Korean Smile Food Market — Local services in Rancho Cordova

What a wonderful store! I was craving Korean goodies so drove out to Smile to feed my cravings. It was my first time so I didn’t know what to expect. Don’t let the size fool you. I walked in thinking the store was small, but it was a bit like a rabbit warren with aisles magically appearing and shelves filled to the brim with a wide variety of foods and brands. I found everything I needed, and the prices seemed low and reasonable. I found a ton of stuff including mandu (dumplings), bulgogi meat, pork belly, vegetables, bean paste and the perfect sized jar of kimchi all for about $100.

The store owners were super friendly and helpful. They were excited to hear I had found them and it was my first time and they gifted me with a calendar and a pack of rice cakes (which were delicious and I enjoyed immensely with my coffee the last couple of days).

The best part of Smile is the nostalgia and true Korean feel of the store and it’s friendly owners. It is charmingly cluttered because it has so much to offer, and it highlights the most popular items a Korean family or any lover of Korean food can want. I saw many regulars come by and everyone was greeted with a cheerful hello. A true mom and pop shop, it’s a place I will definitely return to for my Korean groceries.

They have a parking lot which is great and is located easily off...

Pretty much everyone around knows about KP International Market in Rancho. It's huge, and very well known. However, it's not the only option in the area. This little place is a gem, even if it looks like larger than normal, semi-shady liquor store, from the outside.

This place really utilizes it's space, and is better inside than it looks from the outside. Almost everything that I have ever needed or wanted from KP Market can be found here. There selection isn't as extensive, but it's still pretty impressive. I've been coming here about every two weeks to stock up on dried seaweed snacks, green tea, and snacks for my kids. Sometimes they even have Gimbap here, which is really good, and not too expensive.

Only negative things I could say is that I wish the store was a little cleaner, and a little less cramped. However, it's still a place I look forward to going to when I get paid, and it has a lot of interesting and unique items in it that I'm at least mildly curious about trying. They even have a gift store connected to it that sells stuff like cookware, toiletries, sandals, and other things you can't find at mainstream department stores. Definitely worth a try if you don't feel like waiting in a long line or battling traffic over...

I recently discovered Smile Food Market on Yelp, and I'm surprised that I haven't heard of it until now. I usually go to KP International market for specific Korean stuff like gochugaru, soy bean paste, or fresh kimchi, but now I have another option. Even though Smile Food Market seems way smaller than KP in size but I find that they carried a lot of authentic Korean food and items. There were at least 20 types of noodles to make Japchae. I also find their prices are slightly cheaper.

The aisles are narrow and crammed, so I wouldn't bring kids or strollers. It would be hard to go up and down the aisles. The store might look small from outside, but the space inside is bigger than I expected with many sections.

If you plan on picking up the kimbab, I would get there early because they...