Good Taste: Asian supermarket sweep nears

**Good Taste** brings you weekly insights on the best dining experiences in the Bay Area. If you’re a fan of large Asian grocery stores, there’s plenty to be excited about in our region. San Francisco and the Bay Area have always boasted fantastic stores like Duc Loi and H Mart, and new additions are on the way (though we always encourage supporting local, family-run businesses). Here’s what to anticipate later this year and into 2025.

**Daly City: Jagalchi**

Jagalchi, a renowned Korean grocery store, is set to open a new location at Serramonte Center in Daly City. But it’s not just a grocery store—this new spot will feature a gluten-free bakery called Basquia and a restaurant named Pogu. The restaurant will be helmed by Tony Yoo, Korea’s first Michelin-starred chef and a former chef at Michael Mina’s Aqua in San Francisco. According to a May blog post by Serramonte Center operator Regency Centers, Jagalchi will be unveiled by the end of 2024. Get ready for a buzz and potentially long lines!

**Emeryville: Tokyo Central**

SFGATE has revealed that Tokyo Central, a major Japanese grocery chain, is set to occupy the spacious area formerly known as Marukai in the Bay Street Emeryville mall. With an existing location in Cupertino, you can visit their store there to get a taste of what’s to come before the Emeryville opening next year. Tokyo Central is also constructing a handroll sushi bar at one of its Southern California locations, which could potentially make its way to the East Bay store.

**San Jose: T&T Supermarket**

Next year, T&T Supermarket, a large Pan-Asian grocery chain with 33 locations across Canada, will open its first California store in the former Walmart at 1600 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose. The store will feature a bakery, street food, dim sum, hot prepared foods, and live seafood.

T&T CEO Tina Lee shared with SiliconValley.com that this new location is dedicated to her aunt and the summers they spent together in Saratoga. How heartwarming!