Very familiar with NY Mart and Hong Kong Supermarket in Chinatown. Great for Cantonese cooking, pretty mid for anything else, particularly Sichuanese cuisine.
First, they DO NOT carry many basic kinds of vinegars (the good, aged Chinkiang and aged Shanxi vinegars, Baoning vinegar). I used to live in Philadelphia and every Asian market carried this, for example.
Second, I have had no luck finding identifiable types of dried chilies. Everything is already pre-ground or just some vague Tianjin chili type that is very dry and not worth using. I am used to stocking several different types of chilies from this brand.
Also have had no luck finding good Sichuan peppercorns–everything is filled with seeds and has an off-putting color. The Szechuan Flavor brand is the only one I've found worth using here in the states. Nowhere to be seen.
Should I be looking in Queens?
by vanessicah
Dining and Cooking