Things to buy at Asian Store?

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I going to get TSA certified next week and will be going to 99 Ranch. I dont get down there very often. I need to get some Oyster Mushrooms to make one of Keith dishes. That where I get my curry paste and coconut milk. Looing for some other suggestions on what to buy?

 

[ARsmoke]

If you like heat, Huy Fong Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

If you wanted to get cute with some filet medallions, you could pick up some quail eggs and cook them sunny side up and put them on top. Haven’t tried this yet but I’ve seen it done before and want to try it.

I’m also a big fan of Asian instant coffee(like Blendy Cafe Latory)

Much higher quality pre packaged ramen

 

[radioguy]

Fresh bean sprouts, pea pods, many types of mushrooms, pigs feet [previously froze] oyster sauce fish sauce. we always make a hearty pot of hot and sour soup. Yum

RG

 

[Torch&Tone]

Naturally, it depends on what sort of dishes you might want to try making: Korean, Japanese, Szechuan, Cantonese, Thai, dumplings, soups/stews, noodles, stir fries, ramen, etc. 99 Ranch has a big recipe page specifically for inspiration, so maybe start there? Plenty of other Asian menus online to explore, too. I guess it also depends on what your more-regular grocery store has, by comparison.

I, myself, go through a fair bit of miso paste, panko bread crumbs, sticky rice flour & tapioca flour, fish sauce, and bean curd for some of my dishes - some of which aren't even remotely Asian! Less often but still appreciated: specialty noodles (udon, glass, etc.), mochi, spicy chili oil, black vinegar, longans or lychees, daikon radishes for pickling, sambal, and Szechuan peppercorns.

Just steer clear of the durian!

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Fresh bean sprouts

I went to get bean sprouts at Albertson and they where out and the space was gone. I hope they not stop carrying them. A must for Pho!

 

[zwiller]

I went to get bean sprouts at Albertson and they where out and the space was gone. I hope they not stop carrying them. A must for Pho!

GROW THEM! Right up your alley Brian.

 

[jcam222]

Red jalapenos are hard to find other than the Asian markets. Great to make Sriracha

 

[jcam222]

If you like heat, Huy Fong Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

If you wanted to get cute with some filet medallions, you could pick up some quail eggs and cook them sunny side up and put them on top. Haven’t tried this yet but I’ve seen it done before and want to try it.

I’m also a big fan of Asian instant coffee(like Blendy Cafe Latory)

Much higher quality pre packaged ramen

I'll have to check out the Asian instant coffees. Wonder if they have decaf? I've cut my caffeine out almost completely but have been enjoying an instant in the mornings. I add 1t of regular instant to 1T of decaf.

 

[chef k-dude]

I have to put my head down and focus on what I went there for at the Asian market, otherwise I could be there a long time and leave with all kinds of stuff!

My usual's are:

Kimchi- cant get it the same at any regular grocery stores but I like it sour...virtually rotten! So I bring it home and let it sit at room temp for a few days to fire up the fermentation, then in the fridge and usually dont touch it for a month. I like it to be so fermented I can feel the effervescence in my mouth. Koreans use that stuff for soups...they arent used to me asking for it sour in the restaurant...most Americans prefer it fresh. I've been known to wipe out a Korean kitchen of their sour kimchi, asking to buy it all to go.

Firm tofu-Mainly because its half the price of the grocery stores. I dont eat a lot of the stuff but I love to cut it in to chunks and put in a container, mix it with Thai Mushroom soy sauce and chli-garlic sauce or sambal and let it marinate for a few days. Makes a great quick snack eating it right from the container.

Thai Mushroom soy sauce- If you dont have this, you should try it. A whole different world beyond tamari and the typical stuff you'll find at American markets.

Baby Bok Choy- Most American markets dont sell it here.

Dumplings-Our Asian market has a huge variety of frozen dumplings to choose from. I have a great dumpling sauce recipe.

Canned Tom Yum soup-A treat for me once in a while. The wife doesn't like the astringent nature of the stuff so I cant make it for us for dinner. Tom Yum is how I gauge a Thai restaurant the first time I eat at one...that and if they have a proper spice tray...

Tofu goes well in Tom Yum as well.

I'm excited and I'm not even the one going shopping!

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Brian, after doing our homemade ramen here as of late… the flavors were so good it has me exploring other flavors. One that has intrigued me is gochujang.

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

You’ll find better and much less expensive sesame oil. Lots of other good suggestions already in the thread

I miss the Asian markets we used to have near us before we moved. I liked wandering the aisles just to find things I just had to try, sometimes without any real idea of what it was or how to prepare it

Good times

 

[mneeley490]

There is a Ranch 99 several miles from me, but I have an H-Mart much closer. Pretty much the same thing.
I almost always pick up:
Skin-on pork belly
Good deals on produce
Sesame seeds
Rice
White, Jasmine, and Oolong Teas
Regent "Golden Sweet Corn" puff snacks. Reminds me of Corn Pops cereal, but with a heavier corn flavor. Also whatever chocolate "mushroom" cookies in the same aisle. Used to buy a bag of fortune cookies, but they've gone way up in price for some reason.
Mirin and maltose, which I use in my Chinese bbq pork.
Dragonfly sweet soy sauce, which I sometimes substitute in place of hosin sauce.

I once witnessed an asian female customer there, loudly b*tching out one of the employees (also asian, but from a different country) who couldn't understand what she was asking for.
"What matta wi' you? You in 'Merica now! Learn speak Engrish!"

 

[ARsmoke]

I'll have to check out the Asian instant coffees. Wonder if they have decaf? I've cut my caffeine out almost completely but have been enjoying an instant in the mornings. I add 1t of regular instant to 1T of decaf.

You should be able to find decaf

 

[chef k-dude]

You’ll find better and much less expensive sesame oil. Lots of other good suggestions already in the thread

I miss the Asian markets we used to have near us before we moved. I liked wandering the aisles just to find things I just had to try, sometimes without any real idea of what it was or how to prepare it

Good times

This is why I have to stay focused in those stores. Asians love some cutesy packaging and some stuff just looks so good...I mean, it cant be bad right? Nobody eats nasty stuff...right?...Wrong!

I'll never forget bieng in Japan many moons ago as a young man. Couldn't find a bag of Doritos to save my life in the store. Strolling through the aisles of bags of snacks, it was like dried fish pieces and all kinds of other weird stuff (I couldn't read Japanese). I bought something that looked like a puff or something...it was nasty, to this day I have no idea what the hell that was. But the bag sure looked good!

I've done that at the Asian markets here too, broke down and bought something I was sure would be good...and was flat-out nasty. How in the world anyone from any place could actually like some of that stuff is beyond my comprehension. And how could they put it that happy-go-lucky packaging!?...when it should be labeled with a yuck face!

 

[Astralogics]

Everyone's lists pretty much cover everything I'd recommend. Otherwise I'd also add in Kewpie Mayo, doenjang paste (soybean paste). The doenjang is quite similar to white miso paste, though slightly more savory and pungent.

 

[zwiller]

There needs to be more WAY more stir fry and asian themed threads with all this input!

 

[Astralogics]

There needs to be more WAY more stir fry and asian themed threads with all this input!

You're right, we'll all probably get to that soon! First bread blowing up, now Asian cuisine coming up.

 

[cpaysonc]

I have to put my head down and focus on what I went there for at the Asian market, otherwise I could be there a long time and leave with all kinds of stuff!

My usual's are:

Kimchi- cant get it the same at any regular grocery stores but I like it sour...virtually rotten! So I bring it home and let it sit at room temp for a few days to fire up the fermentation, then in the fridge and usually dont touch it for a month. I like it to be so fermented I can feel the effervescence in my mouth. Koreans use that stuff for soups...they arent used to me asking for it sour in the restaurant...most Americans prefer it fresh. I've been known to wipe out a Korean kitchen of their sour kimchi, asking to buy it all to go.

Firm tofu-Mainly because its half the price of the grocery stores. I dont eat a lot of the stuff but I love to cut it in to chunks and put in a container, mix it with Thai Mushroom soy sauce and chli-garlic sauce or sambal and let it marinate for a few days. Makes a great quick snack eating it right from the container.

Thai Mushroom soy sauce- If you dont have this, you should try it. A whole different world beyond tamari and the typical stuff you'll find at American markets.
View attachment 715246

Baby Bok Choy- Most American markets dont sell it here.

Dumplings-Our Asian market has a huge variety of frozen dumplings to choose from. I have a great dumpling sauce recipe.

Canned Tom Yum soup-A treat for me once in a while. The wife doesn't like the astringent nature of the stuff so I cant make it for us for dinner. Tom Yum is how I gauge a Thai restaurant the first time I eat at one...that and if they have a proper spice tray...

Tofu goes well in Tom Yum as well.

I'm excited and I'm not even the one going shopping!

I'll second the Healthy Boy Mushroom soy, it's damn near drinkable it so tasty!

 

[cpaysonc]

Mushroom powder is another delight! An umami blast! Some have msg which I'm100% in favor of. In fact, I'd also get some Korean seasoning salt, it's 90% salt and 10% msg. Great stuff.

 

[ARsmoke]

Red jalapenos are hard to find other than the Asian markets. Great to make Sriracha

Mind sharing a recipe? Sounds delicious