By Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

As a cooking instructor, I’m always on the hunt for the best Asian markets and there’s a core of really good ones in South Florida. Here are my five “go to” places offering everything from Chinese and Korean to Filipino and Indian. Depending on the place, they sell seasonings, sauces, prepared foods, fresh produce, fresh fish, meats, baked goods, frozen dim sum and in some cases even a place to eat in. My motto is to always eat first, then shop, so I’ve mentioned nearby restaurants to make your shopping experience even more enjoyable! With the growing interest in Asian cuisine, these markets are continually updating their inventory to offer the latest and greatest ingredients so they are places you’ll want to return to.  Read on until the end for a good deal on her terrific Wok Star Kit.

Kimchi Mart

15355 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL  (305) 964-5083

11230 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026 (754) 217-4919

2420 North Dixie Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 (754) 210-7965

2693 N. University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065 (954) 688-9437

Open 7 days, 9am-9pm

Kicking off the list of best Asian markets, Kimchi Mart started in Miami and expanded to three more stores in Broward. Their flagship store in Hollywood features an amazing Korean Town section with food booths serving freshly cooked dishes. The highlight of these stores is, of course, their namesake, kimchi.

Kimchi is a traditional Korean staple and eaten daily. It’s a pre and probiotic, great for gut health. Kimchi uses a fermentation process, the most common is of course Napa Cabbage but you can “kimchi” other vegetables like cucumber, carrots, more hardy vegetables. I’ve tried making kimchi a few times, it’s a lot of work and a whole cabbage probably shrinks down to one jar. I just buy it now.

They offer a wide variety of ready-made foods like kimchi tofu and banchan (Korean BBQ side dishes). These make great lunch options, though they might be a bit strong for office lunches. They also have fresh produce, though the selection is smaller.

Ifresh Market

551 NE 167th street, North Miami Beach, FL 33162. 305-705-2938

Open 9am-9pm

Located on the corner of a strip mall with ample free parking, this is my favorite Asian market in Miami. It’s the largest, very clean, organized, and offers a wide selection. Expect a common fish smell as you enter, and find a fresh meat counter. They stock a variety of Asian vegetables like snow pea tips, fruits like Ya Ya Pears, and some Western ones make it a one stop shop.

You’ll find aisles of SE Asian seasonings, sauces, spices, rices, noodles, snacks, and Chinese herbal teas. The back walls feature Chinese sausages (my favorite is Kam Yen Jan) and a large variety of tofus including konjac noodles. The wall-to-wall freezers have popular dim sum items, my favorite brand is Wei Chuan, they use good ingredients. Their dumplings, wontons, potstickers, buns are the best, like the real deal you get in Chinese restaurants at a quarter the price! They sell bamboo steamers (so you can steam your own dim sum!), Asian crockery, and utensils. There are floor freezers with specialty meats  and thinly sliced meats for Chinese hotpot or Japanese Shabu Shabu.

I recommend starting at Land N’Sea outside Ifresh Market. You can order roast duck, pork, ribs, soy chicken on rice, fried rice, or my favorite, duck noodle soup and eat at the picnic benches. They also offer Cajun seafood options.

Mango Tree (formerly FoodTown)

6431 Stirling Road, Davie, FL 33314. (954) 797-7790

7am – 11pm except Sunday, close at 10pm

This is an enormous international supermarket, not just Asian. Foodies will love spending a couple of hours here. Since it’s a long drive for Miamians, make it a day trip. Chefs come every weekend. You’ll find aisles dedicated to Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more. Huge freezers are stocked with foods from all over.  You can purchase fresh fish there and have the food court cook it on the spot. The fresh produce section includes rare ethnic items, and the Chinese cake section is a must-see. It gets busy on weekends, so try to visit on weekdays.

This area is a treasure trove of Asian dining options. Pho 79, a Vietnamese restaurant, 545 Banh Mi Cafe, “grab and go”, you can eat there, desserts are outrageous, my fav is Banh Da Lon, a Vietnamese steamed layered cake, infused with pandan leaves, coconut milk, and mung beans. Must buy to take home, you won’t regret it! Next is Ma Ma Tofu & More serving Vietnamese street and snack food, MaMa Ya Tai Donuts is decorated with pretty, hanging pink blossoms, every kind of mochi donuts to satisfy your cravings. Go hungry!

More Asian Markets Miami

Patel Brothers

3428 North University Drive, Sunrise, FL 33351

(954) 742-3004

10am-8pm daily

I adore Indian food, and this store feels like you’re in India, with wonderful spice aromas filling the air. Shelves are stocked with chana, chapati, chili powders, and addictive Indian snacks like Bombay mix. Their ready made section of fresh naan, Indian food, desserts, and Indian ice cream are very tempting. They carry Indian vegetables like bhindi(okra) and Indian bitter melon. I like how they post nutritional information above popular vegetables, which is quite helpful. They even sell Indian cookware like the kahari.

For this eat and shop stop, we traveled a bit north to Gaboze, which Koreans insist is the best.

Pampanguena

18623 SW 107th Ave Miami, FL 33157 (305) 278-0560

Open Tuesday;through Sunday from 9am-5:30pm except Sunday close at 4pm.

Rounding out the best Asian markets is quite a  find! This wonderful Filipino market in South Miami offers everything Filipino, including fresh produce, popular pastries, and ice creams. The neatly stocked shelves are filled with all the Filipino dried goods you can think of. The best part is meeting Mimi, the friendly co-owner, who explained all the dishes in the buffet and helped me choose lunch. There’s a small dining area with four tables in the back where Chef Dominique cooks fresh Filipino food daily for dine-in or takeout. They also have daily specials with savory and sweet options like Bilo Bilo and my husband’s favorite, Halo Halo, which isn’t too sweet. You’ll have to visit to find out what’s in both!

So, this is a two-for-one where you can eat and shop!

And hot news flash! Eleanor is offering her terrific Wok Star Kit at a special price, from $255 to $215. I’ve had one for years and use it all the time. It’s perfect to make all the great products you’ll buy at the markets! For more information go to Wok Star Kit

About Wok Star Eleanor Hoh:

Wok Star Eleanor Hoh is a food personality, writer and brand spokesperson. She produces the popular Wok Star Supper Club, an on-going dinner series visiting Asian Fusion restaurants.  Her Wok Star Kit and no-recipe cooking method have helped hundreds become Wok Stars worldwide! Sign up for newsletters at eleanorhoh.com and follow her culinary adventures on Instagram @wokstar