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The city of San Mateo is home to an eclectic ethnic community with residents originating from places near and far. So it’s no surprise that San Mateo is home to many international markets representing a broad swath of culinary finds from around the world.
Whether you’re looking for hard-to-find condiments, fresh sushi, imported cheese or unique spices, you can find it at one of these local purveyors. Here are six international markets in San Mateo to check out the next time you feel like expanding your grocery shopping horizons:
Islanders Meat & Groceries
Islanders Meat & Groceries is a small family-run operation that specializes in Fijian and Indian goods and has been serving San Mateo for more than 40 years.
Nidhinesh “Nick” Singh is the son of the current owners. While his day job is at LinkedIn, he works weekends at the store because, according to him, “Islanders is big on community and culture is a big part of the community.”
In addition to hard-to-find Fijian cookies, sodas, and a myriad of Indian spices, Islanders Meat & Groceries takes great pride in its meat department. All the meat is halal, and they have a great selection of specialty cuts perfect to put on the grill or in a spicy curry. They specialize in lamb and goat imported from Australia and New Zealand.
Must try: Meat, such as the French rack of lamb imported from New Zealand.
Islanders Meat & Groceries, 1620 Palm Ave., San Mateo, 650-570-6663.
Takahashi Market
Japanese immigrant Tokutaro Takahashi founded Takahashi Market in 1906. Since then, this family owned and operated market has served the Bay Area community for four generations. The current staff is a mix of family and family friends that serve many “Hawaiian transplants and local regulars,” according to manager Bobby Takahashi. Takahashi Market is notably buzzing with business most of its operating hours despite little advertising.
Takahashi Market specializes in Hawaiian food items but also stocks a variety of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino and Thai foods. In addition to a wide range of culinary treasures, Takahashi stocks cooking accessories, island-inspired trinkets and custom T-shirts designed by local company Sumofish. Some of the most interesting packaged items include kalua pork, poi, and pork lau lau that are imported from Hawaii weekly.
In addition to grocery items, Takahashi Market prepares fresh poke bowls and a large variety of musibis daily that are ready to grab and go. They also have a full kitchen that produces made-to-order Hawaiian plate lunches, including loco moco, furikake salmon and Sam’s pork lau lau.
Must try: Mochiko chicken, marinated and deep-fried chicken thighs served with rice from the kitchen.
Takahashi Market, 221 S. Claremont St., San Mateo; 650-343-0394, Instagram: @takahashi_market.
Suruki Supermarket
In 1974, Shuji Suruki started the first (and only) door-to-door Japanese grocery store on wheels in the Bay Area covering San Francisco, the Peninsula and down south to Salinas. The Suruki Japanese Foods grocery store opened in 1980 on Broadway Avenue in Burlingame before moving to the current location in 1990 and changing its name to Suruki Supermarket.
Today, Suruki Supermarket is operated by Shuji’s son James along with his mother and siblings and is as busy as ever. Not only does Suruki have a dedicated local fan base but, according to James, “people come from as far as Castro Valley and San Jose for the fish.” Word of the quality and variety of Suruki’s offerings “spread during the pandemic due to word of mouth from online groups like Bay Area Eats.”
The shelves are stocked with an extensive selection of Japanese snacks, noodles, teas, rice, sake and more. There is a robust selection of grab-and-go meals such as bento boxes, teriyaki bowls and sushi rolls. In addition to packaged items, Suruki offers fresh produce, quality meat and a renowned fish department slicing up a large selection of sashimi and seafood treasures daily.
Must try: The fresh-cut otoro (bluefin tuna belly) from the fish counter.
Suruki Market, 71 E. 4th Ave., San Mateo; 650-347-5288, Instagram: @surukisupermarket.
The Gourmet Corner
The Gourmet Corner is an importer, wholesaler and retailer of specialty food and wine from France and surrounding European countries. It was opened in 2008 by Hugues de Vernou, former owner of Made in France/Village Imports, an importer and distributor of wines and specialty foods.
The Gourmet Corner is unique on this list in that they offer online shopping and ship throughout California as well as Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. They have a wide selection of food and wine and often stock suggestions based on customer requests. There are many loyal customers of this French oasis who stock up on their favorite foods along with hard-to-find imported products, such as soaps and lotions from Le Petit Marseillais.
In addition to French delicacies like pate, confit and escargot, The Gourmet Corner offers an impressive selection of wines and cheeses. According to Jim Smith, The Gourmet Corner’s resident wine expert, “it is a hobby shop for French aficionados.” The unassuming location does little in the way of advertising but does hold an in-store wine tasting once a month.
Must try: Duck leg confit, a classic French dish made by slow-cooking the duck in its fat, yielding incredibly tender meat. Available refrigerated and canned.
The Gourmet Corner, 873 N. San Mateo Drive, San Mateo; 650-340-6370, Instagram: @the.gourmet.corner.
India Grocery and Spice
India Grocery and Spice has served San Mateo since 1995. In addition to Indian items, they offer a broad selection of South Asian and Middle Eastern goods. One of the first things you will notice when walking into India Grocery and Spice is the cleanliness, a point of emphasis according to manager Suresh Patel.
You will find Indian staples like basmati rice, dried fruits, abundant spices, masala curry paste, sweets and more. India Grocery and Spice claims to have the “biggest inventory of all spices in the San Francisco Bay Area” and it lives up to the title. There is a seemingly endless amount of powders, seeds and dried chilis. “People love to use all the spices to cook traditional Indian food,” Patel said.
India Grocery and Spice has a robust fresh produce selection to create these Indian feasts. And for those wanting a quicker meal, there is a selection of prepared classic Indian dishes like saag paneer and baingan bharta, as well as an abundant amount of imported frozen entrees.
Must try: Freshly made Indian breads like roti and paratha.
India Grocery and Spice, 218 E Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo; 650-376-3555, Instagram: @indiagroceryandspice.
Mi Rancho Supermarket
There is no shortage of Hispanic markets in San Mateo, but one of the finest can be found on North B Street adjacent to downtown San Mateo. Mi Rancho Supermarket has been serving San Mateo since 1995 and has resided in its current location for the past six years.
Many of Mi Rancho’s regular customers come from the surrounding Mexican community. However, the supermarket is a “broad Latin-based grocery,” according to manager Alexa Chavez. They boast a wide variety of Hispanic products, fresh produce, baked goods, aguas frescas, spices and more. What really sets Mi Rancho apart is the “customer service and selection,” according to Chavez.
Other highlights include an excellent butcher, tortilleria and the largest fresh produce department on this list. There is also an in-store taqueria serving up tacos, tortas and burritos to order along with desayunos (breakfast).
Must try: Marinated arrachera (Mexican skirt steak) from the butcher.
Mi Rancho Supermarket, 80 N B St., San Mateo; 650-347-7052, Instagram: @miranchomarket.