Note: This ethnically and geographically diverse list is not all-inclusive. The volume of tiendas in particular is so large that space precludes listing them all.

ASIAN

A & C SUPERMARKET, 3210-131 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh. 232-2288. Open daily. One of the area's largest Asian markets. Offering includes live seafood tanks, more than 160 kinds of noodles, and a wide selection of groceries, produce and meats. Mostly Asian, but it also sells Latin American goods. If you can't find it here, chances are you won't find it in the Triangle.

ANCHAU ORIENTAL MARKET, 3312 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh. 790-9300. Open daily. Primarily Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian and Filipino. Groceries, fresh produce and some cooking equipment.

ASIA MARKET, 2726 Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham (401-6666). Open daily. Broad selection includes Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and some Indian. Groceries and fresh produce.

EASTERN MARKET ORIENTAL FOOD AND GIFTS, 505 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill. 968-1703. Closed Monday. Goods from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and India. Groceries, fresh produce, cooking equipment and gifts.

FAR EAST MARKET, 2265 New Hope Church Road, in Brentwood Square Shopping Center, Raleigh. 872-7489. Open daily. Specializing in Vietnamese, but also offering Chinese, Laotian, Thai, Filipino, Japanese, Korean products, as well as a few Latin American and African items.

GRAND ASIA, South Hills Mall, 1253 Buck Jones Road, Cary. 468-2988. Open daily. One of the area's two largest Asian markets (the other being A & C Market). Excellent market for novices, with well-trained English-speaking staff. Extensive selection of Chinese and other Asian goods, including fresh produce, meats, refrigerated and frozen products. House-smoked duck and sausages among several offerings from the store's authentic Chinese buffet.

JAN CHEE SUPERMARKET, 1007 Method Road, Raleigh. 834-9888. Open daily. Primarily Korean, including fresh produce, frozen meats, smoked and dried fish, and a good selection of kim chee.

KABAYAN, 3438 Hillsborough Road, Durham. 309-7808. Open Tuesday-Sunday. Small market specializing in goods from the Philippines.

LAN TAN'S, 4215 University Drive, Durham. 493-1341. Open Monday-Saturday. Mostly gifts and tableware. Very limited selection of foodstuffs, but Asian cooking school at the back of the shop will make this shop a must for many.

LOTTE ORIENTAL FOOD MARKET, 6311-C Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 571-7777. Open daily. Specializing in Korean products, with some Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese. Groceries and fresh produce.

ORIENTAL STORE OF RALEIGH, 3601-101 Capital Boulevard, in Capital Plaza, Raleigh. 876-6911. Closed Monday. Oldest ethnic market in the Triangle, with one of the widest offerings, including Filipino, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Hawaiian, Hispanic and African. Strong selection of groceries, fresh produce and cooking equipment.

ORIENTAL SUPERMARKET, 3738 Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham. 489-5116. Closed Sunday. Korean, Chinese, Japanese and some Southeast Asian products. Fresh produce and groceries, including dried persimmons and other Asian fruits, and excellent selection of kim chee.

SAIGON SUPERMARKET, 1629 Ronald Drive, Raleigh. 878-9377. Open daily. Specializes in Vietnamese foods, but also offers a selection of other Asian and Middle Eastern goods.

SILVER WOK FOOD AND GIFT SHOP, 7 Mariakakis Plaza (near the 15-501 entrance to Eastgate Shopping Center), Chapel Hill. 933-2423. Open daily. Wide variety of Asian products, including Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indonesian. Gifts, groceries and an excellent selection of fresh produce, much of it grown locally.

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