(Updated during the time of COVID-19) The pandemic has been rough on a lot of my favorite eateries; some have closed their doors, sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently. Many others have pulled back, to wait out the storm. Yaolee, happily, has doubled down. Even before the pandemic, they were making pre-prepared dishes for takeout. Usually just an option or two, available on the weekend. They're now doing pre-prepared food Tuesday-Saturday; they run out of the more popular dishes by end of the day, but usually there's still a fair assortment on Sunday morning when I usually shop. They've expanded their range, too. In addition to an entree or two, they've started to prepare other dishes - appetizers, soups, even Taiwanese desserts. There's no particular schedule; it's at the whim of one of the owners and her sister, who enjoy cooking and just make whatever inspires them. Honestly, that's part of the fun of it, for me. I walk in on a weekend morning and it's always a happy surprise to see what's in the refrigerated case by the cashier (which is where the food is stored). Keep in mind nothing is labeled, but they're happy to explain what they've made, and make recommendations. If you haven't had Yaolee's food, you're not only missing out on one of only two Taiwanese food establishments in the city, but you're also missing out on some of the best Chinese food in the city, period. read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket - A trio of Taiwanese dessert puddings. Clockwise from top left: milk tea, tapioca with taro & coconut milk, flan - Grocery Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amazing Asian grocery - a stone's throw from downtown where I live and work. Authentic, well stocked, well priced. Shop here for your Asian foods & ingredients rather than the tiny section at the big box stores! read more

Support a local Taiwanese-owned business! It's the closest Asian market to campus and has a wide variety of fresh and imported groceries and snacks for reasonable prices. The majority of their selections are East Asian, but they have some Southeast Asian products as well. There's also a small rotating selection of homemade items, like kimchi, lotus root, and today we got chicken livers! Very calm environment and bigger inside than it looks from the outside. Highly recommend :) read more

Super cute supermarket with some great niche finds for Taiwanese desserts and fresh daily lunches! I got the red bean and sago dessert and the nice lady at the checkout recommended I pick up some taro balls to go with them. Now this dessert is a must-grab if you go! Otherwise their groceries are decently priced (similar to Saraga) but I do like their selection of snacks and other misc. frozen foods more! read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket - Red bean and sago dessert! - Grocery Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Friendly, convenient, great prices, neat selection of things you'll never find at Bloger When I checked out the cashier looked at my ingredients and asked, "Oh! Are you making cashew chicken?" I thought that was endearing. No, I wasn't but I will next time! I can't wait to go back and try some new Asian recipes. It's nice that they have actual cashiers and you feel like you're supporting a real business instead of a faceless corporate monolith. Plus their products are cheap! The only reason this isn't 5 starts is because the parking and organization of the market is somewhat lacking. read more

Much more reasonable prices although less selection than Tensuke. Very friendly two male staff who checked me out and bagged my groceries. Good produce selection and a lot of frozen goods and meats too. Nice snack selection in middle and off side of store extensive noodle and sauce choices which are all very reasonably priced as well. read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket - Unique snack choices which is saying something for an Asian market - Grocery Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've been coming to this Mom & Pop (grandma in the back?) store for over 10 years. I have always been able to find what I wanted and at a good price. I've bought fresh herbs, refrigerated noodles, different spices , Chinese sweet potatoes and eggplant here. I even bought my wok here, which I love btw. The point is, you will be surprised what you can find at this "oriental" store. If you dont find it, ask the helpful folks because you may have overlooked it, they may recommend a substitute or they may order it for you. Interesting mix of Asian fare. Definitely come here first before going to a chain grocery store if you are cooking up Asian food. Much cheaper. Also, would recommend coming here to buy cilantro, ginger, green onions, etc. because their prices cant be beat if you live in the neighborhood. Apparently there is a new owner, although the Taiwanese gentleman is still working there. With new management, things seem more organized and fresher. Looks a lot brighter with the plants in the window. They also get you with the sweets located right as you walk in. That reminds me, they also have soya bean popsicles. Lickity, lickity. read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket - View from the parking lot - Grocery Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I like these Asian markets like Yao Lee. It's much funner than going to international aisles in Kroger or whatever corporate behemoth. The store is small and cozy. It represents a few areas of Asia. This is fairly priced compared to supermarkets. I go here for the hard to find items. It has several Asian regions including Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, and Korean. There are endless amounts of hot sauces other than sriracha. It not only has lots of condiments and food, but some Asian cookware as well. The lady at the counter was pleasant and willing to help you find anything. I would recommend Yao Lee to anyone who likes Asian markets. It's small which makes it easier to get around the whole store and look over everything. This is much better than the big chains and it's good to support local businesses like this. read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket - Inside - Grocery Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

A good selection for a small grocery. It's not really for produce, so don't come expecting that, (though they do have Thai basil and bean sprouts and sometimes Chinese eggplant). It's best for sauces/spices and ingredients you can't find at Kroger. I came looking for sweet potato starch, and they had it, along with half a dozen other varieties. Sometimes imports can get expensive, but everything here is very reasonable, even cheap. For the most part its the same or better prices then Saraga. And the employees are really nice and helpful. read more

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A small store with a nice selection of Chinese and Taiwanese food. Very friendly staff. Will come back for the cooked food the owner recommended. read more

Somehow I had completely missed this place, even though I'm up and down High Street a lot. Handy, easy parking, good little place. Lots of snacks and candy. A decent selection of ramen, which is why I was there. Not as big a variety as some other shops, but plenty to choose from. Lots of dry goods- noodles, sauces, etc. Big freezer cases in back. A little produce up front, not much. Lots of cold drinks. Very friendly service, very good prices. Lots of things have hand-written labels in English, which is helpful. I'll be back. read more

I love this place. Even though I came in as a white girl, it wasn't too awkward and I found everything I was looking for, and more. I was particularly impressed by their selection of authentic Vietnamese products, which can often be dominated by other cultures within a market. The prices were extraordinarily reasonable, and all of the stuff I bought has been delicious so far. The parking lot is a tad janky, but that was to be expected. I definitely recommend this place! read more

This Family owned market (Taiwanese) is one of my favorite grocery spots since moving to Clintonville. Family is kind and recognizes their regulars, even if they are a bit shy at first. They have a wide selection of staples for most dishes and have a good freezer and fridge section! They offer everything I need for most recipes and honestly embody what I love about Clintonville; Diverse and local businesses. Please support this lovely spot and pop in to see what you can find for your recipes! read more

I came in to look for star anise (it is surprisingly difficult to find in any regular store but I digress) and I found it at a reasonable price. I walked around for a bit and I started noticing that I was getting sucked in. It's a great problem to have as that lets me know that I'm enjoying the atmosphere. I will be here again to pick up more star anise as needed. read more

I found large sizes of Lao Ganma chili sauces here. I can't find them in Boston! Tiny place but excellent stock. read more

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I've been on an Asian cooking kick recently and this place was just what I needed. The store is quite large and very well stocked. You could spend an hour wandering up and down the aisles checking everything out and also trying to figure out what it all is. There were quite a few packages and cans that were mysterious to me, in Chinese characters. I came in search of pho spices and found them pretty quickly in the large seasoning/spice/sauce area. They actually had a few different brands available. They have a decent produce section that is a bit grungy but typical of Asian markets - it's also cheap! I was in search of fresh lemongrass all over Columbus (seriously...went to 4-5 different places) and it turned out this place has it for a fraction of the price at Giant Eagle Market District. The snack section is well-stocked as well, so I'd recommend checking that out if you want to try new things that aren't too intimidating. Highly recommended! read more

If you live in Clintonville or on campus, Yaolee is the Asian market I'd recommend if you don't want to drive too far. While it's not the one I choose when I have a choice to go to CAM or Saraga, it's got a solid selection of Asian staples, including a limited amount of cookware. The owners (I'm guessing the owners--I always see them there, for years now) are always pretty friendly and don't mind if you walk around gawping at things, trying to figure out what they are. (aka, me when I first started shopping in Asian markets) The main reason I started going to this store was that it was on the 2 bus line, and I didn't have a car. If you have limited transportation, this store and the Crestview market are not hard to get to. Plus, Yaolee is across the street from Giant Eagle, so you can kill two birds with one bus ride, or something. Big plus for them keeping Asian canned drinks in the cooler. Getting a Thai iced tea on the go is one of my small joys of shopping at Asian markets, and it's nice to get a cold one! read more

It had been a while since I'd been to Yaolee market, and last time I went I didn't buy anything. Not so with my trip today. My wife and I were searching for rice paper, which we couldn't find at Kroger, Lucky's, or Weiland's (sold out). Yaolee not only had the product, but multiple shapes, sizes, brands, and some with extra stuff (rice paper with sesame?? Gotta try it!). The market itself is surprisingly expansive, considering how small it looks from the outside. Most of the products have very little english descriptions, which is both a plus and a minus. I get the feeling these are the authentic goods. The prices are VERY cheap, and I'd recommend buying any Asian products here. They have a whole aisle for noodles. They also carry things you can't find in most other stores (durian, tinned exotic fish, and apparently rice paper). Take some time and browse around this solid Asian market. read more

Yaolee Oriental Supermarket is a nice little place to shop for Chinese grocery in Columbus. We know the owner since they open...even before their sons were born. But... I don't think the owner's wife is that old. They usually get their stuffs from Chicago, so... everything still fresh when it arrives. Durian is awesome. It stinks, but it tastes good! Egg tart, char siu bau... yumm... read more

This place is a gold mine! I'm moving to a more Paleo/plant-based diet and this place was perfect. Great location and parking. The prices are amazing and the products are of great quality. The gentleman who helped me knew exactly where everything I needed for a couple of recipes was and showed me right to it. They have a customer for life! read more

This is my favorite Asian grocery to go to! They have quality food, the prices are very reasonable, and the owners are helpful and friendly. I've always been happy with my purchases. read more

Extremely friendly staff, they give us tips on recipes and recommendations on their favorite foods

True, this place is not huge in scale. But what I loved the most is that they have many Taiwanese food selections. Some of their offerings are actually somehow different from Sunrise, CAM, and Park-to-Shop. It's a mom-and-pop kind of market but overall nice and clean. The only downside is that they have very limited fresh produce and meat, etc. I probably won't make this a main destination since I don't live super close to here, but would certainly return if I am around. It's also pretty close to Lucky's. Would recommend overall; however, I would suggest checking the expiration date just like all other Asian groceries. read more

Believe it or not, I'm not Chinese. I know, I know- shocking! I'm a little more familiar with Japanese foods and groceries than Chinese, which this place seems to favor, but I had a perfectly okay time in Yaolee's. Durian still scares me, especially if that's the odd, sweet-but-rotting smell I associate with this place. I've only bought snacks here: I didn't see anything that convinced me I had to come back for more serious shopping. I had a very average experience here: no problems, nothing superb to my eyes. Its location is everything, I suppose: right near campus, where Oriental markets aren't exactly sprouting up left and right (which is a shame). read more

This is one of Columbus's treasures. I always passed it by because I shopped at Crestview (before it became a defunct pot emporium). But then I discovered Yao Lee, which is now part of my regular grocery routine. Enormous selection of vegetables, frozen foods, noodles, condiments, sauces, rices, and treats. On weekends the owner (a fantastic cook) sells homemade food. And there are also delicious treats (like egg tarts) from a local Chinese bakery. read more

I love this place! It has a really great selection. I especially like their snack and drinks sections. If you like Asian food, you should definitely pay them a visit. read more

+1 for the consistently excellent durian not mattering the time of year. Shame on you if you are not aware of the existence of these skunk spray smelling prickly fruits! I grew up on them. +1 for the made-to-order, Taiwanese-style zong zi (sticky rice stuffed bamboo leaves.) Pure awesomeness. +1 for one of the most cordial owners I had ever encountered. The owner's mother is so sweet and reminds me of my own grandma :) +1 for the extensive availability of Asian TV series that are rentable, if ever I go through my ridonkulous pile of 'To Be Watched' series that have been collecting dust since who knows when. read more

People beware, but they sell a lot of stuff that are already expired. Before buying, please check the expiration date. And if they don't have an expiration date, don't buy the stuff. Today, i saw a bottle of soy sauce that was expired in 2010 and i threw up a bit because i just tasted coconut milk gone bad. read more

I absolutely love this place. I went there last night in search of sushi rice about 45 minutes til closing time, I obviously got sucked in to looking around all the aisles and seeing all of the treasures. The man at the counter was very nice and patient with me, especially since it was about 10 til close by the time we got out of there. They have a good selection of different types of cheap ramen noodle type of packs and lots of different noodles, potstickers, pork buns, vegetables, and different frozen and fresh foods in the freezer/fridges. Open surprisingly late too! Their prices are really good, especially compared to CAM. read more

The last few weeks I have been having very low energy. I walked down to the Asian store 4 1/2 blocks away and got a liquid supplement I used to take a while back when I lived in NYC, that helps give energy and build stamina, called NIN JIOM PEI PA KOA. I can say this stuff works. It comes in a red box and is about $6 for a 10oz bottle. You take a tablespoon or big spoon 2 to 3x a day. You should feel the effects in a few days of taking. I will be taking it for a while again. The guy at the store was really nice, and I like their prices on some of the Asian foods I usually get from another store, that is on Henderson road. I think I will be a regular patron here, plus its in walking distance. read more

I just went in there a few weeks ago to see if they have sake (they don't--no liquor license), and ended up buying a couple of packages of instant miso soup. I noticed fresh vegetables and meats of various morphologies in the coolers toward the back of the store. There were the usual shelves full of colorfully packaged Chinese foodstuffs, and a very helpful older lady who pointed me in the right direction. Something they sell makes the place smell funkier than i am used to and contributes to the feeling of walking into a different country when you open the door to Yaolee. That feeling is good for the senses, i think. Though i am not at all knowledgeable about the intricacies of Chinese cuisine, Yaolee feels like a capable grocery store with a nice, family-style attitude about it. read more

The ownership is lovely, the selection is more than I had expected from the outside. The fact that you can buy durian here is going to make my father very happy (and my mother very cranky). I stopped by the pick up some specific veggies for the lizard. They had very few. I was able to get him some nibbley things anyways. While there, it seems like they do a lot in bulk. They were constantly taking boxes out to people's cars. read more

Good customer service at the register. It's nice not to have to go all the way to CAM Asian Market to get big bags of Calrose brown rice, tapioca starch, and a few other cooking staples. I'm not Chinese but my mother is Hawaiian, so I cook a lot of Asian-type food. The produce selection is definitely pretty minimal (but very good quality) and the freezer cases are mostly full of dumplings, but my priorities are decent prices for the staples that I buy often and a location that's not way the heck out of my way, and Yao Lee satisfies those requirements. read more

I have been a Yao Lee customer at least last 10 years. Yao Lee is a best store for Asian-based vegetables, including green oniions, Shitake mushrooms, egg plants, etc. Pork buns and gyoza (dumplings) are also outstanding at the store. My wife and my son (OSU Engineering Student and selective about foods) have been fond of Yao Lee. read more