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    Home » Plant-based Living

    What should I buy at an Asian market? H-Mart, Ranch 99 Vegan Grocery Haul

    Published: Sep 15, 2021 · Modified: Apr 12, 2022 by Abi Cowell · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases · See my privacy policy linked in footer · This blog uses cookies

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    What should I buy at an Asian grocery store? There's endless choices. Here are my top products that I always stock up on when I go to H Mart, Ranch 99 or other Asian markets. Get ready for our vegan, plant-based grocery haul!

    Jump to:
    • Get Printable Grocery List for your Asian Market!
    • 🥬 Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs
    • 🍲 Tofu
    • 🍜 Noodles
    • 🍚 Rice and Grains
    • 🥫 Condiments and Sauces
    • Why shop at an Asian market?
    • Get Free Printable Grocery List for your Asian Market!
    • 💜 More recipes you'll love

    Hopefully, you have an Asian grocery store, like H Mart or Ranch 99, that you can shop at nearby. If you don't or can't find these products at your shop, I will link to similar products on Amazon.

    I've made an effort here to list products that may be difficult to find at a standard grocery store, but are usually stocked at an Asian Market. Of course, your market may be different than the one I shop at.

    There's no possible way for me to list all the amazing products gracing the shelves at my local H-Mart or Ranch 99. These are the highlights and the products I typically stock up on when I shop there that suit a vegan, plant-based way of eating. I hope you find countless delights at your Asian market! Explore, have fun and broaden your taste buds!

    Get Printable Grocery List for your Asian Market!

    List of plant-based, vegan favorites & blank grocery list

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      🥬 Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs

      Gai Lan - Chinese Broccoli

      Chinese broccoli (gai lan) tastes similar to American broccoli, with a slightly more bitter flavor. Rather than florets, this vegetable is harvested in stalks with large leaves. If they have young gai lan, it is more tender, get it!

      Boiled Chinese broccoli with vegetarian oyster sauce is a simple but oh-so-delicious 2-ingredient vegetable side.

      Bok Choy & Greens

      There are so many different varieties of dark leafy greens to choose from. Try a new one each time you go!

      Napa Cabbage

      Japanese sweet potatoes (aka Korean yams)

      If you're not a fan of yams/orange sweet potatoes, try Korean yams aka Japanese sweet potatoes, which have purple skin and white flesh. They have a different flavor and maybe you'll like them!

      Mung bean sprouts

      Fresh mushrooms

      So many kinds!! Oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, baby portobello mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, beech mushrooms.

      Peppers - sweet or hot

      Thai chili peppers, Korean shishito peppers, bell peppers

      Delicious in season fruit

      Donut peaches, Korean pears, persimmons, lychees, rambutan, oh my!

      Dragon fruit, mango, fresh jackfruit, durian (not that I've tried it, but it's there!)

      Peeled garlic

      Fresh, already peeled garlic makes my life soooooo much easier in the kitchen. I find the Asian market has really good quality peeled garlic that stays fresher longer in the refrigerator than the peeled garlic I see at my standard grocery store.

      Fresh ginger

      Fresh Thai/Taiwan Basil

      For spring rolls, vermicelli bowls and Thai basil stir-fry

      Also, other herbs that may be challenging to find normally, but you need for a dish.

      Green onions/scallions

      Lemongrass

      Curry leaves

      Kefir lime leaves

      Canned young green jackfruit packed in water/brine

      If you want to use the jackfruit to make vegan pulled pork or vegan shredded chicken, then make sure to get the young green jackfruit packed in water. Don't get the ripe jackfruit in juice/syrup. Two totally different flavors and the later will not work for what you want to use it for.

      Canned bamboo shoots

      Bamboo shoots are delicious for adding to stir-fry and soup.

      Canned sliced water chestnuts

      Water chestnuts have a lovely crunchy, mild flavor and are great for adding to lettuce wrap filling with tofu and mushrooms. Or, add them to stir-fry.

      Dried shiitake mushrooms (whole & powdered)

      I usually buy a bag of dried shiitake mushrooms for adding to soup broths.

      Also, shiitake mushroom powder is AMAZING as an instant umami boost to soups, stir-fry, fried rice, gravies and more. Highly recommend it.

      Nori

      Sushi nori is great to have on hand to make your own sushi rolls at home.

      Wakame seaweed

      Wakame seaweed is the small pieces of seaweed in miso soup. So, if you'd like to make your own miso soup at home, you'll need some! A little goes a long way, because when it rehydrates it grows really big. So, a small bag will do.

      Seaweed snacks

      Toasted seaweed snacks (in small containers) are perfect for eating with plant-based poke bowls. They have a small amount of oil in them, so if you are completely oil-free, then choose an alternative seaweed option.

      Dulse flakes

      Dulse is a type of seaweed and you can find it in small flakes sometimes at the Asian market. It will impart a hint of ocean or seafood taste to your dish without overpowering it. It is also a good source of iodine.

      Dulse flakes are useful in making vegan ceviche, vegan paella, vegan gumbo and other recipes that would traditionally have seafood in them.

      Kombu seaweed

      Kombu seaweed comes in big sheets. You can add a 4x4 inch section of it to a big pot of beans to make them easier to digest. (Remove it after they are tender)

      Kombu seaweed is also key in making miso soup broth, in addition to the wakame seaweed.

      • Vegan Ceviche Tostadas with Heart of Palm and Avocado
      • Vegan Summer Rolls with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
      • 5-Minute Lemon Pepper Asparagus (oil-free)
      • Vegan Poke Bowl with Sweet Soy Ginger Dressing

      🍲 Tofu

      We buy pretty much two kinds of tofu, after using several kinds over the years. You can find both as most Asian grocery stores.

      We prefer buying organic soy products, so we look for organic tofu, since it's made from organic and non-gmo soybeans.

      Organic Extra Firm Tofu

      Extra firm tofu doesn't require as much pressing and retains it's shape well when baked, air fried or pan-seared. Great for sandwiches, stir-fry, rice bowls, spring rolls, noodle bowls and snacking.

      • Sweet Chili Air Fryer Tofu
      • Vegan Banh Mi Sandwiches with Sweet Chili Air Fryer Tofu
      • Ginger Garlic Lime Baked Tofu
      • Vegan Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches with Baked Tofu

      Organic Silken Tofu

      Firm silken tofu is soft and delicate. It is smooth and creamy and perfect for sauces (like homemade tofu sour cream or vegan mayo) and desserts (like pumpkin pie). The silken tofu sour cream can be used to make creamy dips like vegan spinach artichoke dip.

      I prefer to buy the brand Morinu silken tofu in bulk, as it's in shelf-stable containers. Silken tofu can also be found in the refrigerated section.

      • Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie
      • Vegan Tofu Sour Cream
      • Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip (dairy-free)
      • Vegan Miracle Whip Substitute (fat-free, egg-free mayo)

      🍜 Noodles

      Rice noodles

      Rice noodles come in a wide variety of widths and sizes. It can be overwhelming, in fact! Here's the ones I reach for at the Asian market.

      • Wide rice noodles, for making stir-fry noodle dishes, such as chow fun or pad see ew
      • Flat pad thai rice noodles (similar to Italian linguini in width)
      • Thick rice vermicelli that has a spaghetti-style thickness - these can be used for filling spring rolls, stir-fry noodle dishes, soups
      • Thin rice vermicelli that has an angel hair-style thickness - these are great for filling spring rolls, soups

      Rice paper wrappers

      Pick up a package of rice paper wrappers for making spring rolls! You may find that you like the square ones, or mini ones that may be available. So, explore all of them to see which size will work best for you.

      Mung bean vermicelli noodles

      Mung bean vermicelli noodles are very thin, long noodles and only require soaking in hot water for 3 minutes to be edible. They are also called glass noodles, since they become transparent when cooked.

      They are lightning fast to make and are perfect for filling fresh spring rolls or for making deconstructed spring roll bowls with peanut sauce.

      To use mung bean vermicelli noodles for stir-fry, soak in hot water for 1.5-2 minutes, then stir fry to finish cooking.

      Korean sweet potato starch noodles

      Sweet potato starch noodles are also called "glass noodles" and are using to make the Korean dish japchae.

      Sweet potato starch noodles are suitable for those who are gluten-free and also for those who are allergic to grains and beans, since they are made with sweet potato starch only. This noodle has that lovely chewy noodle texture, while also being grain-free, legume-free, egg-free, wheat-free and gluten-free.

      Fresh noodles

      In addition to the plethora of dried noodles, the H-Mart here in Houston has a huge selection of fresh noodles of all types.

      Frozen udon noodles

      You can certainly find dry or cooked shelf-stable udon noodles, as well. But, I've found the best texture from the frozen udon noodles I find at H-Mart. Look for "Japanese style udon noodles".

      Use frozen udon noodles by defrosting them in some hot water for a few minutes. Then, stir fry with vegetables or add to udon noodle soup.

      Frozen vegetable dumplings

      You will be dizzy with options of vegetable dumplings in the freezer section.

      Have fun exploring and then pick one to try for those nights when you need a quick and easy meal. Steaming or boiling your dumplings are the healthiest choices for preparation.

      Frozen dumpling wrappers

      Homemade dumpling wrappers are best. But, store-bought dumpling wrappers work well when you don't have hours or lots of people willing to help to prepare homemade.

      There are lots of varieties of dumpling wrappers available at H-Mart. I typically buy the "Northern Style" dumpling wrappers by Twin Marquis.

      To use frozen dumpling wrappers to make homemade dumplings, allow them to defrost in the refrigerator and keep them covered while wrapping your dumplings so they don't dry out.

      Frozen egg roll wrappers

      You'll also find frozen egg roll wrappers at your Asian market, most likely. If you're vegan, look for Nasoya brand egg roll wrappers, which don't have any egg in them. Other brands may also be vegan, egg-free, so be sure to check the ingredient list.

      • Sesame Noodles (vegan)
      • Vegan Summer Rolls with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

      🍚 Rice and Grains

      Jasmine Rice

      White or brown jasmine rice is usually available from several different brands. I look for the ones that say "New Crop" and usually buy the 25 pound or even 50 pound bag! They have it in smaller bags, also, so don't fret, haha.

      Jasmine rice is my #1 favorite rice for it's lovely aroma and taste. It's what I'll make to serve with stir-fry, teriyaki bowls or rice bowls.

      Sushi rice

      White or brown sushi rice in lots of varieties and brands is available! I like the Kokuho brand, in a white and pink bag.

      Whole grain millet

      Millet is a delicious whole grain that is naturally gluten-free. It may be difficult to find at standard grocery stores, but you can usually find it at an Asian market.

      Multigrain rice

      Specifically, Korean multigrain rice. This multigrain "rice" actually has rices and a variety of other whole grains mixed together. It usually has black rice mixed in, also. So, when you make it it'll have a lovely purple color to it. Delicious!

      To make multigrain rice in your Instant Pot, combine equal parts water and rice (3 cups rinsed rice and 3 cups water, for instance) in your Instant Pot. Add a pinch of salt. Cover with lid, set vent to "sealing", then press "Multigrain" and set for 20 minutes. All to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release the pressure and enjoy!

      Black rice (Forbidden rice)

      Black rice is a lovely and delicious whole grain rice (like brown rice) that cooks up into a deep purple color. You can find black rice at your Asian market - and often cheaper than at other stores!

      Red rice

      Red rice is another beautiful variety of whole grain rice (like brown rice) that is usually available at Asian grocery stores.

      Thai sticky sweet rice

      Thai sticky sweet rice, aka glutinous rice. It doesn't actually contain gluten. They are referring to the fact that it's a sticky rice.

      If you've ever had sticky rice with mango as a dessert at a Thai restaurant, this is the type of rice that is used to make that dessert!

      Oat groats

      Oat groats are whole grain oats that have not been cut, like in steel cut oats or rolled, like in old fashioned rolled oats.

      They can be cooked up like brown rice and eaten as a grain. Or, they can be cooked down into more of a chewy porridge, although they maintain their shape and texture well. So, they will not cook down as much as rolled oats or steel cut.

      If you're looking to lose weight on a plant-based diet, then eating less processed foods, especially whole grains (like these oat groats) vs. refined grains, will keep you full and satisfied longer for less calories. On top of that, they are incredibly healthy for your gut!

      • Vegan Poke Bowl with Sweet Soy Ginger Dressing
      • Instant Pot Red Kidney Beans and Rice (no soak, vegan)

      In addition to all of these above, you'll find countless other interesting grains and rices to experiment with. You may very well find a new favorite! There's a huge world out there beyond long grain white rice. It's time to enjoy it.

      🥫 Condiments and Sauces

      When exploring new sauces (there are tons!) at an Asian market, be sure to read the label to check for ingredients that you choose not to eat.

      For example, we try our best to stay away from products with animal products, seafood products, MSG and high fructose corn syrup. So, reading the labels will help you determine if that sauce or condiment has something you'd prefer not to eat in it.

      Soy sauce (light soy sauce)

      Pearl River Bridge Superior Light soy sauce is the best soy sauce we’ve had. Highly recommend it!

      Light soy sauce is the soy sauce you are most likely familiar with, that you'd find on tables at a Chinese restaurant.

      Dark soy sauce

      Dark soy sauce is much more intense in flavor and color than light soy sauce and cannot be substituted for each other. They have different uses in cooking.

      A little goes a long way with dark soy sauce. I use it to intensify umami flavors and to darken in color sautéed soy curls, mushrooms or a noodle sauce.

      The two dark soy sauces I keep on hand are:

      • Pearl River Bridge Superior Dark soy sauce
      • Pearl River Bridge Superior Mushroom-flavored dark soy sauce

      Rice vinegar

      Plain, unseasoned rice vinegar has no added sugar or salt. It can be used in salad dressings, for making quick pickled carrots or any other recipe where you'd like a light vinegar. It may say "sugar-free, sodium-free".

      Seasoned rice vinegar has added sugar and salt. It can be used, as is, to flavor cooked sushi rice, so it has that characteristic flavor. Watch the ingredients here and be sure to get a seasoned rice vinegar that uses sugar, not corn syrup.

      Seasoned rice vinegar mixed with soy sauce makes a nice, quick dressing for a veggie poke bowl, if you don't have time to make a more in depth dressing like this sweet soy ginger dressing.

      I usually buy the Marukan brand for both of these vinegars.

      • Vegan Poke Bowl with Sweet Soy Ginger Dressing
      • Sweet Soy Ginger Dressing (oil-free, vegan)
      • Quick Pickled Carrots

      Black vinegar

      Chinese black vinegar takes your dumpling dipping sauce to another level. I also recently found out that our favorite Japanese restaurant uses black vinegar, along with mirin and soy sauce to make their yaki udon stir-fried noodle dish. So, I'll be experimenting with that!

      Look for Chinkiang Vinegar at the store, it will look black like balsamic.

      Vegetarian Oyster Sauce

      Vegetarian oyster sauce is made with mushrooms, instead of seafood. Watch the ingredient list for items you may not be able to eat.

      Vegetarian oyster sauce is so good on boiled Chinese broccoli!

      Many Chinese or Asian recipes call for oyster sauce, like fried rice, udon noodle stir fry and others. This vegetarian oyster sauce makes a fantastic substitution for those recipes.

      Sweet chili sauce

      Sweet chili sauce is a main ingredient in my sweet chili tofu. We also use sweet chili sauce for dipping sauce for spring rolls. My son loves to eat rice with sweet chili sauce. It's a staple in our house, for sure.

      • Sweet Chili Air Fryer Tofu
      • Vegan Banh Mi Sandwiches with Sweet Chili Air Fryer Tofu

      Mirin

      Mirin is a Japanese sweet cooking wine. When purchasing mirin, look for a brand that uses sugar, not high fructose corn syrup.

      If you don't have mirin for a recipe, you can substitute a sweetener, like cane sugar, honey or maple syrup, but it will lack flavor.

      Mirin is key to my sesame noodles recipe.

      • Sesame Noodles (vegan)

      Sriracha

      Sriracha or rooster sauce, by now, is common in many grocery stores. But, you can also find it at your Asian market. You'll find it next to a slew of other hot sauces that you may even like better, so check them all out.

      • Vegan Summer Rolls with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
      • Sesame Noodles (vegan)

      Chili garlic sauce

      Chili garlic sauce is used to increase the spiciness and heat of any dish, especially those that are Asian-inspired.

      Miso paste

      Miso paste is fermented, so excellent for gut health! It is salty, so be sure to taste the recipe first, if possible, if using miso paste. You may not need to add as much sea salt.

      Miso adds depth of flavor, umami and salt to any dish you add it to. I use it in my Fauxveeta vegan cheese sauce and vegan tofu feta cheese to amp up the flavor.

      • Fauxveeta Vegan Cheese Sauce
      • Beta Feta (Vegan Tofu Feta)

      Thai curry pastes

      Thai curry paste is essential if you enjoy making curries at home. There are many different curry pastes to choose from, but some may contain animal products. So be sure to check the ingredients.

      The Maesri brand clearly marks their products with "100% vegan", which is super helpful. They have at least six vegan options: Karee (yellow) curry paste, Panang curry paste, Masaman curry paste, Green curry paste, Red curry paste and Prik Khing curry paste.

      Gochujang paste

      Spicy Korean gochujang paste is almost always vegan, but double-check ingredients, to be sure. This smooth, spicy paste is made with brown rice, sweetener, spicy Korean chili flakes (gochugaru) and other seasonings.

      Gochujang paste can be used to heat up vegetables, noodles, rice dishes, tofu and more.

      Shaoxing cooking wine

      Shaoxing cooking wine is used in fried rice dishes and other Chinese dishes to deglaze pans or add depth of flavor. If you omit it when trying to make an authentic Chinese dish at home, it will be lacking "something".

      Sesame seeds

      Sesame seeds come a few different ways. You can buy plain raw sesame seeds, toasted sesame seeds and black sesame seeds.

      Toasted sesame seeds have that lovely sesame flavor to them, like toasted sesame oil. If you are oil-free, then try adding some toasted sesame seeds to a dish that calls for toasted sesame oil.

      If you have raw sesame seeds and want to toast them, then just add some to a dry skillet and toast them for a few minutes, until they are fragrant and lightly brown.

      Kala Namak

      Kala namak aka Indian black salt has a sulphur-like taste and smell. Why would one want to buy such a thing? Well, that characteristic in the salt can make dishes you add it to taste like eggs. So, you'll get an egg-y taste without adding eggs themselves.

      This is very useful for tofu scramble, vegan omelettes made of chickpea flour (besan), vegan frittata, vegan pasta carbonara (OMG, so good), etc. You get the idea. Pick some up for your vegan kitchen experiments.

      • Eggy Tofu Scramble Seasoning with Black Salt

      Nanami Togarashi

      Japanese 7-spice, nanami togarashi, adds heat and flavor to soups, rice bowls and more.

      Furikake

      Furikake is a Japanese rice seasoning. There are many different flavors and some have fish flakes or other ingredients added that wouldn't be suitable for a vegan, plant-based diet. Look at the ingredients list for the one that just contains seaweed, sesame seeds, salt and sugar.

      Pickled Sushi Ginger

      Pickled ginger is great to keep on hand for late night sushi cravings! It is also delicious mixed into a veggie poke bowl.

      Vegan fish sauce

      Unfortunately, I can't really recommend a good brand for vegan fish sauce, but have seen several options.

      Chili oil

      On the rare occasion that I make Chinese dumplings, I also make my special dumpling sauce. It's essential for me to enjoy dumplings and it's something I learned early on when our family would frequent Ta Hua in Houston. Sadly, the restaurant is no longer here. But, my love of dumplings remains.

      Chili oil, along with soy sauce, loads of fresh ginger, sweet chili sauce (or duck sauce) and a little mirin or rice vinegar is my dumpling sauce. If there's hot mustard or pickled minced jalapeños on the table, those may be added, too.

      Of course, chili oil can be used for other uses to spice things up. A little goes a long way, it's hot!

      Toasted sesame oil

      Sesame oil is one of those ingredients that packs a huge punch when using just a little bit. Be sure to get toasted sesame oil for that signature flavor and aroma you're expecting.

      • Sweet Soy Ginger Dressing (oil-free, vegan)
      • Fauxveeta Vegan Cheese Sauce
      • Quick Pickled Carrots
      • Sweet Chili Air Fryer Tofu

      Why shop at an Asian market?

      It's like taking a day trip to another country. Here, you'll find all kinds of new, exciting foods and products that have been imported from around the world.

      You can easily spend loads of time just exploring and reading and having fun learning about the food cultures of other countries.

      On top of that incredible cultural experience, many of the ingredients are often less expensive than you'll find in your neighborhood grocery store.

      And, the variety will most definitely be wider.

      Get Free Printable Grocery List for your Asian Market!

      Haul of plant-based, vegan favorites & blank grocery list

        We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

        💜 More recipes you'll love

        • 4-Ingredient Peanut Dipping Sauce for Spring Rolls

        If you're wondering what some of the condiments are and how to use them, I cannot recommend the folks at The Woks of Life more. They make Chinese food accessible and easy to understand. And, they have a glossary of terms that explain what different sauces are and what they're used for.

        More Plant-based Living

        • Results of 10-Day Potato Diet
        • Going plant-based vegan when your family is not on board
        • Tips for Dining Out and Traveling on a Plant-based or Vegan Diet
        • Simple Plant-based Meal Ideas and Cooking Tips

        About Abi Cowell

        Hey y'all! I’m the plant-based food blogger, recipe developer, photographer and cooking class instructor behind Very Veganish. Join me as we explore and taste incredible plant-based food, with cultural influences from around the world. You’ll find healthy comfort food vegan recipes and inspiration here. When I'm not cooking, you'll find me homeschooling my two boys, volunteering and trying to survive the Texas summers with copious glasses of iced tea.

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