You Should Do All Your Holiday Shopping at an East Asian Supermarket

Pull off a single holiday shopping trip while you’re picking up groceries Finding the time to leave the house and actually go holiday shopping might seem next to impossible. But there’s a way to make things more efficient: While you’re making the Herculean effort to pick up a take-out noodle soup or a cart full of groceries at your local Chinese, Japanese, or Korean supermarket, know that options for holiday shopping are all over the aisles. Broadly speaking, the housewares, beauty, and stationery sections at these stores are full of great gift ideas, particularly in the “stocking stuffer” category — and particularly if your recipient is really into food. This online shopping guide obviously negates the whole point of picking up extra items while you’re buying groceries, but should serve as inspiration the next time you’re pushing a cart down the aisles. If you’re adding these to cart, though, throughout this guide we’ve suggested purchasing from AAPI-owned businesses alongside the bigger box retailers where possible, to keep the original spirit of the practice alive. — EDJ Ceramic mug with lid Nanoblock sets A beverage variety pack Sheet masks Japanese serving bowl Matcha for tea-lovers A box of Ferrero Rocher A better lunchbox Fruity hand lotion Chinese Lay’s potato chips A box of really great fruit Stationery sets Japanese gummies Loose-leaf tea Food-themed blind boxes Regional sauces, spreads, and chile crisps Bento-building accessories Iwako eraser sets