Pakai Supermarket (百佳超级市场）

UPDATE: As comments below have indicated, Pakai has unfortunately closed. *sigh*

I want very much for Pakai to survive. If I lived in Hacienda Heights, I would absolutely shop at this supermarket because it has such a great selection of fresh and frozen meat and produce. It sells some unusual and hard-to-find items, some of which are delectably fresh where appropriate, which conjures for me a sense of connoisseurship of food and eating. The owners also run a chicken farm, so you know their poultry is as fresh as you can get.

Unfortunately, it has entered a tough market (already inhabited by two 99 Ranches, a Hong Kong, an Shun Fat, an Albertsons, and a Vons supermarkets) in a less than ideal location, so business has been looking slow. They haven't helped themselves by filling the center with who-knows-what-kind-of-junk and there aren't enough customers to keep a healthy produce turnover (in other words some wilting is visible).

On the upside, the market offers a variety of Asian, Hispanic, and Western goods. Also, the employees are friendly and courteous, something which you cannot say about many supermarkets. One noteworthy example is the fishmonger who dipped into a tank at least four times to retrieve a lobster whose size met my mom's requirements.

Admittedly, Pakai is the kind of establishment that is hard for the masses to appreciate. Just one look into Hong Kong Supermarket and all you see are aisles and aisles of processed junk food. The 99 Ranches are good all around stores. All the other Chinese markets are supported by restaurants, making it convenient for families to shop and eat at one go in the afternoon. Westerners tend to be intimidated by the foreign goods and languages. To go to Bakai is to make a special trip because you enjoy and appreciate eating and cooking well and it seems like most people can't be bothered.

Visit Pakai if you can and see for yourself how wonderful it is!

Pakai Supermarket (百佳超级市场)
3130 COLIMA RD
Hacienda Heights CA 91745
626.855.4390