The Asian grocery scene is definitely getting competitive in Schaumburg, with Joong Boo down the…read morestreet, Mitsuwa not too far away and H Mart opening...eventually. And yes, in case you didn't know, while it's called "International", all those nations are in Asia. We come here mainly for two things - either getting ingredients to make hot pot at home, or just eating hot pot here. They also have dry pot, which my wife and I really like as an option. You grab a basket and fill it with whatever veggies you want, then a separate one and fill it with proteins, then you pay by the weight. You can either get it hot pot style in a big bowl of hot broth, or dry pot where they cook it in the broth but serve your food already cooked. As far as the grocery selection, they have a big seafood selection and a decent butcher area. Also a lot of Asia snacks and frozen selection, and a small liquor section too. Produce is fine. But if you're making hot pot at home, they have the sliced meat, soup base, sauces, and a little frozen fish ball self-serve area. If you don't want to eat hot pot here, they serve other Asian hot dishes, and there's a bubble tea spot and bakery here, but I haven't tried anything else besides the hot pot. Sense a trend yet? It's not as big as Joong Boo, and it's bigger than the current H Mart for now but will be interesting to see how the new one compares. Overall it's a fine grocery store and we'll come back when that craving for mala spice strikes.

Our fav place for boba tea. The best around for boba drinks. The food and other grocery items are…read moreall fresh. A great place to stop in..

I was in Schaumburg and decided to check this place out because of all the TikTok hype. It's a…read morenice, smaller Asian market located down the street from the mall, with a wide array of products. The store was clean and had a good overall ambiance. Service was average--when I asked staff about a few items, it seemed like they were still getting familiar with the layout, as I was directed to the wrong areas a couple of times. In terms of pricing, I found it to be a bit higher compared to other Asian markets in the area. Nothing really stood out as exceptional or above average. Overall, if you're in the area, it's worth stopping by to check it out, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

I have been to the viral Joong Boo Market dumpling stand in Avondale and happened to be driving by…read morethis Joong Boo Market in Schaumburg. My brain wondered if they also sold the Wong Mandoo (king dumplings) and...they do! They offered all three kinds: pork & chives, kimchi & noodles, and red bean. From this store, I ordered 4 pork & chive dumplings and 4 red bean dumplings. They were generously stuffed, flavorful, and of great value for the price! The outsides are so moist and soft, the insides PACKED with japchae, pork, and chives or red bean paste, and the size is that of almost my own pumpkin sized head. The parking lot was a little interesting to navigate, with a lot of one directional driving, but there was ample parking. Having a separate entrance to the food court from the market was also interesting! I went in the market entrance, thinking that it might connect to the food court, but alas, it does not. The food court is laid out in what I believe is an efficient manner. (I'm trying to imagine what it would look like on an extremely busy day!). The space has a good number of seats (Hooray for eating dumplings inside in a Chicagoland winter!), and the staff at the dumpling stand were very friendly and efficient. The market itself had lots of options on products and my daughter is usually able to find what she is looking for for herself as well as her friends as gifts! I am grateful to have suburban access to Wang Mandoo!

It's nice that we have an Indian market in the Schaumburg/Hanover Park area, so we don't have to…read moredrive to Patel Brothers on Higgins. The biggest difference between Indian Express and Patel Bros is the size. Indian express is smaller and has less items but still has all the essentials. It's a good place to shop when you just need to pick up a few items. We've been there twice since their grand opening, and the employees are friendly, and items are still well-stocked. There is a distinct smell when you enter the market, but eventually you will get used to it. I am not sure I will stop going to Patel Bros, but I like the fact I have a market closer for any last-minute items I forgotten. Lastly, they do not have prepared hot foods (e.g. puffs, jabeli, rotis, etc.) like Patel Brothers and IndiGo.

From the owner: Fresh Grocery, Fruits, Spices and Pantry Staples, Indian Snacks, Frozen Food/ snacks and many other…read moreitems.

Definitely worth coming here in addition to Mitsuwa - they are physically a smaller store, but…read morerecently reopened to a location next to the old one due to renovations and it is just as clean, variety just as fresh, and sales are just as good. I prefer going here for the fresh cuts of various sushi fish and other seafood as they import from way more places than other Japanese grocery stores and at fair prices. The snack selection here is also unique and they have a great frozen food selection. The food court is on my list for next time as I hear it's also incredibly fresh and the staff are really knowledgable about the sushi and other menu items they serve and it's always busy on the weekends from what I used to see. Parking lot available.

We've been to Tensuke Market Food Court a couple of times over the past few years, and it feels…read morelike an underrated spot compared to the H Mart Food Court. If you're looking for quick eats while doing some Asian grocery shopping, it's definitely worth checking out. One thing I really like is that finding a table isn't difficult. They have a separate dining hall with plenty of long tables and seating, plus a free-refill miso soup station and a water station for convenience. Pricing here is noticeably lower compared to Hmart. The udon noodle soup is a family favorite, especially for our kids and moms. At Hmart, a bowl of this would run about $15-16 but here for $12.50, you get a generous bowl plus a side like two egg rolls or gyoza, and a small miso soup bowl with seaweed and tofu (you can refill the miso soup at the station). If you skip the side, you save about $1. The Godzilla roll is also a great deal--eight large pieces for about $14. My oldest loved it and was completely full from the sushi. They also offer poke bowls and chicken teriyaki rice plates, which my husband ordered during our visit. My only gripe is that many of the dishes tend to be on the salty side--they could definitely tone that down. Our udon broth tasted good, but we ended up adding some water to dilute it. They also offer discounted cooked hot and cold items--sometimes 30% to 50% off--after the dinner rush (probably after 7 PM). I picked up a large container kimchi pork soup to go for under $5 but it was also quite salty so I took most of it home, added more water and it was perfect as leftovers next day. Ordering is simple: you select your items and pay at a kiosk, enter your buzzer number, and it will vibrate when your food is ready for pickup at the counter. Eating inside a grocery store has its perks--you can grab extra snacks or drinks to customize your meal, and then browse the store afterward. Our moms and kids always enjoy coming here with us--it's definitely more fun for them than a typical grocery run. Overall, prices are reasonable and they run good deals. It's smaller than H Mart, so there are fewer options, but if you prefer a less crowded and more relaxed environment, you might actually like Tensuke better.

Wow. I found myself…read morein Arlington Heights, and my buddy suggested this place due to an upcoming trip to Japan in 2027. It's a Japanese market that features an amazing food court (and this is where I spent all my time.) I don't recall the name of the stall I purchased from. But I can tell you it was quick, not expensive and very filling. I had a bowl with beef and noodles; for dessert I hit the matcha dessert stall for some matcha and vanilla ice cream. The whole place meal me feel like I was dining outside the state of Illinois. The service from everyone in the market was very friendly and they even had a sake/soju tasting by the front door (and the vendors allowed you try was much as you wanted.) I highly recommend this spot

If you love Japanese culture, food, and want to visit a neat place and kind of feel like you are…read morevisiting Japan, you need to visit Mitsuwa! Not only is there a food court of different Japanese restaurants to try, there is also a grocery store, bakery, bookstore, and stores that sell ice cream, traditional desserts, as well as crepes and boba tea! My family and I visit here often every year and we like to try the different foods and desserts and then check out the bookstore and grocery store afterwards. My favorite foods so far have been the beef udon soup with a soft boiled egg, shrimp and vegetable tempura, miso soup, and Japanese curry with rice, beef, and vegetables (carrots and potatoes). My son always gets the chicken and beef on a stick and my daughter usually gets a garlic pork dish with white rice but I forget what this dish is called. My husband also enjoys the beef udon soup like I do. I swear that whenever my food is finished, I am legit sad! The crepes are good, there is a variety of boba teas to try, and the ice creams are delicious! Lychee has been my favorite so far but I have yet to try the matcha, red bean, among others! You can get a small sample of different ice cream flavors too, which is nice! I sampled the red bean flavor so that will be my go-to next time! At the grocery store, I love buying Happy Turn snacks which are like a sweet and salty crunchy cracker (maybe it is made of rice?) that are individually wrapped and mochi from the fridge area. Finally, I usually like to buy mochi from the store right next to the bookstore. The mochi from this location is the best! I usually buy multiple flavors to take home and eat at a later time! You must try these! My kids love checking out the bookstore and they usually pick something out for me to buy for them - whether it is a book, keychain, etc. There are magazines, anime figurines, soft plushy toys, pens, and stationary, etc. It is interesting to browse through the things they have there! You cannot bring food or drinks inside but they do have a shelf at the entrance where you can place your drink there if you like. The first time visiting here, the majority of the customers were Asians and as the years have passed, there is now more of an influx of non-Asians who simply love the food and appreciate the culture, which I think is neat! The first time I visited here was with my college roommate who was from Japan and she recommended this place back in 2009 perhaps? I have been visiting ever since with my family. We travel more than an hour from Wisconsin to come here but it is 100% worth the drive! Also, the cashiers and workers there are quick, efficient, and friendly. I have even been able to practice a few of the Japanese phrases I have learned with a couple of the cashiers too (I asked if they spoke Japanese first)! Overall, Mitsuwa is my happy place! Great food, interesting finds, different culture, and everyone there looks excited to be there. This is as close to visiting Japan as I can get until I keep learning more Japanese and save up enough money to go visit Japan someday! This is my dream! In the meantime, we will keep visiting Mitsuwa!

Uwielbiam przychodzić do tego sklepu! This is a must stop every time I'm in town so I can stock up…read moreon all the Polish goodies. I really think this place has improved over the last few years because the employees are nicer, the shelves are always stocked, and the store itself is cleaner. Their bakery items are super tasty and my family gets them for multiple occasions. I'm always happy to get some when I'm in town.

Wowzas! This place is Polish delight heaven! A Polish grocery store with all your Polish essentials…read moreand then some. Their produce selection isn't that large, but you don't go for produce. You go for their meats, they're ready to eat goods, bakery, Polish essentials, and then some! A great assortment of paczkis were available when I went (between Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday) all baked in house. Their dessert counter was also hard to ignore. Staff was friendly and they were answering whatever questions I had about all the delicious treats. Before you hit the baked goods, you have to go through their enormous deli/meats counter! Sausages for every kind of person, even non pork sausages. Are you looking for pierogi? If you go anywhere else, you're a fool because they have all kinds and are less expensive than other grocers who deem themselves as international. Polish condiments galore, tea sets, and even Polish periodicals. We really enjoyed picking up some great Polish goodies that are hard to find. It's bustling and clean. While much of the staff speak Polish, they also have many English speakers to help the non-Polish folks (ehem, me) out. I, luckily, had the other half of the Polishstinian to help me order my kabanos of veal. It's lively and certainly a stacked grocer to get all your needs for a great Polish breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Clean, organized Asian store in Elgin with a nice variety of of produce, canned and other packaged…read moregroceries. Their prices are very reasonable. The location is very convenient if you're in the far west suburbs and don't want to drive to Naperville, Schaumburg or Chicago for your Asian grocery needs. They'll have 80% of what you may need.

This is a solid Vietnamese - Thai market offering everything you might need in the way of feted and…read morefermented jungle-delicacies, like dried lily-flower, dehydrated salt-cured plant chunks, any sauce with fish juice in it, and every leaf or green that can't grow anywhere near Chicago. Boy was I elated when I found this place. It's gamy here, and a little rundown, with prices around 20% higher than in Los Angeles (where I used to live). But otherwise, shop here - this place is SE Asian Food Supply Perfection.

I stopped in to pick up some seasonings for a dish I wanted to try. I got sidetracked by the smell…read moreof pre-cooked foods to go, like samosas, samosa puffs and veggie spring rolls. The desserts looked good. The aisles were a little confusing to me and I stood at the food counter for several minutes before anyone even asked if I needed help. The samosas were tasty. The spring roll was too spicy for my tastes and a little greasy. On the weekends, the parking lot here can be challenging. Apparently, not everyone seems to understand ONE WAY parking lanes here, as I have seen people drive the wrong way towards me as I was trying to exit. If I return, it definitely will be a on a slower weekday!

my husband got Methi leaves yesterday. bunches are yellow, stale. They are not fresh at all and…read morecompletely unusable for cooking. For a fresh produce item, this is unacceptable. I had to throw away a most of the portion. Waste of time cleaning it. Why are you selling this bad quality of produce?

This little grocery gets five stars just for their selection of kimchi alone. Prices are average,…read moreand service was okay. Clean, with a good variety of goods. Thumbs up.

Reiterating what I reviewed a long time ago, Seoul Supermarket is a great Asian grocer. They have a…read morevery large selection of all sorts of foods - fresh, frozen, cooked. I mentioned in my prior review how good their chicken wings are. We got several dozen for a party we held recently and they were every bit as good as ever. The wings are always loved by people at our parties and there are never any leftovers even though we always buy too many. They are like potato chips - you can't eat just one. :)

Warning: Expert level love of exotic ethnic foods required…read more I've only had authentic Nigerian cuisine at one other location- love it, been there many times. I seek it out. Bomie is an international grocery /restaurant. I think there were 3 tables. I had the ayamashe, take out. Super spicy as expected; Gave me the face sweats with 5 min flat. Super good. Served stewed with bones, and all the yummy bits- yum. Sweet fried plantains were good too. Saving the meat pie app it came with for lunch for tomorrow. I wish them luck. When I moved to mchenry county a few years back, I noticed a major lack of good unique ethnic foods. I hope that changes soon. ill be back. Much more I want to try here.

Best African grocery store and restaurant in northern surburb in Chicago.read more