International love

In this column in March 2012, I praised Koreana Plaza (10971 Olson Drive in Rancho Cordova) for its diversity of Mexican, Korean and Russian groceries, produce and prepared foods. Since then, the place has expanded, remodeled and reopened in the fall of 2012. It’s now called KP International Market, and it’s bigger and better. The new digs are reminiscent of the colossal size and linear layout of IKEA: Enter through the main double doors to shop for produce and dry goods; pass through a hallway (along which there’s a Korean prepared-foods section) into a meat and seafood room with more groceries flanked by a Mexican bakery (with handmade tortillas, chips and pork rinds); then, after checking out, you’re greeted with a dessert counter and Korean and Russian baked-goods vendors—part of an international food court that’s still mostly empty, but “coming soon,” according to the store’s website (www.kpinternationalmarket.com).