Ho’s Oriental Market

This place is a bit too messy for my taste. They have some construction going on outside and there’s materials strewn about haphazardly. Inside there are dirty semi-​empty fish tanks and basic things you’d see in an authentic Asian market, but perhaps a little dustier. We didn’t purchase anything.

Why do I feel like this place has completely given up after 888 rooted itself in Overland Park? I ran out of my udon noodles, and was fairly close by, so I decided to go in. Before 888, this place thrived, and we often came to get our weekly asian produce. I went in, and this time, thought to myself, «I’m never coming back, I will drive the extra miles to 888.» Many of its shelves sit bare, and the lack of items is appalling. They do not sell udon noodles whatsoever, and when I went to the fresh produce section, I almost let out a gasp. The majority of the «fresh» produce was yellow and rotting. I was interested in some bok choy, and then very quickly changed my mind when I realized that not a single bag of bok choy was healthy.

Don’t know why — I’d passed this place a million times without checking it out. Today I finally decided to do that!
Ho’s (on the south side of 95^th on the west side of I-​35 — in the same little center as O’Reilly’s Auto Parts) is a fairly good sized market with a pretty good selection. It seems a bit scattered and haphazard, like a lot of ethnic markets, but there are some good finds here! There was a fair selection of Thai and Vietnamese goods and I found some vegetarian Tom Yum paste for making soup or other Thai dishes. I also found some mushroom/​kelp flavored soy sauce and some jasmine flavoring extract. They have some other exotic flavored extracts, like green mango, jackfruit and durian (if you dare — Westerners would be likelier to use it in stink bombs than in desserts). There was also frozen durian in one of the freezer cases for the extremely adventurous.
Worth checking out — they have some brands and items I haven’t seen in other stores, so if you can’t find something at those Ho’s might have what you’re looking for.

I have been coming here for the past seven years, until 888 Market updated, I never have returned to this oriental market again. The biggest issue with this market is that you have to watch out for expired items. Their so called «fresh» vegetables are not fresh. They package all the decent looking vegetables around the package, while all the rotten vegetables are in the middle, preventing you from seeing if the vegetables are all fresh or not. You won’t know till you go home and open the package of rotting vegetables. There were a couple of times I brought expired items, not knowing it was expired till I got home. I tried to return the unopened packages with a receipt, but they refuse to give me a refund. They said I was trying to cheat them.
The owners have some serious issues and terrible customer service. I will never go back here again.

I used to have to drive four hours to get to this store and they always had everything I wanted/​needed. Good store with nice people.

The produce’s pricing has become very competitive recently (2014), almost 30%-50% less than what 888 sells for. You still have to price-​check for other items, but I randomly selected several canned food and frozen items and Ho’s are at least 10% cheaper.
People tend to go to 888 now for most of their needs given their footprint and domination, but also be careful you’re paying the premium as well.
My original review below:
=============
The only reason why I want Ho’s to keep running is because 888 is the only competition as far as Chinese/​SE-​Asian groceries goes. If Ho’s went bye-​bye, 888 would be raising prices on all products left and right.
They do have «fresh» vegetables, but maybe a couple times a week. You have to be careful that veggies may look nice through the plastic bags, but what’s **inside** maybe a totally different story. They’re **KNOWN** to pick out the yellowed leaves from the old stock and stick them within the new produce, which means you could buying half bag of crap.
Fresh meat? Are you even kidding, Tiger? 888 has some live (albeit almost dying) seafood, unless you mean «frozen for less than a month» is fresh, then I can’t argue with you.
«Huge selection» is overrated. The selection is barely OK, and they’re overpriced. Alright, we’re not living in St Louis nor Chicago, so I’ll give you a break there. Frozen dimsum is almost a luxury item here in KC market.
(Look. Tiger… if you say you’re pleasantly surprised that they offer soy sauce, then I must ask… «are you serious?» Even” HyVee and Walmart sell soy sauce!
Can’t comment on the owners as I seldom interact with them… but let’s just say I’m not interested in doing so given my observation. And like most Chinese stores, be ready to take cash with you if you’re only planning on making small purchases.
So there you have it… hope they can stay afloat and keep 888 honest.
==============
Updated back to 2 stars from 3 stars
I would really like to help this guy out, but this store never learns — selling re-​packaged, trimmed, yellowish, dried vegetables again.
They do have a few tanks of lobsters and Dungeon Crabs, alive, in the store in the last visit. The water’s reasonably clean.

Often find expired can goods there. The aisle are impossible to fit two people at the same time without rubbing on each other. The owner will scan the same thing mlutiple times by «accident», yep, my family members all expereinced the same thing multiple times over the years. The owner lady seem always pissed off at her customers too. I only get in and get what i need and get out quickly cause they are one of the few that sell the items I need around KC. Wish we have more choices.