9 Groceries I Only Buy at Asian Supermarkets, According to a Food Writer

Being close to an Asian supermarket means quite a few things to me. Emotionally, it means preservation of heritage and acceptance within the area’s community. Politically, it means safety in numbers, that there are enough people that look like me for a business catering to East Asians to not only survive, but thrive. And socially, it means I’m in a place where locals have adventurous palates and open minds, and I can expect diverse cuisine where culture is shared and beautifully blended across tables.

But on a practical level, it also means I can save a lot of money on groceries. Savvy shoppers in diverse neighborhoods have long known that Asian supermarkets like H Mart, Hong Kong Supermarket, 99 Ranch Market, City Farmers Markets and other similarly expanding brands are sometimes where you’ll find the best deals—if you know what to look for. 

Here are nine grocery items I never buy at conventional supermarkets and only buy at Asian markets for big savings.

Related: 99 Ranch Is So Amazing, I Cried with Joy the First Time I Shopped There—Here's What I Buy

9 Groceries to Buy at Asian Supermarkets

Rice

Rice varieties, grain lengths and textures can run the gamut, but because rice is a healthy staple food for many Asian cultures, you can find a wide range available in bulk quantities. Buying in bulk can lead to savings over time, plus rice has a long shelf life when stored in an airtight container. Get common varieties like high-grade, Thai-grown jasmine rice and Indian basmati for the same price as generic long-grain rice, and upgrade your brown rice to premium medium-grain like Nishiki. For unique varieties such as red, black, sticky, short-grain and sprouted rice, check your Asian grocer first for potential savings.

Related: Should You Rinse Your Rice Before Cooking It? Here’s What the Pros Say

Produce

An Asian market is a no-brainer for niche produce like lemongrass stalks and taro. But it should also be your default stop for produce that has become better known, such as watercress, napa cabbage and Shanghai bok choy. The savings can be high—for example, canned bean sprouts sell for around $2 per can and as much as $3.50 for an 8-ounce bag of fresh sprouts at a conventional supermarket. That is double what you’d pay for a casually bagged sack of them at an Asian market, where they’re sold in bulk as a filler vegetable.

Don’t limit yourself to Asian-specific produce, either. Because many parts of Asia share a tropical climate with the Caribbean and northern Latin America, ingredients integral to those cuisines can also be easily found for less than at your everyday supermarket. Think whole papayas, coconuts, limes or fresh cactus for nopales. I’ve also found berries to be reliably cheaper at Asian markets. In season, a wide variety of apples, Asian pears, persimmons and citrus fruit are often offered for less. And don’t forget the freezer aisle, either! Frozen coconut chunks and edamame are always on hand there.

Sauces

In the international aisle of conventional supermarkets, Asian sauces are usually sold in limited brands, types and in tiny quantities, which always means paying more per ounce. For products like soy sauce, it’s well worth it to go to an Asian market to explore the variety and potential savings. Get your gluten-free tamari here, and upgrade your oyster sauce, hoisin sauce and sesame oil to more authentic brands—I buy Lee Kum Kee’s Panda, Koon Chun, and Kadoya, respectively. Plus, keep an eye out for other cooking sauces like char siu sauce, Korean barbecue marinades, simmer sauces and pad thai sauce, which overflow the aisles for only a few dollars per jar or bottle and quickly add flavor to any dish.

Related: Tamari vs. Soy Sauce: What's the Difference?

Teas

From China to India, tea has a long and venerated history in Asia, which guarantees a great selection curated for pickier clientele at an Asian supermarket. High-quality, potent loose teas like jasmine and chrysanthemum are often value-priced here, and you can find high-end teas like pu’er and matcha closer to cost in their tea aisle. One of my favorite finds has been Thai tea mixes, which I use to make sweet, creamy Thai iced tea.

Dumpling Products

All dumpling and wonton wrappers are not created equal, and paying more doesn’t mean better quality. Twin Marquis is my personal best recommendation—you get twice as many wrappers for the same price at your Asian grocer as other premium-packaged brands that don’t stay sealed as well. 

If the idea of making your own dumplings or wontons seems daunting, not to worry. While most conventional supermarkets sell frozen dumplings now, you’ll likely pay more and only find limited varieties there, whereas at an Asian market, you’ll discover there’s more to dumplings than potstickers and gyoza. Get carried away with mandu, shumai, jiaozi and dim sum varieties (even variety packs), or stuffed baozi made with fluffy mantou bread. Find fillings that range from beef and celery to shrimp and pork to vegetarian blends that incorporate tree ears, cabbage, glass noodles and more.

Noodles

Rice noodles for pad thai, chow mei fun and Vietnamese spring rolls can often be found in the international aisle of conventional supermarkets, and noodles made with rice regularly appear in gluten-free sections, too. However, they’re typically priced higher there than at Asian supermarkets, where you might even be able to get them fresh in the refrigerated case, alongside egg noodles, fresh udon, shirataki and other delightfully chewy noodles. In the dry noodle aisle, not only can you experiment with bean thread, sweet potato and glass noodles, you’ll also be dazzled by an array of ready-to-eat noodles. 

Related: What Are Shirataki Noodles, and Are They Healthy?

Tofu

Tofu is now readily available and while it’s not terribly expensive, it can certainly be cheaper and come in more varieties at an Asian supermarket. Depending on your needs, you can get soft, medium, firm and extra-firm tofu packed in water for little more than a dollar or two at an Asian grocer. In the freezer aisle, find frozen cubes of tofu that will cook up puffy in a jiffy. Shelf-stable Mori-Nu silken tofu is great for blending or serving seasoned and cold, and I keep a stack in my pantry. And keeping a sharp eye out might help you score tempeh for less. Plus, you can get other fun tofu products, like yuba noodles or dried tofu-skin sheets to use for bean-curd-wrap dim sum.

Dried/Dehydrated Flavor Enhancers

Dried umami-imparting ingredients are prized in Asian cuisine, stretching one or two flavor enhancers across an entire dish with their highly concentrated flavors. Black shiitake mushrooms are sold graded and vacuum-packed for much less than you’d pay at a gourmet grocer. As for other mighty-punch flavor enhancers, dried shrimp and dried scallops were go-to instant-seasoners in my house growing up, and all you need are two of either to season an entire plate of sautéed green beans or add dimension to a pork bone broth. Dried hot peppers are another great shelf-stable buy, and you can use them for a multitude of cuisines.

Asian Snacks

Asian snacks are known for their novelty, and there’s no shortage of ones to try. Unique Japanese KitKat flavors coveted by snack enthusiasts include Matcha Green Tea, Strawberry Chocolate Cake and Milk Tea. Lay’s potato chips also have a fan following for flavors like Roasted Garlic Oyster and Roasted Cumin Lamb Skewer. Luckily, you don’t have to pay to get these unique flavors shipped to you if you have an Asian supermarket nearby—you can just peruse the snack section instead.  

Then there are also Asian versions of gourmet snacks and cookies. If you’re a fan of Loacker Quadratini, try Garden Cream wafer cookies. If you like Piroulines, give the red tins of “egg rolls” a whirl—they’re cookies, not deep-fried, veggie-stuffed cylinders! And don’t pay more for rice crackers and seaweed snacks at specialty stores when they’re just regular budget-friendly snacks at the Asian supermarket. Your wallet and taste buds will thank you.