East Asian Market — Attraction in Ferguson Township

I’ve been a regular customer at East Asian Market for several years because it’s close to my home. However, after my recent experiences, I will no longer be shopping here.

On my last visit, I stopped in right before closing to buy bean sprouts for the next day. They didn’t look very fresh, but I assumed they were still safe. The staff told me to eat them quickly and that if they weren’t good, I COULD BRING THEM BACK FOR A REFUND. The next day, when I opened the package, it had a strong rotten smell. I returned them, and they refunded me without any issue, so I didn’t think much of it at the time.

Today, I went back and bought bean sprouts again, along with a few other fresh products. I made sure to choose fresh-looking ones. However, one of the women who works there, who I believe remembered me, REPEATEDLY told me that BEAN SPROUTS go bad fast and I should eat them quickly. She said it in a very rude tone, as if blaming me for the previous incident, even though I had returned the bad sprouts less than 24 hours after purchase. Last time, they knowingly sold a spoiled product, and I didn’t make a big deal about it, yet I was treated as though I had done something wrong.

She also spoke to me in Chinese, even though I believe she knew I am not Chinese (we had already greeted each other in English when I came in). Not everyone there is rude, but I believe this kind of attitude needs improvement. With new Asian markets opening nearby, I’m glad to have other options. I would not recommend this place to any...

If you've never been, and dont read a lick of eastern language, it can be a little overwhelming at first.

What's good, though, is that everything is organized into sections well enough that if you have specific things you are looking for, you can find them after a short search. Of course most of the items have tags on the shelf in english as well as in japanese/chinese (very unfamiliar with the difference myself), so that helps.

It is very worthwhile going, because they have many of the specialty items that you cant really find anywhere else, such as specific spices/sauces/veggies and whathaveyou.

I love shopping this place, and many of their items are quite a bargain when it comes to the price! Their potstickers are great, and i highly recommending the steamed buns with either custard or red bean...

I am so happy this place is here. My stir fries are now complete. For years I sort of got by between Amazon and Wegmans, but now I can just get all my ingredients at the same place. Shaoxing, dried chillis, schezuan peppercorns, wood ear, douban jiang, douchi, dark soy sauces... The produce section is small but always fresh, and you can't really find gai lan or ramps/sprouts/bok choi like these at other grocers. I don't really know how this place compares in price, but I usually get a pretty good supply of food for about $20. The garlic is very fresh here too, no need to degerm it when preparing!

Special bonus points are given due to the range of shocked and bemused expressions I receive from the chinese and korean customers as a white guy...