Live lobsters, blue crabs, and catfish wait in tanks at a suburban Kansas grocery store. Then there’s the whole roasted duck, cooked fresh every single day.
This store covers about 60,000 square feet. That’s a lot of room for custard creme buns, sesame rolls, and hundreds of sauces.
Two separate lunch counters even serve hot noodle soups inside. Shoppers in Kansas can find Polish pierogies here too, plus Ukrainian desserts and bulk candy.
I like how the whole place refuses to stick to one country. I believe that kind of variety makes a grocery run feel like a small trip.
The story behind it started with two immigrants and a much smaller storefront.
Now it’s the biggest international market in the area. So how does a duck, a lobster, and a custard bun end up under one roof?
A Tiny Storefront Grew Into A 60,000-Square-Foot Food Adventure
Every big store starts somewhere, and 888 International Market has grown considerably over the years.
Public business records date the company’s operations to 2003.
The current Overland Park supermarket opened in December 2009, bringing a much larger international grocery selection to the area.
Its new home was a former Hy-Vee supermarket on West 119th Street. That’s a huge space for a market packed with international ingredients and specialty foods.
Today, 888 International Market describes itself as the largest international market in the Kansas City area.
The store puts particular emphasis on Asian groceries, with ingredients that reflect different regional cooking traditions.
That means carrying foods from China alongside products for Japanese, Korean, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes.
That thoughtful approach shapes the aisles. Shoppers can explore pantry staples, fresh produce, meats, seafood, and specialty ingredients from many countries.
The market also has ties to its local community. The Kansas City Chinese American Association has listed the store among businesses offering benefits to its members.
A grocery store with roots in the community and shelves full of variety? That’s a pretty good combination for any Kansas neighborhood.
Lobsters And Blue Crabs Are Swimming Right Near The Shopping Carts
Most grocery trips don’t involve picking dinner out of a tank. At this market, that’s completely normal.
The live seafood department carries tilapia, bass, catfish, blue crabs, clams, oysters, and lobsters. For a landlocked state like Kansas, that lineup feels almost unfair to other stores.
Freshness is the big priority here. The seafood department emphasizes a wide selection of fresh and live products, along with helpful preparation services.
Picking your fish is only half the job, though. The staff offers quick, professional cleaning, and they’ll cut most fish the way you like.
No wrestling a slippery bass on your kitchen counter tonight.
Planning a crab boil or a lobster dinner for a special night? Contact the market ahead of time to check live seafood availability and ask whether advance ordering is possible.
That’s a smart move if you need a certain amount or want to skip any guesswork.
A quick tip helps here too. Know your recipe before you show up, so you can ask for the right cut.
Whole fish for steaming needs a different prep than fillets for frying. The team can help prepare your fish, and your dinner will thank you.
Glossy Roasted Duck Gets Made Fresh Every Single Day
Roasted daily. Those two words make the Whole Roasted Duck one of the market’s star attractions.
Chinese-style roasted duck is a classic for family dinners and celebrations. Having it ready to grab at a Kansas grocery store feels like a real treat.
The duck has company, too. BBQ Pork and Pork Neckbone also show up as featured items in the meat area.
Together they make a quick, satisfying meal without much effort at home.
Beyond the roast case, the meat department covers far more than standard cuts.
Shoppers can find pork, beef, and poultry alongside duck, livers, blood, tripe, and Chinese sausages. Those specialty items can be tough to track down at a regular supermarket.
That variety matters if you cook family recipes. Some dishes simply don’t taste right without the exact ingredient Grandma used.
Here’s a practical idea for a busy night. Grab roasted duck, add some rice and greens from the store, and dinner is basically done.
You get restaurant flavor with grocery store convenience, and nobody has to know how easy it was.
Custard Creme Buns Make The Bakery Hard To Walk Past
Soft, golden, and filled with custard. The bakery case at 888 Bakery and Cafe tests anyone’s willpower.
Baked goods here are made fresh daily. The lineup includes fresh breads, sesame rolls, hot dog in roll, custard creme buns, and a variety of cakes.
Asian bakeries tend to lean lighter and less sugary than many American bakeries. That makes these buns an easy snack for kids and grownups alike.
The bakery also brings in items from Yen Houng, a Vietnamese bakery.
That adds even more variety to an already crowded shelf. Handmade snacks like buns and dumplings round things out nicely.
Celebrating soon? Birthday cakes can be pre-ordered, which takes some stress off party planning.
Asian-style cakes are often fluffy and fruit-topped, a fun change from heavy frosting.
My advice is simple. Grab a few buns for the drive home and a few more for tomorrow’s breakfast.
They make a great surprise for anyone waiting at home. Just don’t promise to share before you’ve tried one yourself, because that promise might not hold up.
Two Lunch Counters Mean You Never Have To Shop Hungry
Shopping on an empty stomach is a rookie mistake. Luckily, 888 International Market has two lunch counters inside the store.
Both serve made-to-order and ready-to-eat dishes. Think noodle soups, pad Thai, and radish-pork pancakes.
The restaurant near the entrance offers noodles topped with a spicy chili-style ground pork and green onion mix. That’s a bold way to start a shopping trip.
The cafe menu is impressively long. Appetizers include Three Pork Veggie Egg Rolls and Six Crab Rangoons.
Noodle fans can pick Rice Noodles with Pork Strips or Rice Noodles with Roasted Duck. Rice lovers have choices too, like Roasted Pork Fried Rice and Yang Zhou Fried Rice.
General Tso’s Chicken, chicken katsu curry, chicken skewers, and fried dumplings also make appearances.
Thirsty? Bubble teas and specialty drinks are part of the lineup.
A cold bubble tea makes browsing the aisles feel a lot more relaxing.
The cafe says dishes are made fresh daily with traditional seasonings. Eat first, then shop with a clear head and a happy belly.
Polish Pierogies Sharing Shelf Space With Japanese Curry? Yes, Really
The word International in the name isn’t just for show. This market reaches well beyond Asia.
Shoppers can find Polish pierogies, Russian and Ukrainian desserts, bulk candy, and cured meats. It’s a surprising mix that makes browsing feel like a mini world tour.
Then come the curries. Japan, India, and Thailand all have curry products on the shelves.
Each style tastes different, so trying all three makes a fun family dinner experiment.
Spice lovers get plenty of options. Dry spices from many cultures share space with loose leaf teas and tea bags.
Snack hunters, prepare yourself. International snacks, candies, and gum fill the shelves, along with frozen meals, dumplings, and desserts.
A little planning goes a long way in a store this big. Try writing down a recipe first, then search for each ingredient by country.
That keeps you from wandering for hours, although wandering has its charms too.
Kids might enjoy picking one snack from a country they’ve never visited. It’s an easy, tasty geography lesson that beats any worksheet.
Hundreds Of Sauces Turn Home Cooking Into A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
Hundreds of sauces. Chili, soy, wasabi, hoisin, and plenty of others you may never have heard of.
That sauce aisle alone can change your weeknight dinners. Online recipes often call for ingredients regular stores don’t carry, and this is where you find them.
Rice gets serious attention too. The grocery department stocks all kinds, including Basmati and Black rice.
Noodles come fresh and dry. Instant noodles, soba, and udon all have a place here.
Planning a dumpling night? Dumpling and spring roll wrappers are ready to go.
Pair them with locally made tofu or grab soy milk from the soy products section.
The produce department deserves a look as well. It mixes traditional fruits and vegetables with Asian essentials, both locally grown and imported.
Here’s a helpful habit for new shoppers. Pick one unfamiliar sauce each visit and look up a simple recipe that uses it.
Over time, your pantry becomes way more exciting.
Those small experiments add up fast. Before long, takeout night might start feeling a little less necessary.
Cleavers, Chopsticks, And Skincare Live Here Too
Groceries are only part of the story. 888 International Market also stocks everything you need to cook and serve.
The non-food department carries sushi sets, chopsticks, bowls, plates, dishes, and soup spoons. Matching ceramic bowls can make even instant noodles feel fancy.
Serious cooks will like the kitchen tools. Cleavers, knives, sushi rolling bamboo mats, and bamboo skewers are all available.
Want to try homemade sushi? A bamboo mat and the right rice from the grocery aisles get you started.
It’s a fun project for a rainy weekend.
The beauty section surprises a lot of first-timers. Asian skincare products include facial washes, lotions, astringents, shampoos, conditioners, and lip balms.
The store also sells general items, electric appliances, and cosmetics. That’s a lot of variety for one stop.
Practical tip: grab a few extra pairs of chopsticks and soup spoons. They’re handy for guests and make takeout nights feel more authentic.
Your kitchen drawer might get crowded, but your dinner table will look great.
Plan Your Trip Right And The Market Treats You Like Family
Finding it is easy. The market sits at 10118 West 119th Street in Overland Park, Kansas, near 119th Street and Highway 69.
Hours run Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m., while Saturday stretches from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Holiday hours can change, so check ahead before big celebrations. That matters a lot around Lunar New Year shopping.
The market’s bakery and cafe also offer online ordering for busy days. That’s helpful if you already know what you want to eat before arriving.
Have questions about returns or product quality? Contact customer service or ask at the store about its current policies.
Specific guarantees should be confirmed directly before relying on them.
The store has earned recognition for its international grocery selection, including a place among Feast Magazine’s highlighted Kansas City markets.
My suggestion? Give yourself extra time on your first visit.
Between live lobsters, daily roasted duck, and warm custard buns, this place deserves more than a quick in-and-out trip.