As a melting pot, Houston has many diverse cultures to offer in one city. This means there are many international grocery stores to browse, including some of my personal favorites. All of these stores have plenty to offer, from your typical groceries to specialty items you would not find easily elsewhere.
Starting with one I am sure plenty of University of Houston- Downtown students are familiar with if they love Asian foods, H-mart is a grocery store I believe everyone should visit at least once if they are fans of Asian foods, skincare or K-pop merchandise. It has plenty of locations across Houston, but I am most familiar with the Chinatown location. I recommend coming here to experience the rest of Chinatown while you are in the area, especially the claw machines that are rising in popularity.
Once you enter the H-Mart, immediately to the right, you will find the Asian skincare and makeup store. Next to that will be the K-pop store, where you can find merchandise from your favorite groups, such as Aespa or TXT. On the left side, you can find thebakery called Tous Les Jours, where you can try out a sweet treat, whether it is a pastry or a drink. Personally, I suggest their curry croquettes for those that enjoy the taste of Japanese curry or prefer something on the savory side. From there, you can make your way to the aisle of your choosing, but the snack aisle is a must-visit— take it from me. There are a variety of snack options to choose from: gummies, hard candies, mochi, chips, and plenty more.
Some other sections you should also see are the ice cream section and all the way to the back on the leftmost side of the store, you will find the best part of H-Mart— the food court section. This location has two restaurants, but others usually have more., My favorite part is the bento boxes they offer — perfect meals consisting of different protein options such as bulgogi, with some rice, sides and kimchi for $10-$14 depending on the box you choose.
Overall, a wonderful place to shop if you love Asian cuisine or to experience a fun day out in Chinatown. Some other places similar to H-Mart are Seiwa Market, Hong Kong Market, Nippan Daido and 99 Ranch. Some are more specialized in the goods they carry though,; Seiwa Market and Nippan Daido, for instance, specialize in Japanese goods.
Aside from Asian grocery stores, there are also a plethora of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern grocery stores to explore. One of them is not very far from campus, although it does have a second location further away. Phoenicia Specialty Foods is a store anyone in the Downtown area should visit, at least once to check out what they have to offer, and they have plenty: snacks, coffees, spices, chocolates, pastries and prepared foods, aside from your typical groceries.
It is easy to spend a lot of money there as it is a bit on the pricier side, but if you are in the area and have time to spare, check it out. I do recommend parking elsewhere and walking, though, since the free parking garage is often very full. If Phoenicia is not up your alley, head on over to Dukkan International Market for similar goods to Phoenicia, except for the prepared foods, but still, plenty of snacks, teas, coffees, and groceries to choose from. For Middle Eastern and Mediterranean groceries, Al Aqsa International Groceries offers great goods such as baklava; it also stays open until 11:45 p.m. for the fellow night owls.
I am confident that many of us University of Houston- Downtown students grew up visiting these stores, but they are still worth mentioning for many reasons. Mi Tienda, La Michoacana and Teloloapan offer Hispanic goods many of us know and love, but for those who do not, all of these stores will offer typical groceries as well as Hispanic prepared foods and pastries. Mi Tienda has great churros, if I do say so myself, as well as great aguas frescas. The only difference lies in the size of the stores; Mi Tienda will be on the bigger side, like a typical grocery store, whereas the two others will be smaller. Perfect for quick exploration.
Houston has a wide variety of international grocery stores for students to try out one day. Whether it be on a date, with family or alone, all these groceries should be visited once for at least the experience, if not for trying out different snacks and cuisines.
