SHOPPING BEYOND AN INTERNATIONAL AISLE
Discover the top diverse grocery stores in Tucson.
By Mekayla Phan
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Whether you want to step out of your culinary comfort zone or are looking to find your favorite specialty ingredient, Tucson has a number of ethnic grocery stores that cater to all of our culturally diverse communities. Discover some of the top recommended markets to experience flavors from across the globe, right here in our City of Gastronomy.
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African
Ada Imports ($)
Ada Imports is a hidden treasure trove for affordable West African and Caribbean groceries. Find all the goodies you’re looking for at this one-stop shop for seafood, flour, fruits, canned and dried goods, and household items such as soaps, decorative food storage boxes, and traditional clothing materials.
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Their friendly service includes the option to request for items to be imported if it is possible.
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Location: 4223 E Grant Rd
Hours: Daily 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Location: 3565 E Speedway Blvd #171
Hours: Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Nur Market & Restaurant ($$)
Founded by three refugee brothers from Mogadishu, Somalia, the Osman family has been providing the Tucson community a taste of their home country for more than a decade.
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At Nur Market & Restaurant, you can find your fix of East African, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European foods with the many varieties of spices, teas, flour, nuts, lentils, and canned goods lining the shelves. The restaurant side of the store specializes in Somali dishes, featuring delicious options such as goat curry, beef and chicken shawarma, and sambuusas.
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Asian
Lee Lee International Supermarket ($$)
Housing thousands of imports from more than 30 countries around the world, Lee Lee International Supermarket is far from your standard Asian corner store market. Celebrating 25 years as the largest diverse grocery chain in Tucson, Lee Lee’s is the best place to experience all kinds of authentic foods and flavors along with fresh produce, live seafood, and butcher meats. The store also offers specialty household items, a selection of imported alcoholic beverages, and Chinese medicines.
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Located inside is Nan Tian BBQ, which serves Chinese barbecue plates such as Peking duck and roasted pork.
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Location: 1990 W Orange Grove Rd
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (Nan Tian BBQ is open 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.)
Grantstone Supermarket ($)
More centrally located than Lee Lee’s, Grantstone Supermarket is a convenient alternative to check out for a well-stocked selection of Asian groceries. While you may want to double-check the expiration dates on certain packages, Granstone has an abundant selection of produce, sauces, spices, snacks, and canned and packaged goods boasting some of the most budget-friendly prices in town. In addition, they also sell household items like cookware and herbal Chinese medicines.
Location: 8 W Grant Rd
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
India Dukaan ($)
Treat yourself to a flavorful and authentic home-cooked meal by shopping here for all your Indian staples. Here you’ll find spices, grains, lentils, and fresh produce available from Wednesday through Saturday. India Dukaan is a friendly, approachable mom-and-pop shop run by Sukanya Bhat, who loves to chat and help anyone navigate Indian cuisine for the first time.
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The store also serves as a center for Tucson’s Indian community and provides resources for eating and living healthily.
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Location: 2754 N Campbell Ave
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
India Food & Gifts ($$)
India Food & Gifts is a well-stocked shop with a variety of spices and seasonings, fresh curry leaves, frozen foods, teas, and specialty household items such as nag champa incenses and oils. The store also has an Indian video rental service, and only two doors down is the beloved Sher-e-Punjab restaurant to satisfy more of your Indian food cravings.
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Location: 863 E Grant Rd
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday from 11:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Sunday from 12 p.m.–8:30 p.m.; Closed on Mondays
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European
European Market & Deli ($$)
Indulge in all that the European Market & Deli has to offer in their impressive selection of deli meats and cheeses, smoked and dried fish, pickled vegetables, jams, pastries, and imported liquor. Specializing in Russian and East European delights, the market’s delicatessen features mouthwatering cabbage rolls, borscht, pierogi, and Greek gyros that are advertised to be the best in Tucson.
The store also curates unique gift baskets for special occasions with their imported goods, made-to-order and ready to celebrate. Take-out and delivery available only from the deli.
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Location: 4500 E Speedway Blvd Suite 36
Hours: Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed on Sundays.
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Roma Imports ($$)
Be transported to Italy through the bright red door of Roma Imports, and shop around for some of the finest quality Italian food and ingredients in town. From cured meats and cheeses to dry pastas and frozen meals to stock up on, as well as coffee and sweets to fall in love with, Roma Imports has plenty of options to feed your Italian appetite.
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Visit also for the many take-and-bake meals, hot and cold sandwiches, and the tasty antipasti in the deli case.
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Location: 627 S Vine Ave
Hours: Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed on Sundays
Mexican
Cardenas ($$)
One of the leading Hispanic grocery giants in Tucson, Cardenas has fresh produce, butcher’s meats, seafood, cheeses, baked goods, and good-eats galore. Following their motto to “Keep Life Flavorful,” the kitchen—aka La Cocina—serves up fresh tortillas, salsas and ceviche, tamales, and other ready-made or make-your-own meals that you don’t want to miss.
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In addition, stop by to quench your thirst in the juice bar, or share a piece of warm aromatic breads and pastries in the bakery.
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Location: 902 W Irvington Rd
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
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El Herradero Supermarket ($)
While Tucson is home to plenty of Mexican markets and carnicerías, El Herradero especially finds its way into the hearts of many by providing the community their muy delicioso selection of hot foods, quality cuts of meats, and their addictingly sweet pan dulce. It’s also hard to resist the tempting aroma of carne asada grilling outside the store in the parking lots on the weekends.
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Location: 1310 W Prince Rd
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
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Middle Eastern
Babylon Market ($)
Explore a vast range of Middle Eastern, Northern African, Eastern European, and Indian products at the Babylon Market. The market carries varieties of halal meats, rice, herbs, spices, teas, canned and dried goods, nuts, cheeses, and other delicacies, as well as household items like cookware and hookah and tobacco accessories.
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The market’s restaurant is also a great place to grab a falafel sandwich, salads or shawarmas on the go.
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Location: 3954 E Speedway Blvd,
Hours: Daily 8:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Gamar Family Market ($$)
A new Middle Eastern grocery on the block, Gamar Family Market provides an assortment of herbs and spices, canned and dried goods, Halal meats, curry sauces, coffees and candies. The recently established takeout counter serves traditional Mediterranean cuisines and rolled ice cream, similar to the owner’s previous Wrap N’ Roll restaurant on the University of Arizona campus. The market offers a call-in order option and is currently preparing for online ordering.
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Location: 1800 E Fort Lowell Rd #128
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Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Looking to eat out instead? Visit the Dining Guide for more good eats.