Editor’s note: This article is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites, where we share our top picks for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more in Colorado. We also reveal some hidden gems you won’t want to miss.
I recently found myself in need of some specific ingredients for a stir-fried noodle dish. Oyster sauce and sweet soy were on the list. A few weeks later, another recipe called for lemongrass and Thai basil, while a third required Mexican-style red chili sauce made from dried morita chile peppers.
Tracking down these ingredients at standard grocery stores like Safeway, Sprouts, King Soopers, or Whole Foods can be a challenge. But at Park Hill Supermarket, located at 3770 E. 40th Ave., I found everything I needed. This cavernous store caters to professional chefs, home cooks, and locals seeking harder-to-find international foods at more affordable prices.
Situated in a food desert with no other major grocery stores nearby, Park Hill Supermarket primarily serves as an Asian market, similar to H Mart, Great Wall, or Viet Hoa. However, it also stocks ingredients specific to Mexican cuisine.
What sets Park Hill Supermarket apart is its diverse customer base, reflecting a melting pot of backgrounds and grocery preferences. During the recent King Soopers strike, the store provided an alternative for shoppers who wanted to avoid crossing picket lines.
For many Americans, the products at Park Hill Supermarket are commonplace. But for me, they offer a glimpse into other cultures and cuisines that I didn’t grow up with.
Walking through the aisles, you’ll find a tank of live eels alongside tilapia, crabs, lobster, and a variety of other seafood. The produce section features not only standard fruits and vegetables but also exotic options like daikon radishes, kohlrabi, and bok choy.
The store offers a wide range of products, including different varieties of dried lotus seeds, soy sauce, fish sauce, rice, noodles, spices, herbs, and more. From fresh produce to frozen dumplings and hotpot ingredients, Park Hill Supermarket has something for every palate.
While some items may seem exotic to some, they are a treasure trove of flavors for others. Next on my shopping list? Rice paper sheets and Sambal Oelek chile paste for Vietnamese spring rolls.
