The noodle isle at Chang Jiang Market
When it comes to finding Chinese ingredients, New Yorkers have no shortage of options. In fact, if you’re not familiar with the language and the food, shopping for specific spices and specialty items can be downright intimidating.
Ava McAlpin at Serious Eats went on a mission to find the best places to find everything from lotus root to oyster sauce. More than a dozen markets made the cut, but if you’re looking for a one-stop shop, head to Chang Jiang Market in Flushing. McAlpin gave the store gold stars for the quality of its spices, noodle selection, sauces, and vegetable freshness.
If you’re looking for a wide selection [of wheat noodles], your best bet is to head to Chang Jiang Market in Flushing, which has a whole long aisle devoted to different kinds of dried wheat noodles. They also stock fresh noodles made by Twin Marquis and Wonton Specialist, with 12 ounce packages selling for $1.29.
The market also has great deals on vegetables. McAlpin notes that sometimes its best to take a picture of what you’re looking for because often the Westerns names for vegetables are incorrect.
Shanghai bok choy, which has bright green leaves and light-green tinged bulb, is the kind most Western markets, such as Whole Foods sells. It is $0.79/lb at Hong Kong Supermarket in Manhattan or $0.49/lb at Chang Jiang Market in Queens, as opposed to $1.99/lb at Whole Foods. It also looked fresher at the Chinese markets than the wilted bulbs I saw at the Whole Foods on East Houston Street recently.
Try these authentic Chinese recipes!
Chang Jiang Market
4141 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11335
