Every city has its shopping standbys, but Chattanooga's specialty markets are
the real local knowledge. Community picks below - add your favorites.
Green pins: community picks. Gold pins: discount & specialty picks. Click a
pin for address and directions (Google or Apple Maps).
- Publix, Kroger, and Food City - the everyday standbys, spread across
town; Food City leans East TN/regional.
- Publix - clean stores with genuinely good weekly sales, but it's often
viewed as on the expensive side for regular shopping. The community
favorites are the hot bar and the deli subs/sandwiches (the Pub
Sub is a local institution).
- Food City - regional chain known for regular deals on vegetable and
meat packages. Look for "$5 Days" (typically $5 Friday & Saturday),
a recurring weekend promo where select grocery, deli, bakery, and meat
items are discounted to $5 or get $5 off - including the "Pick 5" meat
bundle, which usually drops from $19.99 to $14.99 (about $2.99/item)
during $5 Days. There's also a "Buy 5, Save $5" mix-and-match promo
(foodcity.com).
You need to scan your Food City ValuCard (or the app) at checkout for
the promo prices.
- Trader Joe's (2111 Gunbarrel Rd, East Brainerd) - the cult favorite for
specialty staples, snacks, and affordable wine.
- Whole Foods (East Brainerd) and GreenLife (1100 Hixson Pike,
Northshore) - upscale produce and bulk bins; GreenLife is the long-time
local-ish chain.
- Fresh Market (multiple) - nicer produce and prepared foods; a step up
from the big-box standard.
- Aldi - several locations in Hamilton County (Lee Hwy, Gunbarrel Rd,
Mundy St, and Ooltewah). Cheap basics, great store-brand items, and the
community picks it for budget shopping.
- United Grocery Outlet (4758 Hwy 58) - a discount grocery chain with
deep deals on surplus/closeout stock and pantry staples; worth a browse if
you're near Hwy 58.
- Asian Food & Gifts (3639 Hixson Pike, Hixson/Rivermont area) - the
area's main Asian grocery, family-run since 1981 and the community's
top pick. Big Southeast Asian section, huge ramen/hot-pot selection,
sushi-grade tuna, and banh mi from Atlanta on Thursdays.
- Asian Market (6933 Lee Hwy #500, East Brainerd/Ooltewah) - a very
small market, basically just what it says on the sign: hard-to-find
Asian ingredients, but the produce can be hit-or-miss.
- Smaller Southeast Asian stores on Ringgold Rd - e.g. Sokdee
Oriental Market (3613 Ringgold Rd) and another small Asian Market
(3920 Ringgold Rd) - Thai/Cambodian/Vietnamese goods, mostly small shops.
- Indian grocers - India Bazar (6940 Lee Hwy), plus spices at
Kitchen Spices (East Brainerd Rd).
- Filipino - Little Manila Store (1426 S Moore Rd, East Ridge).
- Note: there isn't an H-Mart or large Korean-run megamarket in town -
that's a common mix-up (the nearest H-Mart is in the Atlanta area). A
Chattanooga Korean Market existed on Ringgold Rd in East Ridge but
appears to have closed; locals generally drive to Atlanta for that level
of Korean selection.
- Main Street Meats (217 E Main St, Southside) - local butcher with a
serious meat case and sandwiches; see Burgers.
Last updated: August 2026 (web-verified). Hours change seasonally - verify
before you go.
This is a living list. Add your favorite market and what it's best for.