Foodies, international ex-pats and creative home cooks all got a much-anticipated holiday present when Saraga International Grocery opened in Indianapolis just before Christmas. And since then, they’ve flocked to the massive grocery, located in a former Target at 8448 Center Run Drive in Castleton.
Since 2005, when brothers John and Bong Sung opened Indy’s westside Saraga, the supermarket has been the go-to grocery for just about any international ingredient a cook might need, from pierogies to pandan leaves. But this new store, which also features an impressive food court, offers 100,000 square feet of fresh produce, meats and seafood, packaged and canned goods, frozen items and household goods (with a wine department to come).
Even if you’re not looking for a hard-to-find ingredient, Saraga is worth a visit just to explore. The produce area alone offers a world of fresh foods, from tiny baby bok choy to massive giant jackfruit. Wander the aisles and discover new snacks and candies, sauces and mixes and an impressive frozen food section.
While not the whimsical “foodieland” that is Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Saraga certainly impresses with the breadth and depth of its global offerings, especially in its Asian aisles and food court. The French-inspired Korean-based bakery Tous les Jours (which has more than 1,600 stores around the world) has a location just inside the doors at Saraga, wowing visitors with cases of beautiful breads and patisserie. Another vendor, Korn’s, features those super-popular Korean corndogs, including crunchy potato dogs and ramen dogs. Other vendors offer sushi and Mexican fare.
Saraga launched originally in Bloomington; while that store has since closed, the location on the westside of Indianapolis in the International Marketplace neighborhood remains open on Commercial Drive after an extensive remodeling. There is also a Greenwood location, as well as one in Columbus, Ohio. For more info, check out saragaindy.com.
