Po Tung Trading in Baltimore: Southeast Asian Groceries with Hard-to-Find Spices and Prepared Foods
Po Tung Trading is a single-operator import grocery on East Lombard Street that stocks Southeast Asian ingredients, frozen prepared foods, and spice blends sourced directly from suppliers in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. The shop occupies roughly 1,200 square feet and serves home cooks, restaurant workers, and immigrants looking for products unavailable at mainstream chains.
What Po Tung Trading actually is
Po Tung Trading functions as both a supply source for serious cooks and a convenience stop for families seeking familiar foods from home. The inventory leans toward Vietnamese staples: fish sauce (Megachef and Three Crabs brands, $2 to $4 per bottle), dried shrimp, tamarind paste, and fresh produce like Thai basil, Vietnamese mint, and Chinese broccoli that rotate with seasonal availability. The store also carries prepared items: frozen spring rolls, bánh chưng (sticky rice cakes), and ready-made pho broth in quart containers. Prices are typically 15 to 30 percent lower than what the same items cost at Whole Foods or Harris Teeter, though the selection is narrower and intentionally focused rather than comprehensive.
Spices, sauces, and sourcing
The spice section distinguishes Po Tung Trading from larger grocers. Bulk containers hold whole star anise, dried chilies (Thai bird's eye and Kashmiri varieties), galangal, and lemongrass at weights and prices suited to home cooks who use these items regularly but not in restaurant quantities. A 2-ounce container of dried bird's eye chilies runs $3 to $4; a comparable amount at Whole Foods costs nearly double. Fish sauce costs less here than at Asian markets in Fells Point that cater to tourists, and the owner stocks multiple brands so repeat customers can compare. Tamarind concentrate in plastic tubs (useful for pad thai and other sour curries) is priced around $3 per 8-ounce container.
Fresh herbs and produce change based on what arrives from the distributor, typically three or four times per week. Vietnamese mint, Thai basil, and sawtooth coriander are common; availability is not guaranteed daily, so phone calls ahead help if you need a specific item for a planned meal.
How Po Tung Trading compares to other Baltimore options
H-Mart (with locations in Timonium and Ellicott City) carries a broader Southeast Asian range, including a prepared-food section with hot entrées, and stocks some items Po Tung does not. H-Mart prices on bulk spices and fresh produce are comparable, but the store is larger, busier, and less personal. New Oriental Market on North Avenue (in the heart of Baltimore's Chinatown) stocks similar core ingredients and also serves as a gathering point; it feels more like a neighborhood hub and less like a supply shop.
Po Tung Trading is the right choice if you know what you want, value lower prices on high-turnover items like fish sauce and dried chilies, and prefer a quieter, less crowded setting. H-Mart works better if you need variety under one roof or want prepared meals ready to eat. New Oriental is best if you want to browse unfamiliar products or prefer a social shopping experience.
Who suits this shop and who does not
Po Tung Trading works for home cooks following Vietnamese, Thai, or Cambodian recipes, immigrants replenishing staple pantry items, and restaurant workers buying ingredients for personal use. The shop also appeals to people cooking regularly enough that bulk pricing on spices pays off over time. It does not suit casual browsers, people who want English labels and ingredient lists on every product, or anyone needing a one-stop grocery trip. The store has no produce section beyond fresh herbs, no meat counter, and no packaged snacks unrelated to Southeast Asian cooking.
What the first visit involves
The shop is small enough that you can walk the entire inventory in under five minutes. The owner is usually present and can explain unfamiliar products or help locate items if they are not immediately visible. Labels are mostly in Vietnamese or Thai, with prices handwritten or on small tags; some items lack English descriptions, so knowing what you need before arriving (or being willing to ask) helps. There is no self-checkout or card reader visible from the street; confirm payment methods by phone before a first trip if you prefer not to use cash.
Hours, parking, and location
Po Tung Trading operates Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Hours can shift seasonally or if the owner is sourcing new inventory, so a quick call (verification recommended) prevents wasted trips. Street parking is available on East Lombard and nearby side streets; there is no dedicated lot. The location sits a short walk from Broadway Market and Canton Waterfront Park, making it easy to combine a stop here with other errands on the east side of downtown.
Po Tung Trading holds its place in Baltimore's retail landscape because it treats Southeast Asian groceries as a serious craft rather than a sideline, keeps prices competitive for repeat customers, and serves a community that has few other focused options within city limits.
