Super H (Fairfax, VA)

Super H is every gourmet chef’s dream.  By offering multicultural foods such as Plantains, Yucca, Fish sauce, Dried Mushrooms, Asian Cilantro, Red Bean Paste, Soft Tofu, and a variety of different Spinaches, Super H quickly gained a reputation among Asians and Hispanics alike.  For those who traditionally shop at Safeway or Giant, Super H will be a revelation.  It has every American vegetable and then-some, fresh and well-priced seafood (Asians like to buy their fish still swimming), and excellent quality meats.  Our favorite section is where the vendors sell Korean snacks such as Duk Bok Ki (white rice cakes with chili paste) and Kim Bop (vegetables, beef, and rice rolled in dried seaweed).  It reminds one of us of our childhood when we sat and waited for local vendors to come by and sell these delicacies –the Korean equivalent of the Good Humor man. If shopping with your kids, stop there first! Whether dining in, carrying out, or simply shopping for hard-to-find ingredients, this supermarket has every aspect of a good shopping experience covered.

Lotte (Fairfax, VA)

With everyone on a tight schedule these days, finding a small and local, one-stop-shop supermarket can really make a person’s life easier.  So, we found one for you.  If you’re in a time crunch, and only have about one hour to shop for two weeks worth of food, this is the perfect place.  All major ingredients for Asian cuisines can be found here, along with all the basic American essentials such as Bread, Bacon, Cheese, and Milk.  It can get pretty crowded here on weekends, so be prepared for some organized chaos.  But prices are good and that’s what draws the crowds.