Hey there fellow foodies and home cooks! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for new flavors and ingredients to spice up your meals. And if you love Asian and Hispanic cuisine, I have got the ultimate hack for you. It‘s called SayWeee, and it‘s about to revolutionize the way you shop for groceries.
What is SayWeee?
First, let me back up and explain what SayWeee is all about. SayWeee is an online grocery delivery service that specializes in Asian and Hispanic ingredients. Think sauces, snacks, produce, meat, seafood, noodles, spices and more from all over Asia and Latin America. Basically, all the authentic goods you‘d normally have to trek out to specialty supermarkets for—delivered straight to your door.
The company was founded in 2015 by Larry Liu, a Chinese immigrant living in the Bay Area who was frustrated with the lack of Chinese grocery options. What started as a service to connect local Asian food suppliers with the community has now expanded across the country, serving up a taste of home for many immigrant families as well as helping adventurous home cooks discover new global flavors.
Here‘s a quick overview of how SayWeee works:
- Browse 1000s of Asian and Hispanic products on the SayWeee website or app
- Add items to your cart ($35 minimum for free delivery)
- Choose a delivery date and time window (same-day available in some areas)
- Enjoy your goodies delivered to your door with contactless drop-off
In the past few years, online grocery shopping has absolutely exploded. A recent study by Mercatus found that online grocery sales grew by 54% in 2020 to reach $96 billion. But while you can certainly buy sriracha and tortillas from your regular grocery store app, the selection of international ingredients is often limited.
That‘s where SayWeee stands out. They go deep into specific cuisines to offer authentic brands, regional delicacies you can‘t find elsewhere, and seasonal imported products. As someone who loves to cook dishes from different cultures, SayWeee is a one-stop shop that cuts my shopping time in half.
What You Can Find on SayWeee
Now I know you‘re wondering, what kind of products can you actually find on SayWeee? The short answer is, a LOT. The selection is seriously impressive. It spans multiple aisles of the store, from fresh and frozen to dry goods. Some of the highlights include:
Produce
The fruits and vegetables are the crowning jewel of SayWeee. They carry all the Asian produce essentials like bok choy, lotus root, durian, jackfruit, bitter melon, as well as Latin specialties like yuca, plantains, chayote, and guava. You can tell everything is carefully sourced and arrives fresh. I‘ve never had an issue with the quality.
Meat and Seafood
If you‘re looking for cuts of meat and fish commonly used in Asian cooking, SayWeee has a great selection. Think thinly sliced beef and pork for hot pot, duck, chicken feet, tripe, fish balls, head-on shrimp, clams and more. They also carry a variety of frozen dumplings, fish cakes and other dim sum favorites.
Pantry Staples
This is my weakness y‘all. SayWeee has an unbeatable selection of sauces, condiments, noodles, grains and canned goods. They carry all my favorite Asian brands like Lee Kum Kee, Lao Gan Ma, Kimbo, Kikkoman, Maesri, Chaokoh, Three Crabs and more. You can find every kind of soy sauce, fish sauce, curry paste, chili oil, black vinegar and dumpling sauce on the market, plus fun snacks and drinks.
Hispanic Aisle
In addition to Asian products, SayWeee has a bomb selection of Latin American pantry items, from Goya beans to dried chiles, adobo seasoning, tortillas, harina pan, and all kinds of fun cookies and candy (I see you Ducales). As someone who grew up in Miami, I love being able to get my favorite Caribbean products in the same order.
To give you an idea of the sheer variety and volume SayWeee offers, they stock over 200 different noodles and 100 types of dumplings and bao! It‘s a Disneyland of Asian and Hispanic groceries. And the products are constantly changing with the seasons and holidays, so there‘s always something new to try.
SayWeee Reviews and Testimonials
But you don‘t have to take my word for it. SayWeee has glowing reviews from the Asian and Latin American community. Here‘s what some customers have to say:
"SayWeee is a lifesaver! I used to have to drive 2 hours to the closest H-Mart to find Korean ingredients. Now I can get gochujang, dashima and fresh kimchi delivered to my tiny apartment in a small town. The prices are reasonable and the quality is great." – Michelle K.
"As a busy working mom, I don‘t always have time to cook elaborate Chinese meals. But with SayWeee I can get quick dim sum, dumplings and stir fry kits delivered. It makes it so much easier to feed my family our comfort foods. And it‘s been a great way to introduce my kids to new Chinese dishes!" – Grace L.
"I moved from Puerto Rico to attend college in the Midwest. It‘s been really hard to find my favorite foods locally. When a friend told me about SayWeee, I was so excited to see they carry things like Goya products, queso blanco, guava paste, tostones and coquito mix. I can get a taste of home in every box!" – Gabriel M.
On the SayWeee Facebook group, fans of the app swap recipe ideas, post photos of their orders, and gush about their favorite finds. There‘s a real sense of community and shared cultural pride. It reminds me of swapping snacks and candy with my immigrant friends in the school cafeteria growing up.
Is SayWeee Worth It?
As with any service, there are pros and cons to consider. Here‘s my take on the key advantages and drawbacks to SayWeee:
Pros
- Unbeatable selection and quality of Asian and Hispanic ingredients
- Convenient delivery to your door with contactless drop-off
- Free delivery over $35 (which is easy to hit)
- Seasonal items and new products keep things exciting
- Feel-good factor of supporting immigrant-owned food businesses
- 5% credit on all purchases for SayWeee VIP members
Cons
- Delivery fees on orders under $35
- Some items are pricier than in Asian/Latin grocery stores
- Minimum subtotals for free delivery vary by region
- Same-day delivery not available everywhere
Personally, I think SayWeee is 100% worth it if you love Asian and Hispanic food but don‘t live near specialty grocery stores. The variety and quality really is outstanding. Even though some items cost a bit more than I‘d pay at my local H-Mart or Latin market, the convenience of delivery more than makes up for it. I‘ve definitely saved time and gas by getting my essentials from SayWeee.
However, if you‘re lucky enough to have a 99 Ranch, Mitsuwa, Patel Brothers or other ethnic grocer in your backyard, it‘s probably more cost-effective to shop in-store. Still, I love checking SayWeee for special seasonal items, harder-to-find products, and inspiration for my next food project.
How to Make the Most of Your SayWeee Orders
To wrap up, I want to share a few tips I‘ve learned to maximize the value and fun of shopping on SayWeee:
- Get free delivery by adding a few more items to hit the $35 minimum. It‘s a great chance to stock up on shelf-stable sauces, noodles and snacks.
- Check the "What‘s New" tab for the latest products and deals. I‘ve discovered some of my favorite new condiments and frozen foods through their curated picks.
- Read the product reviews from other customers before trying something new. SayWeee shoppers give great tips on how to use unfamiliar ingredients.
- Make a list of dishes you want to cook and search for bundles of related items. For example, SayWeee has a dim sum kit, Korean BBQ pack, and hot pot essentials bundle.
- Look for holiday promotions around Asian and Hispanic celebrations like Lunar New Year, Chuseok, Diwali, Día de los Muertos and more. SayWeee carries special items and gift sets you won‘t find elsewhere.
- Consider signing up for SayWeee VIP if you order frequently. For an annual fee of $99, you get unlimited free shipping with no minimums and 5% credit on every order. It definitely pays for itself if you order weekly.
At the end of the day, SayWeee has made it infinitely easier and more fun for me to explore Asian and Latin cooking. I‘ve discovered so many new dishes, flavors and products that I never would have found locally. And I feel good supporting a company that uplifts immigrant communities and makes our comfort foods more accessible.
If you‘re looking to switch up your cooking routine, impress friends with a special ethnic meal, or just see what the buzz is about, I can‘t recommend SayWeee enough. Use my code LUCY10 for $10 off your first box and prepare for a foodie adventure. Happy cooking, and don‘t blame me if you get hooked!
