888 International Market

I try to stay positive so I’ll start off by saying I’ve gotten one really awesome mango here and I love their assortment of deliciously ripe plantains. Other than that I do not like to come here. I feel awkward in the store, I can never get any assistance (last time I was here I stood up at the bakery counter for 6 minutes… a couple employees looked at me then went back to ignoring me so I gave up and walked away). The place is over priced and filthy… it looks and smells as if it hasn’t been cleaned since it was a Hyvee. It’s a shame because I’d shop here a lot more if they kept things tidy and were a bit more friendly to me but they’re not, so I won’t.

After long hour meeting, heading out of the office, hungry. Tonight I don’t feel wanna go out, drive far, waiting 40 mins for a table to eat. So I just went over to 888 which is just 5 mins away, to get some easy, fast, cheap, quick eat then go home.
Hubby ordered Singapore rice noodle which was very bland, just tastes like chef forgot to add salt? And the rice noodle was different from normal it should be. So we gave Singapore rice noodle a 2−½ stars today.
I ordered Yangzhou fried rice which also bland too… So 2−½ stars too.
Vegetarian’s delight never failed me! 4 stars! I always order this every time I eat at here. Vegetables always different, depends on what they have in hand that day, not always as it showed on the board when you ordered.
The reason for me to give 4 stars is because of it’s conveniences and fast, price is very good and no need to tip at all.
After eating also can grab some fresh vegetables and meat to cook for next week. So I can stay in, no need to come back here on Saturday, deal with lots of people, and be patient, waiting in long line to check out!
PS. You can ask chef not to use MSG on your dish when you place your order.

What a find in the KC area! Our family just arrived from Seattle– I was resigned to a life with Asian supplies coming in care packages from back home. AMAZING store– reminds me of Ranch 99 if that helps. Covers a lot of ground– bakery (try the custard buns– loved the addition of a salty crackle topping), hot deli with seating area, produce, bulk dried goods, restaurant supply goods, live seafood, frozen section, etc. There were aisles devoted to various cuisines– Thai, Japanese, etc. I was able to find everything I needed to re-​stock my cupboards.
Nice clean store, extremely large selection… I will be back!

A huge selection of dumplings galore. IF you need anything for your kitchen they have it too. I didn’t know woks came in so many different sizes. For those of you that are vegetarian there are also a lot of good options here.

Things can be difficult to find, but they do have a very large selection. Restaurant items are also very delicious. Be careful with the restaurant and bakery, as they are cash only. Unfortunately, the bakery items are sub par – they’re lacking in the authentic bakery taste. Staff can be difficult to find, and when I do approach someone, they oftentimes have difficulty finding the item as well. Lines to check out are typically pretty long and require a wait, as they only have one or two cashiers.

Yesterday was my second visit as this is on the opposite side of town. This market seriously has almost everything I need. A few of us stopped in yesterday to shop for spring roll supplies. Unfortunately, the two items that I did not find at this market was starfruit and shiso.
One of my friends got a spicy pork noodle dish that was $ 7.00 and I got some steamed buns
stuffed with pork for $ 1.50 each. It was good but there were more dough than stuffing. It took forever to get someone to grab us a to-​go container but we were in no rush as my friend was still eating. The only other negative about this place is that the restaurant only accepted cash so my friend had to purchase my steamed bun.
My son was obsessed with the fish tanks that had a lot of different fish and shellfish which were fresh to order. I can’t cook seafood that are still alive. I heard scary stories that people can hear lobsters cry when they are in the boiling water — not very much appetizing when people can hear them suffering. :*(

I like coming this one better than driving to the one at the city market. This store is always clean and the staff is very friendly, and the prices on the food «omg» it is absolute the place is not crowded and the isles can fit numerous shoppers unlke the city market one. The only problem for (which is no where their fault), is the distance. But to get great food at an awesome price, makes it work it.

This is a pretty big store. There is nothing that you can not find here. From vegetable to meat and fish. I usually go there to get vegetables and fruits. The live fishes are pretty expensive compared to other chines stores in kc. Customer service to me was not that great. Cashiers don’t really greet you and the employees there are not very enthusiastic about helping you.

Okay, My last review was for the store, this is for the food. The awkward place to the right when you walk in. Anyway, I have been here thousands of times and never ate here. I don’t know why, just never looked appetizing. My friend wanted to come to lunch here so I agreed and We came. I got the duck noodle soup crab rangoon, my friend got some kind of noodle and like a pork and radish pancake type bun thing. It was so good! I was blown away. Their roasted duck here is excellent! I want to try other dishes but I love what I had so I don’t want to change it up either. Anyways you guys check it out, and don’t forget to bring cash, because the food side is cash only!

I stop by the market for supper and soon realized that it should be a lunch destination. By the time I got across town to check this place out. Most of its kitchen was closed down. 6:30. I went ahead and ordered a few items, though they were all good you could tell the most were made fresh for the lunch crowd.
I will definitely try this market again. But I will be here for lunch.
The market itself look full of anything Asian you could think of. The fresh fish section alone amazed me. You can also smell it as soon as you walked in the door.

My husband and I moved to KC in 2011, I was so happy that KC has few options on Asian stores. I really really really want to love this place cause it does have everything you want for any kind of Asian recipes. Also, it is super close to me! HOWEVER, I hate this place. To a point, I will avoid this place unless out of necessity. Maybe complaining on Unilocal will change something.
Service:
I feel like no one is happy to work in this store. No one smiles at you or provide any service to you. When you ask a question, you are seen a bother. When you are checking out, you are judge by the family that run this place. Stop being rude and no one is stealing groceries from you. Yes I am going to put everything on my cart on the checkout belt. This is not how you should act when you want people to return to your store. Please act civil, not everyone steals.
Products:
Check your expire dates on everything. Same product in another Asian store will have an expire dates. However, that same product will not have an expire date at the 888 market. No expire date products, I will not buy it. The aisles are always messy and stacked with extra boxes. Just be careful with your cart to places.
Conclusion:
I gave it 3 stars cause it does have great selection of everything. Including unique asian products, fresh seafood, and great intestine products. HOWEVER, please adjust your attitudes. I really really want to feel welcomed when I spend money here. Please don’t talk about me nor my husband in Chinese cause I do understand you.

i LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! The food is authentic, well prepared and very affordable. the portions of food are also overly generous! try their delicious boba smoothies and a custard bun from the bakery, made in-​house. the selection of asian groceries is also probably the most impressive.
— amy

If you need some seaweed, miso paste, bok choy, tofu or even a waving Chinese Lucky Money Cat, then do come here soon. This store has a little (okay, a LOT) of everything! They even have durian fruit if you enjoy the scent of baby diapers… because that’s what durian smells like unfortunately. Ha! But go check this place out! I tell everyone I know about it because it’s that awesome! A huge selection (example: dozens of varieties of seaweed alone!) of everything to get your Asian fix! Hint: I don’t usually purchase my rice here but instead get it at Costco because I did have a buggy bag one time.

This review is for their deli only. Their food is simply disgusting period. Don’t order anything from the deli unless you want to get sick and disgusted.

I usually go in to this huge place with a particular thing in mind, but always walk EVERY aisle and find several new things every time. We have eaten there once. Our order was made fresh and in front of us, and it was so good! We have also purchased things from the bakery several time and have never been disappointed. If you like Bob Tea this is a great place to get it. Not only that, but I recently purchased things there to make it myself (power mix and boba). My son could not be happier!
We have enjoyed trying new candies and snacks. It’s cheap enough that if you get something you don’t like, you don’t really feel as though you have wasted money.
The produce is very fresh and offers things you can’t always find in other stores. There is also a large selection in the seafood and meat department.
The plants and planters at the front of the store would be a great place to shop for a gift. They are reasonably prices and there is a lot to choose from.
My only complaints are that prices are not always marked, it’s hard to find someone who can answer your questions, and I am never sure of how fresh packed products are.
Even if you don’t think you need anything from there, you should go for the experience!

We usually go downtown KC near the River Market for asian groceries, but it’s too far of a drive. Now we frequent 888 Market and actually like it better than those located downtown. Reason being is that 888 Market is closer, much cleaner, more tidy, and a little cheaper. They have a seafood and fresh meat area. The best thing here is the bakeries and small food court! They sell stuff from BBQ pork buns to duck! Prices are from $ 1.30 and up. Also, the bakery and food court take cash only. The prep of all the food is done by 11: am so don’t go there too early when it opens at 10: am. We were there last Sunday around 10:40am and had to wait 15 minutes for the fresh food to be done. Don’t forget to check out there frozen food items all the way in the back of the store. We found things from frozen soup dumplings to frozen ban baos.
The store part will give you 3% discount off your grocery ticket if you pay by cash.

You park in a Johnson County lot, but walk through the doors and you’re in Chinatown or Asian town.
When this place opened, a bit of the old Johnson County was reborn.
Best part: a great little casual restaurant in the front of this behemoth of a grocer where you can get a massive bowl of noodles with savory broth, meat (pork, seafood, chicken, beef, etc.) and some good bok choy and other greens. It’s like I’m suddenly in Flushing, New York, or Chinatown in south NYC. Met a trio of friends and we had some killer spicy dumplings, pork bun and an order of lo mein. You get in line, place your order and it’s brought to you by the staff. Tables were crowded, heads were down in steaming bowls of noodles and soup broth, chopsticks working overtime. Portion sizes of the noodle soups are fit for giants.
A great butcher shop that had me wanting to stock up, only I had too many errands in town to run so I couldn’t.
How big is this place? Bigger than River Market’s Chinatown Food Market, Kim Long Asian Market and Hung Vuong Market. Combined. You read that right. Larger than all three, better stocked, cleaner. This place rocks. It’s overwhelming, it’s wonderful.
And my friend. Come closer. Let me whisper in your ear. Those basketball games coming up soon? Here’s what you serve:
Large package of chicken feet from here. Make a rub that’s 3 parts brown sugar, 2 parts Kosher salt, 2 parts paprika (smoked paprika is best) and 1 part cayenne. Rub the little feet all over coating them well, cook on the grill but make it indirect heat (coals on one side, feet on other). Squeeze the juice of fresh oranges onto them while they’re cooking. Turn often making sure to not burn them. Should take about 10 – 15 minutes max. If you have some hickory chips to generate smoke, a plus. When you holler out to your friends, «guys, BBQ chicken feet!» watch the amazed look on their faces. Paired with some cold beers, your friends – if they’re still there – are in for a treat. I did not make this up and I have not been drinking. What do they taste like you ask? Chicken.
I’m a comin’ back. I love this place. A breath of fresh air in SoJoCo where everyone shopping looks happy.

I love going to NYC in Chinatown and walk around. That being said, I love to buy food in Chinatown. I love, especially Tearen tea, Reishi mushroom milk tea, authentic rice crackers, and mochi, and whatever. well, I always come home thinking, they don’t have anything like that in KC.
Boy was I ever wrong! 20 minutes away, and there I am, walking around at a mammoth sized grocery store that has all the items in Chinatown. I had no idea it even existed until I was talking to someone at the Unilocal Gold elite event.
I went nuts, there were papayas, rice noodles, rice crackers, brown rice, seaweed, mochi, sesame balls, everything to make bubble tea. Tea ren tea, Reishi mushroom milk tea, 2 or three brands of srirachi, tamari, soy sauce, cheap sesame oil, with the emphasis on ethnic tastes, and bulk spices, function versus pretty. Oh, but there’s pretty too, don’t get me wrong. There’s dishes, and kitchen items, and a bit of clothing and bags.
The produce isn’t’ perfect, but is usable. everything in the store is usable. I found the store fascinating. The produce isn’t like anything you can buy elsewhere. I took advantage of it.
There is an eating area there. It was so crowded, I didn’t take the time to eat there. The prices are excellent, and the food smelled wonderful.
I walked down the aisle, amazed and lost, as if still in Chinatown. I loved this store. I loved the items available. It is now on my list of food store run every 3^rd Saturday of the month, which includes Trader Joe’s, which is up the street from 888… Oh, I’ll make sure it’s a Saturday after payday.

I come for the boba tea and stay to shop the aisles and aisles of Asian products. I’m not terribly adventurous so there’s a lot here I haven’t sampled, but I come to stock up on things like honey citron tea, milk-​tea mix, aloe juice, potstickers (huge variety here!!) dipping sauces, fresh produce like bok choi or exotic mushrooms, anything and everything taro flavored, sesame balls, crunchy snacks… you get the idea.
I have yet to come in and be greeted by anyone before I reach the checkout. –1 star
The boba tea is great sometimes, other times it is watery and I have to speak up to get them to fix it. –1 star

If you are looking to start up your own Asian restaurant, or just looking to buy some hard to find Asian ingredients, this store has it all. And… No! I’m not just spewing mere hyperbole… really! Everything! Fresh chicken’s feet, mung beans, live blue crab, carp, banana hot sauce, or tapioca starch… it’s in there!
I’ve been a fan of the Chinese market in the River Market area for years, but… hate, hate, hate the smell. Well, your olfactory glands will be ecstatic… this market smells fresh and clean ! Hallelujah ! And 3 times bigger.
There are 2 restaurants inside the market where you can get fresh made Korean or Chinese food at very reasonable prices.
This place is a boon for all foodies. So, make a pilgrimage to the Asian market Meca and be a believer. 888 International is a great place to spend a couple of hours and find everything you need, and everything you never knew you needed!