17 Locally Owned Food Markets for International Groceries

When my husband and I moved to south Westminster in 2019, it was Valente’s Deli Bakery & Italian Market that made our new neighborhood feel like home—and not just because of the sandwiches made with pillowy house-baked bread that fueled us on moving day. Maybe it was the smell of simmering marinara sauce lingering in the air or the banter of the regulars as Dino Valente (grandson of founder Fred Valente) sliced their mortadella. Either way, we’ve relished the soothing ritual of the short stroll to the family-owned market, which is celebrated 70 years in 2023, ever since.

Whereas schlepping to a big-box store feels like an errand, visits to Valente’s and other small, community-centric food shops dotted across the metro area are events worth anchoring an afternoon around. In addition to culturally specific groceries, many of the markets we’ve detailed here also have restaurants where you can enjoy the sort of neighborly nourishment that only a true local’s haunt can provide.

Valente’s Deli Bakery & Italian Market

Westminster
Must-buys at 71-year-old Valente’s include the house-made Italian sausage, 18-month-aged prosciutto di Parma, smoky Scamorza affumicata cheese, Pastene brand dried mafaldine pasta, and lobster-stuffed frozen ravioli. Stroll through the compact, checker-floored shop and load up on canned San Marzano tomatoes for making Bolognese (may we suggest the late Italian cookbook author Marcella Hazan’s recipe?) and Dell Alpe’s extra-hot, oil-packed giardiniera relish to upgrade everyday sandwiches. Pull up a chair at a one of the four granite tables near the front windows to devour a savory North Denver–style cannoli dunked in marinara: The warm rectangle of yeasted dough is stuffed with a mini brick of hot Italian sausage and a strip of roasted green pepper.

European Gusto Market & Café

Virginia Village
Peruse the well-organized aisles at this 20-year-old Bosnian grocer and fill your basket with lokum (butter tea cookies), roasted and pickled heirloom shipka peppers, and fresh-baked burek (flaky spiral pies stuffed with feta or beef). In addition to Bosnian relishes, meats, desserts, and frozen foods, you’ll also find treats from across Europe, including crunchy Hungarian Chio potato crackers, juniper-inflected Polish hunter’s sausage, the Croatian herbal soda Cockta, and creamy Danish white feta cheese. Wander over to the sunny, plant-bedecked cafe at the east end of the space, grab a seat on one of the loungey low-slung black couches, and enjoy a hearty plate of sudjuk—spicy sausage links served with airy flatbread, onions, kajmak (a mild, spreadable cheese), and ajvar (a roasted red pepper condiment)—from the Balkan Grill section of the menu.

India’s Harvest

Aurora
Whether you’re interested in crafting regional Indian dishes from scratch or taking a shortcut to the subcontinent’s vibrant flavors, the friendly cashiers at this Aurora market will help you find what you need. Stock up on tangy amchoor powder (made with unripe green mango) for enlivening soups and stews, protein-rich besan (chickpea flour) for pakora, golden ghee, chewy paneer cheese, and massive sacks of aromatic basmati rice. Or keep it simple with ready-made curry simmer sauces, a rainbow of jarred chutneys, and frozen puri and paratha breads.

India’s Harvest’s Chaat Corner menu also offers one of the best selections of chaat (a vast category of snacky-crunchy street foods) in the metro area. Try the aloo tikki chaat: pan-fried mashed potato patties drizzled with yogurt and tamarind chutney and topped with crisp noodle bits. There is just a singular folding table next to the kitchen, so we recommend taking your food to-go and enjoying at one of the many picnic areas at nearby Cherry Creek State Park.

Super Carniceria Compare

Harvey Park
From sliced beef ribs to pork adovada to al pastor marinated beef to head-on shrimp, the meat counter at this 15-year-old butcher shop (which also has an Aurora location) will have you itching to throw a barbecue. Once you acquire your proteins, check the produce section for super-sweet baby mangos, guavas, and prickly pears. And don’t even think about leaving without Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc’s fresh flour tortillas, made just a few blocks north on Federal Boulevard. Place your order for pupusas (we like the cheesy refried bean Salvadoran specialties) before you shop; they’re made to order and take at least 20 minutes. Then come back to the sectioned-off dining space, slide into one of the plastic booths, and enjoy your pupusas alongside the families sharing Salvadoran-style chicken tamales and massive smothered burritos.

MMart Korean Market

Aurora
MMart has been Colorado’s only independent Korean market for more than four decades. This family-owned shop on Havana Street is considerably smaller than nearby H-Mart, but owner Augustine Lee’s curated shelves offer many items not seen at the chain. Go for staples including seaweed, dried mushrooms, kimchi, tofu, and gochugaru (chile powder) plus fiery instant ramen and snacks like super-thin Vanilla Mousse Korean Oreos and cheesy O!Tube chips. A true one-stop-shop, MMart also houses Honey Bakery and its heavenly sweet potato cake, a takeaway counter serving gimbap (Korean rice rolls), and, tucked into the back corner, Korean Food To-Go restaurant, from which you’ll want to procure an order of the kimchi fried rice and spicy, potato-laden pork bone soup. The dine-in tables are even more tucked away, making you feel as though you’ve stepped away from a busy Seoul market to dine in a secluded alley.

Nana African Market

Aurora
We’re partial to Nana African Market for its warm customer service and well-curated selection of goods from West Africa. Bridget Ofori, who is also studying for the bar exam and works for the nonprofit the Underdog Family, stocks the shelves with products from her native Ghana, from Geisha canned mackerel in tomato sauce to Bambara groundnuts to rich red palm oil to colorful wax print fabrics. Don’t miss the fridge and freezer section for peeled cassava, goat meat, Ting grapefruit soda, and ultra-spicy, clove-scented Le Ginger juice.

Jasmine Market

Lakewood
When Jasmine Market opened in 2020, residents on the west side of the city could finally obtain pomegranate molasses, labneh, couscous, and other Middle Eastern ingredients without a drive to Aurora. This small strip-market shop sells halal lamb, beef, and chicken at incredibly affordable prices, plus Ziyad- and Sadaf-brand spices, including tangy ground sumac, za’atar, and beef shawarma blend. Whatever you do, don’t leave without pantry staples like freekeh (roasted green whole wheat), date syrup, spreadable Kiri cheese, and cracked olives with lemon. Add toum garlic dip, falafel, baklava-esque kataifi dessert, and a package of frozen flatbread to your basket and you’ve got the makings of an easy mezze-style dinner.

Krung Thai Grocery

Aurora
This bustling market stocks many Thai ingredients that are tough to find at other area Asian grocers. Grab sweet chile sauce, rice noodles, dried shrimp, lotus seeds, palm sugar, and tamarind pulp to stock your pantry, and don’t miss snacks like sweet-basil-flavored Lay’s potato chips, cigar-shaped rolled pandan coconut cookies, and durian-flavored mini wafer bites. The produce section includes diminutive Thai eggplants, aromatic galangal, and herbs, plus green bamboo shoots, jackfruit, and, when in season, fresh durian. For a special treat, look for quarts of co’m ru’o’u (a lightly sweet, yeasted Vietnamese rice wine dessert) in the fridge.

Padoca Gourmet

Mayfair
The brainchild of Paula and Chase Lowrey, Padoca got its start in 2018 as a small home bakery delivering pastries to Denver’s Brazilian community. Since opening the cafe and retail outfit in the Mayfair neighborhood in 2021, Paula still bakes and fries all the heavenly pastries from scratch, and the couple has expanded the menu to include açai bowls, quiche, espresso drinks, and a small retail selection. Padoca’s top sellers include the tapioca cheese bread called pão de queijo, fried chicken croquettes (coxinha), and brigadeiros (fudgy chocolate treats). Enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack in the cafe area while you’re there, and bring home Brazilian coffee roasted in Boulder by Bona Coffee, tapioca and farofa (toasted cassava) flour, goiabada guava paste, Guaraná soda, and frozen bags of Padoca’s own bite-size pastries.

The Ambrosian Pantry

Cherry Creek
In Greek literature, ambrosia is the mythical food and drink of the gods. The idea behind Cherry Creek’s Ambrosian Pantry, according to owner Parker Paulin, is that if Olympus had a pantry, this would be it. We’re happy to report that this foodie paradise lives up to its celestial moniker. The store features around 2,000 hard-to-find goods such as Il Colle Del Gusto Sicilian pistachio spread, Haci Bekir Turkish delight, Rancho Gordo beans, Eleven Madison Home granolas, and so much more. While there are no refrigerated or frozen products here, it’s well worth a special stop to stock up on dry and tinned goods including one of the best selections of tinned fish in the city, artisan pastas, fancy condiments, dried gourmet mushrooms, fine chocolates, picnic baskets, and Cocktail Kingdom barware. Need a gift for a foodie? Start here. Bonus: The Ambrosian Pantry’s entire catalog is also available for online orders.

Crawfish Market

Mar Lee
Finding live crawfish in Denver was basically impossible—until Crawfish Market opened its doors to its pristine shop on South Federal, which vends wholesale and to the public. There is no better shopping destination for a seafood boil. Start with the seasonally stocked live crawfish (there are always frozen crawfish stocked when the Louisiana delicacy isn’t in season) or other live seafood like blue crabs and fresh oysters (just $1 each!) on ice. Peruse the frozen selections for pristine whole tilapia, plump snow and king crab legs and stone crab claws, giant prawns, razor clams, scallops on the half shell, alligator meat, and more. Finish off your basket with fresh vegetables, boil seasonings, and farm-fresh local eggs and get ready to throw a party.

Cují Foods

Boulder and Aurora
While the metro area has no shortage of Mexican and even Central American markets, finding goods from South America has always been a bit more challenging. Cují Foods, which has outposts in Boulder and Aurora, fills that market gap with a selection of goods from countries like Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and more. Check the freezers for frozen prepared comfort foods, like tequeños (sticks of dough filled with cheese), empanadas, and pastelitos (savory pastries), plus plump Argentine sausages and steaks. The fridges are stocked with a variety of fresh cheeses, and the shelves are lined with candies, treats, flours, and sausages. Don’t leave without Venezuelan Pirulin cookies and a jar of SpicyPau’s super-flavorful Ajicero Caraqueño hot sauce.

Tom’s Seafood & Gourmet Market

Lakewood
A Green Mountain haunt for fresh seafood and gourmet goods since 1998, small-but-mighty Tom’s Seafood & Gourmet Market features a rotating daily selection of sustainably sourced, fresh-caught seafood under current owners Maggie and Apos Kourakis. A large roster of sushi-grade proteins—plus all the necessary extras like pickled ginger, nori, and short-grain sushi rice—make this the spot to go if you want to try your hand at sushi cheffing at home. Tom’s also sells house-made prepared meals and snacks such as New England stuffies (stuffed clams), clam chowder, tuna salad, and divine house-smoked salmon. Whether you go for a beautiful filet of monkfish, cod, or wild salmon, you’re apt to walk out with a basket full of goodies (look out for impossible-to-find-elsewhere treats like fresh morel mushrooms, when in season). Bonus: Can’t find something you want? Tom’s welcomes special orders and requests.

Nude Foods Market

Boulder and Berkeley
If you’ve ever been baffled by the sheer amount of plastic waste that makes its way into your home with every grocery store haul, then you’ll appreciate the ethos behind Nude Foods’ locations in Boulder and north Denver. Every one of the meticulously sourced products at this shop is sold in reusable, sustainable glass packaging. Co-owner Verity Noble points to the single residential garbage can behind the store rather than the rows of industrial-size dumpsters you’d see behind a typical grocer as proof of Nude Foods’ waste-reduction impact. Whether you’re trying to eschew plastic packaging or just searching for delicious things to eat, Nude Foods has you covered. From ready-made heat-and-serve “Nude Meals” like tempeh wraps and soups to pantry goods like cacao powder, nuts, dried mango, coffee, and flours to fresh dairy and meats, this small shop has everything you need. We’re particularly fond of Nude Foods’ selection of responsibly sourced wild boar products, including sausage, ground meat, ham, and jerky, given that the protein is an invasive species whose harvest avoids factory farming.

Heinie’s Market

Wheat Ridge
A family-owned produce market right off I-70 in Wheat Ridge since 1950, Heinie’s Market is one of the Front Range’s best shops for fruits and vegetables sourced directly from Centennial State farmers, stocking multiple varieties of Palisade peaches and stone fruits, Colorado-grown roasted chiles (look for frozen bags of them outside of harvest season in the fall), sweet Olathe corn, Rocky Ford melons, and juicy heirloom tomatoes in every color. Deal lovers will appreciate the discounted baskets of produce near the front door. Heinie’s also has scores of other goods as you make your way to the back of the shop: gourmet jams and syrups, funky sodas, pickles galore, Colorado-grown heirloom beans, Amish popcorns, fresh-pressed juices, frozen pies, bags of cheese curds, tortillas, bread, and more. While Heinie’s used to operate as a seasonal business, it now stays open year-round.

Leever’s Locavore

Sunnyside
Part grocery store, part food hall, Leever’s Locavore on 38th Avenue houses restaurants, grab-and-go prepared foods, fresh produce, locally sourced goods, and natural products. Where else can you sip a Colorado microbrew while you shop? We all know grocery shopping on an empty stomach sucks, so fuel up with grub from Oscar’s Eats, One Two Three Sushi, or Basil Doc’s Pizza before getting down to business. Swing by for daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. for one of the best deals in town, the “$2 holler,” when you can grab $2 select beers and snacks like hot dogs, skinny pizza slices, and pretzel bites. Once sated, skim the aisles for local products like Kream kimchi, Pastificio’s heirloom wheat pastas, Mark’Z Legendary Garlic & Basil Dressing, Flouwer Co. Crackers, fresh gourmet mushrooms from Mile High Fungi, Colorado-sourced Hook & Hock meats, and plant-based alternatives. Bonus: Don’t miss the shelves of free vintage cookbooks (provided by BookGive Denver) near the meat counter.

Viet Hoa Market

Lakewood
This Vietnamese-owned market also stocks a large selection of Filipino, Indonesian, and other Southeast Asian products that are missing from other area markets. Also notable is the massive selection of vegan goods, including everything from canned mock duck and chicken to plant-based versions of abalone, scores of tofu and Verisoy products, animal-free versions of fish and oyster sauces and soup bases, and frozen vegan dumplings and buns. The massive market is also home to a sprawling seafood counter, aisles and aisles of noodles, sauces and dry goods, and fresh produce like fuzzy melon, taro, apple bananas, and frozen whole durian fruits—all of which are competitively priced. One note: If you’re looking to make banh mi at home, you’ll have to go elsewhere for bread, as Viet Hoa does not offer bakery items.

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