If you want to experience a little slice of Asia without leaving the country or even Liverpool, you should go to Chung Wah.
On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, I meandered through Chinatown in search of the famous supermarket. As I walked down Hardy Street, I instantly spotted the store.
Its red façade is a recognisable sight and given the sheer size of the shop, it is hard to miss. Chung Wah is categorised as a Chinese supermarket but sells items from all over Asia. It’s also a wholesaler, supplying restaurants across the region.
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Upon entering Chung Wah, my eyes were drawn to the hundreds of colourful instant noodles and ramen packets. The display included Koka noodles, priced at £0.49, which is cheaper than Tesco, and my favourite Mama noodles which were again less expensive than Asda.
Chung Wah also stocked brands I’d never heard of, such as Nongshim and Indomie. Revelling in choice, I purchased Ansungtangmyun (£0.95) and Mama chicken noodles (£0.49).
Up next for my perusal was the fresh produce section, where I encountered a ‘super sweet’ Korean pear, fresh eel, and big juicy prawns. Moving onto the freezers, I stumbled upon chicken paws.
While not everyone’s cup of tea, they are one of the most popular appetisers in Asia. They are packed full of collagen, which can relieve joint pain and apparently prevent wrinkles - maybe something we should all give a go then?
While in Chung Wah, I was amazed at how busy the store was. I was visiting on a Wednesday afternoon, but every aisle had at least four shoppers combing through the shelves.
I clocked that most people in Chung Wah were repeat customers, as they knew what they were looking for and where it was located. I, on the other hand, was not so well versed with Chung Wah’s contents, so after 15 minutes of wandering around, I only had two items in my basket.
Truthfully, I was in awe and slightly overwhelmed, but fortunately, help came in the form of manager Leslie. He guided me through some of Chung Wah’s bestsellers, including the famous Chinese White Rabbit sweets (£2.55), ABC jelly straws (£2.05), Oishi prawn crackers (£1.35) and lychee drink (£1.19).
To his credit, Leslie was very patient, despite my continual questions. It’s this type of one-on-one customer service you don’t get in a chain supermarket, and when you’re trying new things it’s reassuring to be directed by someone experienced and passionate about their products.
By the end of the impromptu tour around the store, my basket was filled with intriguing goodies, including several items to satisfy my sweet tooth. I was impressed that many products sold in Chung Wah were less than £1 and often cheaper than Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Amazon, proving that it’s well worth shopping independently.
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