Grocery Stores in Wisconsin

A Hmong-owned grocery store in Wisconsin is frequently the only source for miles of ingredients larger chains do not carry — fresh culantro, lemongrass, particular varieties of chili and eggplant, and imported staples used in everyday Hmong and broader Southeast Asian cooking. Because Wisconsin's Hmong population is spread across several mid-sized cities rather than one metro, these stores often serve a wide catchment, and shoppers routinely drive further for them than they would for a supermarket. They also tend to work as more than retail: this is commonly where community news travels and where flyers for Hmong New Year events and local services get posted. If you are cooking from a recipe and unsure what you are looking at, asking at the counter is normal and usually faster than searching the aisles, since substitutions in this cuisine are not always obvious to a newcomer.