I admit that the grungy appearance of Far East might deter most shoppers, especially as its window-less, brick exterior bears little resemblance to the welcoming storefront of most American grocery stores. Some other customers have accused the store of being \"dirty.\" However, Far East is not much different from the local markets in the Chinatown areas of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or other metropolitan areas.\n\nOther stores in town (e.g., Amko, Lee's Market, Green Onion, etc.) specialize primarily in Korean and Japanese groceries, but Far East offers cooking ingredients for other areas of Asia. The shop boasts an impressive selection of different noodles (not just ramen), fresh produce, beverages, and necessary sauces for cooking many Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese dishes. Where else in town can you find fresh lemon-grass, Kaffir lime leaves, Thai eggplants (golf-ball-size and green), and Chinese leeks?\n\nSome of the staff might seem hostile, but I would suggest approaching the teenagers who work there if you have trouble, as they are very friendly. After describing dishes I want to cook, I've often received helpful and honest recommendations from the owners about the right ingredients to purchase.\n\nThe best time to pick up groceries at Far East are Thursday evenings or Fridays because these are days when they receive fresh shipments of produce, bakery goods, and snacks. Sometimes they even have a box of live crabs available for adventurous eaters!
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