Albuquerque Market Offers World's Trendiest Snacks

Monaco Market stocks hard-to-find viral treats from around the globe.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:55pm

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An exotic food market called Monaco Market in Albuquerque, New Mexico is growing in popularity for stocking a wide variety of trendy snacks and treats from around the world that can't be found anywhere else in the city. The market, started four years ago by a group of University of New Mexico alumni, specializes in sourcing viral foods like Dubai chocolate, Chinese mango ice cream, South Korean juice pouches, and Taiwanese canned gummy boba lattes.

Why it matters

The rise of Monaco Market reflects a growing demand in Albuquerque for access to unique, hard-to-find international snacks and foods that are popular in bigger cities. The market's ability to track trends and bring in these viral products sets it apart from traditional grocery stores in the area.

The details

Monaco Market is located on the corner of Wyoming Blvd. and Montgomery Blvd. in Albuquerque. The market is stocked with hundreds of trendy food items from around the world that can't be found elsewhere in the city. The market's creative director, Munji Kahalah, a UNM alumnus with a background in data analysis, says tracking trends and sourcing these viral products is a challenging but rewarding process. In addition to snacks, the market also carries other viral items like Labubus. Monaco Market is also set to open a ramen bar soon.

  • Monaco Market opened four years ago.
  • The market is set to open a ramen bar soon.

The players

Monaco Market

An exotic food market in Albuquerque, New Mexico that specializes in stocking hard-to-find viral snacks and treats from around the world.

Munji Kahalah

The creative director of Monaco Market, who has a background in data analysis and helps the market track trends and source unique international products.

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What they’re saying

“What really inspired it is in the bigger cities, whether it is Amsterdam, London, Miami, New York, or LA, this is prevalent. You can kind of get it anywhere, like the corner. They call them both the bodegas. And in Albuquerque, we just don't have that, right?”

— Munji Kahalah, Creative Director, Monaco Market

“It's a real grind sometimes with tariffs and imports and seeing what suppliers are out there. And just, you know, getting dirty and getting our hands dirty, I should say, and just kind of figuring out who has them, how can we bring them in. And it's a really fun process.”

— Munji Kahalah, Creative Director, Monaco Market

What’s next

Monaco Market is set to open a ramen bar at the store in the near future, providing customers with another unique dining option.

The takeaway

Monaco Market's ability to source hard-to-find viral snacks from around the world that can't be found elsewhere in Albuquerque has helped it build a loyal following and stand out in the local food scene. The market's innovative approach to stocking trendy international products reflects a growing demand for access to unique culinary experiences in the city.