This 45,000 Square Foot Asian Market In Los Angeles, California Feels Like Traveling Across The Pacific

A grocery run usually means a cart, a list, and a quick dash through familiar aisles. This place feels different the moment the doors slide open.

The air smells like roasted duck and fresh bread. Tanks bubble near the entrance. Shoppers pause mid-step, scanning shelves stacked with sauces, snacks, and produce they have never seen before.

Someone FaceTimes a parent to ask which brand to grab. A kid points at a pastry case like it is a toy store window.

99 Ranch Market turns an ordinary errand into something closer to an adventure. The space stretches across two levels, and every corner seems to hold a surprise.

One minute you are watching live seafood move through clear tanks. The next, you are upstairs debating between a steaming bowl of noodles or a tray of just-baked buns.

Families drive in from across California for ingredients they cannot find anywhere else. College students wander in for snacks and stay for dinner. Curious first-timers show up “just to look” and leave with bags heavier than planned.

It does not feel like stepping into a supermarket. It feels like stepping into a different rhythm, a different flavor palette, a different part of the world – without ever leaving the Westside.

1. Grand Opening That Made History In Westwood

On November 28, 2023, 99 Ranch Market opened its doors at 1360 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and the neighborhood has not been the same since (though we must include soft opening Nov 16 and official ceremony on Nov 29 as other dates).

The opening marked a significant milestone because it was the first major Taiwanese-owned grocery store to land on Los Angeles’ Westside.

Shoppers lined up before the doors opened, eager to be among the first to explore the new space.

The timing of the opening, just before the holiday season, made it even more memorable for the local community.

Families stocked up on ingredients for traditional meals while newcomers discovered products they had never seen before. The buzz around the opening spread quickly through social media and word of mouth.

99 Ranch Market is a well-established chain with roots in the Asian-American grocery world, but this Westwood location felt particularly special.

It filled a gap that many residents on the Westside had long felt, offering access to authentic Asian ingredients without a long drive to other parts of the city. The grand opening was not just a retail event but a cultural moment for the area.

2. Two-Story Layout Built For A Real Shopping Journey

Walking into the Westwood 99 Ranch Market feels different from most grocery stores because the building itself is set up across two full floors.

The ground level holds the main market area with fresh produce, packaged goods, and specialty items arranged in wide, easy-to-navigate aisles.

Upstairs is where the food court and dining vendors take over, giving the whole space a layered, almost mall-like energy.

The building previously housed a Ross Dress for Less store, and the transformation into a fully functioning Asian supermarket required significant renovation.

The result is a space that feels modern and well-organized without losing the lively, sensory-rich atmosphere that makes Asian markets so appealing.

Shelves are stocked densely but arranged with enough logic that new visitors can find their way around.

With 200 underground parking spaces available beneath the building, accessibility was clearly a priority in the planning.

The two-story design also means that a single visit can include both a full grocery haul and a sit-down meal, making it a practical stop for people with different needs. The layout rewards those who take their time exploring each floor carefully.

3. A Produce And Pantry Selection That Spans Continents

The range of products at the Westwood 99 Ranch Market goes far beyond what a standard grocery store carries.

Fresh produce includes both everyday staples and harder-to-find items like lotus root, bitter melon, and multiple varieties of Asian greens that are not typically stocked in mainstream supermarkets.

The pantry aisles are stocked with sauces, noodles, rice varieties, and condiments sourced from across East and Southeast Asia.

Beauty and personal care products from Asian brands also have a dedicated section, which adds an unexpected dimension to the shopping experience.

Shoppers looking for skincare items popular in Korea, Japan, or Taiwan can browse options that are rarely found outside of specialty retailers. The mix of food and non-food items gives the market a department-store quality.

Snack lovers tend to spend a long time in the snack aisle, where shelves are filled with chips, crackers, candies, and dried goods from a wide range of countries.

Many of the products have packaging entirely in languages other than English, which adds to the sense of discovery.

For home cooks trying to recreate dishes from different Asian cuisines, the pantry selection here could be genuinely game-changing.

4. An Upstairs Food Court Worth The Trip On Its Own

The food court on the upper level of the Westwood 99 Ranch Market is one of its most talked-about features.

Several third-party vendors operate side by side, each specializing in a different type of food, which means the options on any given visit are varied and interesting.

A hot deli counter, a hand roll sushi station, an Asian-style fried chicken spot, and a Vietnamese street food stall are among the vendors that have set up in the space.

There is also a beer and burger bar in the mix, which brings a casual, social energy to the upper floor.

Seating is available for those who want to eat on-site, and the open layout means the food court has a communal, lively feel rather than a cramped one.

The noise level tends to reflect how busy the market is, so weekends can get quite loud and energetic.

For students from nearby UCLA and residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, the food court offers a quick and affordable meal option with more variety than most food halls in the area.

Each vendor operates independently, so quality and wait times could vary depending on the day. Arriving slightly before peak lunch hours may help avoid longer lines at popular stalls.

5. Live Seafood Tanks That Set The Market Apart

One of the most visually striking sections of the Westwood 99 Ranch Market is the live seafood area.

Tanks filled with fish, crab, lobster, and shellfish line part of the store, allowing shoppers to select their seafood while it is still alive.

The practice is common in traditional Asian fish markets and brings an authenticity to the shopping experience that is hard to replicate elsewhere in the neighborhood.

For shoppers accustomed to buying pre-packaged or frozen seafood, the live tanks can feel like a completely different world.

The sound of bubbling water and the movement of live creatures in the tanks create a sensory experience that is both unfamiliar and fascinating for first-time visitors.

Staff in the seafood section are typically available to help with selection and preparation guidance. The presence of live seafood also signals the market’s commitment to freshness, which is a value deeply embedded in many Asian culinary traditions.

Home cooks preparing dishes like steamed fish, hot pot, or seafood stir-fry tend to appreciate having access to this level of quality.

The live tanks alone are reason enough for serious cooks to make the drive to Westwood specifically for this market.

6. Bakery And Beverage Bar That Earn Their Own Visit

The in-store bakery at the Westwood 99 Ranch Market turns out a selection of pastries and cakes that reflect popular Asian baking traditions.

Asian fruit cream cakes, soft milk bread, and egg tarts are among the items that tend to move quickly, especially on weekends.

The display cases are kept well-stocked throughout the day, though certain items may sell out by late afternoon.

Right alongside the bakery is a coffee and tea bar that serves drinks rooted in Asian beverage culture.

Sea salt coffee, fruit tea, and boba drinks are among the menu options, offering a refreshing contrast to the usual coffee shop fare found elsewhere in the neighborhood.

The drinks are made to order, so a short wait is typical during busy hours. Together, the bakery and beverage bar create a natural gathering spot within the market.

Shoppers often pick up a drink before starting their grocery run or grab a pastry on the way out.

The combination of sweet baked goods and specialty drinks adds a social, café-like quality to the overall market experience.

For those who enjoy trying new flavors, both the bakery and the drink menu offer a low-commitment way to explore something unfamiliar.

7. A Cultural Hub Rooted In Community Connection

Beyond the groceries and food vendors, the Westwood 99 Ranch Market functions as a genuine gathering place for people connected to Asian cultures.

For many shoppers, finding familiar ingredients from their home countries carries emotional weight that goes well beyond convenience.

The market stocks products that allow people to cook the dishes they grew up eating, which can be deeply meaningful when living far from home.

The store draws a diverse crowd that includes students from nearby UCLA, longtime residents of the Westside, and visitors from other parts of the Los Angeles area who make the trip specifically for products they cannot find elsewhere.

The mix of shoppers creates an atmosphere that feels inclusive and community-oriented rather than niche or exclusive. Conversations in multiple languages are common throughout the store.

Cultural significance like this tends to build slowly in a neighborhood, but the Westwood location of 99 Ranch Market seems to have earned its place quickly.

Local coverage from outlets including the Daily Bruin noted the store’s role in reflecting the Westside’s growing cultural diversity.

For a neighborhood that has historically had limited access to Asian grocery options, the market represents a meaningful shift in what the community can access close to home.

8. Parking And Accessibility Make The Trip Easier

Parking in the Westwood area of Los Angeles can be genuinely stressful, which makes the underground parking structure at 99 Ranch Market a welcome feature for drivers.

The building includes 200 underground spaces, which is a substantial amount for a single retail location in a dense urban neighborhood.

Shoppers who make any purchase at the market are eligible for 90 minutes of validated parking, which helps offset the cost of the underground structure.

The validated parking benefit is practical and well-suited to the way most people shop at a market of this size.

A typical visit that includes browsing the grocery floor, picking up a drink from the beverage bar, and checking out the food court upstairs could easily fill that 90-minute window.

Arriving with a clear shopping list may help make the most of the time available. For those who prefer not to drive, the Westwood location is accessible by public transit, and the surrounding area has pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.

The building’s layout is designed to accommodate shoppers with mobility needs, with elevator access between floors.

Planning a visit on a weekday morning could offer a noticeably calmer experience compared to the busy weekend foot traffic the market tends to attract.

9. The Role This Market Plays In Westside Diversification

The arrival of 99 Ranch Market in Westwood has been discussed in local media as a signal of broader changes happening on the Westside of Los Angeles.

For years, residents looking for comprehensive Asian grocery options had to travel to areas like Monterey Park, San Gabriel, or Koreatown, which could mean a significant drive depending on where they lived.

Having a full-scale Asian supermarket within the Westwood area changes that equation for a large portion of the city.

Coverage from outlets including the LA Business Journal framed the opening as evidence of the Westside’s evolving demographic landscape.

The neighborhood surrounding UCLA has long been culturally mixed, but retail options had not always kept pace with the community’s actual needs.

The 99 Ranch Market at 1360 Westwood Blvd appears to be addressing that gap in a meaningful way. The presence of a market this size also has ripple effects on the surrounding retail environment.

Foot traffic generated by the store could benefit nearby businesses, and the food court vendors upstairs represent additional small business activity.

For a neighborhood that values both diversity and local economic vitality, the market’s impact extends well beyond what happens inside its walls on any given shopping day.

10. A Resilient Store That Reopened After A Tragic Event

On February 5, 2026, a serious vehicle incident occurred outside the Westwood 99 Ranch Market when an elderly driver lost control and struck the front of the store.

The event had a profound impact on the surrounding community and led to a temporary closure so the building could undergo repairs and a full safety review. Less than a week later, on February 11, 2026, the store reopened to the public.

CBS News Los Angeles reported on the reopening, which reflected both the determination of the business and the community’s readiness to gather again in a familiar neighborhood space.

In the days that followed, shoppers gradually returned and regular operations resumed. The incident served as a difficult reminder of how quickly everyday routines can be disrupted.

At the same time, the reopening highlighted the strength and solidarity of the Westwood community.

For many longtime customers, walking back through the doors felt meaningful, marking not just the return of a grocery store, but the continuation of a shared neighborhood space.