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A Dong
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
160 Shield StWest Hartford, CT 06110
(860) 953-8903
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for A Dong
Review Highlights
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"The biggest asian grocery store you'll find in central CT." In 3 reviews -
"They do have a great selection of tea." In 3 reviews -
"Pocky and the little koala bear cookies are always in my..." In 3 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie K.
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
West Hartford rocks!!! This place has everything be it the stores, restaurants, mall.
A Dong is said to be a grocery store but its a super market.
The minute I entered I started smelling weird smell of the meats, fish n stuffs. Being a vegetarian from birth made me sick for the smell at start. After couple of minutes I felt all right. As soon as you enter, to your left is the sea food, meat, a small bakery n the vegetable section. On the other side is the groceries, milk, eggs n stuffs like that.
First I started with the vegetable section. This part of the store looks small in area, trust me they have so many stuffs here. There was a small table kinda where some freshly made cookies, breads, n some authentic chinese sweets were placed.
I was surprised on seeing the various variety of fruits such as bananas, orages, water chestnuts, dragon fruit, Raw tamarind, melons. On the other hand I could see all kind of Asian vegetables & Green. If looking for different kind of cabbages then this store is right to pick it up. They even had a big bucket filled with spouts.
The meat / seafood section was on one side n crowded too.
There was a Tofu section too. They have so many different kinda tofus, trust me everything look freshly packed. They also had some fresh unpacked tofu in a bucket. However I picked up the extra firm plain tofu. Oh they even have cooked noodles, dumplings, tofus. Everything was neatly packed. I picked up 1 portion of cooked noodles they were very good. Thought to try those dumplings next time.
Coming to the other side of the store, they have a frozen section, just like any other super market where you have the frozen vegetables, meats, n stuffs. I got a pack of edamame :)
They have milk, eggs, ice cream, curd too... Oh i even came across the ready kimchi.
The last but not the least was the general groceries. They have everything here too be it teas, spices, noodles, wraps, canned fish / meat, wafers, essences, chocolates, n so on, the list will never end.
If your going here for the first time make sure you have plenty of time cos you need to explore a lot many stuffs.
The staff is very friendly, they will help you locate stuffs. Even after you get the stuffs they make sure theres a smile on your face :)
They accept credit / debit cards. If you end below 10$ make sure you have cash. The store is located in a plaza in one of the corners. They have ample parking space.
Its in the same complex where pho boston restaurant is located.
Overall a very good and neatly maintained store. -
Review from Chef Shawn D.
Manchester, CT
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Typical Asian market of a large size.
Nice selection of not so normal produce.
The fish area smelled bad.. but they were selling bones, scraping all the way to whole fish... iced well..
The meat area was not American selection choices. It was knuckles, feet, gizzards, tripe, intestines, stomachs etc. Some making for very authentic dishes.
The sauces and spices in the various rows were multitude.
I found plenty to make me smile.
This will be on my shopping list for the future. -
Review from Karin D.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a very large, Asian market. It is like a full on grocery store, but its contents are probably 97% Asian. I was thankful to have my chef husband with me, because there were many items I was very curious about while unable to read many of the labels.
There was some very interesting produce I hadn't seen in other markets. There were TONS of packaged foods. I did not pay so much attention to those as I did just patiently wade through those aisles with my husband who wanted to see it all. (I am not a packaged food kind of girl.)
Compared to other Asian markets I have been to in my travels, this one was probably one of the largest (short of the one in China Town in Seattle. That one was much larger and cleaner and more modern feeling.)
Prices seemed okay, and we didn't have any trouble checking out. I can't tell you much about customer service outside of the guy ringing us up or the bagger, because we didn't really see anyone on the floor in any kind of uniform to help us out. (Although, since we didn't really need any help, we were not actively seeking it.)
I think that as far as Asian markets go, this is a pretty good one.
Also, there is a section of porcelain figurines that had some pretty cool Asian dragons in it. There was a wide variety of other figurines as well.
FYI: I noticed a sign that says they will not accept checks, and they will only accept credit cards for purchases over $10. (Pretty standard most places these days.) -
Review from Anon Y.
Hartford, CT
5/22/2012
If you can get past the putrid smell and the high probability that the place is laden with lead-filled and adulterated products from China, you can find some gems here. It is the only place where I can find my Indonesian items: ketjap manis and sambal olek. Now if only they can get the Komodo brand of krupuk (prawn crackers), not that multi-colored crap that barely has enough shrimp in it.
They really do need to Lysol the place though; the smell is overwhelming. -
Review from Charles S.
East Granby, CT
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Possibly the most comprehensive & interesting selection of Asian groceries I've seen outside of China. If you're looking for something specific, you'll probably find it. If you're not, then you may find inspiration to cook/eat something you haven't tried before. The (quite reasonable) prices are marked in dollars, but aside from that, it's easy to forget you're still in North America. Worth checking out.
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Review from Anna E.
4/5/2012
I am definitely a fan of A Dong.
There are many reasons why this is my first choice when it comes to buying Asian groceries:
- Good selection of Asian vegetables like napa cabbage, bok choy, watercress, etc. at prices much lower than mainstream grocery stores that carry these things. It's also the only store where I have found Japanese pumpkin and Thai eggplant for dishes that specifically call for these items.
- Excellent variety of sauces, canned goods, frozen stuff, rice, fresh and dried noodles, teas and snacks. (If you're a fan of Loacker Quadratini wafers - they're dang good - A Dong surprisingly carries every flavor that ever existed...about five times the amount of flavors that Whole Foods carries at a fraction of the price charged at Whole Paycheck).
- Chinese bakery that has some really delicious char siu bao (roast pork bun), pineapple custard buns, egg tarts, ham and scallion rolls, and many other goodies on Friday through the weekend.
- Bánh mì (located between prepared meats and bakery section) is very good toasted. I like to get a couple to stash in the fridge and toast for 7 mins in the oven for a quick snack or meal when things get very busy. Mmm...I can taste salty, sour, sweet, spicy, meaty, and fatty flavors as I type this.
- Staff are very friendly and some go above and beyond. Once, I went into the store looking for a particular medicinal herb they do not carry and one of the employees offered to pick it up for me the next time he went into NY.
A couple things I am not so fond of:
- I will never buy the prepared meats, hanging from the window when you first walk in, ever again. Once, maybe twice, I took a chance on getting some roast duck and was very disappointed to find a box full of bones with very little meat. Roast pork never smells or tastes very fresh. BBQ pork is usually ok, nothing special.
- I don't trust anything in the refrigerated meats section or the fish market.
It's not a perfect Asian market, but I have yet to find a bigger or better one in the state, which is why I keep coming back. As far as Asian markets go, this one is my favorite and I look forward to my next trip. -
Review from Cynthia Y.
Shelton, CT
4/8/2012
This store carries EVERYTHING. There are many smaller Asian grocery stores all throughout CT but nothing beats A-Dong. When I used to live in central CT this is my go-to place for everything Asian. There is really no other place in this part of CT anyways. Now that I am living in the New Haven/Fairfield County I still find myself coming back to A-dong for items I can't pick up elsewhere.
First off, a true authentic Asian market smells. Period. That's just how we like it :) A traditional Asian market will have a mix of raw meat, raw seafood, yummy cooked dishes, medicinal herbs...what you have. To those that are not used to this will definitely be turned off by it but be forewarned that this is what you will be hit with when you first set foot in the store. To someone who grew up in Asia, this is almost like home (because different Asian cultures have different types of food thus the smells are different).
With that said, for an Asian market compared to the Chinatowns of New York and San Francisco, it is much much much cleaner than some have made it out to be. I have not gotten sick from anything I have eaten. I buy from their display meats station, I buy from their raw meat section and all are fine.
The one thing I did buy that was not fresh was some frozen fish from their frozen section. I think the fish was not fresh to begin with. I will be a bit wary about the seafood (frozen or fresh) though but other than that everything else is good.
Give it a shot, you just may find that one thing you will never see anywhere else :) -
Review from Raymond S.
Newington, CT
4/4/2012
Wow, I would never buy anything from this place.
I went in once and I was overwhelmed with the smell of rotting fish. I managed to tough it out for about 15 min. but I think if I had stayed any longer there would have been a pile of vomit in one of the aisles to add to the odour.
Most fresh fish, besides whiting, is not supposed to smell very strongly, if at all. If it does, it is a sign that it is spoiled.
I can only imagine how fresh the rest of their food is.
I've been in porn shops that are cleaner and smell better than this place!Listed in: Places I will NOT return to
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Review from Byron D.
2/5/2012 7 photos
Bun Bi from A Dong..
Sanh A. did an exceptional job outlining the merits of this really wonderful supermarket. The parking lot has been repaired, thank goodness. I will tell you a little story about my favorite thing.
BUN BI (a cold rice pasta salad with sprouts, mint, peanuts and sauce)
I absolutely crave this food. Between 2005 and 2008, an elderly woman made these little packages up (I uploaded images for you to see) small self contained lunches.
Contents: bag of dressing, Rice Noodles the size of spaghetti, ( damp but not sticky) mint, ground peanuts, shaved pork along with sprouts etc. See the picture in the the images section.
She delivered them on Saturday and Sunday to a number of little markets around the area and they started selling for $2.00. I tried one, and that was it I was hooked. I would buy three of four at a time and eat them for lunch at work. Really awesome. The place I used to buy them moved to Park St. and they discontinued selling them. I occasionally found them at another market on Park St. I guess it is possible she is still around but the shops that used to carry her Bun Bi no longer have it featured.
A Dong has a very similar dish packed almost exactly the same way, I attached an image of the display case at A Dong. The Bun Bi is $4.00 there. It is only available in the case on Saturday and Sunday. There is an express lane there, A Dong is wildly busy on the weekends, so use the express lane. They prefer cash.
I look forward to Bun Bi and Goi Cuon (salad roll with shrimp) on the weekends, at A Dong.Listed in: Local Grocery Stores
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Review from Emily C.
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Adong simultaneously delights and terrifies me.
This massive Asian grocery has everything from canned rambutan to a huge freezer filled to the brim with durian fruits (not my style but to each his stinky own!). The produce/meat selection is decent and the ramen/sauce aisles are just plain overwhelming. Banh mi is pretty solid, too.
Prices are great. Something like $1.50 for a large jar of amazing red curry paste which would be $4+ for a tiny container at Big Y.
Overall, Adong is always an adventure. A joyful, stinky adventure. I'm a fan.Listed in: Internationals Eats, Glorious Grocery Stores
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Review from Patrick D.
Hartford, CT
3/7/2012
The only supermarket in the world my kids actually beg to visit -- just because of the aisle that's filled with different kinds of exotic Asian candies. This place is definitely a trip and the next best thing to visiting your local Chinatown. Very large and packed with a massive variety of groceries that make me wish I knew more about Asian cooking (not to mention how to speak the various languages). It's more than a little bit intimidating, and I often pathetically leave with nothing more than some ramen noodles and some green tea. I have to mark it down a couple of stars because it could definitely be a lot cleaner. Worth visiting, though, especially for those hard-to-find ingredients.
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Review from Carrie S.
Bristol, CT
1/14/2012
I had the most fun in this store! It took me 2 hours to browse all of the isles because I didn't want to miss a thing! As I walked in the door the smell of the roasting duck hit me and I was instantly hungry! I found every ingredient on my list without assistance and then some, AND the prices were GREAT!
The fresh produce was the freshest I have ever gotten and half the price of my local grocery store. I wish that I wasn't a half hour away.
I WILL definitely be shopping here again and again and again! -
Review from Amy T.
3/10/2012
Pretty awesome selection, prices are even better. AVOID WHOLE FOODS and buy your specialty Asian grocery products here. It will save you tons of $$$$$ Smells a little funny, but you get used to it. Highly recommended!
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Review from J J.
Manhattan, NY
11/5/2011
Smells like used diapers but they have almost everything you need.
No one there speaks english though.
One time I asked someone where the bathroom was and they said 'No thank you'.
I like a-dong. -
Review from Sanh A.
ADong is the place to go for dry / canned Asian grocery items.
As many have commented it's not the cleanest grocery store but many Asian stores are similar. I've been to Asian grocery stores in NY and Boston and most of then have the same nasty fish smell.
Things to Avoid at ADong:
Prepared Meats:
Never ever get the cooked chicken hanging in the windows. I don't think the chickens are cleaned properly prior to the cooking process. Many times I have experienced a nasty musty scent.
Fresh Meats:
Prices are great but it's questionable how great the quality is.
Mainstream Vegetables :
Items such as carrots and celery aren't great buys here because you can clearly tell that the item is if a lower grade quality than the ones at Stop and Shop.
Great Values:
Dried packaged noodles. They have the cheapest price around and since they're the biggest Asian store in the area you know the turnover is fast.
Canned Fruits/ SE Asian Fruit: If you want exotic fruit at a good price they usually carry things like Logan, Wellingtons, Ripe mangos etc. The quality of their exotic fruits seem to be better than the mainstream grocery stores.
Japanese Snacks:
They are cheaper here than they are at the Korean grocery stores.
Anything that is canned is usually cheapest here when compared to other Asian grocery stores.
Drive carefully the parking lot has so many potholes!Listed in: Ethnic Markets and Grocery…
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Review from Mike B.
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Seriously... what a crazy place for someone who doesn't know what they are looking for and I had a list of things I wanted from here... I have been here several times and I am never truly prepared! I don't know if I can really explain myself. I feel out of place. Meaning... the people who work in the store are lovely people... I just don't know their language. I have NO issue with that... I find it even more interesting. They are SO VERY helpful and try so hard to understand what I am talking about. It is truly an Asian market, and that's what it should be! I don't want you to think the people make me feel out of place... I just truly AM out of place. I would love nothing more to understand all the wonderful foods and condiments they have! I am envious of the shoppers here who have their baskets FULL of such wonderful looking items! I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Mimi S.
West Simsbury, CT
3/6/2012
Dumpling heaven! What a great store, terrific selection of everything Asian. It's an adventure just walking the aisles and seeing what is available. Wow. The store was clean, I didn't detect the stinky smell that I read about somewhere else (perhaps sour grapes?). Definitely worth exploring and shopping, I'll surely go back.
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Review from Robert H.
West Hartford, CT
12/20/2009
Some of the other reviews mention being blown over by the smell of this store. It's the smell of funky, distinctive ingredients -- not of anything bad, or dirty.
Everything here is a bargain. And the store's large enough that there's a great selection in most categories.
Don't look for help from anyone except the smartly-dressed woman behind the "customer service" counter in the front. She's the owner's wife. Nobody else there will be of any help unless you speak Vietnamese, Cantonese or Mandarin.
Live tilapia? Check. Live blue crabs? Check.
The bakery department offers better Asian-style pastries than some places I've tried in New York City!
Definitely set aside at least an hour to enjoy this store. -
Review from Jenny F.
North Haven, CT
8/25/2007 5 photos
A great Asian supermarket located in a shopping center in West Hartford. Located just a few miles down the road from the West Farms Mall/ Corbins Corner. There are also 2 restaurants (Vietnamese, Thai) and an Asian Video store in the shopping center.
My husband and I planned a trip here to pick up a few things. We never expected it to be so big. The majority of the groceries sold here are either Vietnamese or Chinese. You can get food to take out such as duck, pork, soy sauce chicken, etc. There is a pastry counter, butcher, vegetable, and fish area.
We spent about a half hour in the tea aisle trying to decide which teas to buy. Loose tea was the cheapest we have found anywhere. We both were suffering from sensory overload! We ended buying so much stuff.
Next time maybe we will try a durian fruit or at least a durian popsicle.Listed in: Grocery Shopping
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Review from Julianne Y.
Farmington, CT
12/16/2010
This is about kind of the only supermarket to shop for Asian food near the area, except for some smaller Asian supermarket.
They have a lot of goods, but the qualities of some foods are not pleasant, but definitely a place to shop for oriental items. -
Review from Adrian W.
12/26/2008 2 Check-ins Here
Best selection of asian products in the state. Each time I visit I have to stock up on the frozen dumplings, these are closest I can get to duplicating my dim sum favorites when I'm craving them.
The fresh noodles are great, the ramen/noodle soup selection is mind boggling. I also really enjoy checking out the spices, premixed sauces and dessert aisle. Pocky and the little koala bear cookies are always in my shopping cart.
I have not yet braved the fish counter, but the produce and bakery sections are consistently great. Based on the Yelp reviews, next time I go I'll try one of the "window ducks", they've always been tempting but I (wrongly) assumed they'd be expensive.
If you're adventerous or seriously into authentic asian cuisine, this is a must try. -
Review from Ryan M.
Manchester, CT
7/20/2010
Groccer located in a primarily asian owned plaza. Pretty much the only place in the Hartford region to find a full line of korean or other far east cooking supplies. the kim chi is very cheap here.
The only downside as others have noted is the smell. Fish overwhells you the moment you walk in the door. Plus the staff is stone cold. No friendly smiles here, even with asian guests. Everyone walks around silently and glares at each other. -
Review from N C.
Mansfield, MA
6/17/2008
The biggest asian grocery store you'll find in central CT. I still stop by when I visit family in the area even though the Super 88 chain is closer to where I live.
The junk food secion takes up two whole aisles and is well worth the visit. Lots of other stuff too. I occasionally get some tea or condiments/spices and frequently buy soba here. Mostly I'm in it for the junk food though.
Their parking lot is SORELY in need of repair. -
Review from Sheila Z.
Wethersfield, CT
2/3/2010
I was kind of thrown by the cooked chickens or ducks hanging by the neck but what the heck.
Good place to pick up inexpensive chinese platters and plates and uncommon ingredients when needed for a recipe.
They do sell some odd beauty products, all it brings to mind is 'Ancient Chinese Secret' ,remember the ads with this tag line for a laundry product or something? -
Review from Tracie C.
2/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
*sigh*
When I first moved to CT I was excited that this place existed. After being here for awhile I'm sad that it's not better.
Pros:
-Asian produce is pretty decent
-Tofu, noodles, rice, and staples like sesame oil, soy sauce, and hot sauce are plentiful
-They'll scale and cut fish for you (and have a tank with live tilapia and stuff)
-Chinese bakery and Vietnamese sandwiches (with Vietnamese cold cuts if you're into that)
-They carry lots of Chinese and Vietnamese dried goods (but not a lot of Korean or Japanese stuff)
Cons:
-Minimum of $10 for credit card charges
-Meat is a little questionable- I'm not sure how cold the refrigerator case is and I've seen packages sitting out in other parts of the grocery store to be reshelved for awhile.
-Totally smells gross around the fish area, and it can be a long wait when it's busy.
Granted, I'm spoiled by the bounty of Asian supermarkets in California and Hmart in Boston, but still...A Dong could try harder. -
Review from Shane H.
It definitely smells like fish fart when you walk in, but A. Dong's is still a great place for the adventurous chef or foodie.
Walking amongst the aisles of poorly marked product may start to drive you a little crazy if you're looking for something specific. Also, you may think you know where it is, but when you get to where the product was last time, it may have moved a few aisles over. Asking an employee may not be much help either, as it's very likely they'll tell you with a perfect English accent that they don't actually speak English. Don't plan to go here on a schedule. Give yourself lots of time to wander aimlessly.
The unusual ingredients and plethora of hard to find goods make it all worthwhile though. If you've ever had Boba Tea this is one of the only spots around where you can buy the gummy bear-esque tea pearls. Also, if you've ever tried to make corned beef you've probably had a very hard time finding potassium nitrate (saltpeter), the chemical that keeps the meat bright red throughout cooking. I wish I could tell you where it's hiding; you'll have to just trust me that it's there and pay your dues finding it. They have vials of amyl acetate... whatever that is. And most importantly, FRESH GINGER!!!! I hate hate hate going to the grocery store when I need ginger for something only to find the ubiquitous, shriveled, fibrous garbage that's been sitting out for a few weeks longer than it should. A. Dong's has the freshest ginger around. Smooth skin, crisp flesh, braving the fish stank is entirely worthwhile if only for this ingredient alone.
Most of the stuff is way cheap too! -
Review from Louisa L.
Vernon Rockville, CT
6/10/2011
Best place to buy your asian groceries. I live in Vernon and cant find asian grocery as good as this one. Large selection of products. Offers some baked food, such as BBQ buns. Offers cooked food too, such as BBQ pork, Soy Sauce Chicken, Roast Duck, and Roast Pork. But you need to get there early if want some of these cooked foods because they run out fast. They restock the store either on Thursday or Friday. First come, first serve. Beware - there will be lots of people shopping on those days.
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Review from Ray E.
South Windsor, CT
3/27/2011
Recently discovered this place and was amazed with the variety of items they carried. It felt like being home in the bay area. I was particularly impressed with the choice of vegetables and cooked items available. Looking forward to my next trip to try some some different things.
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Review from Cam B.
San Jose, CA
1/17/2011
I'm originally from California but I have been visiting CT a lot recently. It seems like A Dong is the only oriental market around so every trip I ask the BF to take me there to get ingredients. We drive half an hour both ways and suffer that horrible parking lot just for the sake of homemade pho.
The store is huge and tracking items down can be a p.i.t.a. It probably will take a few more visits to get used to their organization. Their meat and vegetable sections are a little lacking though the veggies are often stuff you wont find (or find as fresh and as cheap) in other stores. I haven't bought any of their meat so I can't attest to how fresh it really is. Their fish, frozen, spice and every-thing-other-than-fresh-meat-and-produce sections are great.
It seems like every time I visit though, the bakery is closed. Not only that, but when they restock, they wait do whole sections at a time. Last time we were there a couple of days after Jan. 1st and their fish, fresh noodles and pretty much all the meat were pretty much cleared out. It gets annoying but can be worked around with properly timing my shopping for when they arent restocking. I kinda want to try the goods at the bakery now :( -
Review from Q S.
Somerville, MA
1/23/2007
This is better than any Asian supermarket I've been to. It is huge. It doen't have a great selection of Korean or South Asian food, but the selection of food it has are great. The price isn't bad either since you can get all your shopping for what you need in one trip. They even sell utensils, cook ware, bowns and teapots, along with other essentials. They also have a little take out place as well which is also great.
Listed in: My Five Star List
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Review from Matt R.
Washington, DC
11/22/2008
One of my favorite places to shop and nosh in the entire Hartford area. The duck hanging near the front entrance is incredible, and cheap as can be. The banh mi sammies are to die for and dirt cheap, probably my favorite on-the-go lunch out there. I love the condiments and canned and jarred products in the aisles, and there are good places to eat in the same shopping center, like Pho Boston. I noticed they had pork buns at the counter for 85 cents, must try those next time! The pastries in the counter are quite good, too.
Listed in: CT Cheap Eats, Best Spring Rolls
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Review from Mw S.
West Hartford, CT
12/3/2010 11 Check-ins Here
This market is great. I like to walk around in here after I eat a giant bowl of pho from next door. So far I've only ever bought the dumplings here, but they are great!
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Review from High F.
Alexandria, VA
3/31/2008
I shop here all the time. i'm from california, so i've seen my fair share of very good asian supermarkets. this one is not the best by any means, but considering we're in the middle of CT (not the epicenter of the asian world), its not bad.
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Review from ronald s.
9/26/2007 5 Check-ins Here
after reading the reviews i had to check this place out ... it seemed like we spent a few hours in there!!
it absolutely did not disappoint - the tofu section alone was worth the trip!! if you eat a lot of tofu and are tired of the same old packages at the local market, this is the place you have to go! we got some five spice tofu that was very good and so much better than the plain stuff we get near home.
we also tried some of the iced coffee and tea drinks and they were all good and inexpensive - overall this place is very good and cheap. i think we bought a bottle of sesame oil for about 1/4 what it cost at wholefoods a few miles away!!
the candy isle was pretty impressive too - i picked up a few kinds of pocky!
yum!Listed in: Best Groceries
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Review from Janet F.
West Hartford, CT
9/21/2011
A Dong is a fantastic grocery store. The noodle aisle alone is worth the trip. It may not be the most wonderfully clean place but it is fabulously authentic. The prepared meats as you enter are wonderful. My favorite is the red pork. You have to wait usually for them to wait on you. The other customers can be quite rude and will but in line speaking chinese and acting like you are not there. This is a place where you must assert yourself! Bakery is good. My daughter loves the hot dogs cooked in the pastry. The prepared vietnamese noodles are very good but they don't always have them. Saturday mornings they are fully stocked. Veggies are great and cheap. Baby bok choy, cilantro, fabulous green onions, bean sprouts are so fresh, lemon grass, ginger and many more who knows what they are? Fruits are good, bananas are good but I like to pick up asian pears. If you want a whole fish then the fish department rocks. Don't bother asking for a filet. They will pretend they don't understand you and act like you are crazy. Fresh noodles are great. They have every noodle known to man except ronzoni. Sauce aisle is mind boggling. Frozen dumplings and spring rolls are a must. Candy aisle is really fun. Dishes, cooking utensils, pots are great. They sell decorations for chinese new year. They sell joss paper, lucky money envelopes. Huge rice bags, every kind of ramen noodle in the back section, flower pots, sculptures in the side section. Its a fun place...oh and every kind of tea but not lipton!
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Review from M H.
Hartford, CT
11/29/2010
A Dong rocks. Starting in the meat/fish area, there are different whole fish available at a seafood counter. There are cheap meats in the refrigerated case. I buy pork belly here because Stop and Shop, Whole Foods, et al don't carry it...but A Dong does! They sell Bok Choy for $0.89/lb. Their bulk bin of bean sprouts are fresh (the box get filled multiple times an hour on weekends), their smooth, fresh ginger puts other stores to shame with their inferior product (I am looking at you and your old produce, Stop & Shop). They have some other fruits and veg like persimmons, bananas, lettuce, etc.
They have an entire aisle dedicated to noodles. Check out the candy...Pocky is awesome. Your grocery store has one brand of fish sauce? This place has 15. Two aisles have dishes, bowls, bamboo steamers, etc. which are decently priced. They sell rice cookers but you can save money by buying online instead of at A Dong. There is also a Hello Kitty section, which should meet all of your Hello Kitty needs. Next to Hello Kitty is a small bulk section where you can buy bags of rice weighing 5 to 25 pounds.
They do have a $10 minimum on credit cards, so be aware. Also, whether you are Asian or not, the staff isn't very helpful so remember you'll be going it alone and give yourself lots of time to track down certain items. -
Review from Penny M.
8/30/2007
I wholeheartedly agree with Jenny! A Dong is a great place to spend some time... My problem is that when I go there it is usually to pick up something I can't find somewhere else (like rice paper wrappers) so I'm always in a hurry....one of these days I'm going to go and spend some time....
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Review from amy w.
Sleepy Hollow, NY
1/20/2007
I took me about 2 years to find a really good asian market in eastern CT - so I was excited to find A Dong. The market is huge, a large produce section (with hard to find kaffir lime leaves and thai basil), meat and seafood, many aisles of sauces and spices, a whole ramen and instant soup section, and several aisles of dinnerware and kitchen accessories. It's an asian market wonderland. They're open until 8pm.
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Review from S L.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2009
A big, exhaustive Asian grocery. Japanese, Thai, Chinese, it's all here. I spent an hour there my first time just taking it all in. You either need to know what you're looking for or be adventurous and/or patient as most things are labeled in the language of whatever country produced them. Don't miss the frozen section.
The only thing I couldn't find was kaffir lime leaves. Does anyone know where I can buy them that's closer than Thailand? -
Review from Teddie W.
Middletown, CT
8/22/2010
A great place to shop oriental grocery. I go there once in a while and always ended up a load of things. I love the pastry, tofu, dumplings, pork, duck, vegetable, fruit, seafood, etc. There are so many things to choose.
