Non-Amazon online sources for Asian groceries

October 5, 2020 6:04 AM

I want to buy shelf-stable stuff like shaoxing wine, doubanjiang, kombu, Thai curry paste, and other things I used to buy in quantity at Asian grocery stores like H Mart. I'd rather not buy them on Amazon if possible.

Is there a good online H Mart equivalent? The H Mart web site doesn't have the same products as the physical stores.

posted by MetaFilter World Peace to Shopping (10 answers total)

I have a very well-regarded recent Thai cookbook that recommends foodsofnations.com (website of the famous NYC store Kalustyans). They have everything on your initial list (their doubanjiang is spelled "toban djan" but it's the same stuff).

For a bigger selection of specifically Thai stuff, the same book also recommended importfood.com (mainly Thai, some Japanese) and templeofthai.com
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:44 AM on October 5, 2020 [3 favorites]

Ranch 99 ships online.
posted by Karaage at 6:48 AM on October 5, 2020 [3 favorites]

I looked into this a bunch at the beginning of the pandemic and found that the best options were somewhat regional, so you may get better answers if you let us know approximately where you live. If you're on the East Coast:

Southeast NYC is a Southeast Asian restaurant distributor that has rapidly expanded into home delivery of shelf-stable ingredients + produce. They say their delivery area includes NY, NJ, and CT - I've used them in NYC and they've been great.

FreshGoGo (if you don't read Chinese, there is a toggle to get the website to English) seems to cover most of the Northeast and a bit more with Chinese and some pan-Asian grocery delivery. I can't vouch for them, but they were the next most plausible option for what I needed.

Kalustyan's should have most of what you need, but I think their prices are higher on the sort of ingredients you mention.

I also have a list of niche online stores that specialize in high end ingredients (i.e. artisanal Lao Gan Ma equivalents). Memail me if you want that, but it doesn't sound quite like what you're looking for.
posted by A Blue Moon at 6:51 AM on October 5, 2020 [1 favorite]

Mala Market focuses on Sichuan ingredients. They're pricey, but high quality.
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 7:38 AM on October 5, 2020

I have no personal experience with any of these options but maybe this Eater article would help: Stock Your Pantry With Ingredients from Around the World, Care of These Online Shops.
posted by carolr at 8:01 AM on October 5, 2020

Instacart now does delivery from our local H-Mart.
posted by enfa at 8:21 AM on October 5, 2020

My cousin has used Weee! several times before, and I've used it a couple of times. Prices are kinda comparable to 99 Ranch and H Mart. Don't know where you are but they serve the NYC/NJ area now apparently.
posted by curagea at 9:16 AM on October 5, 2020

Apologies if it's off topic, but I've been incredibly impressed by the precautions our local H-Mart has taken with regard to COVID. It's the only store in town that I feel is genuinely doing their best to keep their employees and customers safe. They have security guards checking for masks, disinfectant and gloves at the door, glass panes and contactless pay options at checkout, and one-way walk aisles. Most of the customers seem unusually responsible, and it's empty early and late in the day. I trust their management more than a random delivery driver to behave responsibly. No idea of other stores are similar.

Aside from shelf-stable but way too salty miso paste that I can't actually recommend. . . I have nothing else to offer.
posted by eotvos at 9:37 AM on October 5, 2020 [2 favorites]

Asian Veggies in the NYC area as well.
posted by ohkay at 12:41 PM on October 5, 2020 [2 favorites]

I've successfully purchased on Yamibuy for products I can't find in 99 Ranch.
posted by hotchocolate at 5:59 PM on October 5, 2020