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Imported Goods And Homeland Vibes: Your Favorite Ethnic Markets In Los Angeles

The well-renowned Bangkok Market, located in Los Angeles, is a longtime supermarket for retail and wholesale Thai produce, spices, chili pastes and household products.
Doriane Raiman for NPR
The well-renowned Bangkok Market, located in Los Angeles, is a longtime supermarket for retail and wholesale Thai produce, spices, chili pastes and household products.

Last week, the L.A. Times’ Jamie Feldmar wrote an ode to the Armenian-owned international grocery store chain Super King, whose stores distinguish themselves with their deals and ability to cater to the neighborhoods in which they’re based.

Last week, the L.A. Times’ Jamie Feldmar wrote an ode to the Armenian-owned international grocery store chain Super King, whose stores distinguish themselves with their deals and ability to cater to the neighborhoods in which they’re based. 

This got us thinking about so-called “ethnic markets,” which often cater to a specific immigrant community, importing goods from the home country and preserving a certain cultural vibe within its grocery aisles. And what better place to talk ethnic markets than L.A., which houses so many immigrant communities and caters to them all. 

Whether it be the Russian delis on Fairfax in West Hollywood, a 99 Ranch in San Gabriel Valley or a tiny grocery mart in Little Ethiopia, we want to hear from you. What are the ethnic markets that you grew up with? And that you still frequent (and potentially brave traffic for) today? What goods or vibes are you seeking out there? 

Call us at 866-893-5722.   

Guests:

Quincy Surasmith, digital assistant producer for the KPCC In Person team; he tweets

Esther Tseng, freelance food writer, who’s writing has appeared in various publications, including the LA Times, LAist, Food & Wine and more; she tweets

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