Even though it is on some not so prime real estate, Lotte Plaza is arguably one of the best Asian food markets around the Baltimore area. The place is bustling with Koreans and run by Koreans, but also welcomes all Asian and non-Asian cultures. The exotic products have quite a range: Choco Pies, fresh Asian fish, freshly made Asian delicacies (like kimchi), Japanese snack foods, Asian ramen, and the list just goes on. People often purchase some rarer fresh produce like ginger. And the prices are quite cheap and cheaper than things you can find online.
Unfortunately, the management had the bright idea of cramping the aisles together which makes navigation less than enjoyable. This store used to be a Safeway and the basic store layout of the old Safeway can be seen. The place stenches of seafood and the Asian delicacies which may be a bad thing for the foreigner, but normal for the regulars there. And, this part of Ellicot City is quite lackluster looking and feels very cramped in general.
The other half of the store is a mini store including an import store (always fun for the kids that are into anime), cosmetics, cell phones, electronics, Korean video rentals, restaurants, and a bakery. The restaurants are very much worth visiting for some authentic Chinese, Korean, and Japanese food. This half of the store is much cleaner.
Overall, if you're in need of some Asian imports whether it's groceries or some anime collectibles, Lotte has it all and worth the visit. Just don't say I didn't warn you about the atmosphere of it all.
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