Top 10: Asian markets

Whether you're looking for lotus root, seaweed wrappers and miso paste — or you just want to buy some tofu, soy sauce and rice noodles at a reasonable price — it's time to find an Asian market. There are several along the Wasatch Front that will have what you need — and more. Here are our favorites.

Super China • This market — super market, really — is a wonderland of Asian riches: fresh produce such as daikon, bok choy, lotus root and bitter melon, meat and fish in the way of pork belly, live lobsters and crabs, rows and rows of sauces, cookies, teas, noodles and cooking equipment. The market carries products from China, Thailand and Japan, among others. Beyond Asian foodstuffs, there's a small café that serves barbecued pork, several Chinese dishes including lo mein, wok-fried green beans with dried shrimp and bubble tea drinks. True finds include reasonably priced duck legs, fresh quail eggs and rice noodles, cheap soy sauce and condiments and spices galore. You'll never have to buy a $6 bottle of whole peppercorns again. 115 W. 9000 South, Sandy; 801-255-1118

Kim Long Oriental Market • This Redwood Road staple has cleaned up its image recently, adding a meat counter with incredible offal offerings, including pork tongue, liver and kidneys. It also has a great selection of Asian dishes and pots, rows of noodles, rice wrappers, a great produce section with cheap bunches of mint and shiso, in addition to unusual fruits including durian. There's also barbecued pork and duck to take home as well as leaf-wrapped, meat-filled rice packets for meals-on-the-go. 3450 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City; 801-972-8440

Southeast Market • This market is a darling of many living within Salt Lake City limits. Southeast offers fresh produce and rows of Asian staples, like noodles, spices, condiments, teas and cookies. 422 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-363-5474

Tay Do Supermarket • This mainly Vietnamese market offers all the Asian staples and has a lovely fresh produce section and a small café, which serves coconut pandan waffles, bubble teas and banh mi — Vietnamese sandwiches — among other menu items. 3825 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City; 801-972-4700

Seoul Market • This Korean and Japanese grocer carries items such as housemade kim chee as well as several brands of miso, noodles, beans, hot red pepper flakes, nori and dried fishes. The produce section is small but fresh, with offerings such as shiso leaf — that decorates sashimi platters, among other uses — and all-the-rage, lightly spicy shishito peppers. 153 E. 4370 South, Ste. 10, Murray; 801-266-2228

Kim Heang • Situated just west of Redwood Road, Kim Heang has lots of Asian foodstuffs, including the usual suspects, noodles, condiments galore, Asian snacks and soy products. 1820 W. 3600 South, West Valley City; 801-972-9121

Oriental Market • Owned by Koreans, this Asian market has lots of Korean, Japanese and Chinese products, including smoky and kicky Korean red pepper flakes and coarse sea salt. 67 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City; 801-363-2122

Japan-Sage Market • Small in size but big on Japanese offerings such as rice and buckwheat noodles, miso pastes, tofu, toasted seaweed, a cold case with housemade maki rolls and a section of colorful cookies, crackers and other snacks. 1515 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-484-4122

Tai Loi • The oldish building continues to show its age once you're inside this Vietnamese market. But that shouldn't deter you from finding Asian condiments, noodles and the like. Pho 99, which makes a decent rendition of the deeply flavored beef-broth soup pho, is attached to the store. 2899 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City; 801-433-0919

Hong Phat • Not the cleanest market around, but Hong Phat has an impressive selection of Asian food items. 3086 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City; 801-975-1534