KP International Market is possibly the only place in Sacramento where you can eat an authentic Mexican taco, a Korean bibimbap, and Russian chicken all in the same meal. If the illustrious offerings from the food court don’t hook you, the wide variety of things to buy will. And, of course, there are also many photographs.
KP International Market Overview
It started out as a Korean market, nothing special or unique about that in the melting pot of California. However, over the years, KP International Market grew to include a wide variety of cuisines from other cultures, as well as an impressive array of items for those who crave a bit of adventure at their next grocery store.
Today you will find Mexican, Korean, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Mediterranean offerings both at the food court and at the market.
Unique food court
You may have put your food court food days behind you with your high school textbooks and your first car, but KP International Market is different. In short, this is the cheapest way to travel – there are so many languages being heard everywhere while enjoying a wide variety of cuisines.
While the mall’s food court has “Italian” and “Chinese” food (I use the quotes here), KP International Market has truly authentic dishes from both nations, as well as several others mentioned above. Choose from pre-made items or go for something made to order. Either way, a desperate Caucasian like me will likely kill the name of an item or two during the checkout process.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, head over to the Russian section of the food court and order Chicken in a Basket. Your senses will love chicken wrapped in a puff pastry shell and stuffed with seasoned mashed potatoes. The aforementioned Chinese food is amazing too – I traveled to Taiwan a decade ago and the dishes found here in the middle of Rancho Cordova brought back some wonderful culinary memories.
The market
Expand your local grocery store and add some giant tanks of exotic marine life and some unrecognizable fruits, and you can get a taste of what KP International Market is like. With aisles divided by ethnicity, there’s also a great Asian home goods section where you can shop for functional items that you wonder why you’ve never thought about, and items appropriate for the next white elephant gift exchange.
Perhaps the best part of the market, if your cuisine is not out of fresh turtle, that is, is the prices. Everything is fair, fresh and affordable. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce some new foods into your family’s diet without overspending on your grocery budget. Best of all, it’s fun. Set aside a few hours to not only eat and shop, but also take a picture of a pumpkin comparable to the circumference of your head.
In the international KP market, it is always time for an adventure.
