Island Pacific Seafood Market

Currently 20 stores strong, Filipino supermarket chain Island Pacific Seafood Market has a single Orange County location – in Lake Forest – which almost completely rivals the Filipino chain supermarket Seafood City in nearby Irvine. While both stores have “seafood” in their names, and ample collections of fresh fish on ice to bring home, they’re actually pan-Asian grocery stores with a larger number of Filipino goods than Asian or American ones, plus mini restaurants in the front offering a variety of prepared, ready-to-eat items.

Just like Seafood City, Island Pacific’s grocery section includes aisles full of Filipino and broader Asian snack foods, ice creams, sauces, dry ingredients, and other favorites – noodles, soups, beverages, and more. For non-Filipino items, such as Japanese mochi ice cream, prices tend to be on par with or higher than those at markets such as 99 Ranch, H Mart, and Mitsuwa. We wouldn’t do our weekly shopping here for anything except perhaps fresh fish.

Thankfully, reasonably priced ready-to-eat items are compelling. Walking in, you’ll see the bakery San Honore offering pre-packaged breads such as pineapple-filled pan de piña, coconut-centered pan de coco, and cheese rolls, plus some hot items (including chicken empanadas) and desserts.