Looking for best Asian grocery in Baltimore east of I-83

[Vespa1]

I've been to all of the big stores on the west side of town but haven't found a really decent one on the east side yet. Any favorites?

[tombradyqb]

There is a new Chinese market off Pulaski Highway that opened this past weekend called Ha-ha Foods. The selection there is quite impressive and the shelves are well stocked with all kinds of Chinese groceries from snack foods to frozen dim-sum to all different varieties of soy-sauce. It may not be as big as the Korean supermarket counterparts like H-Mart or Lotte but for a Chinese grocery store, it's a pretty ambitious endeavor. I do hope they succeed. A little history: this new market is basically the new location of Eastern Foods (1201 67th St Baltimore, MD 21237) which was operating as a small no-frills grocery store with basic items in stock. They have now moved down the street in the same industrial district. Sorry, I don't have an address, but I believe it is now on 65th Street.

[lawhound]

Perhaps my views are colored by the fact that it's a mile from our house, but I love the selection and prices at Asia Food on York Road bw Cold Spring Lane and Norhern Parkway. For Indian-only, Punjab at 33rd and Greenmount in Waverly has terrific selection of spices, condiments, etc.

[Vespa1]

Hmmm...About Asia Food; did they just move to the back of the building? They seemed to change owners about a year ago and the street-front portion got re-modeled. The selection in that store seems to have gotten smaller but I still see a tiny "Asia Food" sign in that alley on the side of the building.

[hon]

the old Asia Food was much better.
Towson Oriental is decent, it's behind the shopping center there.

[Hal Laurent]

Is that the shopping center where Johnny Dee's Lounge was (or maybe still is)?

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Johnny Dee's Lounge
1706 Joan Ave, Parkville, MD 21234

[hon]

Yep, "The Lounge" is still there and the grocery store is around the corner on the back side of the shopping center from it.

[crowsonguy]

The "old" Asia Food moved to the back of the building, replaced by a man who thought Stove Top Stuffing was Asian. His business failed about six months ago, so the nice Taiwanese couple with a good variety of Asian fresh and dried foods are back. No, not an H Mart, but saving over an hour's driving makes it attractive for us locals.

[suttonri]

My Shanghainese wife's go to grocery east of I-83 is the Towson Oriental Grocery at 8424 Willow Oak Rd. This is just east of Loch Raven and south of Joppa. AA Supermarket and H-Mart are larger, but you can get a lot of things in Towson without making the trip west.

[Vespa1]

I'm heading there to check it out right now. Hope you are well.
-B-

[Vespa1]

I liked this place a lot, especially the mystery chest freezers. They had the 2 things I was looking for; Pearl River Bridge soy sauce and 3 Crabs fish sauce. I'll definately be going back.

[suttonri]

Glad you liked it. What about the 3 Crabs fish sauce do you like? I recently ran out of fish sauce and perhaps I need to try this brand.

Rich

[Vespa1]

It's my first time trying it. I have seen this brand recommended in recipes and on blogs, etc. I'll taste it head-to-head with what ever it is I have now and report back.

[Vespa1]

The 3 Crabs fish sauce definately came out on top. I tasted it next to a brand called Tiparos which I think I bought at Wegman's. The 3 Crabs sauce had a greater depth of flavor and was much less salty. 3 Crabs was also 3X the price at $4.50 but still a bargain.

[Vespa1]

Rich,
Just found this small article on fish sauce:
http://www.panix.com/~clay/cookbook/b...
Tons of reciepes on this site, too. Go to bottom of page and click "Return to cookbook index"

[hon]

The mystery freezers are scary and intriguing.
I find the cashiers there to be much less then friendly, thats my only complaint. One chucked my change on the counter.

[suttonri]

We have always been treated well there, but we've been going there for the better part of a decade. They've pretty much watched our 5-year old growing up. Still havn't purchased anything from the freezers though...

Rich