Asian grocery stores in the near west suburbs?

Does anyone know of a good Asian grocery store near Forest Park? I don't want to have to drive forever to get a few items. I'm used to having huge supermarkets like United Noodle in Minneapolis and can't find anything around here. It doesn't have to be big but the one place we went to out in the suburbs (possible Hinsdale?) gave us bad duck for heaven's sake.

Help please?

I haven't found anything in the suburbs as good as United Noodle. I definitely miss it.

Shannon wrote:Does anyone know of a good Asian grocery store near Forest Park? I don't want to have to drive forever to get a few items. I'm used to having huge supermarkets like United Noodle in Minneapolis and can't find anything around here. It doesn't have to be big but the one place we went to out in the suburbs (possible Hinsdale?) gave us bad duck for heaven's sake.

Help please?

Driving forever for a few items? Huge Supermarkets like United Noodle? What are the other supermarkets like United Noodle like? Names? With other huge supermarkets like United Noodle, I might think about a relo to Minny. Anyway, to point you in a direction, it would depend on how far you are willing to travel. "Forever" won't cut it. I know ppl who think 10 minutes in a car is a lifetime. I, on the other hand, don't mind driving for 30 minutes at the right time of day to go stock up on Asian goods. If you're in Forest Park, you're in a suburb not very far from one of the greatest cities in the world. I would suggest stocking up on staples at one of the major league Asian grocers like H Mart, Chicago Food Corp, Mitsuwa, or the market on Broadway just N of Lawrence on the E side of the street in the stripmall, and then getting the more plentiful things you'll need every so often at the smaller places around town. The mega American grocery stores here tend to stock a pretty weak selection of Asian goods. Pretty cheap quality stuff. I'm not really sure what you need as far as "a few items," but around here, it seems, that it's better to stock up at the good Asian grocers, and just pick up tidbits here and there that tend to be more plentiful. I do a lot of Asian cooking at home, I live very close to Forest Park, and that has worked quite well for me over the years. A thread that may be of interest:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1825

This discussion would all be irrelevant if that damn Grand Mart could have stayed open on North Avenue in Melrose Park. I thought all my prayers were answered. Seemed like it was only open for a month.

Chicago Food Corp might be in a different zip code, but all things considered, either by 290 to the Kennedy, or heading straight E on side streets, it ain't that far away. Now, if you set out on going there at 3pm on a Friday, it's gonna take you some time to get there, but during smart travel times, if you can't get there in under 30 minutes, you've gotten lost. For the "few items" you need, it's really gonna depend on what the "few items" are if you are going to find them in the little grocers or not.

I'd be more than happy to discuss further on specific items you might be looking for, and if I know of a place close by to hunt for them. I grew up in the area. Again, I wish I could just say - go to Grand Mart, but it's closed.

You just happen live in a 'burb without a big Asian store. Assuming you are not willing to drive to Chinatown (not all that far), go over to Ogden, and Rt. 83 -- Whole Grain Fresh Market (was Di Ho). Stop by Katy's on the way.

(Edited after I figured out where Forest Park is.)

JeffB wrote:You just happen live in a 'burb without a big Asian store. Assuming you are not willing to drive to Chinatown (not all that far), go over to Ogden, and Rt. 83 -- Whole Grain Fresh Market (was Di Ho). Stop by Katy's on the way.

(Edited after I figured out where Forest Park is.)

My mom recently went there after her acupuncture appointment. She was appalled at how dirty and overpriced they have become. I remember shopping at Di Ho when I was little and there were fewer ethinic markets in the burbs. My mom's go to place is Tianlai in Palatine, which doesn't really help the OP.

Yikes. I have not been in a while. Thanks.

I walked into di-ho a few years ago. It had some random stuff laying around. I haven't been back. Too dingy, too pricey, the better stores are worth the effort to get to imo.

You can take the CTA green line from Forest Park to Chinatown if you don't want to drive.

gooseberry wrote:You can take the CTA green line from Forest Park to Chinatown if you don't want to drive.

The closest green line stops to Chinatown are the Roosevelt stop (a little over 1 mile away) and the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stop (2 miles away). Not much fun with a load of groceries. You'd be much better off taking the blue or green lines to the red line and getting off at the Chinatown stop. But even so, if you're stocking up on groceries you probably don't want to be taking the el.

Thanks for the train info. For me, driving 30-45 minutes to get to Hmart, Mitsuwa, or Argyle St. every couple of months is well worth it in terms of variety, fresh produce, and price. I'm near Diho but would not bother with Whole Grains market which is where I suspect the op got the her duck. The food court next door is worth visiting. Does anyone know if the food court at Hmart Naperville is open yet? It was still a work in progress last time I went. I never knew about the now defunct Asian store in MP. I love this forum.