I’m not buying chopsticks on Amazon, so I stopped by Far East Grocery to get my chopsticks — and I found so much more.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
It was my first time visiting the well-stocked grocery just off University on Fifth Street. Walking in, I was overwhelmed by how many items were on the shelves (and in boxes on the floor), but I was determined to find chopsticks.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
There was a large selection of tea in canisters and boxes.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
There were shelves of sauces, noodles, soups, pickled vegetables, dried mushrooms, and spices.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
In the back right corner of the store, there was a case packed with fresh produce. The cashier told me that the grocery receives fresh produce from California every Sunday and Thursday, and on Wednesdays, fresh produce arrives from Chicago.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
The variety of produce was unlike the basic selection at big box grocery stores. I saw packs of red Thai chili peppers for $2-$3. I saw Thai eggplant, okra, bok choy, snow peas, carrots, mushrooms, green onion, greens, herbs, and more.
In the cold case, there was meat, dried squid, buns, and packages of wet noodles.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Throughout the store, there were boxes of produce including this durian for $4.99 a pound. I saw fresh bell peppers, limes, tomatoes, onions, sprouts, potatoes, and more.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Everywhere I looked, there was something to see.
So did I find the chopsticks? No, I didn’t, but thankfully, the cashier asked if I wanted help finding something. I told her I was looking for chopsticks, and she said, “Oh, they’re over in the back.” She led me through the front of the store, through the second room of shelves, to the back left corner of the store, down a hallway to a small room that held household items like bowls, spoons, and of course, chopsticks.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
I successfully picked up chopsticks — 100 of them! — for $2.99. That is $10 cheaper than Amazon and also supports a local shop owner instead of Jeff Bezos. I am an impulse buyer, so I also bought some fresh produce, iced coffee, tea, rice, snacks, and candy. All of this was only $35. Nothing I bought was more than $3 except the big bag of rice ($7) and my specialty Kit Kats ($6). I was impressed with the store’s selection of products and even more impressed by the prices.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
I bought some pantry items like peanut sauce and coconut milk, but I went a little nuts in the snack section picking up onion-flavored rings, fruity chew candy, sesame egg roll crackers, shrimp snacks, and cracker-flavored Kit Kats. This flavor of Kit Kat is new and quirky, and the treat tasted so good: salty, buttery, and sweet with a white chocolate coating. It was a cool snack to try, and I can’t wait to open up the other snacks this weekend.
Parking is easy at Far East Grocery as there are many metered spots on Fifth Street right in front of the store. The prices were super affordable, and the store is packed with delicious things to buy. If you want to try a different grocery experience, check out Far East Grocery.
Far East Grocery
105 S Fifth St
Champaign
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily
Top image by Alyssa Buckley.
Editors Note: A previous version of this splog erroneously listed the shop’s address as Urbana.
