The area’s many specialty groceries reflect and serve a diverse population.
Acapulco 2
1937 Keokuk St., Iowa City
Monday-Sunday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Acapulco 2 has a wide selection of produce, a meat counter and also Mexican breads and sweets. Their tres leches cake and flan are particular customer favorites.
Bai Jia Asian Market
906 2nd St., #3, Coralville
Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Find an extensive selection of Asian groceries, including produce and meats, and a smaller selection of other ethnic products. They also carry an assortment of imported housewares and toiletries.
Bootleggin’ Barzini’s
412 1st Ave., Coralville
Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1:45 a.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
This liquor emporium has one of the area’s most diverse selections of spirits and is known to bring in bottles that might not otherwise be available anywhere else in the state. They also have an extensive wine and beer selection and a friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Bread Garden Market
225 S. Linn St., Iowa City
Open daily: 6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Subscribe to LV Daily for community news, events, photos and more in your inbox every weekday afternoon.
Customers return to Bread Garden for its wide range of imported, domestic and local groceries, in addition to their many homemade products, including bread, pasta and cold-pressed juices.
Brix Cheese Shop
& Wine Bar
209 N. Linn St., #1, Iowa City
Hours vary by season: Call 319-359-1999
In addition to their small in-house menu, Brix offers a selection of cheeses, wine and gift baskets for retail sale.
Central Discount Grocery
2298 540th St., Kalona
Monday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
An Amish-run salvage store, Central Discount Grocery sells packaged food at deep discount prices. The physical wear of the food items can vary, so you may have to hunt for mint condition canned and boxed items; also, be sure to check expiration dates.
Chong’s Supermarket
905 2nd St., Coralville
Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
In addition to a tremendous variety of Asian packaged food, Chong’s Supermarket offers an extensive selection of fresh produce.
East-West
Oriental Foods
624 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City
Monday-Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Located just south of downtown, East-West Oriental Foods sells Asian packaged and frozen food, as well as a small selection of fresh produce.
El Paso Mexican Market
601 Hollywood Blvd., Iowa City
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Find Mexican grocery staples, plus candles, pinatas and the occasional pair of ostrich-skin cowboy boots. There’s also a little taqueria counter in the back of the store, where you can pick up prepared foods like tacos and burritos.
Global Mart
89 2nd St., Coralville
Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Head here for a variety of of Mediterranean food and halal products.
Great Wall
220 Stevens Dr., Iowa City
Monday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday-Saturday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tucked away in a corner of Iowa City, Great Wall specializes in Chinese packaged food and boast one of the area’s larger selections of Chinese sausages.
Harvest Oil & Vinegar
1150 5th St., Coralville
Monday-Tuesday: 10 a.m.- 6.p.m.
Wednesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Like the name suggests, Harvest Oil & Vinegar is an entire store dedicated to olive oils and vinegars.
John’s Grocery
401 E. Market St., Iowa City
Sunday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Friday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.
In addition to one of the most extensive beer selections in Iowa, John’s also has a superb wine and craft spirit offerings, in addition to snack staples, grocery basics and baked goods.
La Regia Market
436 Hwy. 1, Iowa City
Tuesday-Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Though small, La Regia Market sells a large selection of meat, produce, herbs, spices and candy, along with a small selection of household products.
NewBo City Market
1100 3rd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Some of the shops at NewBo City Market, a collection of vendors, include Pappardelle’s Pasta, Greyhound Deli and Frontier Herbs, and Roasters Coffee House.
New Pioneer Food Co-op
3338 Center Point Rd. N.E., Cedar Rapids
1101 2nd St., Coralville
22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City
Open daily: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Memberships are encouraged but are not required to shop at the Co-op, which takes pride in its ability to offer the best in organic, natural and local food.
Stringtown Grocery
2204 540th St., Kalona
Monday, Tuesday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
An Amish grocery store packed with many handmade items you can’t find in most supermarkets, Stringtown Grocery is best known for their expansive spice selection and inexpensive bulk foods. They also feature a large assortment of preserves and pickles, in addition to local dairy and produce.
Taj International Foods
216 1st Ave., Coralville
Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Focusing on Indian staples and spices, Taj International Foods receives their order of fresh vegetables on Wednesdays.
WineStyles
920 E. 2nd Ave., #115, Coralville
Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Offering a wide range of wines and craft beers, WineStyles serves glasses of wine on-site and offers a selection of wine tasting events.
ZaZa’s Pasta Shop and Italian Market
518 Bowery St., Iowa City
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Find a small selection of imported Italian foods alongside the handmade pasta at ZaZa’s.
RETURN TO
BREAD & BUTTER
