Indianapolis is full of diverse immigrant communities here that infuse the city with culture.
As a bonus, we all get great food out of the exchange as well — not just restaurants, but in the city’s many ethnic food groceries stacked high with all kinds of produce and spices you won’t find at Kroger. For cooks in search of the taste of home or a whole new cross-cultural culinary adventure, we’ve put together a quick list of the city’s favorite shops.
International Marketplace | 4225 Lafayette Rd
There is a reason West 38th Street was named the International Marketplace: it’s home to every culture and cuisine Indy has to offer, from Peruvian to Punjabi. Om India Plaza is stacked wall-to-wall with everything from gooseberry juice to tamarind paste to bags of frozen pakora. The “plaza” in the name refers to the cluster of businesses that include this grocery, a restaurant, an eyebrow threading salon, and a few others.
Homecroft | 2308 E Stop 11 Rd
International Marketplace | 3605 Commercial Dr
Castleton | 8448 Center Run Dr.
While individual food cultures have their own individual stores, the Saraga stores were started over 25 years ago by two Korean brothers. “Saraga” is the phonetic spelling of the Korean word for “living,” and the store was always meant to provide everything you need to live no matter where you’re from. Sections are divided geographically, and Saraga has one of the best fish counters in the city. They’ll give you the whole fish and scale it for you, or gut it, skin and filet the fish depending on your choice.
Various Locations
We told you about Carniceria Guanajuato’s diet-friendly restaurant within the store before (and we’d highly recommend coming back for the tacos on your cheat day). The rest of the stores, scattered around Indy, are known for being spotless with shelves stocked like rows of soldiers in formation. If you’ve only had supermarket chorizo, their housemade version will have you stopping by weekly.
International Marketplace | 4150 Lafayette Rd
Castleton | 6302 E 82nd St
Mafat and Tulsi are the Patel Brothers that started it all in 1974, after Mafat graduated from Indiana University, and now the chain of Indian groceries has expanded across the Great Lakes region. Indy alone has two Patel Brothers stores, and the shops have by far the most diverse selection and some of the lowest prices on everything you’ll need to cook up a killer chana masala.
Various Locations
Chances are, you’ve seen the Tienda Morelos name in a few neighborhoods around Indy. There are so many in town, you’re never more than 15 minutes from a warm, fresh-baked concha — a dangerous proposition for sweet tooth havers. The best thing to look for are the cups of cut fruit that come around during the summer produce season and definitely opt for a sprinkles of chili and lime.
Did we miss your favorite local international grocery store? Email us at [email protected] to let us know!
