The Twin Cities boast a rich tapestry of cultures, reflected in its diverse array of international grocers. These markets offer a gateway to global flavors, providing ingredients that are often hard to find in mainstream supermarkets. Forget settling for generic freezer-based versions of specialty foods; instead, embark on a culinary adventure at your neighborhood international grocer.
Driving along University Avenue in St. Paul, you’ll encounter fantastic AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander)-owned grocers. Traveling the Central Avenue corridor takes you past a litany of SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African)-owned stores. Add the suburban shops into the mix, and there’s no shortage of international grocers.
Shopping at one of the many local international grocers in the Twin Cities doesn’t just help support a small business. According to a recent study by the American Independent Business Alliance, independent retailers return three times as much money to the local economy than chain retailers. Your dollars can translate to more jobs in the community and often go to local farmers who supply these grocers with produce.
And while chain grocers stock a limited inventory, international grocers are tailored for the communities that they serve, which can lead to a wider selection of produce, marinades, and sauces.
Consider the trinity that makes up most stir fry sauces: fish sauce, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce. Whereas chain grocers might have a few different varieties of these sauces, AAPI-owned establishments such as Shuang Hur, Dragon Star, Hmong Village, or Double Dragon Foods in St. Paul, or United Noodles in Minneapolis, carry a wider variety, often comparable or cheaper than what chain grocers carry.
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Often, international grocers pass the savings along to you-at grocers like Ha Tien in St. Paul or Pooja Grocers or Dong Yang in Hilltop, produce can be cheaper than it is at Whole Foods, Cub Foods, or even Hy-Vee.
When it comes to curries, marinades, sauces, and chutneys used most commonly in Southwest/Southeast Asian, African, or West Indian cooking, the selection chain retailers carry can be incredibly slim. Some major grocery chains like Walmart and Cub Foods do now carry the dominant Walkerswood brand of jerk seasoning, in both mild and hot/spicy varieties. But to find the ingredients you need to make jerk seasoning from scratch you’ll have to visit Galaxy Foods in Richfield. For Southeast Asian cooking, spots like Pooja Grocers in Hilltop and TBS Mart in Richfield carry a wide array of chutneys and cooking sauces.
Is it ready made moles, salsas, guisados, and chili pods for Mexican/South American cooking you seek? That’s where spots like El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul, Supermercado Loma Bonita in Hilltop, Andale Taqueria & Mercado in Richfield, La Mexicana Supermercado, and Colonial Market in Minneapolis have you covered.
Bitter melon from TBS Mart
International grocers also carry cuts of meat that aren’t usually as readily available at big chain grocers. Sure, one can find oxtail at Costco, but buying in bulk for the Costco price? Unless you’re a takeout spot, who needs 11 pounds of oxtail? Luckily, Holy Land Bakery & Deli in Minneapolis, Galaxy Foods in Richfield, Pangea Market in Coon Rapids can help you out there, as can a good chunk of Latino and AAPI-owned grocers. Experienced butchers can provide you with a good chuck roast for birria, as well as guidance on finding the perfect halal cuts for African goat stew or Jamaican curried goat. At places like Rong Market in Richfield, live fishes and crustaceans are waiting to hop from the aquarium to your pot.
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International grocers also serve up a variety of hot bar/deli offerings. If you’re looking to change things up for their dinner table or to try something new, places like El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul, Supermercado Loma Bonita in Hilltop, and Andale Taqueria & Mercado in Richfield have fantastic Mexican fare, while Holy Land Bakery & Deli and Caspian Market & Bistro in Minneapolis, TBS Mart in Richfield, and Pangea Market & Grill in Coon Rapids serve excellent SWANA related items. Ha Tien has Cantonese favorites readily available, not to mention ready-to-purchase Peking duck and roast pork, and at Hmong Village in St. Paul you can enjoy egg rolls and stuffed chicken wings. Sun Empire Foods in Brooklyn Park has egg rolls; Pooja Grocers’ veggie samosas are ready to grab and go; catch them at the right time and Galaxy Foods has pre-packaged and prepared beef patties.
And as larger chains have vacated the Twin Cities in recent years, international grocers come to the rescue. Byerlys had been at Suburban Avenue on the East Side of Saint Paul since 1971; citing declining sales, it shut down that location in March of 2016. Ha Tien was seeking a bigger location for their thriving market and deli, and moved from their University Avenue location to the former Byerlys later that December. After Walmart closed at Shingle Creek Crossing in April of 2023, Sun Foods bought the space. When Aldi decided to shut down its locations in north Minneapolis and the Hi-Lake Shopping Center in south Minneapolis, Colonial Market bought both, providing residents in both areas with closer options to obtain fresh fruit and vegetables.
Roast pig and Peking duck at Ha Tien
And just this month, Supermercado Loma Bonita, a Latino grocer with locations in Crystal, Savage, Saint Paul, and Hilltop, agreed to a 10-year lease in the former Supervalu-owned Rainbow Foods location in Richfield, which closed in 2018. This flagship store will boast an expanded meat department, bakery, and restaurant, serving the needs of the largest Latino community in Minnesota.
Local food dude Andrew Zimmern was asked about visiting supermarkets in other countries in order to get a better lay of the place you’re visiting on Hot Ones a couple of years ago, and he stated it simply: “If you go into another country, and you don’t spend 20 minutes in their supermarket? I think you’re making a mistake. Look at what other people are eating. Also, If you go into a supermarket and look at what other people snack on? You can learn a hell of a lot.” This same is true here in the Twin Cities.
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What follows is an exhaustive (but not all-encompassing!) guide to the international grocers of the our area-use it as a starting point on your grocery journey, to source pantry staples, as a reason to check out a new grocer near you, or to find ingredients and snacks to broaden your cooking horizons.
AAPI Grocers:
- Ha Tien: 1959 Suburban Ave., St. Paul
- Shuang Hur: 654 University Ave., St. Paul
- Dragon Star Oriental Foods: 633 W Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul
- Dong Yang: 725 45th Ave. NE, Hilltop
- Rong Market: 6515 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis
- Sun Empire Foods Supermarket: 1200 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center
- Saigon Asian Food Market: 1996 Highway 13 E, Burnsville
- Hmong Village: 1001 Johnson Pkwy., St. Paul
- United Noodles: 2015 E. 24th St., Minneapolis
- Asia Mall: 12160 Technology Dr., Eden Prairie
The carniceria at Supermercado Loma Bonita
Latino/Indigenous Grocers
- El Burrito Mercado: 175 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul
- Supermercado Y Panadería Loma Bonita: 855 45th Ave. NE, Hilltop
- Andale Taqueria & Mercado: 7700 Nicollet Ave., Richfield
- La Mexicana: 1522 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
- Colonial Market: 2750 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis
- Indigenous Food Labs Market: 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
SWANA and South Asian Grocers
- Dur Dur Bakery & Grocery Store: 1552 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
- Wadajir Grocery & Halal Meat: 525 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis
- Caspian Bistro & Market: 2418 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis
- Holy Land Bakery & Deli: 2513 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis
- Pooja Grocers: 4864 Central Ave. NE, Hilltop
- TBS Mart: 7836 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis
- Pangea Market: 8500 Springbrook Dr. NW, Coon Rapids
Meats at Bosnian Supermarket
European and Eastern European Grocers
- Bosnian Supermarket: 764 County Highway 10, Blaine
- Bill’s Imported Foods: 721 W. Lake St., Minneapolis
- Kramarczuk’s: 215 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
- Cossettas: 211 Seventh St. W., St. Paul
- Broders Cucina Italiana: 2308 W. 50th St., Minneapolis
- Minsk Market: 3920 Cedar Grove Pkwy., Eagan
- Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts and Foods: 1601 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
Discovering Minneapolis- Mall of America, Global Market, and Culinary Delights at Fogo de Chão
The Midtown Global Market is a place of cultural exploration, culinary discovery and ethnic unification. The international public market is home to over 50 vendors including diverse restaurants, specialty produce and grocery items, and locally made crafts and goods. The market was created after local Latino business owners convinced the City that the vacant Sears building be saved and reinvented as a place to reflect the great ethnic diversity of Minneapolis. With common seating in the center of the market, patrons can each choose a different meal yet enjoy eating together.
Head to Momo Dosa for popular Nepalese street foods. Tacqueria Los Ocampo has outstanding Mexican food with authentic recipes passed down from generations. And be sure to head to Game Time Sports Bar for arcade games and cocktails. The Market is also a great spot for local jewelry, handmade crafts and unique gifts. Sanchez Jewelry offers stunning gold and silver jewelry. At Zahra Fashion you will find East African clothing, jewelry and accessories. Shop Simba Craftware for artisan African jewelry, bags, baskets, toys and other special gifts. Take a walk around to see all of the unique displays influenced from all over the globe.
Saint Paul is home to some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the state, including the Little Africa Business and Cultural District of Minnesota. Located in the neighborhood around Snelling and University Avenues, take yourself (and your tastebuds) on a tour of African immigrant businesses. What makes Minnesota a melting pot? Its long history of cultural diversity has shaped the community built and enriched by immigrants and their descendants worldwide.
Are you looking for Ethiopian products to recreate a dish you tried and loved? Fasika Restaurant is an Ethiopian restaurant in Saint Paul that serves flavorful dishes with exotic spices in a colorful environment. Guests can enjoy various dishes made with meat or vegetarian and vegan options. Sabrina's Cafe & Deli is a cozy East African coffee shop with a rich history. As a Hamline-Midway staple since 2003, Snelling Cafe has been cooking up tasty bites from Eritrea and Ethiopia along with American fare.
Every year, the Little Africa neighborhood hosts the Little Africa Festival celebrating the African American community in Minnesota. From the African Parade of Nations, Art, African Music, African Food, African Cultural Dances, to Poetry, it is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture without leaving Saint Paul.
