Inside East Portland's new 99 Ranch Market
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Asian grocer 99 Ranch Market opened its first store in Portland last week, and we went to check out what the popular chain had to offer.
Why it matters: You can never have too many Asian market options.
The big picture: 99 Ranch Market has 65 stores in 11 states, but the East Portland location, located in the Plaza 205 strip mall, is the first for the Rose City.
- It joins existing Portland power players Hong Phat, H Mart and Shun Phat, but 99 has had a Beaverton location since 2017.
State of play: The 35,000 square foot store boasts some 12,000 items — from fresh produce to an in-house butcher shop to live seafood — along with tons of products that can be hard to find in places like Safeway or New Seasons.
- They'll even fry or steam your fresh fish, crab or lobster free of charge.
- The market also hosts a Miniso outpost — which bills itself as a "global lifestyle retailer" — inside the store.
💠My thought bubble: I'm at my happiest perusing aisles and finding inspiration for new recipes.
- I could spend hours — and probably half a paycheck — in the sauce aisle alone.
- I will admit to being a little disappointed in the prepared food options — though I did go early in the day, so it's possible this early bird missed a later-day worm.
What's next: The market plans to expand its in-store dining options later this year with an HK Cafe, offering authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum.
What they're saying: "The new Portland store is a wonderful representation of how our brand has evolved from Asian grocery chain to a destination for food and culture," Alice Chen, CEO of 99 Ranch's parent company Tawa Supermarket, said in a statement.
- "We're delighted to create a new hub for Portland's bustling, diverse community."
If you go: 99 Ranch Market is located at 10544 SE Washington St. and is open daily from 8am to 10pm.