BEST CHINESE MARKET IN SGV

[Paliman]

I have traded at 99 Ranch for close to 20 years. It seems that it has gotten very tired. It is not as clean as it was, and there is little routine maintenance.

I was wondering if a newer, more modern market has opened while I have been pushing my way through 99 Ranch. Please let me know.

Thanks.

[Peripatetic]

For very upscale Chinese specialties there's also Wing Hop Fung. They're not a grocery, but they have an unusual selection of Chinese foods, dried seafood, teas, herbs, wines. No fresh foods, though. They have locations in Chinatown and Monterey Park. Worth a visit just to see the $1000 ginseng!

The Monterey Park location is conveniently in the same strip mall as the 99 Ranch at the NE corner of Atlantic and Garvey:

Wing Hop Fung
725 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754
626-227-1688
http://www.winghopfung.com/

(They also own Bird Pick Tea in Pasadena and, soon, Culver City.)

[luckattack]

I like the San Gabriel Superstore. It is big and has a lot of the stuff I am looking for. Prices are better than the overpriced 99 Ranch.
Anything you do avoid The Square like a sore. Horrible service. People are rude. Parking is unbelievably impossible to deal with. Food is expired. check before you put it in your cart.

[ipsedixit]

Re: The Square.

Yes, parking is a PIA but I've never found the food to be "expired" and the service has always been comparable to any SGV market. Seriously, the worst part of The Square (aside from the parking) might be that it is the coldest market in the SGV.

[liu]

YES!!! What's with the temperatures in these supermarkets lately?
Perhaps an informative post would be to list the SGV markets in order of temperature. I'll begin the list with the coldest: 168 Market in Alhambra!

[Mr Taster]

I've often found that it's much easier to just give up on the parking lots in that part of Valley Blvd, because there's ample free parking on the streets.

The Mei Long Village strip mall is particularly bad.... I can't tell you how many times the lot has been busting at the seams, but the curb right in front of it is free & clear!

Mr Taster

[ipsedixit]

All good and well (and agree on Valley Blvd street parking), but The Square is on Garvey and San Gabriel Blvd. :-)

[JThur01]

At first I thought you meant the Focus Plaza/San Gabriel Square...but that was just my mind juxtaposing it because "parking is a PIA" came up :-) That place (Focus) can be a nightmare, and oh, yes as Mr. Taster writes...the Prospect Plaza and the smaller ones can be particularly bad. Don't let that dissuade anyone though, as parking can usually be found nearby.

[luckattack]

be warn they will not let you push your stuff to your car if you park off the parking lot. I was limping to my car with a cart full of food and they would not let me unload and made me return so i got my money back.

[Clinton]

Shun Fat on Atlantic south off the 10 Fwy has been there for years as I can remember. Despite the heavier crowds and pristine supermarket ambience you'd find at mainstream supermarkets, you'll still get the best buys at places like this and the ever popular Hawaii Supermarket. Parking has always been the main complaint for both places.

[sel]

I like 168 Market the best. Great selection of fresh noodles, produce seems fresher than some of the others.

-----
168 Market
1421 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA

[sel]

If it's not at 168 Market I'll check Rosemead Supermarket. Both are better than 99 Ranch and newer and not as grubby as Hawaii Supermarket.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=...

[Chandavkl]

Which 99 Ranch market do you shop at? For example, 99 Ranch took over a Ralphs in Chino Hills and that one is in very good condition. Also, how do you define best? We almost never shop at 99 Ranch because it's more expensive than a number of the others (e.g., Hawaii Supermarket), but Hawaii is also a bit shopworn. The newest markets are The Square, Garvey @ San Gabriel, HK II, in the Hong Kong Square shopping center on Colima near Fulllerton Road, and Foodmart International on Nogales in West Covina, so these are certainly fresh looking. HK II is especially upscale, but also more expensive and not very busy.

[Paliman]

The San Gabriel one/ Valley and Del Mar. Used to be great. Of course the pit is the one in Van Nuys. Canned goods only.

[Chandavkl]

You might want to check out The Square, then. They took the old Rosemead 99 Ranch Market and spent a lot of time and money upgrading the premises. Nice produce selection, and I believe it's Korean owned so they added Korean products you don't see at the Chinese stores. On the other hand, total selection is limited due to size--that's probably why 99 Ranch sold the location. Also, I should probably mention the El Monte Superstore on Rosemead south of Garvey, not in El Monte, but South El Monte. I'm pretty sure this is the biggest Chinese supermarket in town, but it has absolutely no ambience being in a semi-industrial part of town.

[will47]

Have heard good things about The Square; haven't been since it opened.

I like SG Superstore pretty well. 1635 S San Gabriel Bl., San Gabriel.

The Ranch 99 on Garfield and Atlantic (south of Shun Fat) isn't too bad.

[toitoi]

I.m a fan of the San Gabriel Superstore, corner of Valley & San Gabriel. It's stocked with great choices.