Desert Drinks & Exotics has closed for good. The shop at 1902 East McDowell Road in Phoenix, known on Instagram as "AZ's Exotic Snack Source" (@desert_drinks, about 79,000 followers), shut down in December 2025. If you searched to find out whether Desert Drinks and Exotics is still open: it isn't. Yelp lists it as closed (updated December 2025) and Google marks the listing permanently closed.
LOOKING FOR THE RARE SODAS DESERT DRINKS USED TO STOCK?
Snack Trap House delivers the exact same lineup of imported Japanese sodas, China Coke flavors, UK Fanta, and exotic chips directly to your door same-day across Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale.
What Desert Drinks & Exotics was
It started as a small Instagram page that delivered imported snacks and soda around Phoenix, then grew into a storefront on East McDowell Road, according to an interview with the owners on VoyagePhoenix. That interview describes shelves of things you couldn't get at a regular grocery store, like Kit Kats from Japan, Fanta from Costa Rica and Lay's from Belgium. The shop picked up close to 280 Google reviews, and plenty of people treated it like a local institution.
Where to buy rare soda in Phoenix now
Delivered to your door: Snack Trap House. That's us, so weigh it accordingly. We carry the same kind of thing Desert Drinks & Exotics was known for: rare imported sodas like China-market Coke and Sprite, UK Fanta and Faygo, plus snacks from Korea, Japan, Thailand and the UK. Stock rotates, so check what's in. We deliver same-day across Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Chandler. Delivery starts at $7 with a $25 minimum, and orders outside Arizona ship for a flat $10. See the rare sodas, build a 5-soda pack for $25 or browse everything in stock.
A storefront: Pop's Exotic in Mesa. A well-known exotic-snack shop, and worth the drive if you like to browse a shelf in person. Our guide to where to buy exotic snacks in Phoenix has the full rundown.
Grocery-style selection: the big Asian markets. Lee Lee, Mekong Plaza and New Tokyo Food Market carry a deep import selection if you have an afternoon to shop.
If you used to head to McDowell Road for your soda run, we deliver across Phoenix now. Here's how Downtown Phoenix delivery works, including the ZIP codes where delivery is free on orders of $65 or more.
Chasing one specific flavor Desert Drinks used to stock? Text or message us and we'll tell you if it's in, or try to get it on the next run.
FAQ
Is Desert Drinks & Exotics still open?
No. Desert Drinks & Exotics on East McDowell Road in Phoenix closed permanently in December 2025.
Where was Desert Drinks & Exotics located?
At 1902 East McDowell Road in Phoenix, Arizona.
What was AZ's Exotic Snack Source?
That was Desert Drinks & Exotics. It was the name they used on Instagram (@desert_drinks) and how a lot of Phoenix knew the shop before it closed.
Where can I buy rare sodas in Phoenix now that Desert Drinks closed?
Snack Trap House carries the same kind of imported and regional sodas and delivers them same-day across the Phoenix metro, starting at $7, with 5 to 7 day shipping to the rest of the US.
Is there a Desert Drinks & Exotics replacement?
For delivery, Snack Trap House carries the same kind of sodas and snacks. For an in-person storefront, Pop's Exotic in Mesa. For the widest grocery-style range, the Asian markets like Lee Lee and Mekong Plaza.