The First Oriental Market

Love, love. love this store!!! The ladies are always kind and helpful and I always get a little something extra when I shop there.

The First Oriental Market, owned by a sweet Korean lady, is my top choice among other Asian markets (Asia Market and Kim’s Market in Marina and Hankook Market on Fremont street in Seaside) I’ve been to in Monterey Peninsula area.
The shop is not owned by a paralyzed Korean guy who was educated in Japan with beautiful writing skills any longer as other reviewer said in 2007. Currently it is owned by a Korean lady who used to have a Korean restaurant in Watsonville. Her restaurant went out of business and she became a new owner of First Oriental Market. Since she used to own a Korean restaurant, the side dishes and ready-​made food at the shop are really good. They have gimbap and dumplings during lunch hour just like other Asian markets around here and they were tasty! I also noticed that this shop has cleaner shopping baskets than other Asian markets. I understand these markets have been around for a while but seriously (!) it is time for those old carts and baskets to retire!
Quality and organization were little better than other shops. It’s clean and I could find things easily. But the best thing about this shop is the owner lady who wants to help out if you need something. Here are some examples.
I wanted to buy soybean sprouts and she said, «Oh, we are getting new ones tomorrow so I will give you that one for free.» The sprouts were not at their freshest state but were not bad. Score!
On another day, I wanted to buy red pepper paste and they only had small containers. I asked her if she carried bigger containers, she said, «Oh, we have this other kind we buy for our own cooking here. They come in a bigger jar». The red pepper paste was so tasty — definitely better than the ones come in plastic containers. Another score!
And last week, I was in desperate search of large bibimbap bowls for a party at my house at presidential debate night. I looked everywhere — other Asian markets, Pier 1 Import, WorldMarket, Target, William & Sonoma, Amazon and etc. Not only I couldn’t find the right size, if the size was workable it was over $ 30 per bowl! Husband suggested to ask a lady at First Oriental Market just to get some ideas where we can find some bibimbap bowls. We didn’t expect she would have it but thought she might guide us to the right direction. She said, «Oh, I used to own a Korean restaurant and have a bunch of bibimbap bowls I don’t need anymore.» I think I might have heard angelic chorus «Ahhhhh~~~» sound in the background.
I picked up the bowls from the shop next day and they were perfect and pretty much new because her restaurant wasn’t too successful. :(She charged me $ 25 for all 6 bowls. I uploaded a photo of bibimbap I made that night sitting beautifully in the bowl I bought from her.
Finally this week I had to kneel down to her kindness and decency. I went back to the shop to thank her and show her the photo of bibimbap I made. I also showed her the photos of the store I uploaded to Unilocal (Thank you, Unilocal!) and she was so grateful. She liked the photos I uploaded and was so appreciative she gave me a dozen home-​made dumplings for free!
Every time I visit this store, she always keeps her smile and uses polite language. She is so giving and it makes me feel like I need to be a better person! So if you need to get some Asian groceries, Korean resources/​information of the area or just happen to pass by the store, just go in. The lady will help out any poor soul. Also don’t forget to say hi to her for me. :)

A quaint shop with a very friendly owner. I always get the Kimchee they make, since it’s cheap and hasn’t let me down so far. The prices there are decent and there is quite a bit of selection packed into the tiny store.

AKA Kim’s Market…
I got the housemade kimchee here… not bad… definately needed to sit a bit longer so while I snacked on some just now I sprinkled some Japanese Rice Vinegar on it to give it some more acidity. Much better! Killer healthy snack!

This small little market is owned by an older Korean couple, the husband was educated in Japan and has beautiful writing skills. But he was in a bad car accident and now paralyzed. The wife is so sweet and makes home made kimchee products for the store, and always gives a little extra for regular customers. She makes a great cucumber kimchee. They also rent out Korean Drama tapes. It’s been tough for them since the accident. Support their business!

They have a lot of Japanese products here. Also the have shrimp chips, which I haven’t seen in forever. Several different types of sake. They also have a small amount of fresh produce.
Small, but with a decent selection and definitely decent prices.