Being away from home can be difficult. Being away from any kind of food you consider familiar can make it even worse.
Luckily, Bloomington is home to many businesses that offer international options.
Whether you’re staying in to cook a favorite dish or spending the night on the town at a restaurant that offers international cuisine, you can find something to remind you of home.
To prepare you for nights when an American classic like peanut butter and jelly or Easy Mac just isn’t going to cut it, we’ve found some places to help you on your journey.
EATING OUT, ORDERING IN
If you’re looking for some home-cooking or just want to try something new, eating out can be a great option.
Fourth Street is a popular place to find just what you’re looking for.
The area features a variety of ethnic eateries such as India Garden, Taste of India, the Turkish restaurant Anatolia and Anyetsang’s Little Tibet. There are many other international establishments around town and along Fourth Street including Siam House, a local staple with its Thai specialties.
A great resource available to Bloomington residents is btownmenus.com, a website that provides delivery service from some of the best Bloomington restaurants. Mr. Delivery at mrdelivery.com/browse/bloomington offers a similar service, and both offer dozens of delivery options as well as regular specials.
GROCERY SHOPPING
Knowing exactly where to look for hard-to-find ingredients can make a trip to the market much less stressful.
Grocery stores such as Kroger and Marsh have aisles with international ingredients, and both stores have multiple locations in Bloomington.
Kroger has four locations in Bloomington, including a store at 528 S. College Ave. near campus and 1175 S. College Mall Road near the 9 bus route.
Marsh also has two locations around the IU campus at 1825 N. Kinser Pike and 123 S. Kingston Drive near the mall. It offers a variety of kosher options and Indian, Asian, European and Hispanic products.
Marsh will also sometimes order a specialty item for you if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Both of these markets offer discount cards, which you can get within the store and can lower the price you pay on select items.
Bloomingfoods offers a large selection of organic products and fresh produce at its stores near campus including 419 E. Kirkwood Ave., 316 W. Sixth St., 614 E. Second St., and 3220 E. Third St.
Sahara Mart is also an option for international ingredients at either of its two Bloomington locations, one at 2611 E. Third St. and one at 106 E. Second St.
The family-owned store prides itself on providing a wide variety of products, which include organic options, gluten-free products and international products from nearly every part of the world imaginable.
For more information about restaurants in town, visit idsnews.com/dining.
