Houston is the heaven of Asian food. My husband usually takes me to Houston twice per year for me to enjoy Vietnamese activities, and we also can go to Asian markets. We typically return from Houston with a satisfied stomach and two big coolers of goodies.
Every Asian market in Houston has to offer is unique. After all, many expressions of the diverse cultures give life to the Asian continent. If you’ve visited an Asian grocery store, you know nothing is what it seems — you’ll find recognizable and uncommon ingredients; that can give color and flavor to your cooking. Fresh produce, top-notch prepackaged food, groceries, meats, drinks, noodles, and every other hidden gem await in the city’s finest Asian grocery stores.
If you want delicious Asian produce, the best products, and dry goods from Asia, you’ll need to visit the right supermarket where the prices match the quality, and not all stores meet these standards. Whether shopping for snacks or just doing your monthly groceries, the following list will guide you from one quality Asian grocery store to the next — they’re all great!
The Best Asian Market Houston List
So here it is, shoppers, our list of the best in Houston for places to shop or order online, to eat or stocking your pantry. If we’ve missed your favorite Asian supermarket in Houston Tx, let us know. Tell us what you’re go to spot is for the best Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese groceries.
#1 – Hong Kong Food Market
The Hong Kong Food Market is huge. If you want to avoid cooking, it has a food court, bento boxes and pre packaged meals. If you’re feeling inspired, it has tons of fresh produce from Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan. It’s no surprise many local restaurants do their shopping here. The Hong Kong Market is where you want to take your time — you could spend the day on the ramen aisle and still not know which to choose.
Chinese products are the most featured, and the supermarket has one of the city’s best meats and seafood sections. Undoubtedly, the Hong Kong Market is one of the best in Houston Tx. You’ll find this place at the Hong Kong City Mall.
🌐 Hong Kong Food Market
📍 11205 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072
#2 – H Mart
H Mart is a Korean supermarket chain with dozens of stores nationwide, including two in Houston Tx, one in China Town. This is the house of Korea’s best noodles and other popular Korean items, but you’ll also find a great selection of goodies from around Asia and the world.
H Mart also has a food court and a hot bar with an expansive selection of delicious foods to eat there or grab and go; try the Korean wings and the kimchi fries. The quality here is fantastic, especially for the fresh produce and seafood, but everyone comes here for the prepared food.
🌐 H Mart
📍 9896 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036
#3 – Jusgo Supermarket
Jusgo is a lovely supermarket known for its fair prices, which makes it a favorite of local customers. There’s no restaurant at Jusgo Supermarket, but they’re one of the best stores in town for meat, seafood, chicken and other fresh foods.
The Asian grocery store also specializes in seasonal fruits and veggies; they always have what you want in these departments. Although Jusgo supermarket is Chinese, the shop carries an impressive catalog of fresh Asian products, one of the most varied in Houston TX.
🌐 Jusgo Supermarket
📍 9280 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036.
#4 – Viet Hoa International Foods
Located on Sam Houston Pkwy, Houston Tx, Viet Hoa is the size of a Walmart, these guys mean business. This is one of the area’s largest international food grocery stores, and it offers endless options of Chinese, Japanese and many other Asian countries’ products.
There’s a food area as well, more like a food court than a restaurant, with at least a hundred different things to try; try the barbecued meat. You’ll surely find anything you’re looking for at this massive store, but it doesn’t have the small local market feel you’ll find at a smaller local grocery store.
🌐 Viet Hoa International Foods
📍 8300 W Sam Houston Pkwy S, Houston, TX 77072
#5 – Seiwa Market
You’ll find Seiwa right in front of the Dairy Ashford Roller Rink, next to a lovely ramen shop. The store is a Japanese market, so you’ll find more Japanese variety than in other stores (yes, including wagyu meat). We know there’s excellent meat in Houston, TX, but the marbling of these Japanese steaks is something else.
Seiwa market is also the place to buy sushi ingredients or pick up a roll — this is restaurant-quality sushi right here. The Seiwa market is growing in popularity, with now three locations nationwide, so they might soon open one near you.
🌐 Seiwa Market
📍 1801 S Dairy Ashford Rd Ste 116, Houston, TX 77077
What to buy at an Asian Grocery Store:
Although we all like different things and have different needs, if you go to one of the supermarkets above, chances are you’re looking for items you won’t find anywhere else. So, what exactly are the products that make an Asian grocery store unique?
#1 – Fresh seafood
Seafood is vital in Asian cuisines; the continent consumes more fish than any other. When we go to the Asian Supermarket, we don’t just pick out fish. Oh no, we’re on a whole other level. We roll up to the person in charge, flash a smile, and ask them to do the dirty work – clean and cut that fish for us! Saves us time and guarantees we’re taking home the absolute best catch. Now that’s what I call a seafood win.
#2 – Veggies
While wandering through these markets, you might spot some fruits and veggies that play a game of hide-and-seek with your recognition skills. But hey, no worries! Even if they’re not immediately familiar, every fresh piece of produce is like a culinary adventure waiting to happen. Don’t shy away from trying out the newbies – trust me, they’ve all got their own magic.
When it comes to our must-haves, we never leave without grabbing some bitter melons, lemongrass, snow peas, and water spinach. Don’t even get me started on mushrooms! Every visit is a mushroom bonanza, especially with the oyster and enoki varieties. They’re like the rockstars of the mushroom world – totally worth bringing them home every single time!
#3 – Spices
Spice adds color, flavor, and a whole lot of aroma to the culinary masterpiece you’re cooking up. When we’re cooking Asian food, you can bet we’ve got our essentials. There are the pho spices for those soul-warming soups and noodle feasts, five spices to give a serious kick to our grilled meats, turmeric for that curry perfection, and oh, let’s not forget the star anise – it’s like the secret ingredient that can turn your stew into a flavor symphony.
#4 – Condiments
In Asian cuisine, we can’t do without sauces. So, when we go to an Asian market, we never leave without our sauce squad: soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and, of course, the magical dumpling sauce. It’s like a secret weapon that adds a kick to every dumpling and shumai bite.
#5 – Noodles
Noodles, noodles, noodles – they come in all shapes and sizes, from vermicelli to bean thread, potato noodles to udon. Noodles can turn into a satisfying lunch, a snack, or even a dinner masterpiece if you give them the right treatment.
If there’s one item to prioritize during our market visit, it should be ramen noodles. Instant ramen noodles are popular and convenient. They are often sold in individual packages or cups. While the most common preparation involves boiling the noodles and adding the flavor packet, we often get creative with our instant ramen and add vegetables, proteins, or even eggs to enhance the nutritional value and taste.
#6 – Rice
When it comes to rice, there’s a type for every occasion. Dive into the fluffiness of white rice, embrace the nuttiness of brown, savor the uniqueness of black and red rice, elevate your senses with aromatic jasmine rice, or satisfy your sweet tooth with sweet rice. So, go ahead, play with these rice options, and let your taste buds go on a delicious adventure.
#7 – Asian Snacks
Asian sweets are a blast, even if you’re not entirely sure what you’re grabbing. It’s all part of the fun! Our favorite choices are of choco pie, the endless varieties of Pocky, the delightful Japanese mochi, an assortment of crackers, and the irresistible lychee jelly. So, the next time you find yourself in those candy-colored aisles, treat your taste buds to the unexpected delights of Asian confectionery. You won’t be disappointed!
Personal Experience & Tips while shopping in the Asian Markets
#1 – Avoid weekend shopping.
Asian markets can be busy and crowded, especially on the weekend, and even more so when there’s an Asian holiday, especially the Lunar New Year celebration. Of course, Asian markets are also incredibly busy for New Year’s, 4th of July, and others.
Be patient; some of these stores, especially the smallest ones, aren’t as prepared to manage a crowd as your average Walmart. Ideally, if going grocery shopping, go on a weekday in the morning when the store is nice and quiet.
#2 – Have a list before shopping
Shopping at an Asian market is fun; there are so many things you don’t find anywhere else. This means that the average consumer, unless they are an expert in Asian cultures, spends a lot of time walking the aisles. And although there’s nothing wrong with spending the morning at the market, make a list if you’re in a hurry. Research ahead to know what you’re looking for.
This is also an excellent opportunity to compare prices from market to market. Most products come in various options and many different brands, so know what you’re looking for (and, at the very least, know what it looks like!)
#3 – Check the dates of the product
These places carry an immense variety of products. And although Asian cuisines are more popular in the country than ever, many items still gather dust on the shelves, especially the rarer specialty items. Check the dates of products and avoid buying items close to their expiration dates, especially if you’re not consuming them immediately.
The good news is that fermented sauces, such as kimchi, soy sauce and similar, pickled vegetables and canned foods, have long shelf lives; store them for as long as you need. The other good news is that fresh produce, meat, and fish are often as fresh as they get in an Asian market.
#4 – Don’t be afraid to experiment with different kinds of food
Culinary-wise, Asian cuisines couldn’t be different from what we commonly consume in Texas and the rest of the country, for that matter. And yes, trying new things is scary. However, we now all know that Asian meals are amongst the most flavorful on earth, so be confident and try different things. When in doubt, do some research. It’s okay if you don’t like particular stuff; not all of us like fermented foods or raw fish. But you must try them to know if these delicacies suit you.
#5 – Check their item of the week section
Markets usually have special prices and deals for their items of the week; it’s their way of getting people to try new stuff while rotating their inventory. This practice is good for both the business and the consumers.
Weekly deals might also be related to upcoming holidays or seasonal foods. Either way, there’s nothing better than a good deal, and you lose nothing by checking on their specials. And here’s a pro tip: visit their website before leaving your home to find the most recent promotions.
Final Thoughts
When shopping for Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese foods in Houston, you’ll find it easy to find what you’re looking for, often at acceptable prices. Hong Kong Food Market is your best bet around the Hong Kong City Mall. If you’re comfortable moving around Houston, H Mart won’t disappoint. However, other grocery stores are not mentioned on our list; after all, Houston TX is a big city. Thai Lao Food on Main St. Is a good alternative, too; it specializes in Southeast Asia, especially Thai.
Every grocery store is different, especially in Texas, for its immense diversity. All grocery stores will satisfy your basic needs, but you might have to look around for specialty items, such as gluten free pasta and other specialties. Everything is bigger in the city of Houston, Texas, including its selection of international foods, fresh produce, meat, and more.
