Before I moved to Phoenix from Tucson, I raided my parents’ pantry for an extra bottle of soy sauce and filled a jar with Sichuan peppercorns.Sure, I packed clothes and shoes, but what I was really concerned about in a new city, with a new job, living in a foreign house, was making sure that I could cook the food that would make me feel at home. But when I arrived and realized how many Asian grocery stores there were in metro Phoenix, all I wanted to do was get out and explore them.
I visited nearly every east and southeast Asian grocery store in the metro Phoenix area from Avondale to Mesa to Tempe, which sell Korean, Chinese, Burmese and other specialties. I chose not to include South Asian stores because there are so many great Indian grocers, they warrant their very own list.
For long-time residents of Phoenix, perhaps this city-by-city guide to Asian markets will introduce you to some new, locally-owned specialty grocery stores. And for newcomers like me, I hope it helps you find the foods that tastes like home.
Asian markets in Avondale
Driving down Avondale Boulevard, the booming development of this West Valley suburb is palpable. New construction, like the massive American Sports Centers, neighbor dirt lots in the midst of being developed. Right next to this area of growth is the only Asian market in Avondale.
Lams Market #3
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
This international Asian market has a large and varied selection of produce, fresh and frozen meat and fish and snacks. What really stood out was the breadth and quality of the country-specific food aisles. For example, the Filipino aisle featured Mang Tomas sauce, different Filipino vinegars and even spaghetti sauce. The market also offers specialties from Africa and the Caribbean. The produce section has hard-to-find root vegetables such as ñame and pink and white malanga.
Details: 11575 W Van Buren St., Avondale. 623-932-9836, lamsmarket.com.
Asian markets in Chandler
Chandler an East Valley city that's home to a large Asian population, which is reflected in its ability to support two enormous Asian supermarkets. For those living in Chandler, almost any Asian ingredient is available.
99 Ranch Market
Specialty: Chinese, Taiwanese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Food Court: Yes.
99 Ranch, which has branches around the country, started out specializing in Chinese and Taiwanese products, but has expanded to include food from across Asia. The Chandler location offers fresh produce, meat and seafood, including harder-to-find varieties like black sea cucumber and fresh eel. The snacks alone at this massive supermarket take up four different aisles. A food court and bakery are also tucked inside the store.
Details: 1920 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. 928-938-8899, 99ranch.com.
Lee Lee International Supermarkets
Specialty: None / pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: Yes.
Lee Lee's in Chandler is one branch of the homegrown chain that operates three stores in Arizona. It stocks all the staples, from Asian produce to cut meat and fresh seafood, including live Dungeness crab. There are aisles with food from different countries in east and southest Asia, as well as one aisle with African and Caribbean food. J Fortune Bakery inside the store sells pastries and bao stuffed with pork and chicken.
Details: 2025 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. 480-899-2887, leeleesupermarket.com.
Asian markets in Glendale
Although two stores might not seem like a lot, residents of Glendale searching for Asian ingredients are lucky as both of the local stores carry a wide variety of produce and staples, despite their relatively small sizes.
AZ-Karen Asian Mini Mart
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
Run by people of the Karen ethnicity from Myanmar, this part corner-store, part grocery store is perfect for a last-minute refills of basics like rice, noodles and Asian cooking sauces, as well as a limited selection of fresh produce and some frozen meat and fish. But what sets Karen Market apart are the Burmese ingredients like fried roselle leaves and salted crataeva.
Details: 5270 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. 623-939-1180, facebook/azkarenasianmarket.
GS Supermarket
Specialty: Seafood.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
The Chinese name of this market translates to seafood market, which better captures this store's specialty. Their seafood counter sells an abundance of fresh fish and clams — milk fish, tilapia, golden pompano from Taiwan, catfish, and, in a bucket, live blue crabs. Outside of the seafood offerings, GS Supermarket is a fairly standard, mid-sized store with aisles for Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese ingredients.
Details: 5127 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-374-6233, 999seafoodsupermarket.com.
Asian markets in Mesa
Mesa has become a metro Phoenix hub for Asian cuisine and community. Restaurants, markets and stores offering the flavors of East Asia have operated in Mesa for decades and, over the last five years, the city has started promoting the area as the Asian District. In addition to large national and international grocery chains, Mesa also is home to many smaller, locally-owned Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean and Chinese specialty markets.
H Mart
Specialty: Korean.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Food Court: Yes.
Occupying a 63,000 square foot space, the H Mart in Mesa is Arizona's first location of the Korean supermarket chain. The size of the store is reflected in its inventory, which includes a huge produce section, fresh meat, live seafood and both common and niche ingredients from different east and southeast Asian countries. H Mart's selection of mushrooms, from wood ear to enoki, induces awe. The store also features a food court and bakery.
Details: 1919 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-207-4560, hmart.com.
More: Here's a guide to the food court at Arizona's only H Mart grocery store in Mesa
Mekong Supermarket
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
See AlsoThe best Asian grocery stores in metro PhoenixMicrosoft hiring Director, Public Affairs Communications, Cybersecurity in Redmond, Washington, United States | LinkedInStore Consultant in Redmond Washington | FedEx CareersNintendo hiring Sr Manager, Experiential Marketing in Redmond, Washington, United States | LinkedInFresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
Flanked by Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai restaurants, Mekong Supermarket is the centerpiece of Mekong Plaza in Mesa. A standard large supermarket, its meat counter sells everything from brisket to goat and lamb. Fresh tilapia swim in tanks. Its produce section is also quite large, with cut durian, yellow watermelon and large Taiwanese cabbages on display.
Details: 66 S. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-833-0095, mekongplaza.com.
AZ International Marketplace
Specialty: Pan-Asian, Daiso products.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
AZ International Marketplace's ambitions are clear. The enormous market includes African, Hispanic and Asian aisles, with products from many different countries. In addition to meat, produce, seafood (selling live oysters) and dry ingredients, the store presents a bulk section that sells jamaica flowers, broken rice and fava beans, among other things. Two restaurants occupy the right side of the store, which also includes an Asian gift and trinket shop and several aisles of Daiso-brand household products.
Details: 1920 W. Broadway Road, Mesa. 602-633-6296.
Asiana Market
Specialty: Korean.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Food Court: Yes.
Asiana Market specializes in Korean food and staples. A large refrigerator in the back of the store sells pre-made banchan like seaweed salad and kimchi. Next to the meat and produce sections, fresh shrimp for sale swim next to lobster, halibut and abalone. A bakery and food court occupy one side of the store.
Details: 1135 S. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-833-3077, asianamarket.com.
Manila Sunrise Sari-Sari Store
Specialty: Filipino.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
Sari-sari means "variety" in Tagalog. Manila Sunrise Sari-Sari Store is modeled after the small corner stores found across the Philippines, where the owner grew up. The store sells staples like noodles, spices and cooking sauces as well as snacks imported from the Philippines.
Details: 1130 W. University Dr., Mesa. 480-756-1035, facebook.com/manilasunrisesarisaristore.
Winglee Exotic Fruits Market
Specialty: Vietnamese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: Yes.
A medium-sized Vietnamese market, Winglee Exotic Fruit Market has a few aisles of basics like noodles and cooking sauces, a cooler of frozen fish and a selection of fruits including rose apples, mango, mangosteen and pomelo. The real star seems to be the market's prepared foods: it sells homemade chili oil, banh tet chuoi (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves made with different fillings), sugarcane juice and freshly filtered Vietnamese coffee.
Details: 111 S. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-668-1060, yelp.com/winglee.
Asian markets in Peoria
One of the smaller suburbs of Phoenix, Peoria only has one Asian grocery store, but it's a big one.
Lee Lee International Supermarkets
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
Lee Lee's, a homegrown company that operates three stores in Arizona, was sold in 2024 to a California grocery chain. Lee Lee's in Peoria is large, with a whole aisle just for hot sauce and peppers. A classic grocery store, it has a sizeable selection of raw meat and seafood, from pork to lamb to chicken feet. Unlike the store in Tucson, which I grew up going to, this one also has a row for Eastern European products like sauerkraut and German egg noodles.
Details: 7575 W. Cactus Road, Peoria. 623-773-3345, leeleesupermarket.com.
Asian markets in Phoenix
There are an impressive number of small, locally-owned Asian markets in Arizona's biggest city. An array of small and mid-sized Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Burmese stores make it easy for a midweek run to stock up on basic staples like rice, noodles and cooking sauces, no matter what cuisine you're making.
New Tokyo Food Market
Specialty: Japanese.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
This small store has been open since 1989 and specializes in Japanese food, snacks and stationary. Handwritten labels line the shelves, which are stocked with rice, noodles, sauces and pickles imported from Japan. The freezers showcase frozen sea urchin and individually-packaged cones of Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream. There is even a section of Hawaiian dressings and ingredients.
Details: 3435 W. Northern Ave., Phoenix. 602-841-0255, facebook.com/newtokyofoodmarket.
Seoul Market
Specialty: Korean.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared food: Yes.
On the outside, Seoul Market seems like a convenience store, but the inside, this small Korean market is stocked with ingredients, food and sauces imported from Korea. If you're looking for perilla seeds, sweet rice flour, Korean bbq sauce or Korean snacks, this is the place for you. It also sells house-made banchan and prepared food like Korean donuts.
Details: 8935 N. 43rd Ave., Phoenix. 623-934-9423, azseoulmarket.com.
88 International Market
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
A fully-stocked, medium-sized grocery store, 88 International has a small produce section as well as a meat and seafood counter selling whole and filleted fish. The international theme continues with aisles with Thai, Korean and Filipino ingredients, and the store stocks Southeast Asian specialties like buko pandan ice cream.
Details: 3557 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix. 602-841-3500, 88imarket.com.
Burma Family Asian Market
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
Burma Family Asian Mart, one of several small Burmese markets clustered on Northern Avenue, has a large snack and ramen selection as well as a few fresh veggies like peppers, ginger and mushrooms. The store shows up as Karen Family Asian Market on Google Maps.
Details: 3525 W. Northern Ave., Phoenix. 602-841-7400.
Htoo Shal Asian Mart
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
A small Burmese-owned grocery store, Htoo Shal Asian Mart boasts a modest selection of produce and staples like rice and noodles. Its specialty is ingredients from Southeast Asia such as coconut milk, fried roselle leaves and shrimp paste. It shows up under the name Ding Family Asian Mart on Google Maps.
Details: 3512 W. Northern Ave., Phoenix. 602-354-3720.
Asian Nest Market
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
This small, halal Burmese market sells snacks, fresh produce, frozen fish and staple ingredients like noodles and fish sauce. Canned Southeast Asian specialties like jengkol bean line the shelves.
Details: 3411 W. Northern Ave., Phoenix. 602-354-3720, facebook.com/Asian-Nest-Market.
Lams Market
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
Lams Market, right next to Grand Canyon University, is a medium-sized international market catering to Asian and African communities. It has a large produce section with fresh aloe vera and fresh banana leaf and a deli that sells cut meat and seafood.
Details: 3446 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-249-4188, lamsmarket.com.
Asian Grocery Store
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
This small Burmese market doubles as a convenience store, selling household goods like shampoo, phone cords and cleaning supplies in addition to fresh and frozen food. Handwritten signs in Burmese label the cooking sauces that line the shelves.
Details: 2650 W. Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix. 602-995-4050.
Tấn Phát Oriental Market
Specialty: Vietnamese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: Yes.
Located in the same plaza as the beloved Phở Thành Restaurant, this Vietnamese market fits a full-service grocery store into a small space. Tấn Phát Oriental Market sells massive salmon heads and whole pompano. Curry powder, chili crisp and hoisin sauce are just a few of the cooking sauces and spices on its shelves. The store also sells fresh produce, fresh noodles and some homemade food and desserts like sesame rice balls, Vietnamese buns and sticky rice pudding.
Details: 1702 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-242-6119.
ABC Mart
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
ABC Mart boasts an impressive amount of produce for such a small store: purple corn, bok choy, an array of mushrooms and parwal, a gourd native to India, are just some of the offerings stored in cardboard boxes in the back. The store also sells spices, preserved ingredients like bamboo and frozen fish.
Details: 4801 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix. 602-595-2913.
Anwar Asian Mart LLC
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
A small market tucked into a strip mall in Maryvale, Anwar Asian Mart specializes in the food of the Karen people of Myanmar, but sells staples and spices from south and southeast Asia, such as bay leaves, garam masala and javantri mace. In addition to frozen fish, this store sells snacks, ramen and drinks.
Details: 4105 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix. 623-247-9756.
Lam's Seafood Market
Specialty: Pan-Asian.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Both.
Prepared Food: No.
A well-stocked Asian grocery store, Lam's Seafood Market has a formidable produce section and aisles of cooking sauces, snacks and ingredients. But the real standout of this store is its seafood section, which sells dozens of varieties of whole and filleted fish, as well as king crabs, snow crabs and several types of mussels and clams.
Details: 6740 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 623-247-2941, lamsmarket.com.
Golden Land International Market
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
This medium-sized Burmese market has fresh produce, staple cooking supplies and frozen fish and shrimp in massive coolers near the back. For those looking to fill up on spices, it sells huge packets of seasonings like turmeric and fennel seeds. A notable feature is an entire aisle of sweet, light Asian milk bread and pastries.
Details: 7031 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix. 602-841-7311.
Galaxy Asian Market
Specialty: Burmese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
Just down the street from another Burmese market, Galaxy Asian Mart sells noodles imported from Myanmar, sauces and a small selection of produce and frozen fish.
Details: 7102 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix.
Willian Family Asian Market
Specialty: Southeast Asia.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
Tucked into a small plaza, this corner store/market offers up a few leafy greens and herbs as well as frozen fish and basic staples like noodles and rice. Goods specific to Southest Asian cuisines include dried areca nut, pickled dok kae and pickled makok.
Details: 7110 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix.
Asian markets in Scottsdale
Scottsdale isn't a hub for Asian cuisine, but it still is home to one medium-sized grocery store that's stocked with most of the essentials.
W Mart
Specialty: Chinese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: Kind-of.
Prepared Food: No.
With signs in simplified Chinese and English, this is clearly a market specializing in Chinese ingredients. W Mart sells big bags of noodles, from Lanzhou la mian to Cantonese egg noodles. Beside the produce section, I noticed an impressive collection of dried goods, including squid, croaker and shrimp. Although there is no butcher counter, the store sells raw, cut meat in wrapped packages.
Details: 7919 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale. 480-534-4991, instagram.com/wmartaz.
Asian markets in Tempe
Despite having a relatively large Asian population, college kids don't cook a lot, and Tempe's markets reflect that with three stores focus on ramen and snacks, more than ingredients.
Neko Mart
Specialty: Asian snacks.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared Food: No.
This cute little store specializes in Asian snacks and sweets. Brightly-colored bags of shrimp chips and Lay's in flavors like lemon-braised chicken feet fill one shelf. Cans of milk tea and slices of mille crepe cake line the fridge.
Details: 1250 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe. 480-492-9942, instagram.com/nekomartaz.
Fujiya Market
Specialty: Japanese.
Fresh produce: Yes.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared food: Yes.
Japanese grocer Fujiya Mart has been around for almost 30 years. The owners import various dry goods and products from Japan, including rice, noodles, snacks and tea. They also sell frozen fish and a few veggies like daikon radish and shiitake mushrooms. The best part? You can buy bento lunch (like BBQ beef or eel rice bowls) from a vending machine.
Details: 1335 W. University Dr., Tempe. 480-968-1890, fujiyamarket.com.
Busan Mart
Specialty: Korean.
Fresh produce: No.
Meat and/or seafood counter: No.
Prepared food: Yes.
Busan Mart specializes in Korean food and drinks. Although the store sells some raw ingredients, such as kewpie mayo and big bags of Korean sweet potato noodles, its inventory is mostly snacks and frozen prepared food. If you're looking for freshly-made food, you can buy dumplings, a pork bulgogi plate or a fish-shaped taiyaki.
Details: 1310 E. Broadway Road, Tempe. 480-550-7633, busanmart.us.
Reach the reporter atreia.li@gannett.com. Follow@Reialiruion X, formerly Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Asian markets in metro Phoenix: Your guide to 31 specialty grocers
