These 9 Massachusetts Grocery Markets Bring Flavors From Across Asia
Massachusetts knows how to bring the world to your plate, no passport required. Grocery aisles here stretch far beyond the usual chips and cereal.
Some shelves overflow with spices imported straight from Asia, filling entire sections with scents you cannot find at a regular supermarket. Others stock fresh produce, noodles, sauces, and snacks that turn a simple grocery run into a mini adventure.
Ready to explore? This list highlights nine markets across Massachusetts where Asian cuisine takes center stage.
Expect rows of specialty ingredients, hard to find ramen brands, and drink options ranging from bubble tea mixes to imported sodas.
Some markets specialize in Korean products, while others focus on Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, or Filipino goods.
Cooking at home just got a lot more exciting. These markets prove that Massachusetts offers more culinary diversity than most people realize, all packed into a single shopping trip.
1. H Mart Burlington, Burlington
Spanning an impressive 52,000 square feet at 3 Old Concord Rd in Burlington, H Mart Burlington is the kind of place that turns a routine grocery run into a full-blown adventure.
Originally opened in 2009, this location has grown into one of the most beloved Asian supermarkets in the state, drawing shoppers from across the region every single week.
The produce section alone is worth the trip, stocked with fresh Asian vegetables, tropical fruits, and specialty items that are nearly impossible to find at a standard supermarket.
Korean staples like gochujang, doenjang, and an entire wall of kimchi varieties sit alongside Japanese snacks, Thai curry pastes, and Vietnamese pantry essentials.
Beyond the grocery aisles, a buzzing food court serves up Korean fried chicken, hot bowls of ramen, and freshly made kimbap, making it easy to refuel mid-shop.
A bakery, beauty section, and stationery area round out the experience, turning this Burlington destination into a one-stop cultural hub.
Weekends get lively, so arriving early gives you the best shot at a relaxed, unhurried browse through every corner of this remarkable market.
2. H Mart Quincy, Quincy
Just south of Boston on Falls Boulevard in Quincy, H Mart Quincy occupies a generous former Roche Brothers location that has been completely transformed into a lively celebration of Asian food culture.
The sheer scale of this market gives it a comfortable, unhurried feel, even when the weekend crowds roll in looking for their weekly haul.
The food court here is a serious draw, with bb.q Chicken serving up crispy Korean fried chicken and a dedicated tteokbokki station that keeps regulars coming back every week.
Prepared food cases near the deli area are stocked with banchan, marinated meats, and ready-to-heat meals that make weeknight dinners genuinely exciting without requiring hours in the kitchen.
The kimchi selection deserves its own mention, featuring multiple varieties ranging from classic baechu kimchi to radish and cucumber versions, each offering a different level of tang and heat.
Fresh produce, imported pantry goods, and a well-curated selection of Japanese and Chinese products fill out the aisles beautifully.
Quincy locals are lucky to have this market in their backyard, and anyone making the drive from farther away will leave with a cart full of discoveries and plans to return soon.
3. Asian Supermarket, Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts has a rich and growing Vietnamese community, and the Asian Supermarket at 50 Mill St stands as a proud symbol of that cultural presence.
Opening in 2017 inside a 21,000-square-foot building that previously housed a Stop and Shop, this market quickly established itself as the largest Asian supermarket in the Worcester area.
Walk through the front doors and you are immediately greeted by the sight of a seafood counter that stops shoppers in their tracks.
Fresh fish rests on carefully arranged beds of ice, and live tanks hold shellfish and finfish ready to be selected by home cooks who refuse to compromise on freshness.
It is the kind of seafood department that chefs genuinely appreciate.
The grocery aisles are stocked with a thoughtful mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and broader East Asian products, covering everything from dried noodles and specialty sauces to fresh tofu and exotic produce.
Staff members are knowledgeable and approachable, making it easy to ask for help tracking down a specific ingredient.
For anyone in central Massachusetts looking to cook authentically or simply broaden their pantry horizons, this Worcester market is an essential and rewarding stop on any food-focused road trip.
4. 99 Asian Supermarket, Malden
At 53,000 square feet with over 300 parking spots waiting outside, 99 Asian Supermarket makes a bold statement before you even step through the doors.
This market specializes in Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese culinary traditions, and it backs up that promise with an inventory that feels genuinely encyclopedic in its range.
The live seafood section is a particular showstopper, featuring tanks teeming with fresh options alongside a generous display of fish and shellfish resting on ice.
The produce section mirrors that ambition, stretching across a wide floor space and offering vegetables, herbs, and fruits sourced from across Asia that you simply will not find at a mainstream grocery chain.
When hunger strikes mid-shopping, the food court delivers banh mi sandwiches, steaming bowls of pho, and freshly rolled sushi that taste like the real deal. Snack hunters will love the dedicated aisle of Asian chips, candies, and drinks from Japan, Korea, and beyond.
The combination of size, selection, freshness, and convenience makes this Malden market one of the most complete Asian grocery experiences in all of Massachusetts, and that is not a claim made lightly. The location is 60 Broadway, Malden.
5. Reliable Market, Somerville
There is something genuinely special about a grocery store that has been feeding a neighborhood since 1980. Reliable Market at 45 Union Square in Somerville carries that history with quiet pride.
Revitalized in 2012 under the ownership of Korean immigrant Ongu Cho, this family-run shop has become a cornerstone of the Union Square community, beloved by longtime locals and curious newcomers alike.
Korean ingredients take center stage here, from an impressive selection of gochugaru and doenjang to a rotating lineup of house-made banchan prepared from recipes passed down through generations.
The prepared food section is the kind of thing that makes you wish you lived around the corner, offering authentic home-style Korean cooking that is ready to eat without any fuss.
The market also carries a thoughtfully curated collection of imported Asian beverages, candies, and pantry staples that reflect its diverse and loyal customer base.
Fresh produce, packaged goods, and a genuinely warm shopping atmosphere set Reliable Market apart from larger competitors.
Small in footprint but enormous in character, this Somerville shop proves that a neighborhood grocery store can carry the flavors of an entire culture within its walls, and do it with heart.
6. 5 Star Supermarket, Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts got a serious culinary upgrade when 5 Star Supermarket opened its doors in 2017 inside the Kohl’s Plaza on Boston Road.
Serving the western part of the state, this Asian specialty market quickly earned a loyal following among shoppers looking for imported ingredients and freshly prepared dishes that are hard to source anywhere else in the region.
The prepared foods section is where 5 Star truly earns its name. Perfectly roasted duck, its skin crackling and golden, sits alongside delicate sponge cakes that make ideal treats for a celebration or a quiet afternoon at home.
These are the kinds of items that inspire repeat visits, because once you have tried them, nothing else quite compares.
For those who need a mid-shopping pick-me-up, the bubble tea and Vietnamese coffee offerings provide a sweet and energizing pause that turns grocery shopping into something genuinely enjoyable.
The fresh produce aisles are well-maintained and stocked with Asian vegetables and herbs that inspire creative cooking.
Springfield residents no longer need to drive to Boston for quality Asian groceries, because 5 Star Supermarket brings the full experience right to the heart of western Massachusetts with style and substance.
7. Jia Ho Supermarket, Boston
The name says it all.
Jia Ho translates to Family Harmony in Chinese, and this Chinatown market at 692 Washington St in Boston has embodied that spirit since it officially opened in November 2013, taking over a space that longtime Chinatown shoppers once knew as C-Mart.
The transition brought a fresh, elegant atmosphere to a beloved neighborhood location.
Fresh vegetables and fruits fill the produce section with color and variety, while the meat and seafood counters offer quality cuts and daily-fresh options that home cooks rely on.
Chinese groceries form the backbone of the inventory, covering dried goods, specialty sauces, noodles, and snacks that carry a nostalgic weight for those who grew up eating this cuisine.
One truly unique feature sets Jia Ho apart from every other market on this list: a dedicated section for real American Ginseng, available as whole roots, sliced pieces, and powdered forms.
It is a nod to the deep cultural significance of herbal wellness in Chinese tradition and a rare find in any grocery setting.
Open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, Jia Ho Supermarket is a reliable, well-organized anchor in Boston’s Chinatown that welcomes everyone through its doors with warmth and a full shelf.
8. Hong Kong Supermarket, Boston
Hong Kong Supermarket has long served as the go-to Asian grocery destination for the dense, multicultural community that calls this part of the city home.
College students, longtime residents, and food-obsessed visitors all find their way here, drawn by a selection that manages to feel both comprehensive and carefully chosen.
The sauce and spice aisles are a highlight that seasoned cooks talk about with real enthusiasm.
Rows of oyster sauce, fish sauce, fermented black bean paste, and specialty condiments from across East and Southeast Asia line the shelves, offering the kind of depth that makes authentic recipes achievable at home.
Many of these items are genuinely difficult to find outside of specialty markets.
A frozen seafood section adds practical convenience for shoppers who want quality without the pressure of cooking immediately, while the fresh produce area covers an impressive range of Asian greens, herbs, and root vegetables.
The in-house food court provides a welcome opportunity to eat well without leaving the building.
For anyone exploring the Boston food scene beyond restaurants, Hong Kong Supermarket at 1 Brighton Ave is an essential stop that rewards every visit with something new to try.
9. Phu Cuong Market, Dorchester
Built from the ground up in 2013, Phu Cuong Market at 1188 Dorchester Ave in Dorchester brought something genuinely new to the neighborhood: a modern, purpose-built Vietnamese supermarket designed with both quality and community in mind.
At 20,000 square feet, the space is clean, well-lit, and thoughtfully organized in a way that makes shopping here feel like a pleasure rather than a task.
The seafood counter is the crown jewel of this market, and regulars will tell you the same thing without hesitation.
Fresh fish arranged on ice, live shellfish in tanks, and a daily rotation of ocean-fresh options give home cooks the kind of ingredient quality that elevates any recipe from good to genuinely memorable.
It is the sort of seafood department that inspires spontaneous cooking projects.
Vietnamese pantry staples fill the aisles alongside a broader selection of Asian groceries and household items, all offered at prices that make stocking up feel like a smart decision rather than a splurge.
The market serves the large Vietnamese community in Dorchester while also welcoming anyone curious about Southeast Asian cooking.
Phu Cuong Market is the kind of neighborhood anchor that a community builds around, and Dorchester is better for having it right on the avenue.