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Spring Garden Market
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for Spring Garden Market
I have to admit this market intimidates me. I wish I was better versed in Asian cuisine and more sophisticated in my knowledge of Asian-centric products - if I were, I think I could take more advantage of the stuff they offer here. That being said, this is a totally hit or miss kind of place. Don't let the strong odors keep you out.
Hit: for a never ending choice of condiments, oils, vinegars, sauces, insane variety of dried noodles, teas and exotic products galore (dragonfruit, fresh bamboo, mushrooms I've never even heard of...) The fish section is impressive - so much variety (whole fish is cool and all if you know what to do with it!) and so affordable (look for deals on Lobster, shrimp, crab!) - and the meat/poultry is reasonably priced (although you're not quite sure where all this stuff originates from....)
Miss: check your produce thoroughly - for the most part the items are rarely fresh (except those that have longer shelf life), check expiration dates on those that have them and just be mindful of what you buy. I'm not quite sure how often they rotate products.
All in all this place is super inexpensive - as much as half the cost of shopping elsewhere. The only drawback is that I'm not sure whether this market has the same standards as your local supermarket. As I mentioned with the 'misses', on average, their inventory isn't as 'fresh' as it could be. (is that why we're getting such a bargain?)
Also, as I was perusing certain items in the Western section yesterday, I noticed certain cheese packets covered with mold on their underside (not the right kind) and looked above and found the ceiling tiles above this and the the freezer sections to be covered in mold. Yuck.
The bottom line is that this is a good place to pick up inexpensive last minute items, milk, eggs, etc, boxed or canned goods and all the hit items I mentioned above. As for everything else, be vigilant and buyer beware.
It is an asian market, but don't let that deter you. The variety is absolutely astounding... soooo many delicious things here. Oh, and it' s BIG.
The short list of "western" food items you'll find: vanilla extract, two varieties of newman-os (next to the oreos, of course), three different kinds of hummus, greek yogurt (Fage to be exact, the good stuff), prosciutto, chorizo, nutella, tazo tea, lindt chocolate, peanut butter & co peanut butter straight from new york, gourmet dessert marshmallows, and so on... It's mostly the higher-quality grocery items you'd find in an organic food market. They don't stock crap!
The trick with produce is to avoid things that aren't commonly used in asian cuisine -- so avoid the avocados, lemons, limes, bell peppers, eggplant, etc. (Well... sometimes the bell peppers and eggplant are good; use your better judgment.) Everything else is pretty consistently fresh, especially the fruit.
And if you like asian food, then you'll have an even greater appreciation for this place.
UNLESS you're a person who lives off canned soup and hot pockets, doesn't know what a falafel is, and orders pizza from domino's like you're still a suburban teenager.... I think you'll be able to appreciate this place.
A culinary glory-fest, this asian market has a terrific selection at prices so low I'm always left dumbfounded.
What do you mean, this huge squid costs 2 dollars? You're surely not going to sell me a thick strip of beautiful, fatty pork belly for $1.50! My weekly grocery bill is literally halved? *Swoon!*
Spring Garden Market nearly defies comparison. Chung May can't compare in terms of variety. H Mart's vastness and delicious prepared foods call to me from Cherry Hill, but even that thrifty gold mine is more expensive than this joint.
At first it seems like any other urban asian grocery: an aisle of teas, an aisle of dried fungi, an aisle of housewares, and an aisle of cookies and candies, and an aisle of various bottled sauces and other preserved foodstuffs. The usual. But, surrounding this little island of the norm is a sea of extraordinary things to eat and enjoy! First, staying in the front portion of the store, there is a HUGE selection of frozen dumplings (including frozen soup dumplings, difficult to find) and in the back various tubs with baby corn, straw mushrooms, fresh tofu (firm or silk), and every permutation of bamboo (shoots, strips, julienned, giant cones) you could want.
However, the real treat is the back: a vast expanse, thrice as big as the front, of produce and fish and meat, all of it fresh and dirt cheap!
There's a terrific selection of asian greens: bok choi, choi sum, shanghai greens, baby bok choi, etc. as well as more hard-to-find items like chinese leeks and chive flowers line one wall. Pre-cut meats and poultry line another. A butcher mans a decent-sized counter but it is the fishmongers who take the place of pride, controlling 50 foot beds of ice, 5 different aquariums, and various buckets, trays, and tanks. None of these people speak very good english, but they'll help you find the right thing and prepare it however you want. The selections and prices are absolutely astounding: I am still speculating how they get such cheap fish. Is there a secret, mob-controlled asian fish distributor? Is it a front which gives the fish away to avoid investigation? Something is quite fishy. (kill me now).
The meat has all of the favorites: various cuts of beef, pork, poultry plus tripe, pig's blood, the uteri of every animal, chicken feet, and various other organs. Likewise, the fish man has salmon, tuna, sea bass, snapper, roughy, lobster, and blue crab, but also more interesting selections: tilefish, char, a tank full of dungeness crabs (which I have never seen on the east coast), live conch, several kinds of squid, many kinds of shrimp, several different shellfish I couldn't recognize, and live frogs! Oh, and did I mention that most of these fish, huge with fresh, shining eyes, are less than three dollars a pound? No lie. Lobster's are $4.99, the tiger prawns are $5.99 and some things weren't marked, but it was all laughably cheap.
There are a few goods I may have to get elsewhere: certain hard goods, soaps, things for around the house that don't always find a place in asian families. However, Spring Garden Market has immediately become my de facto shopping spot for groceries. I'm so tempted to throw a Yelp party featuring all these goodies: ceviche for 30? Ten bucks! Bi bim bop for 50? Twenty bucks! Dim sum for a hundred? Thirty bucks!
Send me a message or a compliment and let's get to planning!
They now carry all Arnold and Thomas Breads! Including all Arnold grain breads, nut breads, and sandwhich thins; Thomas english muffins and Bagels... This place is more Eastern then one might think!!!
Pretty into this place. Cheap produce, though it's not always in the best shape, but that goes for any supermarket anywhere - use your judgment and just pick what looks good, rather than coming with a set produce shopping list, because you might be disappointed. The selection of Asian groceries is great for my needs (which is mostly along the lines of condiments) AND they have some American-style stuff as well, which is really convenient. Although the fish & meat section is pretty intense, I played it safe with flounder and scallops recently and they were both delicious and cheap. It sucks that I don't htink of this place too often, because it's too far for me to walk with groceries so I usually end up driving somewhere else, but it's a great thing to have nearby.
the former review still stands, but it must be added that their produce is horrible. Within the past week: 1 entire bag of bad spinach, a package of bad mushrooms, an orange that was rotten inside, a half-good/half-bad package of strawberries.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/23/2009
I frequent the Spring Garden Market because of the "off-the-beaten-path" feel I get here. Where… Read more »
This was one of my favorite spots when i lived in the Nolibs. i absolutely love Asian food, i was so excited when i got there and saw all the familiar mixed with the more exotic. i was psyched to have so many interesting options for frozen lunches for work. i was inspired to go get an elementary Asian cookbook by Martian Yan. In the book he give web sites to order some hard to find ingredients, no need Martin, i just saunter down to spring garden for my five spice powder. Chinese sausage hell yeah it's in my fridge...alas it is farther away now but i will stop on my way home from work, i miss the sorba noodles. by the by parking out back is a plus, and prices are good.
I love this store! Not only is it the only grocery shop close to my house...it's the best Asian Market ever!!!!!!
I was really shocked to find how fresh the salmon is here. The produce is fantastic.
My favorite part however....they have this pear called a butterscotch pear...which may be sold other places...but I found it here first...and it is TO DIE FOR! Who woulda thunk that you could taste butterscotch while consuming a pear...without putting some schnapps in your mouth first was possible! Well folks I'm here to tell you it is!
My suggestion EAT SEVERAL OF THOSE PEARS CAUSE THEY ROCK!
This is a nice little Asian market at 4th and Spring Garden. Their food is pretty cheap ($8 for a whole duck!), but their produce isn't all that fresh, and they don't sell butter for some reason. Their meat is good, though, and they have good frozen seafood, and the fresh seafood is so-so. However, the live fish don't always look so healthy. The big drawback is that the store smells really fishy because of all the fish tanks.
Given that the only other grocery store near me is Whole Foods, the Spring Garden Market comes to the rescue for my limited budget. It's good for a lot of shopping, but not everything you need. It's good for cheap meat and Asian food that you can't buy in regular stores (hello, mochi ice cream!).
As far as Asian markets go, I still like H Mart in Levittown better, but SGM is definitely worth the trip if you live in the area.
Killed time in here before going to the Starlight Ballroom last night. It was definitely bigger than I expected and I liked the variety that it offered. it definitely had the best kitchenware section in any supermarket that I've seen in awhile.
Due to everyone being into the seafood department here I was really psyched to check it out. It definitely had some pretty damn good prices. But I wouldn't jump on calling it totally fresh. I worked behind a seafood counter before and a lot of the pieces they had looked liked they could have benefited from being iced down a lot better. But the fish that looked good where definitely a steal of a catch. and I didn't get to scope out as much of them as I wanted to because the frogs where looking at me.
But overall it's a great place to go for meat and produce. the selection of soups and noodles couldn't be beat either. And they even had plenty of regular items that you won't find in to many other Asian supermarkets like coca cola. I think I'll be back.
I have shopped here a few times since I no longer work in the suburbs and my beloved H-Mart is no longer on my way home from work. This place is no H-Mart, but I can still load up on dumplings, which seem to be on sale for 3 bags for 10 bucks every week. The prices for poultry and fish are unbeatable. They do have a lot of things I would never eat, such as entire rabbits skinned and shrink-wrapped, but its nice to know where to get them if I want to! I was a little disturbed yesterday when I noticed they merchandise rat traps right next to chopsticks. They have practically a whole aisle of soy sauce, which is second only to ketchup on my list of supreme condiments. The cookie and candy section is the most colorful and exciting part of the store, I usually don't know what I am buying but I trust anything with a strawberry or Hello Kitty on the package. Yesterday when I was there I am positive my cashier was 8 years old - she was standing on a box to reach the register and looked as if she was expecting a visit from the tooth fairy. But she was good! She worked the belt with ease, knew the code for avocado, and said 'debit or credit?' more politely than most cashiers twice her age. I think this place is a lot of fun as well as a decent priced place to get some groceries I can't find elsewhere.
Finally! A grocery store in the Northern Liberties area! Wait, what? It's an Asian grocery store? Okay, okay. That's better than nothing.
This place is better than most grocery stores in the area, in my opinion. The aisles are nice and big and full of stuff. The only problem is that it's specialized so if you're looking for a loaf of wheat bread, you're in the wrong place.
But, for produce or meat or especially fish, you can not do better. All of these things are fresh and really cheap. Usually fish is much cheaper than at any local supermarket and the dude who serves it up is so smiley and nice that even though he can't understand you completely, he still manages to cheer you up if you're having a bad day.
Otherwise, it's cool to know that there's such a good resource for green tea ice cream, tofu, soy milk and aloe juice. I just wish there was an American grocery store just like this place next door...
If you're willing to shop at multiple grocery stores, add Spring Garden Market to the list. Avoid produce at all costs, for (I'm pretty sure) it has been off of the vine for so long that it has little-to-no nutritional value, no matter how it might look or taste. Spring Garden Market's strengths, in my book, are teas, panax ginseng ($4.99 for thirty single serving vials, with straws!), and frozen dinners (not really my thing, but they have a lot to choose from that you can't get at Acme or Whole Foods). Also, when they first opened this place it smelled okay, but as time wears on it smells weirder and weirder.
I can definitely relate to Jake's post because I didn't realize this is an Asian Market until I walked in today. I didn't fulfill my original goal of finding some lean cuisine mac n cheese but after some aimless meandering I did walk out of the store with some frozen dumplings, canned green tea and eggs. Next time I go in, I will be better prepared.
this is a new asian market that opened up at 4th and spring garden. it is relatively new. i was happy to enter this new, shiny store, it's "grand opening" streamers waving in the wind. being a card carrying asian, i am totally picky about asian marts. this one totally exceeded my expectations.
the store is big and clean. which is quite a nice surprise, because most asian markets tend to be cluttered and messy. this one is neat, they have shopping carts and baskets for your convenience as well. there is a medicine shop at the front of the store. they have kimchi, tons of hot spicy noodle soups, frozen dumplings, lychees, happy plums, dried squid and that is just the front of the store.
go to the back of the store and there is a fish market, meat market, and tons of fresh veggies and fruits. the fish is fresh and everything is pretty cheap and good quality. they have almost everything the stores on washington or chinatown have, but located in the northern libs hood.
the staff is friendly and helpful. i recommend buying the seaweed chips and kimchi. also, they have all the cute yogurt drinks and strong vietnamese coffee.
there is a parking lot in the back and on street meter parking. the meters are on every day, including weekends, so pop in those quarters!
there is an adorable little girl who since my first time at this store remembers me and comes up to me and says in her cute broken english, "you have been here before!" she is the hardest worker. she is crushing boxes and she bags all your groceries. i always tip her for her hard work. no benjamins for her, but i do give her a few washingtons! :)
each time i have gone, i am greeted by the smiling cashier who always tells me, "aha, you like seaweed!" and the darling little girl who asks me questions and likes magic tricks.
going here to pick up my groceries is always fun. i leave here with a huge, goofy smile and happy that my tum tum will soon be filled with dim sum.
No bad, it's local and fairly large. For produce, I prefer the market on Cheltenham or if I feel like driving Assi in North Wales.
If you're not familiar with Asian grocery items this store is an education. They have staples like full shelf of different types of noodles as well as a row of exotic sweets and snacks. In the far right of the store in a freezer is probably the best selection of mock-meat products in Philadelphia. Prices are cheap, especially if you buy in bulk. The produce is decent too; I'm a fan of the baby bok choy. If you're easily grossed out or do not like to see fish crowded into dirty tanks, steer clear of the meat and seafood section.
As close as I'm going to get to a grocery store in the Northern Liberties. The prices are reasonable and they have an interesting, unique selection of foods you won't find at a standard grocery store since it's an Asian market. Half of my lunches come from their wall of $0.39 to $0.49 'ramen' noodle packages which has cut my monthly food bills drastically. You have to watch what you pick up to make sure the foods that can expire are still good. I have twice now picked up a loaf of bread here only to get it home and see that it's already moldy even before opening it. Some of the fruits and vegetables are a little old at times as well. Yet, you can find a great bag of frozen edamame here for only $1.39 that will provide multiple substantial servings instead of the $4-$5 per serving some local restaurants sell. They have a good selection of sodas, juices, energy drinks, soy milks, tofu, desserts, frozen meals, teas, etc, all at reasonable prices. Worth a visit.
