asian grocery stores near me

By Beth Mack

January 18, 2022 (updated)

The Charlotte area is home to a sizable, growing population of Asians. In tandem, the vast flavors and dishes that can be found in Asian cuisine have consistently been featured in up-and-coming food trends.

Lucky for us, not only has this equated to more authentic Asian restaurants, but markets as well. Markets offer the chance to try everything from popular snacks, beverages, exotic produce, less common meats/seafood, and provide hard-to-find ingredients you need to prepare traditional Asian dishes.

Charlotte is home to Asian mega supermarket, Super G Mart, but there are several great grocery stores and markets in the area, many of which offer items from specific geographic areas like Southeast Asia, Korea, India, Japan, and the Philippines. If you are lucky, some even offer freshly made foods so you can get some authentic Asian bites and groceries in one stop.

Vieng Keo Asian Market

Family-owned and operated, the Vieng Keo Asian Market (V & K Market for short) has been serving west Charlotte since 2006. The store features Southeast Asian staples ranging from noodles, spices, snacks, sauces, frozen items, and a host of fresh produce, herbs, and eggs shipped directly from Florida every Wednesday. You can expect to find more exotic produce such as rambutan, longan, and jackfruit. During the warmer months, they also offer an assortment of live plants such as avocado, guava, and mango. In recent years, they have expanded with a store in Gastonia (VK 2) and one in Mount Holly (VK 3). A stop at the market is not complete without grabbing some authentic Laotian food from their on-site food truck, JP LaoFood ToGo. Follow them on Facebook for updates on what fresh produce and plants the truck brings and food specials for the food truck.

Open daily from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Airport location: 2626 Little Rock Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214Gastonia location: 712 E Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054Mount Holly location: 605 E Charlotte Avenue, Mt. Holly, NC 28120

Kim Anh Oriental Groceries & Gifts

Located in the Whitehall Business Park just off Arrowood Road in Southwest Charlotte is Kim Anh’s original market. Opened in 2016, this mid-sized grocery store packs a robust variety of noodles, spices, sauces, snacks, beverages, and frozen items to round out its selection of fresh produce, herbs, eggs, noodles, and meat. If you get there early, you can choose from their selection of housemade, ready-to-eat packaged foods at the front of the store. If you happen to be in Plaza Midwood, you can stop by their second store located off Central Avenue next to the iconic Landmark Diner.

Sunday – Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Southwest Charlotte location: 3615 Whitehall Park Dr, Suite F, Charlotte, NC 28273Plaza Midwood location: 4421 Central Ave, Suite H, Charlotte, NC 28205

Anh Dao Sakura Oriental Market

Tucked off of South Boulevard in Charlotte’s Lower Southend neighborhood is the Vietnamese-owned Asian market, Anh Dao Sakura Oriental Market. The mid-sized market offers a good variety of noodles, spices, sauces, frozen items, snacks, and beverages, in addition to fresh produce, herbs, meats, and noodles. You can also find a small selection of housemade, prepared packaged foods such as summer rolls, spring rolls, baked goods, and rice dishes. A modest selection of Asian beers and sake round out the experience without having to go to one of the larger Asian markets.

Sunday – Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

4325 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28209

Asian Market + New Asian Market

A little over three years ago owner Tony Liu opened the first of his three Asian Markets, New Asia Market (formerly Grand Asia Market), located in Stallings. The largest of the three stores is located in Sugar Creek at the corner of The Plaza and Eastway Drive, and rivals the well-known Super G Mart in size and amenities. The meticulously organized store, with walls of bright yellow, gives off an IKEA-type of vibe, offering everything from fresh produce, an impressive selection of both fresh and live seafood, fresh meat and poultry, frozen items, noodles, spices, sauces, snacks, beverages, beer, and sake. Liu opened an on-site restaurant featuring bubble tea, steam buns, roasted duck, and a host of rice and noodle dishes. Should you purchase fresh or live seafood, they will even cook it for you. In addition to Asian items, you can also find some other international flavors such as Mexican, Caribbean, and Cajun. The smaller University location does not offer fresh or live seafood, but does still has a good variety of fresh produce and grocery staples. Similar to the Sugar Creek store, the Stallings location offers the same amenities, in addition to a more robust food court area complete with a bakery.

Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sugar Creek location: Asian Market, 4430 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28215Matthews location: New Asia Market, 4400 Potter Rd, Stallings, NC 28104University location: Asian Market, 9630 University City Blvd Suite J, Charlotte, NC 28213

Hatoya Japanese Grocery

To find the flavors of Japan, look no further than Hatoya Japanese Grocery in Pineville. Browse their extensive selection of fresh produce, sauces, ramen, noodles, fresh miso paste, spices, and frozen foods. They have everything you need, should you want to make your own sushi or sashimi, including frozen sushi-grade fish and seafood. You will also find a large selection of sake and some Japanese beers.

Everyday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

605 N Polk St, Pineville, NC 28134

Website

Filipino Mart

Even the island country of the Philippines has representation in the Charlotte Asian market scene. Located near the PNC Pavillion in a quaint strip mall is Filipino Mart. The small market features noodles, sauces, spices, and snacks all direct from the Philippines. The main draw is the assortment of frozen items ranging from meat and seafood to lumpia. You can also find frozen baked goods from one of the Philippines’ most well-known bakery brands, Goldilocks. While there are no freshly prepared foods available, they do operate a catering service for some authentic Filipino cuisine. It’s a great market to visit to learn more about Filipino food.

Open daily from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

11855 N Tryon Street, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28262

Website

International Supermarket

While the name of this mid-sized market suggests that it is international, International Supermarket offers almost exclusively Asian goods. The market is located in a relic of Charlotte’s past, the Tryon Mall (now commonly known as Asian Corner Mall). When the mall closed in the late ’90s, it reemerged as a community gathering space for the growing number of immigrants from Southeast Asia. While the mall exterior and parking lot could use a little tender loving care, the market is a staple in providing a good variety of Asian delicacies to the Charlotte community. You can find a solid selection of noodles, snacks, beverages, spices, sauces, and frozen items, along with fresh herbs, produce, and seafood. Complete your shopping experience with a stop at neighboring Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe for some of the best banh mi in Charlotte while you still can.

Open daily 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

4520 N Tryon St # 45, Charlotte, NC 28213

Han’s Oriental Foods & Gifts

Han’s is one of the few Asian markets that caters to the delicacies of Korea. The small store located in a strip mall off of Independence in Matthews, Han’s offers an entire cooler full of fresh, housemade kimchi and other pickled items. In addition, they have popular Korean noodles, sauces, spices, snacks, beverages, frozen items, and some fresh produce. Get there early to see what house-made, packaged foods and snacks they have for the day.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

11229 E Independence Expy # L, Matthews, NC 28105

Patel Brothers

The national grocery store chain has two locations in Charlotte, one in Pineville and the other in the University area. At both, you can explore the expanse of flavors and foods of India. Peruse aisle after aisle of spices, dried legumes, prepared curries, snacks, beverages, frozen items, different varieties of rice, breads (such as naan and kati), beverages, fresh dairy such as paneer and yogurt, and an ample selection of fresh produce. The larger of the two, the University location, features a small hot food section and bakery to get your fill of samosas and chai while shopping for an added treat.

Open daily 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Pineville location: 10701 Centrum Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134University location: 8109 University City Blvd Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28213

Website

Super G Mart

One of the area’s best-known Asian markets is none other than Super G Mart. Nestled in a strip mall off of Independence Boulevard, the behemoth boasts a large offering of delicacies from all over Asia in addition to foods from the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, and more. The store is ripe with fresh produce, rice, noodles, sauces, snacks, beverages (including beer, sake, and wine), fresh meat and seafood, a small section of live seafood, and a massive frozen foods section. At Super G, it’s not what you can find, but what you can’t find. A must on every visit is to stop by their food court for some bubble tea from Honey Buns or Hong Kong Bakery. For something of more substance, try Honey Buns for steamed buns and banh mi, the Korean Restaurant for some traditional dishes and housemade kimchi, or Hong Kong Bakery for Asian desserts and cakes. The two-store chain (Greensboro and Charlotte) is set to open up a third location in Pineville in the near future.

Open daily from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Independence location: 7323 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227Pineville location: 10500 Centrum Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134

Website

India Grocers

Explore the flavors and foods of India at locally owned, India Grocers. The scrupulously organized store has two locations, one in Pineville and the other in the University area. Whether you want to try your hand at cooking an Indian dish from scratch or simply enjoy prepared frozen items, each store has what you’re looking for. With a large variety of spices, rice, legumes, fresh paneer and yogurt, dried fruits, nuts, flours, frozen foods, sauces, chutneys, and fresh produce you will not leave empty-handed.

University location: 8215 University City Blvd Ste F, Charlotte, NC 28213 Open daily 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Pineville location: 509 North Polk Street, Pineville, NC 28134 Open daily from 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Rice N’ Spice

Those in the Concord area can get their fill of Indian groceries at Rice N’ Spice Market. In addition to offering a variety of rice and spices, the market also features fresh produce, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, lentils, flours, and more. The market, which opened in 2018, may not be as large as some of the other Indian markets, but still provides a great selection of ingredients and foods.

Open daily 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

10070 Edison Square Dr NW, Concord, NC 28027

Triveni Supermarket

If you want to pick up some Indian ingredients and enjoy some freshly prepared Indian food, Triveni is the place you are looking for. Unique for Indian markets in Charlotte, they also offer a fresh meat section, complete with halal meats ranging from goat and lamb to quail. They also offer an in-house bakery for fresh breads, cakes, and sweets. Round out your excursion with a trip to their food court where they serve up biryanis, curries, an assortment of appetizers. On weekends they even offer breakfast. The smaller location in the University area operates more as a restaurant while also offering a small selection of grocery items.

Triveni Supermarket: 300 S Polk St, Pineville, NC 28134Triveni Express: 9539 Pinnacle Dr Suite #100, Charlotte, NC 28262

Both locations open daily 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Website

Suvidha International Market

Also joining the list of Indian-focused markets in the University area is Suvidha International Market. Located off of University City Boulevard, the mid-sized store is full of fresh produce, dals, rice, flours, spices, sauces, pickles, snacks, and fresh halal meats. To help satisfy your craving for Indian food without having to cook, the regional grocery chain has a food counter where you can get freshly prepared snacks, tandoori dishes, and curries.

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

10008 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28213

Website

Pepero

Half Korean market and half Korean restaurant, the family-owned business has been serving up authentic Korean food and groceries in Matthews since 2005. The market offers a variety of snacks, noodles, spices, sauces, drinks, frozen foods, and some fresh produce. Additionally, they offer prepackaged house-made foods to take home such as kimchi and Korean pancakes. To get your fill of authentic Korean food, the restaurant has an extensive menu with items like japchae, bibimbap, bulgogi, jajangmyeon, jjamppong, and a variety of jjigaes (Korean stews).

Sunday: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Tuesday: Closed Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

10920 Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28105

Website

S and L Market #2

Located off Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is a gem of an Asian market that offers food predominantly from Southeast Asia. The family-owned market packs a good variety of fresh produce, noodles, sauces, spices, snacks, beverages, and frozen foods in its small space. They offer some house-made prepackaged food such as summer rolls and baked goods, so get there early for the best selection. The market does have a $10 minimum purchase when paying with credit or debit cards so you might want to stop by the ATM if you are just browsing.

Open daily 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

3101 Central Ave #3, Charlotte, NC 28205

Asian Shwe Myanmar Market

Want to check out the foods of Myanmar (formerly Burma)? There is a store just for that located in South Charlotte. While the foods of Myanmar are similar to other southeast Asian countries, there are some unique Myanmar items, such as kits to make the infamous fermented tea leaf salad (lephet thoke) or fish noodle soup (mohinga), that you can find at this small, family-owned market. Their offerings include beverages, snacks, noodles, sauces, spices, and a small selection of fresh produce, frozen meats, and frozen foods. They also offer some housemade, prepackaged items such as a rice dish and baked goods.

Open daily 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

8829 E W.T. Harris Blvd #115, Charlotte, NC 28227

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