Chung May Chinese & American Food Corp

This place has pretty much everything you need as far as dry ingredients for Asian cooking. They have tons of sauces, oils, noodles, dehydrated veggies, etc. they do NOT have fresh fruits or a meat section however. Don’t worry though, there’s quite a few Asian Markets in Philly’s Chinatown where you’ll be able to find that. The market was very cold, so be warned. The temp outside is almost the temp inside so I’m not sure if they have heat (which is weird). The cashier wasn’t the friendliest person, but you don’t go there to socialize so it’s ok :) their prices are about the same as anyone else in the area. It’s good for a quick stop if you need something in a hurry, but I’d much rather go to H-​Mart in Cherry Hill when we want to do major shopping.

I’ve been to Chung May Grocery few times over the past few years. It might not be the greatest grocery store ever, but it is a decent place to get Asian groceries. I found it to be much cleaner and neater than what it used to be, and never seem to be crowded. One annoying thing is that they require $ 10 minimum credit/​debit card purchase!
Three Unilocal

For its size, I was disappointed in the noodle selection, but I don’t go looking for the really esoteric stuff. Sure, they had dried sea cucumbers and shark fins and bird nests, but I really expected more from the store than I got.
As for cleanliness, I think it was pretty average. The place wasn’t gleaming like a Whole Foods or H-​Mart but it really wasn’t bad. The only thing that would keep me away is the fact that they didn’t have what I was looking for. A few trips like that would be enough.

I’ve only been shopping here for a couple of months, so I can’t attest to some of the changes other Unilocalers have reported. But, I do find this a reliable grocery for buying shelf-​stable products like sauces, oils, flours, etc. There aren’t many grocery stores in Chinatown, and they all have slightly different selections. Chung May definitely has the widest selection of non-​perishable goods in the neighborhood. Because they don’t really offer much fresh food, at least there’s no question that there aren’t health code violation like other markets in the area.

They used to have a selection of fresh produce and more that lined the back. it’s an empty shell of a grocery store now — I guess most of the business made its way to the large grocery across the street.
Lots of canned goods, some frozen, and only a little fresh. You can get all your less perishable goods here, but even the cashier seemed a little down. It’s a little depressing looking at the empty fish tanks in the back and recognizing the change.

I’ve been in this store too many times, but I made most of my purchases at Korean grocery stores either in Northeast Philly (Woo Sung, is it, on Bustleton or Castor?) or what are now H-​Mart stores.
Today, I thought I’d take a look at the store and found Moon Cakes. I wondered if they were from last mid-​Autumn Festival or early for the coming festival. :-D I was intent on buying a package, but the woman behind the counter was intent on gossip. When she saw me there with the Moon Cakes, she ignored me. A woman came into the store, walking around me, and the three set to gossip more.
I put the moon cakes back on the shelf and left. Save yourself some trouble and go somewhere else.

Probably my least favorite grocery store in chinatown. It’s always cramped and I always seem to forget they don’t sell any produce. The lines when they are there always are awkward and block people from trying to get into the store.

This Race Street grocery is a dependable standby. It’s modest compared to the ones on Washington Avenue, but one of the larger ones in Chinatown.
A ton of merchandise is packed between their aisles, and staff are always willing to help if you’re lost. Prices are good, and as long as you’re in the market for products and vegetables you can’t pronounce — at least I can’t — hit them up. (They stock American products too if you’re in a pinch.)
Never noticed any issues with cleanliness, but do I look like a health inspector?

This is my favorite Asian market, not necessarily because of the prices or the variety, but because they have all the basics, are friendly to us (honestly, as an interracial couple in Chinatown we don’t often get a warm welcome), and best of all, they sell Ribena AND Milo. We come here about once a week to restock, and it’s always a pleasure.
[EDIT: This place is closed now. I told Unilocal,but they won’t listen.]

The selection here is slightly more meager than at most grocery stores in the neighborhood — but that is actually a positive for me, as I’m often overwhelmed by the floor to ceiling masses of colorful products in some other stores.
The prices are competitive, if not better, than those at bigger Chinatown marts, and the staff seems generally friendly — they will always find you someone who speaks english even if they do not. I even had a staff member here point me to another store to find what I was looking for!
Honesty is the best policy. I like this place.

Sooooo dirty. Eew!

Sometimes they are nicer to you than other times. The older Chinese lady with the perm, I’m talking to you.
Also, as another reviewer stated, their welcome mats are amazing — easily the best in Chinatown. They are so squishy. I love ‘em! I play with them for a moment every time I enter and leave the store. That always makes me happy.
As for the goods, they have a decent drink selection. An okay noodles selection. Various cooking supplies and cutlery (but the same stock as every other store in Chinatown). And the ever present vastly overpriced Asian-​style dishes in the back of the store.
One time in a pinch I desperately needed a hot tea mug. I came here… but they were too expensive. I went across the street and around the block… but eventually came back as nothing else worked. I tried to barter with the permed hair woman, but she wouldn’t budge. I explained that I wasn’t a tourist… that she had seen me a bunch of times in here before, but she wouldn’t budge. She was pretty obstinate, and I’m not Chinese. What can you do?! Eventually, I begrudgingly paid $ 7 for a fucking coffee cup. Talk about gouging!
They also sell a few varieties of thousand year eggs. One time — feeling adventurous and apparently self-​loathing — I convinced a friend to eat one of these preserved eggs with me. We bought a box of four, which specifically states on the box to keep refrigerated. I had seen these same boxes on the self (not refrigerated) for months. They also came from Taiwan. Were they ever refrigerated? I wondered… I like a good challenge. So it was game time!
Holy crap, were these eggs bad… They were black in color… and like a gelatinous hard boiled consistency. They also reeked of sulfur. We took a video of us eating them. It’s hilarious and sickening at the same time. That being stated, I do recommend this challenge. Finish an entire egg… IF YOU DARE!!!
All in all, Chung May is an okay Chinese grocery store. It’s best suited for grabbing a few items, but not serious shopping. It’s small and convenient, but not a revelation. It has its place in the neighborhood, and I imagine it will probably stay for a long time.

Been going here since… forever!
Very convenient location and it seems cleaner than most other grocery stores in Chinatown. They stock quite a variety of Asian snacks, candies and drinks. It is a bit more expensive than other grocery stores in Chinatown but at the same time, more fresh. It’s no H-​mart/​Han ah Reum but still… good for what it is!

Before the advent of the larger Asian stores that opened on Washington Avenue, in Cheltenham and 69^th Street, Chung May was the place for Asian ingredients. Though the newer markets are getting bigger and offering more such as vast fresh fish departments, this store maintains its authenticity, offering fresh produce as well as frozen treats and an extensive selection of dried, canned and jarred staples and utensils, teas and ceramic ware for both Asian and Occidental patrons. Always worth a visit.

This is one of my favorite Chinese grocery stores in Chinatown. The store is neatly stacked and fully stocked with all the sauces and dried goods that you’ll need for Chinese cooking. Btw, I’ve never encountered an expired can in this store. The staff are helpful and friendly, but it’s always a bonus if you speak Chinese.

Compared to the Asian Supermarket down the street, Chung May is cleaner and definitely more organized. However Asian Supermarket’s items are cheaper and had more selections. Also there are several times where my snacks were a bit expired and stale.

This has been one of my favorite places in Chinatown since I started wandering its streets at 16 (as a teenage consumer, not as a transient).
Despite the stark and dirty appearance, you’ll realize you’re somewhere special from the moment you walk in (You’ll know what I mean once you step on their door mats. (They are highly squishy, that’s all)). Ok, so it appears a little dirty, but all of the products are well stocked and well rotated. I’ve never bought anything that I later found to be expired from here, and that’s worth mentioning.
Also, their selection is vast compared to a few of the other shopping marts. When I was 16, I came for the candy. Now, I shop for the beverages, noodles, teas, and sometimes even chopsticks. Besides the selection being slightly better, the prices are also lower than other stores (especially on products like chopsticks).
It’s definitely worth stopping in, even if it’s just to browse!