Adrianna Tan

I live in a city with both super expensive high end grocery stores and farmers markets, as well as very cheap and affordable (mostly immigrant run) ones. Sometimes the people from the first group think the reason the prices are low is because of quality or whatever, instead of just their own racism and classism.

I don’t see a world in which a Chinese or Mexican grocery store can survive their immensely demanding clientele (aunties) without being both good quality and affordable.

Sep 28, 2025 at 6:18pmWeb
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
Posting this as I read about people in Cole Valley complaining about the terrible butcher and fishmonger at Luke’s, knowing that offering that bad quality in the Tenderloin even at 1/3 the price would get you shamed out of the neighborhood by the Vietnamese and Salvadoran aunties
Show threadconsumableJoySep 28, 2025
@skinnylatte Right, and versus Asian seafood stores on Mission
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@consumablejoy sun fat puts all the other much more expensive of all the seafood stores to shame.
Show threadDarrenSep 29, 2025
@skinnylatte fwiw, never had issues with Luke’s and had plenty of good experiences.
People do like to complain. i
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 29, 2025
@dplattsf the specific complaint was that that particular Luke’s has been having seafood that smells, which is pretty bad for a fishmonger. Apparently the store manager is working on it. They are likely buying too much
Show threadDarrenSep 29, 2025
@skinnylatte ah, well I think all seafood smells (I know, the horror), so I probably couldn’t tell :(
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 29, 2025
@dplattsf there are different degrees :) that would be unacceptable to me
Show threadDarrenSep 29, 2025
@skinnylatte Im super sensitive to triethylamines unfortunately.
Show threadDarrenSep 29, 2025
@skinnylatte I find it super interesting because it’s basically the breakdown product of rotting meat so it’s an important safety indication, but it’s also part of what what gives seafood it’s flavor apparently and if you have the right level of sensitivity, fish doesn’t taste right unless it has a little bit, so go figure
Show threadconsumableJoySep 28, 2025
@skinnylatte Where does something like an H Mart fall in this spectrum?
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@consumablejoy it’s a more bougie store for Asian people. Has its own perks, mainly high end Asian products that the bougie normal stores don’t have
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@consumablejoy I would go to kukje instead but I do like the nice things and vibes at H Mart
Show threadconsumableJoySep 28, 2025
@skinnylatte Brb googling kukje (haven’t been there). I live in the mission and tbh rarely shop other places. Laziness.
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@consumablejoy 10-20% cheaper than H Mart, similar products
Show threadmatthewSep 28, 2025
@skinnylatte @consumablejoy Kukje has really upped their hot food game since H Mart opened, which keeps me going back
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@majors @consumablejoy yeah!
Show threadEspenSep 28, 2025
@skinnylatte and shorter queues at the desi bazaar in Jackson Heights compared to the hectic Whole Foods in Manhattan. Bonus: 10lb red onion for same price as 3lb at WF.
Show threadAdrianna TanSep 28, 2025
@espen much better range of pappadums too.
Show threadPeter_PantherSep 30, 2025
@skinnylatte
Most probably the same wholesaler behind both :)