Star City Blog / Food

Ethnic Grocery Stores Abound in Lincoln

By Alexis Abel

On Memorial Day in Lincoln, most families are preparing for the hot and humid American summer to come.  When it comes to food, many will adhere to the iconic Bud Light and grilled burgers smothered with ketchup and melted American cheese. But not everyone is content with such standard fare. For those seeking something a little out of the ordinary, Lincoln has a lot to offer in local grocery stores that pack exotic foods and flavors into small spaces.

It’s no surprise to many that Lincoln is home to myriad ethnic supermarkets. Since the 1980s, Nebraska in general and Lincoln in particular has seen an influx of people from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and of course, Mexico. According to the 2000 Census, Nebraska had the highest increase in foreign-born persons in the last decade than any other midwestern state. Nebraska is also fifth for refugee resettlement per capita when compared to states of similar population. More than half of refugees that come to Nebraska settle in Lincoln.

Review: La Tapatia

 By Jamie Klein

Not only is La Tapatia, 1037 L Street, rich in flavor – it’s rich in culture and color.

Piñatas and small flags from Corona and Budweiser are strung across the high ceilings; the restaurant is tucked into the back of a grocery store and deli.

My roommate and I visited last Wednesday. Our meal started with warm chips and two dishes of salsa, one mild and one hot. The restaurant was tucked against the grocery store and deli, but close enough to the kitchen that we could hear (and smell) our food being prepared.

The mild salsa was chunky with bits of tomato and onion—just perfect for my low “spicy” tolerance. The hot made me gasp and quickly wolf down more chips, much to my roommate’s amusement. She didn’t think the hot was too spicy, though she generally doesn't prefer a lot of spice.