Jason's - A Whole New Food Shopping Experience

266-1, ChengGong 1st Road, B3, Kaohsiung
(Basement 3 of Hanshin Department Store.); (07) 272-8158
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10:30 am-10 pm;
Friday and Saturday 10:30 am-10:30 pm
All major credit cards accepted.

Newest amongst Kaohsiung's import stores is Jasons, first established in Taipei 101, which recently opened in the basement of Hanshin Department Store. With 80% of its products imported, Jasons offers a greater variety of such foods than any other supermarket here - and it is all clearly and bilingually categorized!

The fruit and vegetable section is stocked with pre-packaged American salads, countless Japanese produce items and a good selection of organic goods. Further along is the fresh seafood (some still swimming in a tank) that, before closing each night, is offered at discounted prices. The friendly folks behind the meats counter will slice lunchmeats, and various cheeses such as Belgian, French and Swiss. And further along in the canned goods section are classics such as Campbell's soups, Bush's Baked Beans and Green Giant vegetables.

Health-food fans will love the organic foods aisle, which is stacked with cereals, soups, salsa, soymilk and even Luna bars. In the pasta section, organic foodstuffs line the shelves amongst Italian imports and jars of Ragu and Prego sauces. A few aisles over, bakers will relish seeing Betty Crocker and Jiffy Corn Muffin mixes, as well as pumpkin and apple pie filling.

Thomas's English Muffins, Lender's NY-Style Bagels and other treats await in the frozen foods section. And from there, heading to the store's cashiers will bring you past beers, such as Australia's James Boag's and Victoria Bitter - and an ample selection of wines from far and near.

So, whether you intend to purchase some old favorites or simply want to browse for fun, an hour or two at Jason's is sure to be a pleasant surprise. Import prices may be more than local stores, but sometimes variety is worth the extra cost. Ask the staff about frequent shopper discounts and promotions. --By Mike Brown, translated by Annie Liu