Asian Stores in Atlanta: Where to Shop for Asian Groceries, Snacks, and Essentials

Looking for an Asian store in Atlanta—whether for fresh produce, specialty ingredients, or hard-to-find snacks—is easier than ever. Atlanta and its nearby suburbs, especially Doraville, Chamblee, and Duluth, have some of the most diverse Asian grocery options in the Southeast.

This guide walks you through where to go, what to expect, and how to choose the right Asian store in Atlanta based on what you need.

The Asian Grocery Scene in Metro Atlanta

Atlanta’s Asian supermarkets and smaller specialty shops mainly cluster in a few key areas:

• Buford Highway (Atlanta, Brookhaven, Doraville, Chamblee) – The main corridor for Asian food and culture, with Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Central American businesses.
• Doraville & Chamblee – Known for large Asian supermarkets and shopping plazas.
• Duluth & Suwanee – Heavily Korean and pan-Asian with major supermarkets and Korean bakeries.
• Midtown & In-town Atlanta – Smaller markets and convenience-style Asian shops.

You’ll find:

• Large pan-Asian supermarkets
• Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, and Southeast Asian specialty stores
• Asian bakeries, snack shops, and dessert spots often located in the same plazas

Types of Asian Stores in Atlanta

1. Large Pan-Asian Supermarkets

These are full-sized grocery stores with Asian and American items side-by-side, ideal for weekly shopping.

Typical features:

• Huge selection of Asian produce (bok choy, Thai basil, lemongrass, daikon)
• Live or fresh seafood and butcher counters
• Aisles dedicated to Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Filipino products
• Frozen dumplings, buns, seafood, and ready-to-cook meals
• In-store bakeries or food courts in some locations

These are best if you want one-stop shopping and are stocking a household.

2. Chinese & Southeast Asian Markets

These stores focus more heavily on Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and broader Southeast Asian ingredients.

You’ll often find:

• Fresh Asian greens and herbs
• Large selection of rice noodles, rice varieties, and sauces (fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce varieties, chili pastes)
• Chinese snacks, instant noodles, and preserved foods
• Roast meat shops or small eateries nearby

Good choice if you’re cooking Chinese stir-fries, hot pot, pho, Thai curries, or Vietnamese dishes at home.

3. Korean Supermarkets and Markets

Concentrated in Duluth, Suwanee, and parts of Doraville, Korean stores are excellent for:

• Kimchi, gochujang, doenjang, and Korean sauces
• Korean-style cuts of meat for grilling (bulgogi, galbi)
• Side dishes (banchan), frozen dumplings, and instant ramyun
• Korean snacks, drinks, and beauty items

They also often sit next to Korean BBQ, bakeries, and dessert cafes, so a grocery run can easily become a food outing.

4. Indian and South Asian Grocery Stores

While not always labeled “Asian market” in the same way, Indian and South Asian stores are extremely common across metro Atlanta.

You’ll typically find:

• A wide range of lentils, spices, masalas, and rice
• Fresh curry leaves, chilies, and regional produce
• Frozen Indian breads, snacks, and ready meals

These are useful even if you’re not cooking Indian food; many shoppers go here purely for spices, rice, and specialty teas.

5. Small Specialty and Neighborhood Asian Stores

Inside the Perimeter (ITP), especially near Midtown, Decatur, and the Emory area, you’ll see smaller Asian markets that cater to nearby residents.

They tend to offer:

• A curated selection of key sauces, noodles, and pantry staples
• Limited but focused snacks and frozen items
• Quicker in-and-out trips compared with the big suburban supermarkets

If you live close to central Atlanta and don’t want to drive to Buford Highway or Duluth, these smaller stores can be very convenient.

Key Asian Grocery Areas in and Around Atlanta

The specific stores and tenants in shopping centers can change over time, but the corridors and clusters themselves are relatively stable. This table gives a quick overview:

What You Can Buy at an Asian Store in Atlanta

Most Atlanta-area Asian groceries carry similar categories, though selection varies by store size and cultural focus.

Fresh Produce

You’ll typically find:

• Asian greens: bok choy, choy sum, Chinese broccoli (gai lan), Napa cabbage
• Herbs: Thai basil, cilantro, mint, shiso (in some Korean/Japanese sections)
• Aromatics: ginger, garlic, lemongrass, galangal
• Vegetables and roots: daikon radish, taro, lotus root, bitter melon
• Asian fruits depending on season: lychee, longan, dragon fruit, jackfruit, Asian pears, persimmons

Meat, Seafood, and Frozen Items

Many larger Asian stores in Atlanta have:

• Fresh and sometimes live seafood (shrimp, crab, tilapia, shellfish)
• Whole fish and fish cut to order
• Meat cuts popular in Asian cooking (pork belly, thin-sliced beef)
• Frozen dumplings, buns, seafood, prepared side dishes, and ready-to-fry items

Dry Goods and Pantry Staples

Common staples include:

• Multiple types of rice (jasmine, short-grain, basmati, glutinous rice)
• Noodles: rice noodles, egg noodles, udon, soba, instant ramen and ramyun
• Sauces and condiments: soy sauces, fish sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, chili oils and pastes, curry pastes
• Canned goods: coconut milk, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, jackfruit, curry bases

Snacks, Drinks, and Sweets

Atlanta’s Asian stores are popular even with people who don’t cook Asian food regularly, because of their snacks and drinks:

• Chips and crackers with seaweed, shrimp, or unique spice flavors
• Japanese and Korean candies and chocolates
• Instant beverages, milk teas, and coffee mixes
• Asian sodas, flavored waters, and specialty drinks

Tips for Shopping at an Asian Store in Atlanta

Whether you’re a first-timer or new to the city, these can make your trip easier:

1. Start with a Recipe or Goal

Before heading to Buford Highway or Duluth, it helps to:

• Choose a specific dish you’d like to cook (for example, pad thai, kimchi stew, or hot pot)
• Make a short list of key ingredients (like fish sauce, rice noodles, or gochujang)

Asian markets can be overwhelming because of the selection, and going in with a focus can keep you from feeling lost.

2. Plan Around Traffic and Parking

In Atlanta, location matters:

• Weekends and evenings on Buford Highway and in Duluth can be busy; parking lots fill up near dinner rush.
• If you’re coming from in-town Atlanta, leaving before or after rush hour (roughly 4–7 p.m. on weekdays) makes the drive easier.
• Many plazas along Buford Highway have shared lots; give yourself extra time to park and walk.

3. Use Labels and Packaging Clues

Products often include:

• English translations on the back or side of the package
• Visual indicators—pictures of the dish or ingredient
• Cooking instructions in English on instant or frozen items

If you’re unsure, compare a few brands and focus on packages that show how the item is used in a dish.

4. Explore Prepared Foods

Some larger stores and plazas in metro Atlanta have:

• Roasted meats (for example, Cantonese roast duck or BBQ pork)
• Pre-made kimchi, side dishes, and banchan
• Ready-to-eat sushi, rice bowls, and lunch boxes

These are useful if you want to try new flavors without cooking from scratch.

5. Bring Reusable Bags and a Cooler (If You’re Far)

If you’re driving from areas like Decatur, East Atlanta, or Westside to Doraville or Duluth:

• Consider bringing a small cooler or insulated bag for meat and seafood
• Reusable bags help with heavier items like large rice bags and cases of drinks

How to Choose the Right Asian Store in Atlanta for Your Needs

Think about what kind of shopper you are and what you need most:

For Weekly Groceries

Look for:

• A large supermarket with produce, meat, seafood, and household items
• Easy parking and extended hours
• A location along Buford Highway, Doraville, Chamblee, or Duluth

These stores make it realistic to pick up both Asian ingredients and general groceries in one trip.

For Specific Cuisines

• Chinese / Vietnamese / Thai: Focus on Buford Highway and Doraville, where there is a high concentration of Chinese and Southeast Asian shops and restaurants.
• Korean: Head toward Duluth or Suwanee, or select Korean-focused plazas off Buford Highway.
• Indian / South Asian: Look for Indian grocery stores clustered along major corridors in Decatur, Norcross, Alpharetta, and Duluth.

For Quick In-Town Trips

If you live near Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, or Decatur and don’t want a long drive:

• Look for smaller Asian groceries or international markets in town
• Use larger trips to Doraville or Duluth for big hauls of pantry items and frozen foods

Practical Considerations for Atlanta Shoppers

Payment, Returns, and Policies

Most larger Asian supermarkets in metro Atlanta:

• Accept major credit and debit cards
• Have return or exchange policies similar to other big grocery stores, especially for packaged goods
• May have more limited return policies for seafood, produce, and hot foods

Smaller shops may:

• Prefer cash or debit
• Have simpler or stricter policies on returns, especially for perishable items

It’s helpful to:

• Keep your receipt in case something is damaged or spoiled
• Check “sell by” or “best by” dates on items that are new to you

Language and Communication

Many Asian stores in Atlanta are bilingual environments:

• English is commonly spoken at checkout and service counters
• In some areas, you’ll also hear Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, or other languages

If you’re unsure how to find something:

• It’s usually fine to ask, “Do you have this?” and show a photo or name of the product on your phone
• Employees often understand common ingredient names like “fish sauce,” “rice noodles,” or “kimchi,” even if you’re not sure how to pronounce the original names

Making the Most of Atlanta’s Asian Stores

If you’re new to Atlanta, visiting from out of town, or just beginning to explore Asian cooking, the city’s Asian stores offer:

• Access to authentic ingredients for Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and other cuisines
• A chance to try new snacks, drinks, and prepared foods
• A deeper look into the cultures represented along Buford Highway, Doraville, Chamblee, Duluth, and other metro areas

Planning your trip around the corridors—especially Buford Highway and Duluth—will usually give you the most options in a single outing. For quick, practical shopping, look for the closest medium or large store that matches the cuisine or products you need, and build from there as you get more familiar with the area.