When it comes to grocery stores, the first image in your mind is usually a popular brand, like Safeway. This week, I was on a mission to find more food than what the average American store can offer. As it turns out, Colorado Springs is home to a variety of stores that market toward other cultures.
Asian Markets
If you’re looking for an Asian market, Colorado Springs has you covered. There are so many more than the three I visited.
The Asian Pacific Market, located off Powers Boulevard and Platte Avenue, is likely the most known Asian market in the Springs area. They sell a plethora of food and household items and even have a small food court inside.
Asian Pacific Market offers fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood. Besides their array of tanks for the sea creatures, they also have an extensive frozen section. Customers can find cuts of meats, premade frozen meals and desserts. This store has everything.
While I was here, I picked up some soy sauce ($7.99). Everyone else in line had their carts filled with groceries.
I visited Springs Korean Market, which was a new store for me, and I will definitely be back. This cute, family-run grocery is filled with all Korean food necessities.
Since Korean food is one of my favorite cuisines, I had to buy several types of instant noodles and an ice cream pastry called samanco ($6). I was very tempted to buy the in-house made meals that were packaged by the register. In the refrigerated section, tubs of house made kimchi are stacked in neat rows.
Asiana Market Korean & Japanese Grocery is the store I passed that inspired this article. I wanted to go in so bad but couldn’t find the time. This place sells so many authentic Korean goodies that I’ve seen on TikTok such as the convenience store bagged coffees.
I ended up purchasing a lot of drinks that I like such as Mikis cream soda ($1.19) and a pack of Binggrae banana milk ($9). I’m excited to return since they have frozen meals I’d like to try.
This store also offers Korean beauty products, so I will be coming back to buy shampoo next time I run out.
Mexican Markets
For Mexican groceries, I was recommended Luna Market and Carniceria Leonela.
At Luna Market, the most popular find was their butchery. The back of the store was filled with customers in line for their slices of meat. This store also had a heavenly-smelling bakery section with donuts and Mexican pastries like conchas.
I didn’t end up getting anything here but a longing for donuts.
Along with a fresh produce area, the shelves at Carniceria Leonela are packed tightly with snacks, canned beans, instant soups and rows of brightly colored candy.
In their candy section, they offer individually wrapped candy pieces for around $0.70, and so I bought a handful of candies I had never tried before. This grocery store also had a food court, which offered snow cones and ice cream. I can’t wait to visit again this summer for a sweet treat.
Italian Market
Mollica’s Italian Market and Deli is close to UCCS. I had visited their restaurant, but I had no idea their market was right next door. This is the place to go for fun pasta shapes. What makes Mollica’s so special is that they have a deli for meat, cheese, chocolate and confectionaries.
African Market
Next on my journey was Shop & Smile African and Int’l Market. Their freezer was full of cuts of meat that probably could not be found as easily in a Safeway, such as pigs’ feet and large fish.
There was a variety of grains, flours, plantain chips, peanuts, ginger items and dessert items like chinchin cookies. Though this market was on the smaller side, it seemed to have provided all the necessities that customers would want to be able to find.
Indian Markets
I stopped at Adam’s International Market and really enjoyed this store. They provided Indian chips, cookies, candy and other snacks. They also have a few fully stocked freezers of frozen food options.
From here I purchased a few fun Hide & Seek Fab! chocolate and strawberry cookies ($1.50) and even got a package of incense.
Taste of India Grocery has the same feeling as walking into a Maverik gas station. This store was full of not only groceries, but also a few fabrics, garlands and other international items. I was all shopped out by this point, but if you’re craving an Indian dish and not motivated to make it, I’m sure Taste of India has got you covered.
Eastern European Market
The highlight of Euro Deli & Market is the deli, with so many options of sausages and cheese to choose from. Charcuterie board lovers, let it be known that you need to check this place out.
This market has a lot of sweets to choose from. They even carry original Kinder Eggs. I ended up getting chocolate-covered coffee marshmallows, which served as a tiramisu dupe.
Middle Eastern Market
Al Rahman Market International is an Arabic and Kosher market with a cafe that serves Mediterranean food and homemade baklava. They offer a wide selection of grains, beans, quality halal meats and a variety of international grocery items.
I obviously could not leave without ordering falafel and baklava. The workers were super nice and freshly made the wrap.I am so happy to have made this trip across the world in Colorado Springs. After visiting 11 stores, I felt like I had traveled the globe. I want to visit these markets more than corporate grocery stores.
Graphic via The Scribe archives.