4.0
Sun World Supermarket
Located at 892 Arcade St, Sun World Supermarket is a vibrant cornerstone of St. Paul’s East Side. While the Twin Cities have several large international hubs, Sun World feels like a neighborhood "Main Street" for the local Hmong and Southeast Asian community. It is a sprawling, high-energy market that manages to balance the scale of a supermarket with the intimate, specialized feel of a traditional Asian bazaar.
The Arcade Street Highlights
The "Hmong Sausage" Destination: Sun World is widely considered one of the best places in the metro to find authentic Hmong sausages. Often prepared with a signature blend of ginger, lemongrass, and Thai chilies, these sausages are a staple for local backyard BBQs and family gatherings.
The "Garden-Style" Produce Section: The vegetable department here is a sea of green. It is a primary destination for bitter melon, pumpkin vines, and water spinach (Ong Choy). During the spring and summer, you’ll often find unique local herbs grown by Hmong farmers in the surrounding area, offering a "farm-to-table" freshness rarely seen in corporate stores.
The Deli & Roast Meat Counter: One of the main draws for the lunch crowd is the hot food section. The Crispy Pork Belly and Roasted Duck are the stars here, often sliced to order. Pair them with a scoop of sticky rice and a side of their famous spicy papaya salad, which is made with the traditional funk and heat levels that enthusiasts crave.
The "Bulk Staples" Warehouse: If you are feeding a large family, Sun World is your headquarters. They feature massive aisles dedicated to 25lb to 50lb bags of Jasmine and Sweet Rice, as well as wholesale-sized containers of cooking oils and sauces that offer incredible value compared to standard grocers.
Tropical Fruit Paradise: This is the place to find the "heavy hitters" of tropical fruit. From giant Jackfruit (which the staff will often help you carve) to Rambutans and Longans, the selection shifts with the seasons, bringing a taste of the Pacific to the snowy plains of Minnesota.
Why It’s Unique
Sun World Supermarket is defined by its "Community Pulse." It is uniquely vibrant; it serves as a social hub where neighbors catch up in the aisles and the staff often speaks multiple languages to accommodate the diverse local population. It is a "working market" where the focus is on providing the foundational ingredients for traditional Southeast Asian life. Whether you are looking for a specific granite mortar and pestle, a specialized rice steamer, or just the freshest Thai basil in the East Side, Sun World delivers an experience that is both functional and culturally immersive.
Insider Tip: The deli counter can get a significant line during the lunch hour (12:00 PM – 1:30 PM). If you’re just there for groceries, try to visit mid-morning. Also, don't miss the refrigerated dessert section for "Nab Vam" (Hmong tri-color dessert)—it’s the perfect refreshing treat to balance out a spicy meal.
Essential Information
Address: 892 Arcade St, St Paul, MN 55106
Hours: Open daily from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Vibe: Bustling, authentic, and high-value. It is the "culinary anchor" of St. Paul’s East Side.
The most interesting reviews
- The store first impressions weren't the best but it slowly improving. I hope they are more organized with the prices on some counters and freezers since I only bring a certain amount in my pocket lol. It feels ghetto sometimes lol. Other than that, I love some of the cooks and the unique variety of mushrooms and the Oster Mushrooms.
- Love this store! So many great ingredients to make food from across the world! Love it!
- Shopping for Asian groceries like taro root, daikon, tofu, bok choy, etc.
- This is by far the best all around Asian store in Saint Paul. The selection is huge and mostly good quality product for a good price. Update... After going a few times, I realized that they had some of the higher prices on some of the product.
- Their prices are decent and comparable with other larger asian markets like them. Only complaint I have is that their can goods or dry goods are not always clearly marked with the CORRECT prices. So now I only buy products that are clearly marked with correct prices.
- Huge store with tons of non-American products. Giant parking lot. Bathroom is clean but you need to get a key from customer service.
- Great produce, seafood, deli and household items. FYI please check their meats I've seen over due meat. I don't understand why they don't toss it and still sell to customers
- I love sun world because you can buy fresh vegetables and not expend too much money!!!
- Nice variety of produce and groceries with a deli shop with delicious Asian cusines hot food fresh to the order etc..
- Asian grocery stores have lots of stuff you don’t find on Walmart, do carry Indian groceries and masalas. Meats and fish market too
