Why is it easier to find cocaine than tofu?

February 2, 2008 8:22 AM

Where might I acquire cheap tofu/groceries in Baltimore?

Where I used to live, a far smaller town, there was two [2!] different Asian markets where you could buy 4 large blocks of tofu for one dollar total. Most cities I've been to have at least one Asian market with aforementioned offerings. In Baltimore I have had no such luck, it has been weeks since I've had tofu due to it being prohibitively expensive.

So does anyone know of a potential Asian market with cheap tofu [I've been up and down Greenmount/York to the Asian markets that litter that road, but I have not found any tofu bargains]?

Insider tips on cheap groceries are much appreciated. I've already developed a literally unhealthy affinity for SAve-A-Lot.

posted by cloeburner to food & drink (7 comments total)

Have you tried Han Ah Reum aka HMart in Catonsville? I don't know about tofu specifically, but it's a huge market. I think there are also a couple of other Korean stores in the strip.
posted by Airhen at 8:45 AM on February 2

Feel your pain. I shop primarily at the Shoppers supermarket on Fort Avenue (near Locust Point), and their prices aren't too bad, but perhaps not as rock-bottom as you'd like.

They only sell certain items there (and not tofu) but Aldi in Glen Burnie is very cheap--it's where I get things like big bags of baby spinach that are half as much as what I've seen anywhere else. But you certainly can't get everything there.

Han Ah Reum (mention above) is great. There's another Korean market in the nearby Lotte Plaza, but careful: they've had health dept. problems, I've heard. There's an awesome Korean restaurant in the same complex, though.
posted by azure_swing at 9:42 AM on February 2

Han Ah Reum is fabulous, but pretty far out, all things considered. I take it from the text of your question that you've been up to the "Asian Market" on York about 1.5 miles north of 33rd? The vegetable selection is not good, but they have dry goods and may have tofu. For cheapish staples in the Asian food area I like Punjab on 33rd just west of Greenmount, and A Thai/Latino market on a sidestreet to the East of Greenmount just one block south of 33rd.

(To my shame, I once started a website chronicling Maryland ethnic groceries, but quickly lost focus and gave it up.)
posted by OmieWise at 11:38 AM on February 2

Whole Foods has their store brand of tofu for a fairly reasonable 99 cents a package if I'm remembering correctly. Packages are slightly less than a pound and it's GMO free/organic, which is a nice side benefit.

The packaged tofu I've bought at Han Ah Reum (Pulmuone brand) seems to go bad quickly or taste "off" when I first open it. They have lots of other great stuff at good prices, though. It's a huge store.

The farmers markets (especially the Saturday morning Waverly one) have good prices on squashes and lettuce in the summer, but of course that's months off.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:39 PM on February 2

Han Ah Rheum is definitely the best for produce, although I'm not sure about tofu.

Guadalupana is good for Hispanic foods and spices.

Punjab Groceries and Halal Meat has great deals on spices and primarily Indian food.

Have you tried either Northeast or Lexington Markets? Northeast has greens from Richardson Farms almost year round.
posted by electroboy at 8:52 PM on February 2

H-Mart (Han Ah Reum) is where I go for Asian produce, and where I would go for tofu, as all their fresh products are wonderful. I understand Lotte (which I think might be a bit closer in on 40) has reopened after being shut down for health code violations for a while. It's up to you whether that bothers you or not (though it does bother me).

They have a specifically Korean bent, though, which doesn't affect tofu, but may affect other choices. Since I'm Chinese/Taishanese, I actually ask my father who lives in Berkeley, CA, to mail me certain supplies that I simply cannot get around here (things like tangerine peels and canned sweet pastes, like lotus, red and black bean), and other rare things that don't seem to overlap well with Korean groceries.
posted by kalessin at 8:34 AM on February 4

I forgot to mention a little market in Koreatown on Charles Street. It's in the basement on the East side, between 22nd and 24th. I'm not even sure if it has a sign on the door. I used to buy great baked tofu there, made there, and although I never checked for raw tofu, I think they probably stocked it. It's a small store with mostly just a stock of staples. The last time I went, which was a couple of years ago (it's possible it's gone) I felt like the guy upped the price of the container of baked tofu because I was white. When I told him I'd paid more in the past he lowered the price again, and while I don't particularly mind that, the new price was beyond what I was willing to pay.
posted by OmieWise at 1:18 PM on February 4