Orient Market

I found this Asian market when I was searching for green bananas for my wife. This was a staple that she ate growing up from here island home for 45 years. She has also found they have many fruits and veggies that are hard to find here I. Boise area and they are always the best unlike Winco’s selections. I highly recommend to buy here and buy at a local business.

I drove to the market during their posted open hours, but when I arrived, there was a sign on the door saying they were closed—even though the red neon sign said "Open." What is going on?? 😡 They also left a note on the door saying they’d be back at 2:45 PM, but I waited until then and no one returned. Great selection of items, but very poor staff punctuality.

There were many things here that are hard to find in this area. I got all of my ingredients for pad Thai, mussaman curry, and Vietnamese pho and fried rice. They have the sausages I really like and all of the meatballs I like in soups. I got a purple yam jam that was SOOOOOO delicious! I'm glad I came here and now have access to many unique goods that I crave.

Great selection on Thursday when the truck arrives. Fair pricing and Chi { Owner?} is very helpful. I love supporting small businesses and this one should be on your list!

Good place to get your international cooking supply. They get fresh fruits and vegetables in on Friday and meat, seafood in on Saturday.

I went here for the second time and out of all my trips and experiences to Asian stores from Az and here in Idaho, I didn’t have to wait so long in line no matter how busy it is. I stop by to check out because it have good reviews but from my personal experiences with the cashier lady today I don’t like it at all with the attitude and in some type of ways I feel embarrassed by her attitude and the tone she used on me. I don’t know how this business still running but best of luck . With that customers will go somewhere else.

Update: August 2024....friends have gone in a dozen or so times since the original post. We even ventured back after they told us "she's a lot nicer now". Orient Market still has the best giant steamed buns in Boise, their kimchi is tied for the best tasting/best priced, and the 3-pack Ramen is the best in a Boise grocery aisle. So what's changed?? The customer service. Friendly on every visit. In all our years shopping here, this is the longest most consistent "nice customer service" we've ever had. Evidently someone said something. ************** Long story short: the attitude of the owner is driving customers away (read other reviews). After many years as customers we will stop coming here. We hope her nice son reads this and does something about his mother's "Angry Tiger" attitude. She could make Ted Lasso depressed. Read on... I have Asian relatives. I travel to Asia several times a year. I understand the cultural differences. What many think is "mean" really is just a stoic focused shy/introverted language barrier hard at work reality. I also know how difficult it is running a minority-owned business in a town like Boise. Feel free to shout at your spouse in the privacy of your own home. And not that child abuse is to be taken lightly, but go ahead and beat the disrespect and American entitlement out of your disappointing Asian kids at home. And by all means be passive-aggressive with your Asian friends behind their back. We know their pho uses packaged ingredients whereas you toil over a simmering pot for hours. Yes, be an Angry Asian all you want at home....BUT YOU CAN'T BE MEAN TO CUSTOMERS!! I've lived in Boise part-time for over 40 years. The owner of Orient Market is the reason I will stop shopping here, and I will make sure all my friends do the same. Many have had enough (again: read the reviews). Most of them go to the big market on Cole and Ustick or the small market on Fairview near Mitchell (but their parking lot is horrible, and the last thing you want to deal with is Asian drivers in midsize SUV doing 19 point turns). I've put up with the owner's attitude for years, often making a "game" of it to see if we can make her say "hello" with a smile. Heaven forbid if you make her come out of the office while she's eating to ring you up while crunching pickled carrots and cucumbers. The positives: Market has the best big steamed buns in Boise. Nothing else comes close. And many like their $2 baguettes. Her female employees are sweet. I believe her son works part-time on weekends to give everyone a break. He's super cool! But if you see a white BMW SUV in the parking lot you should just keep on going. Get your giant steamed buns another day (I believe she doesn't work Sundays, but you may want to verify with a drive-by). The owner's attitude will throw a wet blanket on your day. Go to these two places instead. We have NEVER had a rude customer service experience: Idaho Capital Asian Market 3107 N Cole Rd, Boise, ID 83704 Asia Market (the bad parking lot) 9975 W Fairview Ave, Boise, ID 83704