged sliced beef for sukiyaki, jewel-like parcels of sashimi-grade fish, and a variety of sake and Japanese beer. 1790 Sutter St., 415-921-6529

You’ll find a massive assort­ment of Chinese and other Asian ingredients at Sunset Supermarket, including an entire row of fresh noodles. You could easily spend half an hour exploring the snack and candy aisle, but save time to shop for seafood—including live shrimp and lobster—and fresh meat. Where else can you get great-looking New York steak for $6.99 a pound? 2425 Irving St., 415-682-3738

In addition to its panoply of familiar northern Indian items, such as mango pickle and papads, Coconut Hill caters to the growing population of South Indian expats in Santa Clara County and the southern end of Alameda County. You’ll find fresh dosa and uttapam batter in the refrigerated section, along with uncommon produce like ivy gourds and fenugreek leaves. 554 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale, 408-738-8837; 39207 Cedar Blvd., Newark, 510-742-8704, coconuthill.com

Much has been made of La Palma Foods’ housemade potato chips, accompanied by a packet of Tapatío hot sauce—and deservedly so. But the Mexica-tessen’s other prepared foods are just as stellar. Fresh-ground masa is available in two versions, one for tortillas and one for tamales. If making your own tortillas sounds daunting, fear not: Fresh ones are made here by hand all day long. The selection of cheeses and dried chilies is seriously bueno, too. 2884 24th St., 415-647-1500, lapalmafoods.com