Inside Super L, shoppers have access to a huge produce department, and anyone who considers bok choy a single vegetable will be in for a surprise. Super L stocks half a dozen types of bok choy at any time, along with various Chinese greens and even sometimes the notorious durian fruit. There is also a seafood department with a huge selection of live fish and crustaceans; a bakery featuring interesting pastries with ingredients such as red bean paste and coconut; and numerous aisles filled with spices, sauces, teas, condiments, and even 100 lbs. bags of rice.
Although Super L is primarly a grocery store, there are two quick-service restaurants inside for customers who wish to eat on site. The first, identified by a sign stating "Hot Deli BBQ," is actually a small Chinese cafeteria. Customers proceed through the line with their trays, choosing items to be assembled into one, two, three, or four-item combination plates (center photo below). Entree choices include not only Chinsese restaurant standards such as kung pao chicken, but also more exotic fare such as bitter melon with black bean sauce. All combination plates include a choice of carbohydrate from among steamed white rice, fried rice, lo mein, or rice noodles. In addition, all meals include a choice of egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.
Just around the corner from the hot deli area of Super L, there is another choice in the form of a Taiwanese deli. The deli offers a menu that will be less familiar to some customers, but it's a menu worth exploring. Entrees offered include various noodle soups (right photo below), along with various types of pancakes and dumplings. Additional Taiwenese items on the menu include bubble tea, tofu pudding, and various flavors of shaved ice. At both restaurants, no item costs more than six dollars, making Super L a bargain choice for a quick, casual meal. No alcohol is served, but a variety of soft drinks are available. Additional beverages, including fruit juices, are available in the supermarket aisles.
5 comments:
I love Super L Ranch Market.
First I love the produce and grocery stuff, and the meat and fish part of the store is well-stocked and a SERIOUS bargain.
The deli you mentioned has the best noodle soups!!!
Maybe I am slightly over-zealous because of lack of options in the area, but thanks for pointing out the great stuff near the area. :)
I hate to be the bearer of bad news. My wife (Taiwanese) loves to eat at Taiwan Express.
When she went in there last week, signs were up saying they'd lost their lease and their fate was unknown. Some of the signs indicated they would phase out Taiwanese dishes, others said they might relocate.
Thanks for the update. I'll revise the blog entry once the restaurant/deli situation at Super L is clear.
Darn, I was just at Super L this past weekend, buying groceries for a Filipino Food dinner I hosted last night! Taiwan Express seemed to be open and running, though I assumed their menu and name would be unchanged. I hope they still offen chicken curry!
Golden Buddha has been a reliable dim sum place, usually on par with Chandler's much-hyped C-Fu Gourmet, and I enjoy Lao Ching Hing, especially for its wallet-friendly lunch specials. I like their simple eggplant dish.
Honey Bear's BBQ (http://www.honeybearsbbq.com/, 5012 E. Van Buren) is somewhat in the same vicinity, just up Van Buren, close to the 202. I've tried it a couple of times, and it was fine, but not really memorable. I was disappointed by the over-cooked catfish. I'm going to try them again sometime, though.
It turns out the changes to the Taiwanese deli were not huge. The "Taiwan Express" name is no longer in use and the menu has changed somewhat, but the experience is still pretty much as it was before. Honey Bear's, Golden Buddha, and Lao Ching Hing are all on my list. Thanks for the tip about the eggplant dish.
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