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Ranch 99 Market:
a Chinese Grocery Store
Ranch 99 is one of the biggest Asian grocery store in the San Diego area. The store is actually named "99 Ranch Market" but almost everyone knows it as "Ranch 99".
First of all, if you have never been to a Chinatown or to a place where Chinese people congregate, then hang on to your hats! There is a lot of people in this store, they're all jabbering at one another, they're all pushing large grocery carts, which followed by a bunch of kids. It's busy - not mean spirited or ferocious - just bustling.
Not only is it busy, it is jam packed with stuff. Many of the items are still in their original cardboard boxes with the lids slit open. These are stacked along the aisles and outside the front door. This, in combination with the above, makes shopping in Ranch 99 an experience!
As you enter, towards the left you will find a hot deli where you can buy items "for here" or "togo". The bakery is immediately beside the hot deli and it displays some amazing selection of buns and confectioneries.
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The shelves are filled to the brim with jars, cans, bags, sacks, and tubs of food.
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The vegetable section is quite large but not everything is in pristine condition. Some items are stacked nicely while others are thrown together in a pile (admittedly, it is possible that they were nicely stacked but were then rearranged). There are a large variety of tubers, shoots, and vegetables that are not found elsewhere.
The meat department is quite good: a nice healthy selection of meats and sausages. This is an example of "the more people eat them because they are fresher and they are fresher because more people eat them."
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The freezer section has an abundance of frozen dumplings and frozen foods. It is interesting to note that Ranch 99 carries Asian specific foods as well as American food. So expect to find the edamame two shelves from the macaroni and cheese, and the packs of miso soup beside the cans of Campbell soup. The store may appear to be a bit of a free-for-all especially since some aisles are dedicated to pots & pans, bowls & plates, brooms & mops, or cooking utensils.
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But, by far, the most stunning section of the store is the seafood section. Those who are queasy when they think of fish eyeballs, please avert your eyes! The fish department has packaged fish suitable for eating raw (as in sushi and sashimi), over the counter fish, and LIVE fish.
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Not only fish, but many sea creatures are stored in running-water tanks so that you may purchase them while fresh. This includes fish, lobster, crab, prawns, mussels, clams, cockles, snails, geoduck, and more. For the fish, the butcher can "dress" it for you before you leave the store. For the other items, just put them in a bag and keep shopping!
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Location
Ranch 99 Market 7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego,CA 92111 858-974-8899 |
Hours of Operation Mon to Thurs: 9 am to 9 pm Fri: 9 am to 9:30 pm Sat: 8 am to 9:30 pm Sun: 8 am to 9 pm |
Information is accurate at time of publication but can change without notice.