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Asia Mart
Categories: Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Food Grocery Ethnic Food, Grocery [Edit]
6103 E 86th StIndianapolis, IN 46250
(317) 845-8892
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Asia Mart
11 reviews in English
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Review from Casey R.
2/14/2012
Great place to get hard to find Asian ingredients! Not to mention an awesome selection of bowls, chop sticks, spoons and cooking utensil's. I have to be honest, my first time in this place the smell kind of...well, lets just say, it was a bit fishy.
All in all a great place for cooks or just someone looking for something new and interesting! -
Review from Lucy H.
8/16/2011
I love Asia Mart. Over the last couple of years I've been experimenting with Asian cooking, and everything I've needed has been at Asia Mart, and more cheaply than at the mainstream grocery stores.
It tends to be a little crazy-crowded on Saturdays, when I'm usually there, but if you go on a weeknight it's much calmer and less crowded and makes me feel better about milling around lost when I can't find what I'm looking for. (I'd rather wander around cluelessly than actually admit ignorance and ask for help, you see.) It's a great place to browse when you're looking for something new to try, and if you're having trouble finding Nutella in Indy, this is the place! (Because nothing says "Asia" like hazelnut-chocolate spread.) If you're really brave, try a durian fruit! -
Review from Madeline L.
Astoria, NY
11/24/2008
When I took a road trip to Indiana, it was so poorly planned that I didn't get a gift for the friend who I was visiting. Luckily, she took me to the Asia Mart to pick up groceries for our dinner plans. I have a chance to purchase her a small gift. At first it seemed like formality/custom, but quickly realized it is a symbol of intimacy.
I was perusing through isles and isles of snacks, teas, cake and frozen items - I kept thinking - "What does Alisa like? What does Alisa like but she hasn't tried before?" I don't know if she would like the Japanese red bean cake? Does she like jellies?
But with Alisa, even though I am good friends with her, we lack intimacy. I didn't know her taste on Chinese food. I know she likes American food; however, I don't know her patterns of eating outside of her like for typical American food. I was stumped as to what gift I should get her despite the number of good options at Asia Mart.
It made me realize that in an unconscious process - I actively observe and keep in mind what my friends eat, what they don't eat, and their patterns of likes and dislikes in food. I do it so automatically. For some friends - I can suggest something for them to order. I know it would be their favorite item on the menu. It shows a sense of intimacy of friendship that I have with that person. It wasn't until I went to Asia Mart with Alisa that an anomaly occurred, which made me realized that I actively catalog friends' preferences on food (in my head).
I am not as active in pursuing the preferences of my friend's clothing/music style, but in foods and drinks - yes. My mom and my grandma's way of showing me love is through food. I can count on one hand the number of movies my parents took me to. I can also count the number of birthday parties they have thrown for me - 0, or the number of field hockey games they've attended in my five years of playing - 0. Taking your baby girl shopping, to the movie, and attending all their sporting events and performances are certainly ways that many parents show their love, but not everyone's.
Whenever I come home from college or from NY (my house has three refrigerators and one freezer), I know that one refrigerator will be stocked with fruits - some of my favorites - papayas (even in the winter), nectarines and whatever else in season and on sale. There will be a jug of Tropicana orange juice in the garage fridge. My grandma would already have defrosted a pack of lamb. There is either fresh fish or fresh free range chicken that they recently bought. With no doubt, I know I will need to make room in my stomach for soup. When I am home from the airport, there is already a cup of tea waiting for me.
In an unconscious way - that recently have become conscious - I too show my care and affection through food. I will notice what you eat and what you don't eat. I may even ask questions about it to understand a pattern. Do you not like all floral flavors, bouncy/slippery texture, don't like fatty foods in general or just don't like cream base sauces only? So next time you are eating with me - just know - I'm watching you.Listed in: Out on the Market
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Review from Ruben L.
9/14/2008
Wow, coming from San Diego to Indy, Asian markets have certainly taken a step back. But at least there are Asian markets out here. My wife and I came out here on Sunday to get some things we couldn't find in Meijer's "Ethnic" isle.
Asia Mart does not have the largest selection, but has a majority of the staple Asian foods that you need to get by. It's kind of unorganized, but I've seen worse. If you need a big sack of rice, or any type of seasoning, you should be able to find it here. Nothing bad, nothing great.
Chuck Norris Rating- Spinning hurricane kick -
Review from Neal P.
Indianapolis, IN
9/24/2010
Large, clean, well-stocked, wide varieties, (comparably) well-organized. Includes dry, canned, packaged, fresh produce, frozen food, refridgerated food, and some live seafood.
Much of the fresh produce is cheaper than Marsh / Kroger ! Like 99 cents/pound for red and green peppers. Various *-choy lettuce much cheaper than Marsh/Kroger too.
This is mostly Oriental. Most products seem to be of Chinese origin, then Korean and Japanese. Some Vietnamese, and Thai also. They have a free local/regional Chinese language newspaper, and a pay Chinese newspaper.
Good variety of rices in various sizes, up to 50 pound bags. Includes brown rice, sweet rice, red rice, long grain, short grain, Jasmine Thai, Basmati, wild rice, and black rice. (Black rice is excellent for practical jokes, since the uncooked kernals look like mouse pellets. Use your imagination.)
Very large pre-packaged noodle soup selection. Also has a modest cookware selection, and they have LOTS of rice cookers.
Attention picnic-ers or campers: If you need a camp/picnic stove, but don't want to invest big dollars in a Coleman stove, or propane grill/stove, and cans of Coleman white-gas or propane tanks, check out their BUTANE stoves. (Also available at most Asian stores.) They are only $23, for a single burner unit that comes in a carrying case the size of a small briefcase. Very lightweight. You then buy 4 cans of BUTANE, for about $5 for the package of 4. These cans are about the size of a can of hair-spray, and you throw them away when it's empty. Each can is enough to cook at least 2 pots of soup. Convenient, and good for picnic, camping, backup, or emergency use.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from Christie M.
Walled Lake, MI
5/23/2010 9 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite Asian grocery store in the area. Prices are fair and the selection is amazing! Every time I return home to visit my parents, I would stop by. Although i have been disappointed in the milk tea stock. Only twice have I seen it fully stock. Are people drinking them all up and not leaving me with any? boo! Anyways, I love buying their fresh veggies and durian ice cream. Yes I love DURIAN! It taste amazing but it is not for everyone. I think it is an acquired taste. My husband hates the smell and won't go near me when I eat it. LOL Oh well.
The snacks and candy selection alone makes me waste countless minutes in the place. I stare at each one before making any decision and never have I left without buying some junk food. I used to be addicted to these muscat gummi and yes they carry those. Oh and they also have large ramen selection. Not only do they have food they also have rice cookers, hot water pot and various other appliances.
My parents must shop there often because every time I come in with them they remember and ask how we are etc. -
Review from Ethan H.
6/1/2010 1 photo
Reuben L. is right. People from San Diego might be simultaneously underwhelmed and pleased, underwhelmed by SoCal standards but pleased that Indy boasts such a market in the first place.
Of special note: Asia Mart has Otafuku brand Ponzu Sauce. This is the single most excellent brand of ponzu that this seasoned yelper has ever had the pleasure of tasting. Heretofore, I was eking out a meager existence from the stuff I was able to import from out West. (Expeditions to places as far afield as Lafayette Road, Chicago and Cincinnati revealed nothing.) I bought 6 bottles. I will be happy.
For those of you who don't know, ponzu sauce is a Japanese style soy sauce seasoned with citrus juice (often lemon or lime or some obscure-but-wonderful Japanese variant). I use it interchangeably with soy sauce, be it in cooking, in salad dressings or as a seasoning for such things as steak and gefilte fish.
Yes, try eating gefilte fish with soy or ponzu (and maybe a little wasabi mixed in). Asian-Jewish fusion as never been so good! -
Review from Betsy A.
Indianapolis, IN
9/15/2008
We stopped in to Asia Mart on a quest for a cake-like item we saw advertised several times on the TV at Taiwan Tea House (where we eat nearly every Friday).
We quickly became side-tracked by all the other goodies at this shop. Now, I am not as familiar with Asian ingredients and grocery items as my fellow Yelpers Ruben and Mindy, but I really enjoyed this place! We bought all kinds of things to take home - most of them sweet. I did spy some very fresh baby bok choy that I was tempted to purchase but decided to wait since I had just filled up the veggie drawer in the fridge.
I was fascinated by the variety of stuff here and wished I knew what to do with more of it. Though I am a huge fan of Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine, I've not spent as much time learning to prepare it as I have Indian food. However, this is probably where I'd go to get stuff if I find time to try some recipes from those traditions.
In the end, and a basketful of delights later, we did find what we came for: Moon Cakes. This is what we had seen on the TV at the tea house and one very helpful Asia Mart staff member took great pains to explain all the varieties to us, the differences in packaging (most boxes of Moon Cake are very ornate, apparently these are given as gifts) and the like. She even helped us locate the brand we had seen on the ad - which was funny, because it turned out to be a Taiwanese style (no surprise) of Moon Cake that is baked right here in the good 'ole U.S. (big surprise) - we settled on a assortment that came in a gorgeous presentation box with each individual cake painstakingly wrapped. So far, every one I've tried has been delicious! Hubby is not as keen, but he is pretty much a chocoholic so I understand his reluctance.
But, I've saved the best for last.....the Chinese and Japanese pastry items just inside the entrance. We bought some coconut cream buns and one (sadly) individually wrapped item that was translated on its back label as a "wheat milk cream bun" or something like that. I think this one was Japanese. All I know is that I have a new addiction...this thing was extremely light and had just a touch of sweetness to its dough, which fairly nearly melted on contact with my tongue. I will absolutely be back to snap up a bunch of those for the pantry! -
Review from Chuck C.
Noblesville, IN
8/13/2009
The place to go when you are in the mood for some real Asia food products. Great noodle selection and soups. They also have an outstanding frozen and fresh section. It's just the best!
Remember to eat well and live well and please no chains! -
Review from Thu N.
12/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
When looking to get all the ingredients for any asian dish, this is the place to go to go to if you are on the north side or east side. It's your best bet for decent prices, availability, freshness all in one. Depends on the item but most things you can always find cheaper or fresher but it's a good all in one stop. Many of the employees don't speak english or vietnamese so it's hard to find things you might be looking for. They have minced lemongrass, whole cloves, star anise, pho meatballs, canned crab meat, tendons, tripe, pork belly....but at different visits I've been told by at least one employee that they ran out although that wasn't the case! It's usually clean but not always. Make sure ya check your receipt as well. When they first opened there was shady business practices going on but not as bad lately.
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Review from M S.
Laguna Beach, CA
I've know the owner Dave for years, stopped in to check his place out, as I haven't seen him in a decade, he has a great selection
