Asian grocery stores have become part of the culture in Western countries through waves of immigration. These stores are known for their many culinary delights, but they also stock some of the freshest produce and keep a wide array of ingredients on hand. This has made them become an essential stop during shopping trips, whether online or in-person.
If you’re interested in how Asian grocery stores can help with your pantry and fridge space, read on to discover some of the best options you can save for your next grocery run.
Experience Korean-American Cuisine at H Mart
H Mart is a Korean-American chain that has become a classic supermarket to visit for Asian ingredients. Founded in 1982 in Woodside, New York, H Mart has since expanded to stores all over North America and even a few outlets in the United Kingdom. They also have an online shop.
H Mart prides itself on the quality of the products it offers and on making Korean products available to American-based shoppers. Its catalog includes everything from beauty products to health supplements, to fresh produce and high-quality meat and seafood. You can also find kimchi, rice, seasonings, instant food, and plenty of Korean snacks and drinks.
A visit to H Mart will be an enriching experience for your kitchen, especially if you are looking to create meals with a Korean twist. For Koreans living in the United States or Canada, it can be a taste of home.
Some of the star items to buy at H Mart are:
- Kimchi: This Korean staple can be found in various varieties.
- Short-grain white rice: One of the best choices for making sushi.
- Korean pantry essentials: Stock up on soy sauce, red pepper powder, miso, dried anchovies, and sesame oil.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables: You’ll find cheap, high-quality produce at H Mart, including delicacies like jackfruit and durian.
- Frozen dumplings: These come in many delicious shapes and forms, from gyoza to baos.
Delve into Indian Flavors at Patel Brothers
Patel Brothers is a classic for Indian ingredients, just like H Mart is for Korean ones. Founded in 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, the chain has since expanded to over fifty-seven locations in the United States. These are focused primarily on the East Coast due to New York and New Jersey’s substantial population of Indian immigrants.
Patel Brothers is a great place to go to stock up on ingredients you may need for cooking South Asian food in particular. Dry spices especially make for a great haul. You can find high-quality:
- Cumin seeds
- Garam masala
- Whole cardamom
- Whole cloves
- Star anise
- Sesame seeds
If you’re looking to stock up your fridge and freezer with delicious Indian food, check out Patel Brothers’ extensive selection of samosas, naan, Patra, paratha, and even masala burgers. You can also buy specialty ice creams like Vadilal, which comes in flavors like gulab jamun and falooda. There is also guava juice and a selection of chutney cheese slices.
You should check out the collection of fresh herbs on offer, like cilantro, curry leaves, and mint. There are also plenty of sauces and condiments, like various chutneys that you can get ready-made, soy sauces, garlic sauces, and deep mango pickle sauces.
Explore Asian Delights at Grand Asia Market
Grand Asia Market was founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has since served the Carolinas area well when it comes to offering high-quality Asian products. You’ll find ingredients from Japan, China, Vietnam, India, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Although it is not a chain, this grocery store has a large-scale location in Raleigh comparable to the premises of an H Mart. You’ll find plenty of groceries here, fresh produce, meat, and seafood, and even fresh Hong Kong-inspired baked goods that are made every day. You can also savor bubble tea made with tapioca pearls on the premises.
When it comes to produce, you can find fresh seasonal items like bok choy, nagaimo, and lychee, handy in Asian recipes. You’ll find unique Asian cuts of Chinese sausages, goat, and duck in the meat section, alongside traditional cuts of poultry, beef, and pork.
The seafood at Grand Asia Market is delivered fresh four times a week, which allows it to keep its high quality. You’ll find oysters, lobsters, bass, shrimp, squid, and many others on offer here.
Get Affordable Quality Items at z.Tao
This is a relatively recent Asian supermarket that has hit the American market. Operating in locations across Texas, z.Tao offers high-quality products at affordable prices and has quickly become popular with the Asian community. Fresh and frozen items are on offer, and z.Tao has created several of its own brands like Ocean Brook, Insta Taste, and Noodle Land.
These own brands have quickly become a staple in Asian-influenced kitchens in the area and are known for their quality. You’ll find plenty of fresh produce, great cuts of meat, rice, oils, and seasonings. There are also dairy and soy products, numerous Asian snacks, high-quality seafood choices, and a good selection of instant and frozen food too.
You can also get vegan choices and Chinese grocery essentials like black sesame, mung bean, vermicelli noodles, pickled cabbage, and baked goods. You’ll also find bok choy, daikon, fresh ginger, winter melon, lotus root, Taiwanese cabbage, kabocha, Ichiban tofu, soy potato sprouts, and Japanese sweet potatoes.
Buy Online with Yamibuy
One of the best-stocked online Asian grocery stores you’ll find is Yamibuy. The company was founded in 2013 by Alex Zhou. It is based in the United States but features Asian products from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and many other areas. Yamibuy stocks plenty of fan favorites at affordable prices and it caters to Asian Americans.
It is currently one of the leading online companies for Asian American groceries. It has established partnerships with some of the most well-known Asian brands globally, like Shiseido, Lotte, and Master Kong. Apart from groceries, Yamibuy offers health supplements, beauty products, skincare, kitchenware, and even home appliances.
Some of its star products are the Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup, the Taiwanese Pineapple Cake, Samyang ramen packs, banana milk, Anpanman cookies, and Royal milk tea. Yamibuy is also known for its tiered accounts with various benefits the more you purchase from the company.
You can stock up on great instant food and excellent Asian snacks and beverages. There are also fresh and frozen food options that fit right into your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.
Find Japanese Groceries at Dokodemo
Another popular Asian online store is Dokodemo, which specializes in Japanese products. It focuses a lot on bringing Japanese beauty and health products to the rest of the world, particularly North America. There is also lots on offer in terms of food, especially for popular snacks like Kit-Kats.
You can find a wide array of teas, instant noodles, seaweed snacks, rice, and mochi. There are also seasoning mixes, cereals, baking ingredients, miso soup, and even canned food. The website has a smart shipping feature, which automatically detects the best shipping options for you depending on where you are and what you’re buying.
Dokodemo has a points-based rewards system. With each order, you gain points, leading to benefits like discounts on items and orders. With Dokodemo, you will receive high-quality Japanese products delivered straight to your door.
Discover Indian Food Online at iShopIndian
If you’re looking for Indian ingredients online, look no further than iShopIndian. This is one of the largest Indian grocery stores available online in the United States, and it has a vast array of items in stock that you can add to your shopping cart and have delivered to your home. The website was created in 2000, and it has been receiving excellent reviews ever since.
iShopIndian prides itself on its high-quality products and the variety of Indian items it offers to customers in the United States. You can find many categories of items on the website, from beauty to cookbooks and cooking utensils, but the groceries category is the most popular one.
You can stock up your freezer with frozen bread, chutneys, samosas, wraps, and vegetables. You can also add Indian desserts and entrees, as well as cheese and butter. If you’re looking to stock up the rest of your kitchen, you’ll find lentils, spices, pulses, oils, and sauces.
On top of that, the website has a wide selection of rice, noodles, and Mediterranean food, as well as Indian-Chinese fusion food.
New York Mart is a Star in the City
New York Mart opened in New York City’s Mietz Building in 2011. It is a huge supermarket that has plenty of Asian ingredients on offer. You can find a prepared food counter there too, where you can savor filling and delicious meals for free. When it comes to stocking up, there’s much to choose from, like Japanese nori, Chinese tofu, and Vietnamese noodles.
New York Mart can get hectic during the rush, but it has a large selection of fresh vegetables specifically aimed to be used in Chinese cooking. Although you’ll find ingredients from plenty of Asian regions, this grocery store caters to the Chinese community and to those looking to sample its many delicacies.
New York Mart also offers high-quality fresh seafood like crabs, pampano, squid, and salmon. The meat selection is extensive, and there is also a bakery with fresh goods on the premises. Frozen fish balls and potato vermicelli noodles are only some popular favorites with the New York locals.
Find Fresh Asian Essentials at Fei Long Market
Another great stop in New York City, the Fei Long Market in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park has an extensive selection of fresh ingredients. It’s also right next to a food court where you can find inspiration for recipes you might like to try making with your purchases. Here you’ll find coconut milk, a large selection of tofu, and fresh produce like bok choy.
This store is divided into a restaurant and a fresh food market with grocery aisles, so you can find everything you want with just one stop on your itinerary. There is a seafood stand, a butcher section with fresh cuts of quality meat, and plenty of freezer food. You can fully stock up your pantry here with condiments, sauces, and spice mixes.
Fei Long is a great hit with the locals, and it specializes in everything Chinese. If you’re looking for specific ingredients for your Chinese meals, whether fresh or dry, you’re most likely to find them on these premises.
Explore the Treasures of Chang Jiang Supermarket
If you’re still looking for more New York City options, Chang Jiang Supermarket waits for you in Flushing, Queens. This supermarket has plenty to offer in an area with a sizeable Chinese community. Here, you’ll find many Asian ingredients, specially stocked from Japan and China.
You’ll even be able to purchase Japanese specialty wasabi, Chinese black chickens, and many more exclusive delicacies. The bestselling part of the supermarket is the fresh sushi counter, where you’ll get to explore many types of rolls. It has a great selection of fresh produce, fresh seafood, and meat.
The recommendation of the locals is to go there with a specific list unless you have time to spare. The wealth of items you can find here can capture your attention in a way that might see you leaving with a few extra things in your basket.
Get Japanese Essentials at the Sunrise Mart
The Sunrise Mart is an Asian supermarket focusing on Japanese specialty products. It has been open in Manhattan since 1995 and has been providing the Japanese community and others interested in Japanese cuisine with high-quality items ever since.
Sunrise Mart is known for its vast selection of ingredients. You’ll find fresh produce and many Japanese-imported essentials, beverages, and snacks. The prepared meal counter is a treasure trove of bento boxes, side dishes, and full Japanese meals.
There are also specialty soy sauces, green tea flavored Kit-Kats, and many seasonal specials to keep you coming back for more of your Japanese-specific fixes. The locals know Sunrise Mart as a taste of Japan in the middle of New York City’s Manhattan.
Visit Bangkok Center Grocery for Thai Food Needs
If you’re looking for Thai-specific ingredients in New York City, go no further than the Bangkok Center Grocery on Mosco Street in Chinatown. This supermarket defines itself as a one-stop-shop for all Thai essentials and prides itself on having all ingredients needed for That cuisine in stock.
The supermarket carries everything you might need for Thai dishes such as:
- Pad Thai
- Curries
- Tom yum
- Concentrated turnip tamarind
- Bean sprouts
- Coconut sugar
- Dried shrimp
- Noodles
- Coconut sugar
- Specific sauces
- Curry pastes
- Bamboo shoots
- Fresh mushrooms
- Lime leaves
- Lemongrass
- Coriander
Besides, you can also browse the store’s many shelves for tom yum paste, galangal, Thai eggplant, fish sauce, and chive roasted peanuts. If you’re looking to enhance your knowledge of Thai food, you can also purchase one of the many cookbooks on offer, as well as cooking utensils.
Use the Asian Food Grocer to Stock Up
If you’re looking for another Asian grocery store online, you can check out the Asian Food Grocer to stock up on your Asian essentials without having to go to one in-person. This online store is part of a parent company that has been importing Asian products since 1965 and making them available for the American market.
The store stocks a wide variety of snacks like Master Kong beverages, Lay’s Chips with Japanese flavors, mochi, and Want Want crackers. It also has an extensive selection of Asian noodles, from shirataki noodles to Udon to Ramen, including Japanese Soba and Somen.
If cooking staples are on your list, you’ll find plenty of them here. From fresh to dry ingredients, you’ll have access to everything you might need for your cooking at your fingertips. You’ll even find all kinds of rice, from brown, white, and instant, to specialty types like Botan and Kagayaki.
If you are interested in Asian alcohol, you can sample from the Asian Food Grocer’s extensive collection of specialty sake and beers. These can only be delivered in California, but the store is currently working on purchasing alcohol delivery licenses for other states.
Filipino and Thai Ingredients Are at Lily Market
Lily Market Oriental Food & Gifts in Portland, Oregon, specializes in providing Thai and Filipino ingredients. There is an extensive selection of chili sauces and other condiments, as well as curry pastes, Thai seasonings, and canned goods. There’s plenty of fresh produce and an array of Filipino cuisine-specific ingredients like grated cassava and frozen ube.
Lily Market also carries Filipino ice creams and traditional Filipino desserts. You will find many other Asian snacks too, like Japanese rice crackers. The store imports tropical fruit and vegetables on a seasonal basis, so look out for when your favorites are in stock. You can find spice mixes, dried spices, and fresh ones too.
The Asian beverage selection is also comprehensive. You’ll have access to various types of dairy-free milk, as well as grass jelly drinks and ice teas and coffees from Thailand. If you want to sample some of these delicacies on the premises, there is a hot food counter offering traditional Thai fare.
Find Southeast Asian Flavors at Namaste Grocery
In Northeast Portland, you’ll find the Namaste Indian Grocery & Bazaar. On the premises, you’ll encounter a cafe that can whet your appetite with its offerings of curries and other savory nibbles.
When you go into the supermarket itself, you’ll find items that will fill all your Indian grocery needs. From spices to curry mixes to dry goods, you’ll be able to stock up your pantry with a wealth of ingredients. You can also fill up your freezer with an array of frozen goods. There are even lots of snacks and beverages to sample.
The grocery store doesn’t just cater to an Indian-specific audience. You can also find various other Asian ingredients from Pakistan, Nepal, and cuisines from the Pacific Islands. Check out the selection of incense if your supply is running low and you’d like to purchase something for the household too.
99 Ranch Market Gives You Chinese Supplies
99 Ranch Market is a chain grocery store with over fifty-three stores and was founded in 1984 by Taiwanese immigrant Roger Chen. Its primary location is California, but it has since expanded to other states like Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. 99 Ranch Market has also been known as Tawa Supermarket.
99 Ranch Market specializes in providing Taiwanese ingredients, but it also has plenty of other Asian items on offer. It is one of the largest Asian grocery stores in the country and has become a well-known favorite in the communities it serves. Inside the store, you’ll encounter fresh baked goods and a dim sum counter operating on a self-service basis.
You’ll also have access to a vast selection of grocery products, from dumpling wrappers to fresh produce, and including frozen foods, cleaning and household supplies, and an alcohol aisle. There are plenty of fish and meat offerings too, as well as fresh seafood, fresh noodles, and an array of tofu choices.
Browse What’s on Offer at Mitsuwa Marketplace
Mitsuwa Marketplace is a popular supermarket chain specializing in Japanese ingredients. It was founded in 1998 in Torrance, California, and has since expanded to eleven locations across Hawaii, Illinois, California, Texas, and New Jersey. It is known for the wide variety of items it offers.
Mitsuwa is available in some areas for home delivery through Instacart, but otherwise, you have to find a location near you for your Japanese shopping spree. Keep an eye out for the weekly deals that take place at the Mitsuwa stores. They’re a great way to discover new items for low prices.
Mitsuwa has everything from snacks to instant food and alcohol on offer. You’ll find plenty of ingredients to create Japanese meals, as well as household and beauty items. There are many types of:
- Rice
- Curry sauces
- Mixes
- Seasonings
- Spices
- Fresh seasonal produce
Discover Korean Japanese Items at Sandyi Oriental
Sandyi Oriental Market is a Korean market that also stocks plenty of Japanese ingredients. You’ll find Sandyi Oriental Market serving the area of Tucson, Arizona. This is a smaller store than some other options on this list, but it’s family-run and occasionally provides ingredients that are hard to find anywhere else.
Depending on when you visit, you’ll be able to find various types of frozen fish, rice sourced from new crops, and even specialty ice cream bars. The owners also provide freshly baked goods and takeaway options like sushi. You can even pick up household essentials while you’re stocking up on your Asian ingredients.
Find All Your Japanese Groceries at One World
You’ll find One World Market serving the area of Indianapolis, Indiana. It’s a combination grocery store and food court. The store is known for its variety of high-quality Japanese items. It also carries some ingredients that other Asian grocery stores don’t stock, so if you’re looking to create a highly specific Japanese recipe, this is the place for you.
One World offers a huge selection of rice brands that will satisfy any need for any type of rice. The store has plenty of fresh produce too and usually has a sushi restaurant on the premises. You can also find great selections of fish, including excellent choices for making sashimi.
If you’re interested in sampling some fine alcohol choices, you can explore the store’s stock of Japanese whiskies and sake. If your fridge and freezer need restocking too, the refrigerated and frozen food selection is as extensive as everything else in the store.
Experience the Expertise of Kam Man Food
Kam Man Food is a Chinese supermarket chain founded in New York City’s Chinatown in 1972. It has since opened several more locations in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Kam Man Food was the first Chinese supermarket to open on the East Coast of the United States and has since provided reliable, high-quality service to the area.
Kam Man Food is an excellent choice for a one-stop-shop when purchasing Chinese essentials like frozen foods, fresh produce, meats, noodles, spices, condiments, and herbs. Kam Man Food’s experience and selection of high-quality products have ensured the survival of its stores.
Conclusion
There is a vast array of Asian grocery stores across the United States. Some of them carry products specific to one area, but most provide access to selections from various Asian regions. There are plenty of options when it comes to sourcing Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Thai products, as well as Taiwanese and Nepalese.
Depending on what you’re looking to stock up, you can also opt for online or in-person visits to stores. From names that have been in the business for decades to newcomers breaking onto the market, you have a long list of Asian grocery stores to consider no matter where you live.