Reliable Market

My favorite local store. A huge selection of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese groceries with very fair prices, including their produce. Try their homemade kimchi. Further, they have a huge selection of beer, wine, and sake as well as soju. The owner Paul is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Very lucky to have this place in my neighborhood—please check it out. It’s a great local business.

Great market for Japanese & Korean items, very organized and great variety of different things to choose from. Selection of different types of rice from short grain to long grain. They also have some good cuts of beef to take home to cook as well as prepping items of Asian inspired dishes, a lot of different wines & sake as well. Overall love the extensive items available and friendly service

I’m in love with this place! I spent 6 months in Japan and as a result became a sake enthusiast, and this place alone has allowed me to continue my fascination with the precious beverage. Their collection is kind of insane - the pictures don’t even show the special stuff in the fridge. And if this alone weren’t enough, they have delicious prepared food, including fresh sushi and all the other Asian tastiness you could ever ask for. The people who work there are very friendly and helpful, and have multiple times given me wonderful food suggestions. Prices are usually pretty decent, sometimes things are slightly overpriced but I’m happy to support such awesome people.

What a market! Incredible selection similar to H Mart - but with a killer craft beer selection. Vegetables, meat, seafood & frozen section. Extensive dry goods and spices. There is also a restaurant with a strong emphasis on Korean food - and it’s delicious and affordable. Counter service, long communal table. Perfect for the market!

I guess food or groceries in not cheap in general with the economy these days, but reliable market has definitely not been a place to get a bargain, it’s a place to get good variety of Asian foods for sure. I like their fresh food section, and their spices, mushrooms, and even frozen section. I don’t drink so can’t speak to the multitude of bottles. Every time I go, my bill comes over $30-40 for very few things in the cart. This pinches the pocket, making me avoid the place if I can, even if I don’t want to. I don’t think I’ve seen any specials around the store. The proprietor probably knows it and throws in a snack or two for free with the order. Today I purchased a rice seasoning (50g) bottle, one small chilli oil (3.3 ml) bottle, one pocky box and a seaweed snack and my total was $21! I needed to get my minimum to $10 because all I needed was the pocky and no debit card unfortunately… so I picked 2-3 things to bring it to what I thought was $10 hahaha… with a large margin. Some of the items are written in Asian languages which can be difficult to comprehend what is the item or name, but google image translate helps and the store owner is also helpful. I am vegetarian, and I purchased a hot pot that had beef in it 😐 I wish I could make enough to buy more often from this place. I would be here more often, but I guess prices have all gone up, even more so here.

I've been shopping here for years. Reliable Market is my favorite Asian grocery store in the Boston area. To start with, it's in Union Square, which is generally an excellent place to spend time, so the location is great. The store itself is family-run. Paul curates one of the best beer selections you'll find in Somerville, and I don't say that lightly. The grocery selection is second to none. All kinds of hard-to-find fresh, dried, fermented, and canned goods you simply won't find at other local stores - even in Chinatown for some items. You'll also find distinct produce not available at chain grocery stores such as Thai basil, for example. Good luck finding that one anywhere else nearby. Great wine and sake selection as well. The restaurant in the back is a hidden gem. Their chef will cook you all kinds of wonderful comfort foods and there are a few seats, or you can get it to go. The density of high quality items makes this store a fascinating wonderland of culinary adventure to browse. I come here regularly just to look around and try things, and I always leave with a few things. Never change, Reliable Market! Somerville needs you!

Amazing selection and delicious prepared food. My mom used to shop here in the 90s.

Overdue visit to Reliable Market - they have a great selection & many special imported items!

I've been here a handful of times when I lived in Somerville. They have lots of neat stuff. Prices were a tad high for me. I actually can't remember what I even bought. I just remember walking around a lot looking for something I could afford. Lots of neat drinks though.

Love this market - it truly is reliable. I didn't know what to expect when I first stepped into the shop, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. They have a variety of groceries (fresh, frozen, etc) and many Asian food items. They also sell beer and wine. I have to say, I was really impressed by the beer selection and often opt to shop at Reliable Market instead of nearby liquor shops when looking to grab beers. Above all else, the people who work here are sooooo friendly. This place is a gem.

The selection is great here but everything is absurdly expensive - I didn't think I would find a place in Somerville that made Hmart look cheap... I was also interested in the hot foods section but everything was extremely overpriced and not as great as the listing I saw on Atlas Obscurica. I would recommend going to the hmart in central square instead

Great selection of fresh Asian produce, snacks, kimchi, rice, sauces, and the owners are very nice people too!

Pros: free parking for up to 30 min. Good selection of asian goodies. They also sell soju. Cons: expensive!! And lots of things don't have prices clearly marked. I have been here a few times and I was literally fuming from the high prices today. I bought a bottle of lee kum kee sauce that had no price on it. It was $6.99. Went to starmarket after and saw the exact same thing for $3.99. Most dumplings here cost $12.99 to $14.99 per bag. Not cheap at all. My advice is to go to Chinatown, you can get the same thing for way cheaper.

This place is magic. It's super unassuming, and I've definitely walked right by it even when I've been looking for it. The name "Reliable Market" makes me immediately suspicious. Something about the time we live in that if a business advertises itself as reliable, I give it a week. But Reliable Market lives up to the name. It's reliable. So long as you're looking for delicious Korean prepared food, frozen food, snacks, random cooking utensils, extremely good and varied craft beers and reasonable produce. They have a really kind of wacky selection of things. Their prepared food section is reliable only in the sense that it's delicious, not in that it reliably has any particular item. I think I haven't been there where they had the same thing available twice. Revisiting the craft beer: Their selection is pretty astonishing. Every time I've gone I discover a beer I haven't seen before. And this is Union Square. Basically every other building is a brewery. Definitely top Korean grocery the area. H-Mart? More like Unreliable Mart.

As a Somerville resident, I love Reliable Market! I often just head over there to browse and see what inspires me for that trip. It's also a UPS access point so it's hard to avoid browsing when I go to pick up a package. Small space with a ton of variety in products. I always grab my Asian snacks and ramen here. They also have a GREAT selection of local beers, wine, etc. They fairly recently did construction in the space to accommodate more beers and wine. Great find. I also like their ready to eat section. I usually grab either some seaweed salad or a squid salad. If they have some sushi I'll pick that up too. The rice isn't the best but it's pretty good for a grab and go selection. I love their kimchi chigae as well. Huge portion size. Or their japchae is also delicious. It's clearly a family run business which is great to see and the younger staff is pretty friendly. Love this place :)

To get some sake I came here. There are good collections. I got some nigorizake. Asian style but mainly Korean, and some Japanese. I also got pork buns and red beans buns. I am guessing the owner is Korean: I saw a lot of authentic kimuchi jars and got one. If you are for Korean and sake or Korean alcohol, here is good. More pure Japanese stuff and authentic Japanese stuff, Ebisuya is the best.

Kimchi slaps. Ate a whole jar with my friend on the kitchen floor. The owner gave us a quarter of a watermelon too just. Great family establishment, please support

Reliable Market really lives up to its name. When I re-located to Union Square, I was intrigued by the offering of a Japanese/Korean market, especially after reading all of the positive reviews. But you really don't know how good it is until you check it out in person. So yes, first of all, it has all the vital Japanese/Korean market items you'd expect. And the prices are very good. My partner and I frequently come here for fresh produce like cabbage, bok choy, green onions, etc. They've also got many different varieties of rice to choose from, as well as noodles, sauces, etc. Though I haven't tried it yet, they also have a fresh, deli section in the back of the store. In addition to all of the normal staples, they also have an incredibly good selection of beer and wine. There's not exactly a deficit of places to get good beer in the area, but Reliable Market makes your shopping easy by stocking local, craft beer by the case full. I'm super glad this place exists and hope they have many years of business ahead of them. And whoever is their beer buyer, kudos to you!

My favorite Korean market hands down. I've been shopping here since I was in high school. They have a huge selection of Korean and Japanese goods as well as some other Asian foods. The prepared food selection is pretty big and everything is tasty. The restaurant section is also really good! The bibimbap is my favorite in the area. Staff here knows their stuff and is always helpful.

Great selection of local craft beer, soju, and sake. Friendly service and convenient parking in back

I was super excited at first to see all the variety of Asian products here! Most Asian stores are usually concentrated in the Chinatown area, so I was pretty excited to find one in the Somerville area. However.., the prices were much higher compared to chinatown. So I've decided I would only come here when I really need to or if I missed an item on my grocery list while I was in Chinatown. There's also a restaurant within that makes ramen and other Asian dishes fresh! I was excited about that. The reason for the three stars is because while I was in the fresh food section such as sushi and such. I found a pack of the seaweed salad covered in MOLD. I was really shocked because what does this say about their fresh food products. SO - if you are buying fresh ready to eat foods here, better beware and check if it's actually fresh.

2 weeks ago, there was a ramen pop up event by Brooklyn Ramen. My husband was feeling really skeptical about getting ramen at a grocery store, but was pleasant surprised when the food was ready. We ordered the shoyu and tonkatsu ramen, both were good but the tonkatsu was a little too rich to eat too much of. The Korean ladies at the cashier were really nice and they asked us to take as many free mangoes as we liked. As for the grocery selection, while I didn't buy anything, I noticed a huge range of Korean products that I can't get at super88 (Asian store closest to me). Will be back if I need some Korean products! And for more ramen!

I have to admit this place is small but is packed with a lot of variety of products and choices to choose from. The only downside is that it is quite expensive compared to other asian supermarkets like H-Mart or Super88, however the inflated price is likely due to the location. Also, there isn't really a food court, just a menu with pictures and they wiill cook when you order.

Went to buy ramen (restaurant area, not market) and the woman at the counter said she didn't feel like making it. Wow... I frequent the market portion of the store quite often, which is great, but this is a new low for any restaurant I've been to.

Love going here. Great Korean and East Asian wares, a fun take-out counter in the back, owners that care, fair prices (given the location), and a *serious* wine / beer / sake program. Yes, I called it a program. You'll see when you're there.

I can't say enough good things about this place. They have good quality and selection of produce and a sizable selection of Asian foods(obviously). But the hidden gem here is their beer selection. It's truly top notch with amazing micros from all over the country. And to top it off, the owner, who frequently works there is a super nice guy. If you haven't gone there, check it out, explore, you will be glad you did.

Wonderful! Friendly staff and Truly reliable. Open during most snow storms. Good made-to-order food too.

This is my favorite place the owners (Paul and his mom) are the sweetest and are truly "reliable." They always go out of their way to be kind and generous, and should be protected at all costs! (Yes it's expensive, but their location in union is PRIME, and people like them are being pushed out left and right. I would rather give them my money than fucking star market any day.)

Haven for your Korean & Japanese grocery needs. The manager is from Kyushu, so they even carried yuzu kosho 柚子こしょう for under $7 and Bontan Ame for under $2. They have shiso, eggplant, mushrooms, chilis, tofu at great prices for produce. Green onions/scallions are 2/$1. Their haircare depends on what they have in stock, but their SoMang shampoo/hair pack are $8 each for 620ml and 500ml respectively. Their Tsubaki line stuff is under $18 for the bottles, under $14 for the refills. They have damage care & shining (less expensive). They have a small selection of Palty dyes. Also pink & orange Gatsby for about $11 each. Their Perfect Whip face cleanser is pretty pricey, though, maybe nearly double the usual cost. (Used to be about $12, but went up to about $20 when it became the last bottle). Softymo Deep Cleansing oil is a similar price, but sold out within a month. They even have karintou snacks for just under $5! Their selection of rice is cool, all Korean & Japanese. I enjoy the Nishiki they sold me. On weekends, they have kimbap & scallion pancake samples out, maybe with the occasional sliced Asian pear. Then you can pick up a premade pack for yourself. So good. I really like this place, and come often for my groceries. I'd give it higher stars if they had slightly more consistent stock. I call ahead to see if they have stuff in.

This Union Square staple has been known to me for many years for having some high quality fish for sashimi since the days I took sushi making classes many years ago. As the area has evolved so as this market with high quality goods, delicious hot food & a great selection of craft beers. They even have a dining area that allows for in-store dining. In addition to free parking in their rear parking area plus a clean bathroom. I normally go there for some Asian grocery staples, some fresh seafood & a hot pork bun. Plus the proprietor always has good craft beer recommendations. If you happen to be in Union Square I would highly recommend browsing the jam packed aisles & you won't be disappointed. Hope they keep growing as the area around it changes at break neck speed.

One of my favorite markets. Reliable Market is more than just an Asian market. They also carry fresh a good amount of fresh produce, sushi grade fish, some limited meat options, precooked items, and also some alcohol like soju and wine. I end up coming frequently because they stay open later than market basket. That is one of the many good things about reliable market. In addition to not closing super early, their staff is very friendly and I think their kimchi is better than Hmarts. Their prices are also generally affordable and they offer a 10% off discount to students on most items. If you are looking for Asian ingredients, Asian snacks, a few bottles of soju, or some basic produce, Reliable is a great choice.

Fresh watermelon and fruit, lots of Asian drinks, misc groceries, and a surprisingly large beer selection (lots of IPAs and funky beers).

Great Korean market. Very cool shop to check out with fresh seafood and vegetables and the hidden Ramen shop inside. Those complaining about the prices should look at what Somerville commercial rents are these days. The prices are reasonable for the area. I like that it's in walking distance to Bow market, Himalayan kitchen, Union Square farmers market, and the Indian Nepali grocery shop a block away.

We stumbled on this store in Union Square. We were surprised to find hot food they sell. We tried tteokbokki and pork buns, and can't wait to come back for more!!

Come here for all my Korean grocery needs!! But actually, I do like coming here for Korean snacks and they have drinks that I've previously only found in Hawaii like Kona Coffee. When I wanna make sushi I come here for the fish as well and have tried the meats. All good, but sometimes some of their stuff is a bit pricey. For example we bought some fish and then needed some avocado for a sushi bowl but the avocado was pretty overripe and was $2 too. For fresh fruits and vegetables I wouldn't come here. The owners and employees are kind though.

Whether shopping for sushi grade fish, attending a ramen pop up or just perusing the amazing beer selection Reliable Market gets top marks! Theres all of tjhe asian grocery store goodies (the GF picked up all the necessities for homemade poke bowls the other day) and also a full hot bar that I have yet to try. Last time I was there I was checking out beer options and it was better than most dedicated liquor stores I've been to. Produce might leave something to be desired at times, but you are just down the street from Market Basket for that. Don't give a pass on reliable market. Its worth the visit.

Why aren't more people shopping here? This is a great Korean market with other Asian groceries represented. They have great liquor selection and we just picked up Dassai sake on special recommendation from the Japanese staffer and Soju from the Korean staffer. Picked up beautifully fresh seafood and soondubu kit to make a tofu stew. Also a variety of frozen dumplings added to the dinner menu. They also sell prepared dishes like banchan, kimchi, kimbap, japchae etc as well as meals cooked to order. Please shop here. I want them to survive. Nice people and fair prices and selection.

Finally stopped in to this little gem that is right by where I wait for the bus to take me home each day. Conveniently located in Union Square, they have a small selection of Asian snacks, candy, beverages, produce, fish, and more. Lots of wine and beer as well. The fact that it is so unassuming and homey gives it a lot of character, and I'm happy to support a small local business. Man at the counter was kind, too. I will definitely be coming in more on my way home.

Reliable Market is one of my happy places. Amazing beer selection, plus sake and wine. The people who work here are super friendly and helpful, specifically the guy who buys their beer. They sometimes do popup shops and tastings. Great candy, snacks, and Asian goods. And, bonus! They're a UPS drop off spot...

This is my favorite market in the greater Boston area. Reliable is a family-run market with a carefully curated, wide variety of Korean and Japanese products. The staff is always friendly, they have parking in the back, and have a rare liquor license, so they sell beer, wine, sake and makgeoli! In the back of the store (or technically to the left) they sell seafood, home-made kimchi and prepared foods. They have even more prepared foods on the weekend, and have recently started doing a mini-restaurant inside on weekends and the later half of the workweek. I love buying the older kimchi for that great spicy, sour taste, and I appreciate that it is packed in glass containers (I bring the extra glass containers back so they can wash and reuse them - they really appreciate that). Reliable Market has all the Korean and Japanese staples, and aside from the kimchi, banchan, and kimbap, I usually buy my seaweed, organic natto, oden ingredients, furikake, ochazuke, takuan, and tofu here. I also really appreciate their beer selection. They have a wide variety of craft and local beers. Locally run businesses like this one are treasures. I look forward to patronizing Reliable Market for years to come!

The gem of Union Square! Great mixture of reasonably priced staples and Asian specialties. The staff are always friendly. I love the little pop ups they do for alcohol and ramen. The only thing negative I could possibly say is PAUL PLEASE SWITCH THE COUNTRY MUSIC TO ANYTHING ELSE. The beer selection is also fantastic.

I discovered this little market tucked away in Union Square on my walk home one day. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. I was especially happy to see that they carried a wide selection of items that I don't see in many other places (including H-Mart). The staff are friendly and fantastic -- I even got a free apple once when I was picking up a 6-pack of beer! ^_^ This is my go-to for Asian goods.

Decent sized place, kind staff. Lots of alcohol. I saw a photo on here of a Japanese soda in the shape of a panda and was hoping to get one. I didn't see them there. I got a regular Japanese soda and some green tea Hello Panda cookies. Almost got a cute dinosaur tooth brush. They also have household items like bowls and spoons etc. I'll visit again sometime but probably won't be a regular. Its definitely worth checking out though. $10 credit card minimum. But they still let me use my card since my total was less than $10.

I lived in Somerville several years ago and Reliable Market was always great but it has really stepped up its game. First, the product offering has changed, in great ways. Offering ramen (havent tried), frozen pork and veggie buns (the best!), beer/high quality sake, prepared food and a small but good selection of produce. The prices are also great. I have to compare more products but their enokki mushrooms were cheaper than hmart. People are always friendly there too and good parking in back. 5 stars for sure. I'm so happy places like this exist. *One suggestion if management reads reviews -- offer a better/wider and cheaper selection of frozen sliced hotpot meats.

Reliable Market will always be my favorite Union Square grocery store (sorry, Market Basket). They have an excellent craft and local beer selection and are constantly adding more interesting brews. Their new-ish hot food counter is also great. Their products cover most Korean and Japanese food niches very nicely. Plus, it's family owned and the staff are so great! I hope this place survives the many changes slated for Union Square over the next few years - it would be a damn shame to lose such a great institution!

Don't be fooled by its industrial, concrete exterior--this market is definitely a diamond in the rough. The Union Square area (Squarea?) is certainly not wanting for supermarkets. Just around the corner from Reliable is a Market Basket, an Indian market, and a Star Market. While having options is great, I will continue to patronize Reliable whenever possible. Why? 1.) It's clean. Also, the seafood area never smells "fishy," which is not something I can say for some of the bigger markets. 2.) Wide variety of (mostly) Korean products. We have enough supermarkets that give you everything under the sun. The only issue I had with this place is spending half an hour choosing a brand of gochujang... 3.) Really impressive alcohol selection. For such a small place, they really pack in the wine, beer, soju, and sake. 4.) It's a small business. While the prices are generally very fair, there are a few items that I know I can get cheaper elsewhere. However, in a time where rent is skyrocketing in Somerville, Reliable has to turn a profit. I'd rather pay a little more here than take my business elsewhere. Luckily, there are plenty of like-minded people in Somerville who help to maintain the diversity of businesses through their patronage. Definitely one of my favorite supermarkets in the Boston area.

After losing Yoshinoya market on Prospect Street in Cambridge I am sure a lot of us felt unhappy about the idea of no local Asian supermarket in the area. Well, this one most definitely fills the void. It's run by Koreans and has everything one could want from Japan. I can't speak highly enough of the store - please see my photographs to see what I mean. The only thing I can think of that I wish they had is tanks of live fish, eels, and crabs, in addition to lobsters - but this doesn't diminish the store at all. It's a really fantastic asset for Union Square in Somerville. The selection is great, the staff polite (even when they don't know much English) Everyone should check this great store out and shop often. You will not be disappointed. Hopefully this place will compete well with the new Korean supermarket, H Mart in Central square and stay open for a long time. DO NOT be fooled by the boring exterior of this store! Go inside to get an impression, even if you are not shopping during that trip.

JUST LOVE THEIR KIMCHI RICE BOWLS, and all the variety of FRUITS AND VEGGIES, they even have asian beer and wine as well as some many choices of green teas. " Steamed Buns "

Ahhhhhh, Reliable. Brings back memories every time I visit. This used to be the biggest Korean supermarket in the whole Boston area, so my family would always come here to buy groceries (with the exception of kimchi, because Han Ah Reum had the best kimchi, but they closed too... oh the feels). I'd sometimes hop over to the now-defunct video rental/stationery store Reliable Video next door and spend all of my allowance money on cute Korean things, because why not. Most of the people who work here have not changed, which adds more to the nostalgia. I LOVE the ahjummas here! Sure, the location isn't very T accessible, especially if you live on the green line (like me), but it is worth the trip depending on what you're looking to buy. AND there's Buk Kyung nearby, you can even go to Union Square Donuts... many possibilities to think of once you're in the area. Reliable's produce selection isn't extensive -- you're not gonna find wild herbs of names which I can't pronounce, but it does carry the basic Korean cooking necessities. Most importantly, scallions don't cost $1.99 / bunch *coughnottalkingabouthmartcough* - they're much cheaper and of decent quality. Also, ramen prices aren't ridiculous like at H Mart, which always sets newly released ramen prices to about $9.99/pack (4-5 ramen). Yeah no. Ooh, and sometimes they carry samples of Korean side dishes and gimbap. Again, not as exciting as the wide variety in H Mart, but samples are samples. Samples are good. Samples are FREE. The ownership had changed a couple years ago (the owner had passed away), just when H Mart was opening in Burlington. Perfect timing, right? I thought it was going to die out just like all of the other independent Korean markets in the area, but I am happy to see that it's doing quite well. Carry on!

I've been going to Reliable for a loooong time, ever since I was a baby-faced freshman homesick for Korean food (being from SoCal which has one of the biggest Korean communities outside of Korea). It's the best Korean/Japanese grocery store in the area. (For those who mentioned Super 88... that's Chinese. There's a difference.) Anyways, a lot of this review is going to be comparison with H-Mart (spoiler alert, I like Reliable better), since that's the only nearby Korean grocery option left... Lotte and Han A Rum both closed down around the time H-Mart arrived (edit: add more more to the casualty list... Mirim in Allston is now gone too). I really don't want the same to happen to Reliable, which is why I'm writing this review even though I'm not really an active Yelper. First and most importantly, PRICES: Despite being a national chain, H-Mart is generally more expensive than Reliable (a small local business). For example, $36 vs. $31 for the same sack of rice. $12 vs. $9 for a pack of canned tuna. Tofu is up to half a buck more at H-Mart. Sure, the difference won't break the bank but it just annoys me on principle. Also, 10% discount (with a few exclusions obviously) at Reliable if you show student ID! Store: Reliable isn't brand new and shiny but it's clean. Aisles are a little cramped. There's no kpop blaring in the background, thank goodness. Not everything is labeled nicely in English which I guess non-Koreans might find intimidating, but the staff are generally quite friendly so don't be afraid to ask questions. The ahjummas do speak limited English but if they don't understand you, you (probably) have a smartphone! Just pull up a picture or even the Korean name of what you're looking for and show it to them. Or try asking one of the younger staff members. Selection: Unless you're cooking something extra unusual, Reliable has everything you need in terms of ingredients. They also have the bases covered for candy/snacks, frozen foods, beverages, ramen, etc. H-Mart has a wider selection (helped by larger space + national distribution network) but I've never had the need to take advantage of it. Produce: Probably H-Mart's is a little fresher due to higher turnover but generally I haven't noticed a big difference compared to Reliable's produce (but if I can't find a satisfactory item I just make a 2nd stop at Market Basket down the block since that place *definitely* has great turnover). I've gotten duds at both places. As with any Asian grocery, don't be dumb, inspect before buying (this also goes for expiration dates with other items). Prepared foods: H-Mart's prepared food is all Jinga brand, which is made in a central facility somewhere in the NYC/NJ area. On the other hand, if you walk into Reliable there's a kitchen in the back where you can often see people preparing the food right there, which I find preferable. They usually have samples out. In general I make my own banchan, but the items I've tried have been decent. Apparently they do catering as well. Seafood: Reliable has both regular and sushi-grade fish available. More recently they started selling little takeout trays of nigiri but I haven't tried it. There's also always a tub of live crabs chilling in front of the fish counter if you're into that. Meat: Have to admit H-Mart has an edge here, all the meats at Reliable are frozen (though IIRC this wasn't the case in the past). But for kbbq it's perfectly fine. Booze: They expanded their alcohol section relatively recently, they've always had a good variety of Korean/Japanese drinks (i.e. soju, sake, makgeolli) but now they have a sizable selection of wine as well. I believe they have tasting events every once in a while. Location: Even though Union Square isn't located on a T stop (well, maybe it'll be a Green Line stop in 10 years), Reliable is worth checking out. There's convenient free parking in the rear and several bus lines run through the area. Lots of good eats nearby too, I usually grab a quick meal at Machu Picchu chicken or Buk Kyung across the street before doing my grocery run.

This is probably one of the best markets I've been to so far. I live in Allston, but was up here for the Fluffernutter festival which was right next door in Union Square. The place is packed with lots of goods though I didn't see my vacuum sealed package of soondobu that I normally get for a quick meal. The ban chan section is FREAKING amazing and I'm kicking myself for not getting some of it that day. My doofie friend said we'd come back the next day to also get some tuna for sushi, but he ended up being too lazy and we didn't go back. Freezer section has huge selections of noodles, dumplings, dumpling wrappers, etc. The fresh veggies are a little sketch, so I'm not exactly sure I would go there to get produce. But there is so much stuff packed in that little store. Wish I lived closer but I was happy to get my favorite brand of rice wine vinegar (picked up another brand at Super 88, not knowing that brand made that much of a difference, and it smelled like feet. No joke. Yummmy stinky sushi rice).

This little Korean store discreetly tucked away in Union Square is perfect for your usual Asian food needs. Bags of rice, prepared foods like kim chi and bulgolgi, a limited selection of fresh produce (including American offerings such as spinach), Asian desserts such ice cream mochi, and a decent alcohol selection await you. There's also an aisle devoted to various sauces and pastes. Staff are pretty friendly as well. Of note, there's free parking in the back in case you don't want to deal with the craziness that is Union Square street parking.

I stopped by a few times to pick up groceries and thought it's pretty overpriced, but kimchi looked great and I'm sure it tastes great as well. However, 1 star for how rudely the lady behind the counter behaved today. I walked in to ask to exchange $1 for quarters. I also asked about an item on the counter and explained I'm not buying, just asking what it is. She got visibly frustrated, and instead of giving me the quarters (to which she already agreed) looked around and asked the other 2 customers to check out before me. Neither of them was ready to check out and friendly pointed out that I was there first. In spite of that, she kept staring at them, demonstrating she won't attend to my request before she checks out them both. It's been a while since I've encountered such rude behavior.

I love this place! Truly madly deeply. Granted that I cannot read any of the signs or labels. Nevertheless, the food is familiar, and I love to wander the aisles taking tasty things off the shelves. There seems to be an unending supply of ramen noodles, sesame oil, and soup base, so my pantries are well stocked. I like to shop here first, then hit up Sherman and Capone's, before eventually making it to the Market Beast. I can find nearly everything I need in these three places, and I love it.

The main attraction of this place to me has always been simple proximity to where I live. Their prices are hit and miss; some items are strangely a lot more than the generally overpriced H-Mart near Central Square which has about 8x more floor space and selection. Produce is generally more expensive than Market Basket down the street, but then again MB kicks everybody's butt price-wise. Anyway, I suspect that you are paying a convenience store upcharge for most of the stuff there. Some of their ready made foods are quite good though, and that's what kept me coming back: the vegetarian Korean sushi with pickled veggies and the seafood pancakes are especially yummy, as is their sliced pork. They also sell an excellent quality 20lb bag of Japanese brown rice (Nishiki I think is the brand) for about the same price as Amazon, which is one of my staples and beats the pants off any brown rice sold at Whole Foods for twice the price. I like that the people who work there are always friendly, unlike at H-Mart (see my review of that joint)...it seems to be a family run business and they know how to take good care of their customers. Recently I discovered that they've become a UPS Access Point, meaning you can go drop off packages there with a prepaid return shipping label (like Amazon returns) which is awesome because they don't close so early like the stupid UPS store at Somerville Ave and Central St. which had me biking all the way to Harvard Square's Staples store...well, no more! Haven't asked yet if they allow you to receive shipments there without charging, or make you pay a whopping $10 receiving fee like the aforementioned UPS franchise store. Oh, and the icing on the cake: they have an actual (gasp!) PARKING LOT in the back! A precious and rare thing in this most car-unfriendly of places, lol.

This market is similar to many other large Asian supermarkets but slightly well more curated. A fresh fish counter, vegetables, sake and noodles are packed into this easy to pass-by food store. Sushi and other Korean delicacies may be made fresh for you in the back of the time is right. Japanese, Korean, chinese rice? By the hundred pound bag if that's what is necessary. Beer and wine. A butcher section. Don't miss Reliable Market. Park in back and enter through the back door.

As one of the few Korean groceries in the Greater Boston area, Reliable has been a mainstay for my family growing up and I love stopping in here to catch up on Korean groceries between my regular supermarket runs. I admit, I mix it up with H-Mart, but Reliable is a different experience and mostly, I come here b/c it's right down the street from me in Union Square and b/c I want to keep supporting the mom & pop shop! They've got essentially everything you could need in terms of Korean grocery items. They also carry non Korean/Japanese stuff, but it's somewhat limited (for ex., I can't seem to find tamarind paste here for Thai cooking). Recently, they renovated the back to offer more pre-made food and added some oddly placed acrylic tables & chairs to encourage people to eat there, though I can't imagine anyone really sitting down to eat the pre-packaged stuff in the middle of a grocery store. Dining in or not, I'm glad to see more pre-made food items! No, they're not as good as homemade, but not bad in a pinch! I also find their pre-made items preferable to H-Mart in that they don't seem to use MSG. My favorite thing about Reliable? The butchery section & seafood section! There's always someone behind each section and you can ask for custom cuts very easily. One time, I wanted to make cod stew and they didn't have the cuts I needed so they didn't mind cutting up a whole cod to get me the pieces I was looking for! Excellent service. I hope Reliable sticks around forever- I'm still rooting for them and will continue to give them my business over H-Mart as much as possible!