Madison Oriental Market — Attraction in Madison

These are one of the stingiest people. When they needed the community donations to help upgrade their store they asked everyone yet they cant even give away one small bag of chip or candy worth around $2. My high school kid was doing a project for her business class where she has to interview a small family business and request a sample to bring back to share with her class. They were willing to sit down with my daughter for the short 5 minute interview however, when she asked about the sample to take to class the next day, it goes something like this: "Oh are you going to buy it or are you asking for a donation?" My daughter says for the purpose of the project it has to be a give away from the store. Then the lady went on to ask her mother, who is the other owner of the store, for the sample. The mother then tells my daughter she has to ask the father who is out of town at that time. After we waited for her to call her husband to get permission to give away this small sample of product she finally says: "he cannot be reach, but is there a tax id or something so we can claim it on our tax?". I responded that because this is just a small classroom project i doubt there is one. I went on to help my daughter explain that it doesn't have to be anything big just small bag of asian hard candies or chip for the daughter to take back for the classroom to try to help promote the store. The mother owner of the store then says because it's going messed up their inventory so they need that tax id. She'd have to check with her husband first and will call us if they can give away the sample. I sense she meant "no", so just told her if they can't, it's ok and we left with the $37 worth of groceries I should have not bought from them tonight . My daughter came home sad that she failed to get the sample for her project tomorrow. Guess, though I've been a long time customer of theirs, this will be the last time im getting grocery from them. It has changed my mind about going to support...

Cynthia, Choua her Mom, & her Dad all help operations go smoothly. Being local owned & operated, & specifically woman-owned, I do all possible to help my A #1 go to Asian market stay healthy & robust, in these difficult waters to navigate we're all in with our fave small businesses. They have everything you need for Asian cooking: dry noodles of rice or wheat, kitchen utensils and large woks, pots/pans, good tea/beverage selection, fresh produce, cooler section is large/well stocked, same for freezer sections. All varieties of desserts, cooking & flavoring oils/sauces, soup mixes in powder and cans, snacks, & hot foods ready to go, and fully equipped kitchen with fresh noodle dishes and desserts. Large cooler sections of drinks, and loads of soda, fruit drinks in cans and bottles on shelves at room temp. Nice little dining area, very clean everywhere. Fresh fish, meat selection is large and varied, including frozen. Several sizes & varieties of Kimchee, and pickled cucumbers in Kimchee style in cooler; some of...

I had a very disappointing experience at this store. Rather than being greeted or offered assistance, I felt as though I was being watched with suspicion from the moment I walked in. I clearly needed help—walking through every aisle looking for something I couldn’t find—yet no one made an effort to assist me. Instead, I was followed and stared at, as if I were doing something wrong.

It’s disheartening to feel unwelcome simply because I don’t fit a certain image of who is “expected” to shop here. I won’t be returning, and I certainly won’t recommend this store to others. I’ve had far better experiences at the larger oriental market on Park Street, where the selection is broader and the staff is far more respectful...