Homewood’s ethnic markets: Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant

Food can lift one’s spirits, take your taste buds to an unexplored place and make you feel at home. As an ethnically diverse city, Homewood offers several alternatives to chain grocery stores, giving customers a chance to internationally enhance their taste buds.

In response to the growing Asian community, owner Yi Lu Dong, 65, opened Super Oriental Market approximately 11 years ago.

This market sells novelty Asian items from specialty-ordered Asian fruit and restaurant/cookware to traditional Chinese clothing and Hello Kitty products.

“Lots of people ask us for what they need, and we order what they need,” said manager Linda Lin, 35. “We take care of our customers’ needs and they take care of our business.”

What it offers: Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai

Best-selling items: live lobster (in summer) and crawfish

Unique items: jackfruit, durian, roasted duck, frog and snail

What’s to come: Rental spaces for customers, wholesale nail supply store