If you're after karela in Los Angeles, you'll find it — fresh, frozen, and more — at Anoras Cash N Carry on S Fairfax Ave. Karela (bitter melon or bitter gourd) is the knobbly green vegetable people either love or work hard to mellow. We carry it a few ways, so you can pick what suits your recipe.

What is karela?

Karela is bitter melon (also called bitter gourd) — a warty, cucumber-shaped green vegetable prized across Indian, Pakistani and South Asian cooking for its distinctive bitterness. It's used in stir-fries (sabzi), stuffed as bharwa karela, in pickles, and juiced for wellness.

What forms of karela can I buy here?

• Fresh karela — whole bitter melon by the pound. Fresh Karela (Bitter Melon).
• Frozen cut karela — pre-cut, ready to stir-fry. Daily Delight Bitter Gourd Cut and Laxmi Frozen Karela.
• Karela juice — for those who take it as a wellness drink. Vedic Ayurveda Karela Juice.
• Karela pickle — a bitter-spiced South Indian achar. Swetha Karela Pickle.

How do you reduce the bitterness of karela?

A common trick: scrape off some of the rough skin, slice, rub with salt and let it sit for 20–30 minutes, then squeeze out the liquid and rinse before cooking. Pairing it with onion, jaggery or tamarind also balances the bitterness. Fresh gives you the most control; frozen cut karela is the fast route to a weeknight sabzi.

Where can I buy karela near me in Los Angeles?

Anoras Cash N Carry, 567 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 — in the Fairfax district, near the Original Farmers Market. Open daily, 10 AM–9 PM, with in-store shopping, pickup and local delivery across LA. More in our Fresh Produce aisle.

Frequently asked questions

Is karela the same as bitter melon?

Yes — karela, bitter melon and bitter gourd are all the same vegetable.

How do I make karela less bitter?

Salt the sliced karela, rest 20–30 minutes, then squeeze and rinse. Cooking it with onion, jaggery or tamarind also softens the bitterness.

Do you deliver in Los Angeles?

Yes — local delivery across LA plus in-store pickup.