New Asian Mart offers
Filipino staples and tropical treats

New Asian Mart offers Filipino staples and tropical treats
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | August 2025

After a year of construction to raise its building from scratch, Asian Mart, a specialty grocery store and deli, is now open at 1185 Concord Exchange S. The grand opening was held July 15.

The company is owned by Watson Fong, a native of the Philippines who moved to Minnesota in 1998 and has operated an Asian Mart in Burnsville since 2019. The new location builds on his deep desire to help other Filipino immigrants feel more at home in the United States.

About 90% of the products are from the Philippines, including ingredients to make authentic pork barbeque, fried pork belly and popular fish dishes. Pastries are available daily and a hot deli is offered over lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fong recommends people who aren’t familiar with the food to try the egg rolls, pork buns and fried pork, as well as pancit, a Filipino version of lo mein with steamed vegetables. Vegetables are locally sourced, and some meat comes from Husnik Meats in South St. Paul.

“I wanted this location because it’s accessible and there’s nothing like this here,” said Fong. “I got good feedback from the area, and I have customers from Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and northern and southern Minnesota…. We’re [Filipinos] kind of a smaller minority. This is something that we can call our own. That’s why I have customers from everywhere. They’re so happy because they have someplace they can go to speak their language and feel at home.”

Fong is secretive about a special mural being created on one wall, awaiting its completion to reveal the work of art. A walk-up window on the side of the building allows for quick pick-ups of items from the dessert menu such as pastries and tropical flavored ice cream that customers can enjoy at a nearby seating area.

“We have Halo-Halo, too,” said Fong. “That’s our dessert for the tropics. It’s shaved ice with some fruits and milk and then ice cream on top.”

Karaoke nights and other special events may be scheduled in the future but for now Fong is simply focused on settling in and enjoying the completion of the yearlong project. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m., daily.

In related news, Fong is leasing an adjoining business space to Don Carlos Mexican restaurant, which is expected to open this fall.

• Facebook
• ShareCopied to clipboard

<<< Back to Home