Salem is rich in grocery stores. Even though many people choose mainstream stores like Safeway or Fred Meyer for their weekly trips, we are lucky to have a lot of options for foods from around the world. From excellent Mexican groceries to a new Middle Eastern store and multiple Asian markets, Salem has a lot of hidden gems when it comes to shopping for food at international grocery stores in Salem.
La Tapatia
2235 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem
Part of a small chain of Mexican grocery stores, La Tapatia is a large, full-service grocery with produce, meat, and dairy sections, a bakery and deli, custom cake service, piñatas, and money order and wire services. Customers can get fruits and vegetables that are more popular in Mexican cooking, from cactus and peppers to tropical fruit.
In the bakery, the pastries and tortillas are made daily. The store is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mega Foods
3695 Devonshire Avenue NE, Salem
A truly eclectic large grocery, Mega Foods has a robust selection of Mexican and Central American-focused foods but also includes many imported European products. Mega Foods offers plenty of frozen foods from around the world, and other aisles feature either Mexican, American or European products. Mega Foods would be the place to go for anyone looking for food from Central and Eastern Europe.
They have a good deli selection and feature many piñatas hanging throughout the store. Finally, they have many Mexican cookware brands for those missing the pots and pans they used to have. Mega Foods is open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.
A-Dong Market
2990 Silverton Road NE, Salem
A staple of Salem’s Asian food fanciers since the 1990s, A-Dong has an excellent selection of Asian foods, candies, and drinks. There’s a very popular sushi counter at the back. A-Dong also sells Asian tableware – plates, chopsticks, mugs – at reasonable prices. The market covers most Asian cuisine and includes ingredients from Middle Eastern, Indian, Southeast Asian, and East Asian foods.
The owners are very helpful and can point curious chefs in the direction of new ingredients or help customers make the dish they’ve been craving. Open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and until 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.
Flourish Spices and African Foods
1555 Hawthorne Avenue NE, Salem
An outstanding African market sharing a space with a hair salon, Flourish Spice and African Food sells a variety of foods, from grains and legumes to the many spices common in African cooking. The excellent website features the products they sell, the catering menu, videos, and extra information about African cuisine.
Since many Americans aren’t so familiar with African cooking, you can sign up with a group to take an African cooking class and learn from the market’s owner. More than just a market, Flourish Spice and African Foods is about introducing and teaching Americans about the diversity and flavor of African food. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dukano Essentials
4940 River Road N, Keizer
A great new addition to the grocery scene, Dukano Essentials is a Halal Market specializing in food from the Middle East and North Africa. They are the only store in the area to offer Halal cuts of meat and plan to also have deli foods for sale in the future.
Even though the shop is relatively small, they have a great variety of food, from teff flour to spice blends to candies. There’s also a good-sized refrigerator and freezer section for those wanting quicker access to the food than cooking them themselves. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Taj Indian Groceries and Sweets
5040 Commercial Street SE, Salem
Tucked into a corner of a building on the corner of Kubler and Commercial, Taj Indian Groceries and Sweets is the go-to place for Indian foods in Salem. They have a substantial selection of snacks and spices and a small but well-stocked refrigerated section. Their produce is also remarkable.
It’s not a big store, but there are a ton of products and a must for anyone doing Indian cooking in the area. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Most people in Salem are probably aware of the many grocery stores featuring Mexican products like Mega Foods, La Tapatia and many other smaller establishments. So it’s easy to find whatever Mexican ingredient you might want in Salem, but some other stores featuring foods from other regions of the world are absolutely worth checking out. From the Halal selections at Dukano Essentials to the Asian foods at A Dong or Taj to Flourish Spices and African Foods, anyone will find a wealth of new flavors and dishes to expand their palates.
