Feature
Top 10 Asian Grocery Shopping Destinations in Metro Atlanta
GAT's 2nd annual review of the top Asian grocery shopping.
By Andrian Putra Posted Nov 1, 2007
Super H Mart
2550 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, GA 30096 / Tel 678.543.4000
6335 Hwy 85, Riverdale, GA 30274 / Tel 678.435.0909
10820 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30005 / Tel 678.317.0240
With its third store in metro Atlanta scheduled for opening in January 2008, Super H-Mart is growing at a trailblazer speed to dominate the international grocery market in Georgia. Its stores in Duluth, Johns Creek, and Riverdale are popular among the fast growing Asian American population in Georgia and the neighboring southeastern states. The store carries a variety of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian collection of sauces, spices, and condiments, and noodles. Widely reputable for its fresh and reasonably priced seafood department -- Super H Mart also carry a wide array of fresh meat, produce, and fruits. Its stores has large daily sales turnover and therefore kept fresh inventories. Expect large crowds during the weekend as shoppers come from as far as South Carolina and Alabama for their groceries. Their new location in Suwanee off I-85 Exit 111 is expected to open by January 2008 and the Doraville location is scheduled to open by early 2009.
Atlanta Farmers Market (aka Hong Kong Super Market)
4166 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30345 / 404.325.3999
Earned its reputation for its fresh meat and seafood department. Its beef department serves fresh offering daily due to large clientele. A wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices used in Southeast Asian cooking are available in this store. A popular destination for Vietnamese and Chinese shoppers but it also caters to large Latino shoppers living on Buford Highway.
99 Ranch Market
5150 Buford Highway, Doraville, GA 30340 / 770.458.8899
A favorite shopping destination for the ethnic Chinese population. A good place to find anything related to Chinese cooking. Slow checkout is the hallmark of their service -- expect no more than three check out lines open at a time. Be warn of the store lingering pungent smell -- it would be wise to leave your expensive jacket or heavy coat at home.
Buford Highway Farmers Market
5600 Buford Highway, NE, Doraville, GA 30040 / 770.455.0625
The store is clean and brightly lit. It carries a variety of goods catering to Asians and Latino community. It has a well stocked meat and seafood department. The store’s reputation is the produce and fruits department. it carries a variety of condiments, spices, and dry goods catering to multi ethnic Asian community in metro Atlanta. Prices are reasonable.
Assi
1291 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA 30024 / 770.813.1500
Conveniently located, it is a favorite among residents of North Gwinnett as it has everything but on a modest scale. The store’s meat, produce, and fruits department are fresh and inexpensive. It also has a good seafood department. The store is clean and easy to navigate. Major drawback are church volunteers distributing flyers at the store’s exit -- turning a positive experience to a negative one immediately.
International Farmers Market
5193 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Chamblee, GA 30341 / 770.455.1777
Located near to Chamblee MARTA station and Chinatown in Chamblee, it offers a wide variety of Asian and Latino food. This store attracts shoppers of Indian and South Asian descent due to the variety of produce, vegetables, condiments, and spices that it carry. The store also carry a good selection of bread, beer & wines, and cheeses.
Hoa Binh Seafood Market
4897 Buford Highway, Chamblee, GA 30341 / 770.457.3383
A favorite among Vietnamese and Chinese shoppers as the store carry a wide variety of sauces, condiments, dry goods, noodles, and cooking utensils. It has a small produce section and a seafood area. The store also has a corner selling freshly made BBQ meat, roast chicken & duck, and crispy suckling pig.
DeKalb Farmers Market
3000 E. Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 / 404.377.6400
Once upon a time, it was THE place for grocery shopping -- however, things have evolved and the place now caters to more mainstream shoppers. The market does sell fresh produce and vegetables catering to ethnic taste. It has a large seafood section selling fresh and frozen varieties.
Tomato Japanese Grocery
2086 Cobb Parkway, Smyrna, GA 30080 Tel 770-933-0108
7214 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Norcross, GA 30071 Tel 770-263-7838
There are no signs leading to this store -- therefore, lookout for Sushi Yoko restaurant and Tomato is located next door to it. This tiny supermarket sells fresh vegetables, frozen Japanese food, fresh sashimi garde fish, rice, and variety of sauces. You will also find anything Japanese includinf snacks, sakes, and beers.
Oriental Market
5091 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30340 / 770.457.5666
Operated by a friendly Thai couple, this mom-and-pop grocery store carry a variety of canned goods, dried food, spices, and sauces for Thai and Southeast Asian cooking. Its frozen section offers hard to find ethnic vegetables, herbs, and desserts from Thailand.
Other Worthy Mentions:
Patel Brothers
763 Dekalb Industrial Way, Decatur, GA 30033
A widely popular store catering to Indian community -- selling fresh produce to fozen item like paratha from Pakistan and India. It has a snack corner that sells all kinds of Indian munchies from muruku to spiced chick peas. It carry comprehensive and essential items for Indian cooking.
Manila Mart
6247 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Atlanta - (770) 451-4585
An ethnic supermarket catering to the local Filipino community. Located in a run-down shopping plaza, the store carrys essential items loved by Pinoys from Goldilock baked goods to ice creams.
Dinho Market
5379 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA 30341 / 770.452.6907
A favorite among mainland Chinese shoppers -- the store offers condiments, canned goods, sauces, and frozen food catering to ethnic Chinese cooking. It has a glass counter selling traditional Chinese medicine and wines. Be forwarned -- this is not your average grocery store -- expect pungent aroma and cleanliness beneath standard.