The Asian population is growing rapidly in Northern Virginia (have you noticed how many Uyghur restaurants are in Fairfax now?). To help cater to this growing Asian population comes a proliferation of Asian grocery stores. Whether you want to find niche ingredients for a spicy pad thai or thinly sliced meats to make your own Korean BBQ, Asian supermarkets in Northern Virginia have you covered.

Why Should I Go to An Asian Grocery Store?

Here are 10 reasons why Asian grocery stores are the bomb.

1. Many Asian grocery stores have delis so if you’ve ever traveled abroad and miss the food, you can get some authentic fare here.

2. If you want to cook up a certain Asian dish, you can’t beat the Asian grocery store for ingredients and advice. Even a mainstream dish like pad thai - you’re not going to find those noodles at your regular grocery store (ok maybe at certain Wegman’s, but it’ll only be one brand).

3. It’s much easier to get offal and bones from the meat counter than at your regular supermarket. Asian markets tend to cook tip to tail and have this stuff on hand.

4. Local economist Tyler Cowen recommends shopping at ethnic markets, because it steers you toward vegetables and fresh foods. These stores tend to have the freshest meat and vegetables, because the clientele tends not to eat a lot of packaged foods.

5. It’s exciting. There’s just so much activity in these stores. The seafood is alive. The vegetable section is swarming. The deli counter is packed (pre-Covid, anyway).

6. You can practice your foreign language skills, if any. It’s also good practice for being in a foreign country because you have to just guess what some of these products are if you don’t speak or read the language. And if you wanted to find out where people of a certain ethnicity can be found - perhaps because you want to meet someone to practice speaking their language - this is a great place to lurk.

7. They have a wide variety of interesting snack foods and drinks.

8. Many items are crazy cheap. Asian grocery stores tend to be a great place to buy cheap bulk spices.

9. For those on news or celebrity gossip diets, these places generally don’t sell magazines.

10. Certain cuisines lend themselves better to certain diets. Like if you’re lactose- or gluten-intolerant, Asian grocery stores are pretty good for you because so many Asians follow similar diets. If you’re vegan, an Indian grocery store might be right up your alley.

East Asian Grocery Stores in Northern Virginia

Great Wall (Chinese)
Merrifield

A New York-based supermarket chain selling thousands of Asian and Hispanic products, the Merrifield outpost is constantly under construction. Located very close to the extra-posh Mosaic district, it’s likely this worn down strip mall will have a face lift soon. Until then, enjoy the fresh produce and lively fish and meat market.

99 Ranch (Taiwanese)
Fairfax

This California chain arrived in Virginia in late 2020, targeting Mandarin-speaking suburban tech centers. Offers special shopping hours for the elderly, pregnant mothers, and those with disabilities and/or compromised health.

Lotte (Korean)
Annandale, Ashburn, Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon

This Maryland-based supermarket has been in and around Northern Virginia since 1991. Definitely a great place for your at-home KBBQ needs.

(Super) H Mart (Korean)
Falls Church, Annandale, Centreville

H Mart is the largest supermarket chain in America. The store is also known for its large food halls, where you can taste a variety of traditional Korean foods. H Mart is so iconic, someone already has written a memoir entitled Crying in H Mart (it also has an accompanying notebook, for your tear-stained diary entries).

Bangkok 54 Oriental Food Market (Thai)
Arlington

Bangkok 54 Restaurant has been so successful in their space, that they expanded to include a spacious market next door. Offering a variety of fresh items in the refrigerator and bakery goods on fold out tables - it’s not the fanciest. But given that it's very difficult to navigate many of the product labels without knowing Thai, it’s quite authentic. Ask for help if you need it.

Good Fortune Supermarket (Vietnamese)
Falls Church

Flanking one side of Eden Center, this Good Fortune Supermarket is the largest local Asian grocery chain in Northern Virginia. Expect to find some exotic Asian fruits like Korean golden pears and dragonfruit, when they’re in season.

New Grand Mart (General Asian)
Alexandria, Falls Church

Grand Mart touts itself as an international store with Asian, Latin, African, and Middle Eastern groceries. Reportedly found here: culantro, cubanelles, bonito shavings, Mexican hot chocolate, canned dolmas, Thai chilies, and Sriracha coated green peas.

Conclusion - All the East Asian Grocery Stores in Northern Virginia

Someone told me that at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, anti-Asian racism was shown by so few people going to Asian grocery stores. But Asian grocery stores cater to Asian people. In my lifetime of going to Asian grocery stores, I have never seen more than a couple of non-Asian people shopping in these stores who didn’t look completely bewildered, or who weren’t chaperoned by an Asian person. This is a relatively new phenomenon for non-Asian people.

If there were fewer people in the Asian grocery store, it’s because there were fewer Asian people going. But levels bounced back quickly. It still means that we need to continue to support our local Asian grocery chains. Go out there and support some East Asian grocery stores!