US Grocery Stores: Where to Shop and What to Expect
A guide to American supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, and online grocery options — so you can find everything you need.
Last updated: March 1, 2026
Grocery shopping in the US can feel very different from China. Stores are larger, layouts vary, and some familiar ingredients may be hard to find at mainstream supermarkets. Here's how to navigate it all.
Major supermarket chains
Common Supermarkets
Lowest prices for basics. Huge selection including household items. Quality varies. Available almost everywhere.
Regional chains with good quality and weekly sales. Sign up for their free loyalty card — it makes a big difference in price.
Smaller store, unique house-brand products, affordable prepared meals. Great frozen food section. Students love it.
Higher quality, organic focus, higher prices. Amazon Prime members get discounts. Good for specialty items.
Bulk buying — requires $65/year membership. Amazing value for meat, produce, and household goods. Best with a car and a friend to split bulk items.
Budget-friendly, smaller selection, surprisingly good quality. Bring your own bags and a quarter for the cart.
💡Download each store's app for digital coupons and weekly ads. Prices can differ by 30-50% between stores for the same product. A little planning saves a lot of money.
Asian grocery stores
For Chinese cooking ingredients, you'll want to find your nearest Asian supermarket. These carry soy sauce, doubanjiang, Lao Gan Ma, fresh tofu, Chinese vegetables, noodles, dumplings, and much more.
- H Mart — Korean-owned but carries many Chinese ingredients. Widespread across the US.
- 99 Ranch Market (大华超市) — The largest Chinese supermarket chain. Mostly in California, Texas, and the East Coast.
- GW Supermarket (大中华超市) — Common in the Mid-Atlantic region.
- Patel Brothers — Indian grocery, but great for rice, spices, and lentils at low prices.
- Local Asian markets — search Google Maps for 'Asian grocery' or 'Chinese supermarket' near you.
💡If there's no Asian grocery store nearby, Yamibuy (亚米网) and Weee! deliver Asian groceries online to most US addresses. Many items are the same brands you'd find in China.
Online grocery shopping
- Instacart — delivers from Costco, Kroger, Aldi, and more. Great when you don't have a car.
- Amazon Fresh / Whole Foods delivery — free delivery for Prime members on orders over $35.
- Walmart Grocery — order online, pick up in store for free, or get delivery.
- Weee! — Asian grocery delivery, often has free delivery promotions for new users.
Money-saving tips
- Buy store-brand (generic) products — usually 20-40% cheaper, same quality
- Shop the weekly sale flyer and stock up when prices are low
- Buy produce that's in season — much cheaper and tastes better
- Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh and much cheaper
- Split a Costco membership and bulk items with roommates or friends
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