Olive Supermarket

For a more affordable alternative to United Provisions, my favorite place to shop is Olive Supermarket, situated in St. Louis’ informal Chinatown. Although, unfortunately, inaccessible by metro, it’s only a 10-minute drive north of campus. 

One of the perks of shopping at Olive Supermarket is Cube Tea Studio, a small bubble tea shop situated right outside of the supermarket. It features a variety of drinks, ranging from Salted Cheese Mango Strawberry Green Teas to Green Apple Slushies with Lychee Jelly, but my personal favorite is their no-frills Cube Classic Milk Tea with boba.

Olive Supermarket boasts a wide snack selection, like Pocky Sticks or mango jelly candies, that extends beyond Paws & Go classics. They have a great range of well-priced pastries, ramens, and candies. Their frozen section is stocked to the brim, especially with lots of locally made pork buns and dumplings. 

Olive Supermarket carries cooking essentials required in several East Asian cuisines. I’ve bought fermented bean paste, Shaoxing wine, and several other ingredients that I’ve struggled to find at other grocery stores. Though I haven’t explored their meat or seafood selection, Yelp notes that cuts like pork belly, spare ribs, and chicken feet can be found there. 

Another perk of shopping at Olive is the cheap houseware items. My favorite pair of matching soup spoons and bowls are from there, and I’m sure I’ll return to buy steamers or woks in the future. 

Global Foods

If you’re like me and had a difficult adjustment trading your beloved home-cooked meals for BD’s Tikka Tuesdays, you’ll find solace in knowing you can recreate your favorite cultural dishes by taking a trip to Global Foods. 

Admittedly, you will need a little time to spare if you’re making the 20-minute drive to Global Foods, located south of campus in Kirkwood. You’ll also want some extra time to peruse every aisle, browsing through specialty items and basking in nostalgia. I immediately felt at home wandering into the Indian aisle — I found all the staples used in my kitchen back home, like kashmiri chili powder or garam masala. 

The sheer amount of products at Global Foods is reason alone to go. From smoked sprats in oil to cold brews featuring BTS members on the can, it’s unlikely you’ll leave Global Foods empty-handed. In addition to carrying a rather large selection of vegetables, you can also find uncommon fruits, like dragon fruit or durians, there. 

I wouldn’t exactly call Global Foods affordable, but considering the novelty of many of its items, it’s a worthy price to pay. 

Di Gregorio’s Italian Market

I stumbled across Di Gregorio’s in my quest to make tiramisu at home. I figured a grocery store located in The Hill, St. Louis’ Italian-American neighborhood, would have mascarpone and ladyfingers. I discovered that they did, as well as several other gourmet ingredients and a deli counter. 

I purchased a pricey, high-quality olive oil from their wide selection. I browsed through the frozen section, which featured several pastas I was tempted to buy. I selected a slab of Parmigiano-Reggiano from the multitude of cheeses offered. Although I wasn’t in search of any meats, I learned that they offered 38 different types of sausages.

The people working at the store have always been friendly to me, striking up conversations about tiramisu ingredients or complimenting my choice in olive oil. Again, Di Gregorio’s isn’t the most affordable, but for the quality of the products and for supporting a local grocery store, I would definitely say it’s worth it. 

You might be hard-pressed to find parking right next to Di Gregorio’s, but it’s more of a blessing than a curse. You’ll find one of the best bakeries in St. Louis (Missouri Baking Company) and restaurants like Zia’s or Charlie Gitto’s all within a walkable distance. You can turn the chore of grocery shopping into a day out — an exploration of all the delectable dishes The Hill has to offer.