Ann W.
Yelp
I was craving a savory zongzi, having just had one on a recent trip. A zongzi consists of sticky rice with different fillings like fatty pork, green beans, Chinese sausage, chestnuts, dried shrimp, salted egg yolk, etc. wrapped in bamboo leaves before being boiled. The recipe differs based on the preferences of the cook. A sweet version exists (without the add-ins) but the savory version is far better. A friend assured me that 168 Asian Mart sold them so on a recent day off, I was off to find them.
168 Asian Mart is a large grocery store that specializes in foods from the Far East. Fresh produce line the perimeter of the store. A bakery section features a variety of buns and refrigerated cases hold noodles, tofu, and other fresh ingredients. In the center of the store, there are a number of packaged goods - and crispy egg roll cookies - a childhood favorite. I picked up some sweetheart cookies (not as good as the ones that I grew up having), a caterpillar bun (so named because it was long) filled with cream, a yummy coconut bun, and a pineapple custard bun.
Since I was tired of cooking, I was more interested in two areas of the store, the ones that sold roasted meats and a take-out/cafeteria area. Whole roast ducks, roast pig, and salted chicken hung behind the Plexiglass shield. They all looked tempting and while my eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach, I resisted and only purchased the roast duck and not any of the other items.
Within the take-out area, shoppers pointed to the items they wanted while the counterperson filled their containers. I went the other way and ordered from the menu: won tons, braised beef with noodles (choice of rice vermicelli, thick noodles, won ton, udon, or pho), and mini meatball buns. There is a small cafeteria for those who want to eat in; I chose to take my bounty home to feast.
Additionally, after roaming the store, I found the zongzhi in a refrigerated case and a mango-flavored mille crepe cake. The latter was significantly less expensive than what I am accustomed to.
I have to give the store credit for amassing a variety of products for shoppers who want to cook authentic tasting meals.
However, I thought the store was crowded and disorganized in some areas (merchandise was dumped on the floor) and the wait time for the food was inordinately long. Next time, I will know to order the food first before shopping to reduce my wait time.