Specialty food markets range from regional spice merchants and farm stands to health food co-ops and imported dry goods shops. Selection varies widely by location, with some focusing on specific ethnic pantry staples while others carry local produce, natural home goods, or pre-packaged gourmet items. A map pin confirms the storefront exists, but it will not show whether a shop carries niche bulk ingredients or just standard retail brands.
-
AllSpice Culinarium
400 E Locust St Unit 5, Des Moines, IA 50309
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12pm-4pm
-
C Fresh Market
801 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314
-
Gateway Market Cafe
High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
-
Chin Land Store
3015 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
-
Hilal Groceries
1163 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50311
-
La Cruz
3900 E 14th St #1, Des Moines, IA 50313
-
Europa Groceries
3839 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310-1307
-
Joy Imports
4212 Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
-
Bosna Grocery
3009 Merle Hay Rd #4, Des Moines, IA 50310
-
Olive's Oil
1107 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
-
Almost Famous Popcorn Company
1121 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
-
Hickory Farms Holiday Market
4444 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
-
Saigon Market
803 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
-
Olive's Oil
5200 Fountains Dr NE Ste 110, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
-
The Sausage Foundry
1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-2306
-
Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits
2001 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
-
Natural Grocers
3805 E 53rd St, Davenport, IA 52807
-
Fresh Thyme Market
2130 E Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA 52807
-
Central Grocery
234 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA 52801
-
Twisted Trunk Olive Oil Company
3030 Brady St, Davenport, IA 52803-1213
-
Mawua Food Market
1601 E Locust St, Davenport, IA 52803
-
New Pioneer Co-op
1101 2nd St, Coralville, IA 52241
-
AllSpice Culinarium
901 E 2nd Ave, Coralville, IA 52241-2227
-
Global Mart
89 2nd St #7, Coralville, IA 52241
-
Taj International Foods
2419 2nd St #2, Coralville, IA 52241
-
Natural Grocers
1404 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240
-
Bread Garden Market
225 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240
-
New Pioneer Co-op
22 S Van Buren St, Iowa City, IA 52240
-
Joanna's Delectables
4218 Yvette St SW b4, Iowa City, IA 52240
-
Lola's Fine Sauces
2202 Wolf Way Ste 1110, West Des Moines, IA 50265
-
Whole Foods Market
4100 University Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266
-
The Spice & Tea Exchange
218 5th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
-
Maid-rite
1551 Valley West Dr Ste 132, West Des Moines, IA 50266-1112
Dubuque 3
-
Natural Grocers
3333 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA 52002
-
The Calico Bean Market
352 Bluff St, Dubuque, IA 52001-6920
-
Freddie's Popcorn Company
1086 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001
-
Jolly Time Koated Kernels
1717 Terminal Dr, Sioux City, IA 51105
-
Braunger Foods
900 Clark St, Sioux City, IA 51101-2039
-
Abarrotes El Arco Iris
2022 Court St, Sioux City, IA 51104
Waterloo 3
-
Kravve Gourmet Popcorn and More
1445 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701
-
Balkan Grocery
1816 Williston Ave, Waterloo, IA 50702
-
Shwe Nyiko Market and Asian Food
911 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA 50702
Ankeny 2
-
Lotta-Pop Popcorn
647 S Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023
-
West Forty Market
315 SW Maple St Ste D, Ankeny, IA 50023
-
Thyme & Spice Company
612 Jefferson St, Burlington, IA 52601
-
La Reyna International Store
404 Jefferson St, Burlington, IA 52601
-
Asian Grocery Store
223 Main St, Columbus Junction, IA 52738
-
Five Star Asian Grocery Store
228 Main St, Columbus Junction, IA 52738
-
Moore Local
605 Birch Dr, Maquoketa, IA 52060
-
Rockdale Locker
605 Birch Dr, Maquoketa, IA 52060
Albion 1
-
Market Off Main
105 N Main St, Albion, IA 50005
Altoona 1
-
Pepper Palace
545 Bass Pro Dr NW Ste 642, Altoona, IA 50009
-
QC India Market
2330 Spruce Hills Dr, Bettendorf, IA 52722
Clarinda 1
-
Sonrisers Popcorn
218 E Main St, Clarinda, IA 51632
-
Starboard Market
310 Main Ave, Clear Lake, IA 50428
Clive 1
-
International Fresh Market
1800 NW 86th St Ste 31, Clive, IA 50325
Corning 1
-
Fire and Salt Company
620 Davis Ave, Corning, IA 50841
-
Valentino Family Market Mercado Cubano
2543 2nd Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Decorah 1
-
Kraft Foods
806 E Water St, Decorah, IA 52101-1932
Denison 1
-
Lovan's Asian Market
1314 1st Ave S, Denison, IA 51442
Fairfield 1
-
Everybody's Whole Foods
501 N 2nd St, Fairfield, IA 52556
Kellerton 1
-
Ebersole Cattle Co
Down in the Hills Where Cows are SUPPOSED to Be!, Kellerton, IA 50133
Keokuk 1
-
HealthSource of Keokuk
123 Boulevard Rd Ste 1, Keokuk, IA 52632
Lake Mills 1
-
Lund Food Holdings Inc
877 N Lake St, Lake Mills, IA 50450
Le Claire 1
-
LeClaire Olive Oil Co
123 S Cody Rd, Le Claire, IA 52753
LeClaire 1
-
Leclair Canning
114 N Cody Rd, LeClaire, IA 52753-9218
Marion 1
-
Iowa Popcorn Company
714 10th St, Marion, IA 52302
-
Four Corners Market
1306 4th St SW, Mason City, IA 50401
Massena 1
-
Lux Market & Soda Shoppe
107 Main St, Massena, IA 50853
McGregor 1
-
By The Spoonful
221 Main St, McGregor, IA 52157
-
Savor the Barn
17345 Langworthy Rd, Monticello, IA 52310
Mt Pleasant 1
-
Maxwell Market
2778 Franklin Ave, Mt Pleasant, IA 52641
Nevada 1
-
Bricktown Popcorn
1105 6th St, Nevada, IA 50201
Sac City 1
-
Molly and You
1314 Early St, Sac City, IA 50583
Shellsburg 1
-
Tiny But Mighty Popcorn
3282 62nd St, Shellsburg, IA 52332
Sully 1
-
Fresh Start Distributors LLC
403 9th Ave, Sully, IA 50251-1071
-
Luna Imported Foods
8036 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322
-
Mary Ann's Specialty Foods
1511 E 2nd St, Webster City, IA 50595
Wellman 1
-
Kalona Supernatural
1014 540th St SW, Wellman, IA 52356-9583
-
Harry & David
109 Tanger Dr, Williamsburg, IA 52361
Windsor Heights 1
-
AWS's Mediterranean Market
7213 Apple Valley, Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Also in Iowa
Good to know
What sets a specialty food store apart from a standard supermarket?
These stores focus on specific categories such as regional ingredients, organic items, or direct-from-farm goods rather than broad grocery lines. They typically source from smaller producers and carry brands or bulk spices that national chains do not stock.
Are prices higher at independent specialty food markets?
Prices for imported, organic, or artisan products are often higher than basic grocery items due to smaller production scales and shipping costs. However, buying bulk spices, grains, or local produce directly from specialty vendors can sometimes be comparable to or cheaper than chain store prices.
Do specialty food stores require memberships to shop?
Most specialty food markets and local farm stores are open to the general public with no fees required. A few natural food co-ops may offer optional member-owner programs for extra discounts, but non-members can still shop there normally.
What is hanging weight?
Hanging weight is the weight of a slaughtered animal after skinning and evisceration, but before final trimming and dry aging. When purchasing a side or whole animal in Iowa, local processors charge based on this weight. Browse 81 meat processors across Iowa on ButcherAtlas to learn more about custom carcass purchasing.
How to make sausage at home?
To make sausage at home, chill high-fat meat and grind it, mix thoroughly with seasonings and ice water until sticky, then stuff into natural casings. Keep all equipment cold to preserve the emulsion and texture. For custom meat grinds and fresh casings, visit any of the 81 specialized meat markets listed across Iowa on ButcherAtlas.