Fresh durian outside of Chinatown?

I'm craving fresh durian, but don't have the time to trek it all the way to Chinatown to pick it up.

I'm assuming that there has to be locations on the north side of town where one could get it--most likely near Argyle.

Any tip-offs to grocery stores that carry the fruit (in non-frozen form preferably) will save me from wandering from store to store.

Thanks!

Try Golden Pacific, source of many wonderful Asian ingredients, as well as some prepared frozen food (we love the potstickers):

5353 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-6688

I'm fairly certain that I've seen it at Super H-Mart, though it might have been frozen.

Hi,

I don't think any Durian comes to this country without having been frozen first. They may already be defrosted when you purchase one, though at some point it was frozen.

Regards,

Sorry for not helping you individually...but if youre in the suburbs you can pick up 'fresh' durian in Carol Stream. I found a new market today while getting a haircut. It brought back great memories of this stinky fruit . The main reason I stopped in was the topic about 'asian staples'.

Phan Thiet Store
497 S. Schmale Road
Carol Stream, IL 60188
(630) 665-6830

Agree with Cathy...I'm also pretty sure all durian for export is frozen.

Oh I concur about the pre-frozen-ness of the durian here. I was just looking for some that was available already thawed (new year's resolution: work on impatience).

However, update. Success! I stopped at Super H Mart on the way home from work. A whole pile, waiting just for me....in a nice state of semi-thawed so it was in good shape by the time I got it home. I felt kind of bad though, when the lady who cashed me out accidentally pricked her finger on the thing. All I could think is that she secretly scorned me for causing her harm just so I could eat some funky fruit. I'm still waiting for the reciprocal paper cut or whatever that karma's inevitably going to send my way...

Saw some today at Richwell Market, 6120 W. Dempster St. in Skokie (Used to be Diho). In their small produce section. Might have been frozen at some point, but these were thawed.

They were in those plastic nets with a little handle, and were big and heavy - you'd certainly get puncture wounds trying to pick one up without it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VWrhD0uyMQU

Mentioning the ease of opening previously-frozen durian. If you check in the sidebar or just type "durian" in YouTube search, you'll see hundreds of amusing durian-eating videos with reactions ranging from horrified to orgasmic.

Many of the produce markets on Devon carry it as well: pretty sure I've seen it at Patel Bros...

to Shoes -- just wondering, how do you eat your durian? I think the only time I've tasted it was in the form of a smoothie or bubble tea freeze (and these most likely were canned?)

I basically cut a side open with some kitchen shears, pull out a blob with thumb and forefinger (it naturally comes out in soft sections surrounding the seed) and just eat as is until there's nothing left but the seed. I've actually never had it any other way. It's indulgently good.

I saw the durians at the Super H and briefly considered buying one-- my husband is nuts for durian. With these previously frozen ones, how do you tell if they are any good? Should they be squishy? fragrant? green? Also, how long do they last once defrosted?