Arbat International Food Market

Eastern European Groceries, Sweets, and Russian Books

Step inside Arbat International Food Market and it feels like walking into the nineteen nineties, with decor that customers who grew up in the USSR recognize instantly. The shelves hold Russian sweets and zefir marshmallow candy, Romanian corn puff snacks, and a roasted pepper and eggplant spread, while the store sources its brynza style cheese from a local Amish dairy. A small shelf of Russian language books sits nearby, a rare find even at other specialty grocers.

The freezer case holds ready made dumplings and other dishes that heat up at home in minutes, and the meat and cheese counter turns over quickly enough to stay genuinely fresh. The store sits inside the Totem Square shopping center and feels bright and open rather than cramped, unlike many small ethnic grocers.

Even though the name points to Russia, shoppers also find Romanian and Polish products here, making Arbat International Food Market a convenient stop for the wider Eastern European community around Kirkland rather than just one nationality.