Chinese markets and Korean soft tofu?

Hi Everyone! This is my first post after lurking on and getting great information from this forum!

I live in the Oak Park area. I'm looking for a good Chinese or Asian supermarket nearby. I'm pretty tired of Whole Grain market in Westmont.

Does anyone have an update on the Grand Mart in Melrose Park, i.e. if they'll be re-opening soon, and will there be an "international" food selection?

Grand Mart at North and Cicero seems pretty promising, although not as good as Super HMart, which I still have to check out. This one isn't closed down like the one in Melrose Park, is it?

Does anyone know anything about the other Grand Marts in the area, i.e. Bedford Park or Bridgeview? Are they still open and what do you think of them?

Also, I'm looking for a good Korean soft tofu restaurant. One that serves the soupy tofu in clay/metal(?) bowls with usually seafood or meat. You can crack an egg into the dish and designate how spicy you want it.

Thanks, and I look forward to being a part of this food-lovin' community!

I have not had a good (or even passable) bowl of soondubu jigae in Chicago. It sounds like you've had soondubu in other parts of the country. If so, you'll be disappointed with the offerings here.

Most Korean restaurants with large, general menus serve soondubu, if you're really intent on having it. If you do find a spot worth trying, keep us posted.

I'm actually quite partial to the soondubu at Solga (however my boyfriend doesn't like it at all - I think he's afraid of all the seafood - so you can take my recommendation for what it's worth) - good fresh haemul (seafood) and it's adequately spicy. They also don't cook the life out of the shrimp (which happens freequently.)

Actually my favorite soondubu was from the 24 hour Korean Restaurant on Lawrence but the place has since closed and we've been waiting for it to re-open across the street for over a year.


Solga
5828 N. Lincoln Ave
(773) 728-0802

Tofu Girl wrote:I live in the Oak Park area. I'm looking for a good Chinese or Asian supermarket nearby. I'm pretty tired of Whole Grain market in Westmont.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... nal+market

Thanks for the replies. I'm from Southern California, so yes, I miss the quantity and variety of Asian food since I've moved to Chicago. Korean soft tofu is one of my favorites.

BTW, for anyone visiting SoCal, I don't know if anyone on these boards has mentioned Gardena (city near LAX) as a resource for Japanese food. I think it may be the largest Japanese community in the US. There's this hole in the wall place called Sushi Bei that is absolutely terrific. The sushi chef/owner is from Japan and it is a wonderful, affordable sushi place.

I hate to present heresay, but my sister, who also recently moved from LA and who also has become hooked on soondubu, was happy with the offering at So Gong Dong. Not as good as her LA haunts, she says, but it scratches the itch.

My review and pics for Chodang.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/_M9kx_-2BzMteGT ... ry:chodang

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... ht=chodang