Asian Markets in Metro Detroit Area

[jjspw]

The E.Mart thread inspired this one. What are the best (or your favorite) Asian markets in metro Detroit?

I keep a few in rotation:

For general grocery items (non-produce), I usually go to E.Mart (16 & Dequindre), mainly out of proximity. Although their inventory is mostly Korean, they typically have enough of the "basics" from other countries to complete my shopping list. But if I lived in Ypsi or Ann Arbor, I'd definitely go to Hua Xing, which seems to be the largest and most diverse market in the area.

For produce and uncommon seafood, I always go to Kim Nhung (13 & Dequindre). Although their grocery leans Viet/Thai, their produce is quite all-encompassing. Their selection of greens is spectacular, and I appreciate that they have both purple yam and Japanese sweet potato. Very cheap, too. They're also my go-to for any Viet or Thai grocery items. Although, there's another comparably-good (and actually cleaner) Viet grocery in the same strip mall as Thuy Trang. Can't remember the name of it, and I'd go there if Kim Nhung didn't have what I was looking for.

How about Japanese groceries? Noble Fish (14 & Livernois/Main) is decent, especially for sushi-grade fish, but the inventory can be limited (simply because of limited space in the store).

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Thuy Trang Restaurant
30491 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

Noble Fish
45 E 14 Mile Rd, Clawson, MI 48017

[MARISKANY]

There's a small Korean grocery in a strip mall on 13 mile rd. just west of Orchard Lake Rd.
I had a lot of fun just looking at the packaged food. Lots of noodles and Oriental spices.

[RedTop]

Thanks for starting this thread, jjspw.

I wandered into Chinatown Grocery on John R north of 12 Mile looking for Five Spice just the other day. I was awed by what each aisle offered. Wish I could have spent an hour browsing with someone to explain what I was seeing.

Left with just the Five Spice and a package of Rice Vermecilli Noodles.

[jjspw]

RedTop, Chinatown is really one of my least favorites. I felt it was the most dirty/grungy of all the markets in the area. Have they cleaned up their act?

[RedTop]

I don't really have a point of reference to answer, jjspw. It seemed very close-quartered in there. I didn't go back to the meat counter. And I didn't really know what I was looking at, aisle to aisle. Sorry.

With DD#2 in town this week, I may persuade her to go on a shopping trip to E. Mart & Kim Nhung.

[donbui82]

Chinatown has the best Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches in town.

don

[jjspw]

don, really? I've never seen banh mi there at all. Do you need to special order or ask about it (like, maybe they're behind the counter)?

I've had excellent banh mi from Saigon Market, which is the Viet market whose name I'd forgotten earlier (in same strip mall as Thuy Trang, on John R a bit south of 13 Mile).

Saigon Market
30573 John R Rd
Madison Heights, MI 48071
[phone]

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Thuy Trang Restaurant
30491 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

[Jim M]

Good ones in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti generally if you're out this way. Hua Xing on Washtenaw is huge and good in general for Chinese; large fresh seafood selection, has frogs if you're into that kind of thing. Dong Yu China Market in the Plymouth Road Mall is also pretty big and has a little of everything from different countries, including Indonesian (the one I buy). Large new Korean market: Galleria on Packard in southeast AA; several other Korean markets. Missing in our town: Vietnamese and Thai.

[coney with everything]

Oriental Market on Southfield between 12 and 13 Mile is my go-to as it is close to home. They have Filipino groceries along with Chinese/Thai and a couple of shelves of chotchkes and kitchenwares. Not much in the way of fresh produce but that's OK, I really go there for the basics like a certain soy sauce, chili oil, etc.

If you're looking for a larger Japanese store, One World market in Novi is way bigger than Noble and a great place to wander around