Finding Good Food - Locally
Looking for International Foods Locally?
There is a grocery/food store in town, Trader Joes. It's very good & popular with students but it is also a little limited, a little specialized, and it's smaller. If you live near MIIS, this will be the most visited.
Close to MIIS there is also a small grocery called Troia's Market. It has a lot of specialty dry Asian foods that other stores don't have. You can find it on the Monterey Map accessible on this site, also given to you if we pick you up on arrival.
The two biggest food stores are Smart & Final in Seaside and Safeway in Monterey (or Pacific Grove).
Safeway in Monterey is at the border with Seaside, corner of Fremont and Canyon Del Rey streets. Map
Smart & Final in Seaside, Canyon Del Rey Road, just off Hwy 1 by the ocean (next to Home Depot and Staples Office Supply). Map
There is also Andronico Market in New Monterey at the border with Pacific Grove, corner of Lighthouse and David avenues. Map
--------------
On Tuesday afternoons in downtown Monterey, there's a Farmers Market on Alvarado St. There you will find very fresh food, but it's more expensive because the whole event attracts tourists. Going just before they close (about 8:pm) can sometimes find the best prices as they get ready to pack things up. There are also several vendors selling really good cultural foods ready to eat.
On Fridays, there's another Farmer's Market. It used to be in the lower parking lot of Monterey Community College, across from the lake. During Covid it was moved to the lower parking lot of Del Monte Shopping Center. (It may or may not stay there.) It's smaller than the one on Alvarado Street, but the prices might be a little cheaper. They open at 9:00 am and things can go quickly.
There is a grocery/food store in town, Trader Joes. It's very good & popular with students but it is also a little limited, a little specialized, and it's smaller. If you live near MIIS, this will be the most visited.
Close to MIIS there is also a small grocery called Troia's Market. It has a lot of specialty dry Asian foods that other stores don't have. You can find it on the Monterey Map accessible on this site, also given to you if we pick you up on arrival.
The two biggest food stores are Smart & Final in Seaside and Safeway in Monterey (or Pacific Grove).
Safeway in Monterey is at the border with Seaside, corner of Fremont and Canyon Del Rey streets. Map
Smart & Final in Seaside, Canyon Del Rey Road, just off Hwy 1 by the ocean (next to Home Depot and Staples Office Supply). Map
There is also Andronico Market in New Monterey at the border with Pacific Grove, corner of Lighthouse and David avenues. Map
--------------
On Tuesday afternoons in downtown Monterey, there's a Farmers Market on Alvarado St. There you will find very fresh food, but it's more expensive because the whole event attracts tourists. Going just before they close (about 8:pm) can sometimes find the best prices as they get ready to pack things up. There are also several vendors selling really good cultural foods ready to eat.
On Fridays, there's another Farmer's Market. It used to be in the lower parking lot of Monterey Community College, across from the lake. During Covid it was moved to the lower parking lot of Del Monte Shopping Center. (It may or may not stay there.) It's smaller than the one on Alvarado Street, but the prices might be a little cheaper. They open at 9:00 am and things can go quickly.
Looking for Other Ethnic Foods
If you find your own favorite source of foods, not listed here, please tell us!
Here are some suggestions we've collected. The links associated with each store will give a map.
Access by bus? All the stores in Seaside can generally be reached by bus route #10 or 11. The Marina stores can be reached by bus number 2X (also for Walmart). For more information on buses, go to our page for Monterey Buses. All links refer to Google Maps. If you can't use Google, search address what works for you.
E. Asian (General)
Marina Imports Market; 3070 Del Monte Blvd, Marina. Map
Hongs Oriental Market; 302 Carmel Avenue, Marina. Map
Asian Market; Cypress Point Center, 3056 Del Monte Blvd, Marina. Map
Safeway, above, has a large Asian-food deli for take-out eating, including an on-site sushi bar.
Hispanic / Central American
There are many Hispanic and Central American markets in Seaside. Some have very large deli for ready to eat take-out. Do a search for locations.
Halal
International Market & Deli has good variety of Halal Middle Eastern foods as well as generally Asian as well as Russian foods. 580 Lighthouse, Monterey. Map
Halal Market; 525 Hamilton Ave, Seaside. Tends to be expensive. Map
Filipino
Filipino Market; University Plaza, 1760 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Asian Filipino Market; 330 Reservation Rd, Marina. Map
Indian (also Vietnamese & Filipino)
Indian / Filipino Market; 1914 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Japanese
Han Kook Market; 1872 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Korean
Kim’s Market; 218 Reindollar, Marina. Map
Pakistani / Middle Eastern
Mediterranean Halal Market; 825 Hamilton Ave, Seaside. Map
Here are some suggestions we've collected. The links associated with each store will give a map.
Access by bus? All the stores in Seaside can generally be reached by bus route #10 or 11. The Marina stores can be reached by bus number 2X (also for Walmart). For more information on buses, go to our page for Monterey Buses. All links refer to Google Maps. If you can't use Google, search address what works for you.
E. Asian (General)
Marina Imports Market; 3070 Del Monte Blvd, Marina. Map
Hongs Oriental Market; 302 Carmel Avenue, Marina. Map
Asian Market; Cypress Point Center, 3056 Del Monte Blvd, Marina. Map
Safeway, above, has a large Asian-food deli for take-out eating, including an on-site sushi bar.
Hispanic / Central American
There are many Hispanic and Central American markets in Seaside. Some have very large deli for ready to eat take-out. Do a search for locations.
Halal
International Market & Deli has good variety of Halal Middle Eastern foods as well as generally Asian as well as Russian foods. 580 Lighthouse, Monterey. Map
Halal Market; 525 Hamilton Ave, Seaside. Tends to be expensive. Map
Filipino
Filipino Market; University Plaza, 1760 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Asian Filipino Market; 330 Reservation Rd, Marina. Map
Indian (also Vietnamese & Filipino)
Indian / Filipino Market; 1914 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Japanese
Han Kook Market; 1872 Fremont, Seaside. Map
Korean
Kim’s Market; 218 Reindollar, Marina. Map
Pakistani / Middle Eastern
Mediterranean Halal Market; 825 Hamilton Ave, Seaside. Map
Help us create a list of Favorite Ethnic Restaurants
If you find some of your own favorites, let us know and we'll post them for others to enjoy! Meanwhile, check out these really great choices:
Jim's (Chinese) Restaurant -- Believe it or not (it's very small and had a funny name :), this is very good Chinese! It's family owned and they often come out to visit with customers and sometimes surprise us with extra treats. 1584 Del Monte Ave., Seaside, just before the intersection with Broadway Ave. Map
Namaste India Bistro, 538 Lighthouse, Monterey. Map
Ambrosia Indian Bistro
This is very close to campus and it's a beautiful place. Check it out. It also includes an all you can eat buffet. 565 Abrego St, Monterey (also on Cannery Row). Map
Aabha Indian Cuisine, located in the Carmel Barnyard area. It's further away, but also considered a little better by reviews. 3690 The Barnyard, Carmel. Map
Thai Restaurants
There are several Thai restaurants around the peninsula and all highly rated and very fun to visit
The map that shows them all. If you find the best one, tell us :). Map
Monterey is a very international place. Again, if you find other restaurants or grocery / food store favorites, please tell us... We love all kinds of international foods! Happy eating. :)
Jim's (Chinese) Restaurant -- Believe it or not (it's very small and had a funny name :), this is very good Chinese! It's family owned and they often come out to visit with customers and sometimes surprise us with extra treats. 1584 Del Monte Ave., Seaside, just before the intersection with Broadway Ave. Map
Namaste India Bistro, 538 Lighthouse, Monterey. Map
Ambrosia Indian Bistro
This is very close to campus and it's a beautiful place. Check it out. It also includes an all you can eat buffet. 565 Abrego St, Monterey (also on Cannery Row). Map
Aabha Indian Cuisine, located in the Carmel Barnyard area. It's further away, but also considered a little better by reviews. 3690 The Barnyard, Carmel. Map
Thai Restaurants
There are several Thai restaurants around the peninsula and all highly rated and very fun to visit
The map that shows them all. If you find the best one, tell us :). Map
Monterey is a very international place. Again, if you find other restaurants or grocery / food store favorites, please tell us... We love all kinds of international foods! Happy eating. :)