From Asian to Mexican to African, find global ingredients at these OKC grocery stores

JaNae Williams, Oklahoman
·7 min read

If you've ever traveled overseas, you might have experienced the unique dilemma of finding your favorite product in store.

But what about the reverse, ever been on the search for a favorite product found overseas only to find traditional United States grocery chains lacking?

Maybe you have friends or family from another country that mentioned or brought with them a treat or snack and you want to find it again, or perhaps you're planning to host an international guest and want to make them feel more at home. You might be surprised to learn there are more than two dozen international markets in the Oklahoma City metro.

Some of these markets, like Super Cao Nguyen, are well-known throughout the community and have been around for decades. Others, like Afghan Halal Food Market, the city's newest international store and its first Afghan market, opened to fill a specific need.

Owner Sayed Muhammad also has a store in Texas and said that as refugees began arriving in Oklahoma from Afghanistan, they were driving to that location to find the goods they were looking for. It quickly became clear there was a need for another store.

Afghan Halal Food Market is one of the city's newest international grocery suppliers, at 2903 NW 36th Street in Oklahoma City.
Afghan Halal Food Market is one of the city's newest international grocery suppliers, at 2903 NW 36th Street in Oklahoma City.

More:Afghan refugees adjust to Oklahoma, overcoming hurdles, finding freedom

"They just moved to a new country which 95% of everything is different than what they had back home," Muhammad said. "Culture, traditions, other stuff, the meals, how they are living, how they are working — when they see the store we have here, they really feel like they are back home."

While traditional Afghan clothes, sandals, food, housewares and more can be found in other places throughout the United States, they are hard to come by in Oklahoma. Muhammad said opening his store also removed a language barrier for those who are struggling with learning English after abruptly uprooting their lives.

"First, they cannot find what they're looking for. Second thing, even if they need something, it's very hard for them to have to ask the cashiers or have to ask customer service to help out with it because they can't speak English at all," he said.

Sweis Pita Bakery and International Market offers a selection of goods from the Middle East and Mediterranean regions as well as some European products at 2115 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Sweis Pita Bakery and International Market offers a selection of goods from the Middle East and Mediterranean regions as well as some European products at 2115 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.

More:Language, cultural differences remain big adjustments for Afghans, sponsors say

Muhammad said as important as it is for Afghan people to have access to a market like his, the experience is also important for Americans.

"For American people, if they are trying to try different foods, different stuff from any other foreign countries, they can get it from here," he said. "That way they can experience what they have and they can compare it with the American meals and stuff."

Looking for a specific item or just want to check out some of the international flavor offerings of the Oklahoma City metro area? Try visiting any of the markets below, grouped by global region, and as an added bonus, many of these markets include small restaurants or eateries inside.

1. South Asian and Middle Eastern markets (including halal)

India Bazaar is a grocery store and halal market at 3607 N Portland Ave in Oklahoma City.
India Bazaar is a grocery store and halal market at 3607 N Portland Ave in Oklahoma City.

One of the major aspects of south Asian and Middle Eastern markets is the observance of halal practices, particularly regarding the slaughtering of meat. Halal is an Arabic word which translates to "lawful or permitted," according to the American Halal Foundation. Meat must be prepared according to these standards in order to be consumed by those who practice Islam and only halal food should be used to prepare meals for Muslim guests.

  • Afghan Halal Food Market, 2903 NW 36th St., 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily.

  • India Bazaar, 3607 N Portland Ave., 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

  • Farah Mart, 3700 N Portland Ave., 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 8 a.m. -10 p.m. Sunday

  • Halal Mart, 3718 NW 50th St., 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Saturday; Noon - 7 p.m. Sunday

  • Spices of India, 3810 NW 39th St., 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday

  • Halal Market: Med Mart (Mediterranean Mart), 3925 N MacArthur Blvd., Warr Acres, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday

  • Sabri Foods Grocery & Halal Restaurant, 13 E Fourth St., Edmond, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily.

Can food cure high medical bills?Pilot 'food as medicine' programs aim to prove just that.

2. Latin and Hispanic markets

The Supermercados Morelos at 621 N Moore Ave. in Moore, Okla. is one of the Oklahoma-based chains five metro locations.
The Supermercados Morelos at 621 N Moore Ave. in Moore, Okla. is one of the Oklahoma-based chains five metro locations.

It is estimated that roughly 20% of Oklahoma City's population identified as Hispanic, according to census data, and Oklahoma City Public Schools lists it's students population as 54% Hispanic. With the city's Hispanic population expected to continue to thrive, it's no surprise that the number of Latin and Hispanic markets also continue to grow. These markets carry many of the same products you might find in U.S. supermarkets but also have the added bonus of aisles stocked with spices, chiles, canned and baked goods, produce, drinks and meat you might find in the countries of Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and beyond. Meats are often sold pre-seasoned or marinated in spice blends for tacos and other preparations.

  • Supermercados Morelos, five metro locations, including Moore, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

  • La Michoacana, multiple metro locations, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

  • Carniceria Jalisco, 4300 S May Ave., 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

  • Feria Latina Supermarket, two locations - 4909 SW 23rd St., 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. daily.; and 1645 SW 47th St., 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily.

  • El Patron Super Market, 2121 W Hefner Road, The Village, 7 a.m. - 8:50 p.m. daily.

  • Mi Pequeño Mexican Market, 3142 Waterloo Circle, Edmond, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

More:Once an oasis in a food desert, prices are driving away customers Homeland sought to serve

3. Eastern and Southeastern Asian markets

These markets carry a wide variety of Asian foods, including ingredients commonly used in Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Filipino and other cuisines from the east and southeast Asian diaspora. Things you may find in these markets include fruits and vegetables native to various Asian countries — dried, preserved and fresh — a plethora of spices, noodles and rice, and other culturally specific meals and foods. Live and freshly butchered fish are common in east and southeast Asian markets.

OK KO-Mart is an Asian market with a number of items commonly found in southeast and east Asian cuisine at 6000 SE 15th Street in Midwest City, Okla.
OK KO-Mart is an Asian market with a number of items commonly found in southeast and east Asian cuisine at 6000 SE 15th Street in Midwest City, Okla.

  • Super Cao Nguyen, 2668 N Military Ave., 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily.

  • Chinatown Supermarket, 1228 NW 27th St., 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday - Thursday; 9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • OK KO-Mart Oriental Foods, 6000 SE 15th St., Midwest City, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 12:30 - 6 p.m. Sunday.

4. African markets

Grace International Store is an African market at 1036 N Flood Ave. in Norman, Okla.
Grace International Store is an African market at 1036 N Flood Ave. in Norman, Okla.

The metro's African markets offer a variety of goods for those looking to channel the flavors of predominantly sub-Saharan African countries. These markets may feature foods seen in both eastern and western African countries, including staples of Nigerian, Ethiopian, Ghanaian, Kenyan cuisine and more.

  • Mama Z’s African Market, 4534 NW 16th St., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday.

  • Aseda International Grocery, 8960 S Western Ave., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday; 1 - 7 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

  • Grace International Store, 1036 N Flood Ave., Norman, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday; closed Sunday.

  • Makola Market, 2425 N Classen Blvd., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday; closed Sunday.

  • Star Super Market, 6712 NW 23rd St., Bethany, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 1 - 7 p.m. Sunday.

5. Other markets

European Store Oklahoma offers foods from Germany, Ukraine, Poland and more at 3604 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
European Store Oklahoma offers foods from Germany, Ukraine, Poland and more at 3604 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.

In addition to the markets above, there are some markets in the Oklahoma City metro area that simply need a category of their own. They range from a huge grocery store on Penn Avenue that began by selling Asian items and now terms itself "international" because it carries a variety from across the globe to a few smaller stores on May Avenue that sell goods from multiple countries, one simply calling itself European. In these stores, you'll find a variety of goods from places ranging from Britain to Russia and Iceland to Israel.

Mediterranean Imports & Deli offers a variety of global goods at 5620 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Mediterranean Imports & Deli offers a variety of global goods at 5620 N May Ave. in Oklahoma City.

  • European Store Oklahoma, 3604 N May Ave., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

  • Sweis Pita Bakery & International Market, 2115 N May Ave., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Saturday; closed Sunday.

  • Mediterranean Imports Deli & Gastro Goods, 5620 N May Ave., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Saturday; closed Sunday.

  • World Fresh International Market, 10700 S Pennsylvania Ave., 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Find Mexican, African, Asian grocery stores and more in OKC