Bay Area’s newest Asian supermarkets ranked including San Francisco’s first T&T

The San Francisco Standard explored seven of the Bay Area's newest Asian supermarkets, including locations in San Francisco, Emeryville, and San Jose, to rank them from worst to best. Their food team sampled a variety of products, such as $50 melons in Emeryville and chocolate bars with dried shrimp in San Jose, while also navigating lines at San Francisco’s first T&T supermarket.

The review highlighted the challenge for shoppers in distinguishing between proper markets and restaurants with retail items amid the region's Asian supermarket boom. The team compared these new markets to well-known local options like Bi-Rite Market and Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, which cater to organic and vegetarian preferences respectively.

San Francisco’s first T&T store, which opened in June at a prestigious Bay Area mall, was among the markets examined. The Standard’s ranking considered product variety, quality, and the overall shopping experience across all seven supermarkets.

This ranking provides local shoppers with a guide to the newest Asian grocery options in the Bay Area, helping them navigate the expanding market and discover where to find unique and specialty items.

What we’re watching: How the growth of Asian supermarkets will continue to shape grocery shopping options and culinary culture in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area.