Safeway, favorite no, but most convenient to me, multiple locations.

I like TJ for some unique items, as well as a local coop, Common Market, in Frederick, MD.

There is a WF in the community my 100% volunteer fire/EMS station serves. WF has many community programs, but supporting the ingredients, i.e. donating, for 10 members for holiday meals is apparently not one of those programs as the manager has made abundantly clear to me.

Donki/don quijote - sensory overload & mess of a store, but it's great!

technically a discount store in japan - there's a version of "Mega"donki in japan that's more of a hypermarket

outside of japan, it's more of a grocery store (with discount store items )
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14464675

mostly japan + asia (thailand/malaysia/singapore/macau/hong kong/taiwan) plus hawaii/california
eg: singapore

I'm quite familiar with donki and that saccharine jingle, but never found them to be much of a supermarket in Japan. They had roasted sweet potatoes, cheap oolong tea, and a bunch of foreign products, but mostly were filled with made in China crap like bdsm halloween costumes, and fake Rolexes.

Though, if you say their overseas locations are more supermarket than tchotchke vendors, I should check them out.

hence i added that youtube link in my first post. i know the domestic japanese version is more of a discount store (than fresh meat/vege)

singapore, hong kong, taiwan, malaysia,... - those donkis are better. it's meant to be a one-stop shop for anything japanese including good quality sliced shabu shabu/wagyu, seafood, fruits/vegs, ...)

here's another one from malaysia:

TipTip (Carlsbad) & Migros (Kloten)
 

https://www.tiptopmeats.com/

https://filialen.migros.ch/de/migros...uerich-airport

Harrod's Food Halls in Knightsbridge.

I come from a family that views grocery stores and the like as legitimate tourist destinations when traveling. We're always curious to see how locals shop -- and to pick up some tasty treats. Thankfully I married a man who approaches life the same way, because we would otherwise not be compatible... Particularly since our weekly grocery shopping usually includes a few stops and involves driving past stores we refuse to shop at because there are better stores farther away. It's not uncommon for us to drive half an hour to our favorite Indian grocery store to pick up some new spices (even though we live 10 minutes from the initial neighborhood, we still make the extra drive to the flagship Patel's), then over to Paulina Meat Market for beef, pork and lamb, etc.

Love Trader Joes, Costco, Whole Foods, Winco (Pacific NW area). HATE Safeway and most other national chains. Things cost as much as Whole Foods but the quality and experience stink. A lot depends on what I'm after. I don't mind paying for good stuff but am not going to buy my laundry detergent at a gourmet grocery store due to cost. This is really the root of why I hate Safeway, etc. Staples cost as much as at a gourmet place but the stores are dirty, the lines are long and the employees are rude. I moved to Maui recently and I do big shopping at Costco but in my neighborhood I have a Safeway and something called "Times". Times is kind of old-school Sentry market but gets my business well before Safeway.

I prefer Harrod's food halls over L'Epicerie.

This is how I shop. Well, the open market on Wed/Sat in my area, then at another on Sunday to buy home grown (eastbay this is for you:p) chicken. Spices from the Indian area across town and a neighborhood epicerie. I go all over town for my things just like you.

And just like you, I always visit local markets when I travel, though it gets frustrating because I'd want to know the products and how they are used.

That's disappointing. I'm making my first trip to Chicago in years this summer (haven't been outside the airport since 2014). Guess there's no need to swing back by the old neighborhood to check on Mariano's

I’m a Wegmans guy. However, 90% of my meat comes from my butcher, Haring Brothers. Fish is never a problem. If it’s a species that I regularly catch, (tuna, mahi, cod, ling, Black Sea bass, flounder (winter and summer), porgies, bluefish, weakfish….I’m set. For those that I don’t catch, I visit my lobster guy, my clam/oyster guy, or order for things like salmon or king crab leg,or sablefish.

The KTA in Hilo, Hawai`i
Amazing selection of poke and fish
https://www.ktasuperstores.com/

+1,000. All over the world, and the more different, the better.

"...though it gets frustrating because I'd want to know the products and how they are used.[/QUOTE]

Though it gets frustrating when I haven't checked which day is market day ... More importantly, when it's not.

Winco is our regular go-to as well. Prices are unbeatable, and we find their meat and seafood very very good. On the other hand, we also drive to Costco, several Asian and Mexican markets, and natural food stores. We have a Safeway 1/2 mile away and never set foot in there unless they have a super special on meat or seafood. We also love "touring" supermarkets everywhere we travel.