Lotte Plaza Market - Catonsville — Attraction in Woodlawn

The plaza is anchored by Lotte Mart, a multi- ethnic grocery which has East Asian ( Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean), Southern Asian (Indian) and Latin foods, toiletries and housewares. As a Westerner, I find the produce department fascinating, with items you've only heard of before as well as items that you will have to use your phone to identify. The variety of mushrooms and fungi is tantalizing, bean sprouts of many varieties all fresh and cheap. The selection of sauces and noodles seem endless. There is a very wide selection of incenses at the best prices around and burners to match. There is a Korean cafe with takeout available, as well as a cooler of fresh sushi on the other side of the store. Bring a cooler because the selection of frozen dumplings and other buns and balls of deliciousness are so tempting and you'll need to keep them cold while you rearrange your freezer at home to fit them all in! There are other intriguing food shops and carry outs in the strip mall as well as a Pier One and a large Goodwill thrift store at the far western end at a lower level. All in all, you could spend quite a number of hours shopping here, finding bargains on lots of...

I wish I could give this place 5 stars. There is truly a huge selection of stuff, but Lotte suffers from poorly trained employees - they are rude sometimes or just don't acknowledge the customer's presence, especially the cashiers! They keep chatting among themselves while ringing up the customers. When I request to pull up my account, they seem to find it VERY cumbersome. Sometimes, they won't even tell me if I have points to redeem on my purchase. I wish that they would offer to pull up the account as the first step. I hope that Lotte has better standards of customer service but doesn't appear so.

The paper bags at checkout are terrible quality. Not only do they have no handles, but they rip so easily! If you're someone getting 4 or 5 items, you might be able to get away with them, otherwise I recommend BYOB (bag).

On the other hand, Lotte went through a store transformation which it badly needed. They now have labels for aisles so it's much easier to navigate the store. Signs in the produce area too. Some produce is still overpriced, like navel oranges or grapefruits. Berries are often poorly stored or moldy, so I would recommend getting those from some...

Lotte, a melting pot of Korean, Indian, and American products, caters to a diverse clientele with its well-curated range of offerings. The store seamlessly blends various cultural flavors, making it a prime choice for those in search of a mix of Korean, Indian, and American grocery items. Lotte emerges as a haven for multicultural enthusiasts, delivering a satisfying shopping experience that explores the richness of different culinary traditions.

Noteworthy is Lotte's dedication to maintaining a clean and organized shopping environment, contributing to a peaceful and orderly atmosphere. The tranquil setting allows customers to navigate the store effortlessly, appreciating the thoughtfully arranged aisles that showcase a diverse selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other essentials. Lotte excels in providing an extensive seafood assortment, accompanied by an alluring variety of mushrooms and dumplings. Beyond its diverse product range, Lotte's emphasis on cleanliness and creating a calm shopping ambiance establishes it as a favored destination for those seeking a delightful fusion of international flavors within a welcoming and...