Fresh International Market Schaumburg

I just stumbled on an absolute gem of Chinese food tucked inside an international market and I’m not saying this lightly. I lived 10 years in China. Shanghai, Beijing, countless tier-2 cities, hole-in-the-wall joints, late-night street food, family kitchens, proper regional spots. I know legit Chinese food. I know when flavors are adjusted for export… and when they’re not. This is the real deal. Actually , this is better than a lot of what I ate there. The shrimp? Perfectly cooked, juicy, coated in a sauce that hits that exact balance of heat, umami, and aroma no grease, no shortcuts. You taste technique. You taste confidence. The vegetable stir-fry? Absolute masterclass. Wok hei is there. Textures are on point. Every bite has intention : bitterness, sweetness, spice, crunch : layered, not chaotic. This is someone cooking from memory, not from a recipe card. Nothing feels "internationalized." Nothing feels diluted. This is regional, bold, unapologetic Chinese cooking, hiding in plain sight, served in humble aluminum trays that completely undersell what’s inside. Honestly? If this place had a proper storefront in Shanghai or Chengdu, it would be packed. If Michelin sent a guest inspector who actually knows China, they’d raise an eyebrow, take a second bite… then quietly nod. A reminder that the best meals are often found where you least expect them. This isn’t just good Chinese food for here. This is exceptional Chinese food. Period.

Very clean, spacious Chinese supermarket. I absolutely enjoyed the food court. I got the traditional version of sweet and spicy flavor. You can pick your own ingredients but the protein and veggies are priced separately, in two baskets. They then cook it for you in the back. Lots of grocery and I especially loved their homemade section. They have freshly baked pastries and small containers of appetizers. Very reasonably priced and high quality. Convenient and delicious.

Two things keep me going to Fresh International Market almost every week. Their DIY Hot pot and egg tarts! Oh, my goodness. It gets me salivating every time I think about it! I am obsessed with their mala hotpot and mala stir fry!!! It has been my top #1 for awhile now. On Thursdays, they have a 20% discount for all the diy mala dishes! I am addicted, and it keeps me going every week. After you put your veggies in the white veggie basket and protein in the pink protein basket, you bring it to the cashier to mark and check off a slip of paper. The slip has you checking off what type of mala you want, add rice, the spice level, whether you want cilantro and peanuts, and if you want it for here or to go. I recommend getting rice on the side! IT'S WORTH IT, especially with the stir fry! Then, pass it to the cashier to weigh your item. After your delicious hotpot/stir fry, go to the bakery on the other side to grab some egg tarts! Buy 2, get 1, free on Mondays, I believe. So delicious. The market itself seems pretty clean inside. I can't wait to go back on Thursday!

Great Asian Grocery store in Schaumburg area that offers a wide variety of Asian goods. Very decent prices that will not break your bank. Enjoy buy 2 get 1 free on Monday for selected bakery items.

I love checking out foods that I normally cannot find in Northern Michigan. This place didn't disappoint one bit! I'm a sucker for beverages I can't normally find, or new ones I've never seen. Kinda pumped though that I found M-150 I haven't had it since an old coworker brought one back from Thailand. I was able to get a bunch of random snacks for our kids to try and got some interesting beverages along with some alcoholic offerings. The produce looked great and the meat area looked way better than most other places. First time seeing duck eggs and preserved eggs and I was too "chicken" to get the preserved eggs. Great experience!

Store is not a fresh market. It is a grocery store with tons of Asian products. Prices are okay… some items are cheap, some are expensive. It is a very organized store. There was a pretty good selection of meats and fish. Not a lot of breads though. Not too much in the fresh produce section either. It’s not the best, nor is it the worst. The meat guys were friendly and the cashier was courteous. The store was clean.

I usually buy these buns almost once a week and they have always been good but this time it was a complete disappointment. There was basically no cream inside at all, it felt like I was eating plain bread not the product I pay for. Why was the cream missing, was it forgotten, this is not how it should be done. The bun tasted dry and honestly not good at all. If this product is supposed to have cream then it should actually be added properly otherwise it feels misleading. Very disappointed this time.