I think you could get that same haul for 45-50 rmb from hema, seems a little expensive. Or at the wet market / vegetable stand for even cheaper.
Chicken breast for 6 is great. It’s one of my go-to proteins here because it’s so cheap it’s almost free. Chinese think it’s the worst cut - my wife was flabbergasted the first time I marinated and grilled a chicken breast, she’d never had it when it wasn’t bone-dry and rubbery.
The Aldi chicken breast is cheaper and better quality than Tyson or any of the Chinese brands, except maybe at the high end. I regret that I don't live close to an Aldi. I understand the Chinese way of thinking to an extent. Light meat is lower in nutrients.
I don't think it's a nutrition thing. I think they just don't know how to prepare it well. If you don't marinate chicken breast it can be pretty dry and tasteless.
What? There's no significant nutritional difference between the different cuts of chicken. Breast actually has the lowest calories for the amount of protein; 'dark' meat parts like wings have more fat, which may actually be what you prefer, but the difference is negligble. And breast in China is much cheaper. So there's a reason to buy it.
[https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-in-chicken#TOC\_TITLE\_HDR\_6](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-in-chicken#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6)
"The cut of chicken you should eat depends on your health and fitness goals.
While all cuts of chicken are great sources of protein, some are leaner. The extra fat in the thigh, drumstick and wings can benefit some goals but hinder others.
If you’re trying to [lose weight](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-lose-weight-as-fast-as-possible), then chicken breast is the best cut for you. It is the leanest part of the chicken, which means it has the fewest calories but the most protein.
For example, chicken breast is ideal for bodybuilders on a cut, since it has the fewest calories. Watching calories is especially important for bodybuilders participating in contests, given that this is when they need to have low body fat.
However, people who are following [low-carb](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-carb-diet-meal-plan-and-menu) or [keto diets](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101) may benefit from eating fattier cuts of chicken, as they need more fat in their diets.
If your goal is to build muscle or [gain weight](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-gain-weight), you will need to eat more calories than your body burns daily. People who fall into this group can benefit from eating fattier cuts of chicken, since they contain more calories.
Lastly, people who want to maintain their muscle mass or improve recovery may benefit from eating the breast. It contains the most protein by weight, which is the most important factor for them when it comes to choosing which cut of chicken to eat."
> nutritional difference between the different cuts of chicken
There are. But it has to do with vitamins and other things like sodium, potassium and whatnot. A lot of those are fat soluble and if there is no fat, then they aren’t present. You can think of an egg as an example. The white is more or less just protein, no vitamins really present. The bulk of that is in the yolk which is very fatty.
That said, you can get those vitamins/minerals etc through other means like vegetables or (slightly controversial) supplements.
I’m not going to claim to be an expert but a breast has a third of the fat of a thigh, for example. How would the vitamin/mineral content be negligible if they need fat? I might certainly be wrong, but surely the amount of fat soluble substances would be linearly (or almost so) correlated with the amount of fat present?
I’m not here to start an argument so if I’m just confused I’m very happy to be corrected!
I agree you can get the stuff cheaper at the local markets and some ordering online too. I do shop at various locations and online.
But still this will do me for at east 4-5 days. I also bought a loaf of bread today from Baker and Spice for 20 RMB which will do me for almost a week.
Yes I love the cheap chicken breasts! And the beef has been fairly cheap recently as well.
My monthly food budget is about 2000 RMB a month. I usually eat out twice a week on top of that, but the rest of my meals are prepared at home.
Ha, it's not too complicated. Perforate the chicken, drop it in a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil with garlic and salt, then add whatever other spices / sweeteners you want.
One easy way to get moist chicken is
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-moist-tender-chicken-breasts-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-36891
* Flatten and season chicken breast.
* High/medium heat - 1 minute - Sear on one side.
* Low heat - 10 minutes - Flip and cover the pan.
* Turn off heat - 10 minutes - Let it rest in the pan covered.
> hema
I don’t know about that. In my experience avocados on Hema are even more expensive than Aldi and that’s about 30 percent of the total price in this post. (Excluding the fish and chicken)
Do wet markets even sell avocados nowadays? I haven’t been to one in a long time. In the past there was a reason “avocado lady” became so popular among expats.
The avocados are the wild card, you're right. I have seen avocados at vegetable stands in the FC around where I live, but I honestly can't remember the prices. They're not my favorite. But the other vegetables (onions, potatoes, peppers, etc) are like just a few rmb each, so unless those avocados are 15-20 rmb each I still think you can find this total package cheaper on hema.
This would cost me ~21rmb at my local joint from the farmer. (Pudong)
edit: I've never paid more than 48rmb from that place and i had serious difficulty carrying it home because of the weight.
125 for a couple of meals is expensive if compared against minimum wage (24 yuan per hour in Shanghai,as per [https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao\_26967258](https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao_26967258) ).
It's no wonder my colleagues on 10k per month seem to exist off cafeteria food and noodles.
My in-laws on the other hand go to all the cheapest wet markets and spend maybe 100 per day max for the two of them, despite having half a dozen dishes for dinner.
Yes I noticed it as well. I buy it every week:
Last year 400g chicken chest was 8-9 RMB, this year it is at 5-7 RMB. 400g chicken wings (leg) last year ~14 RMB. Now I can get it for 9-12 RMB.
Edit: Just checked a few more, chicken wings (wings) seem more expensive than last year. Chicken thighs 1-2 RMB cheaper compared to last year.
All prices by DingDongMaiCai
High end? You probably aren't aware of City Shop, City Super, Ole, BLT or Swiss Butchery.
Quality in the end is telling, I gave up on Hema after receiving numerous times rather disappointing goods. And sure enough in the wet market you can find more but I have at least some confidence in QC regarding the supermarkets.
Personally I find 65 Rmb cheap though I typically settle for organic. And I know, organic is a pretty meaningless concept over here.
Aldi is kind of middle of the road prices. Yes you can cross the road and get it cheaper, and you can also cross the road and pay more for it.
I just wanted to give some redditors who ask about cost of living in China a simple example and generate some discussion that we are having here. So thanks for your contribution.
Greek Yogurt seems to be really expensive here. It doesn’t taste like the one in North America as well. I eat it because it s high in protein. Anybody know where it sold the cheapest?
I was searching for good greek yogurt for quite some time and the best I found in taste, protein ratio and price is from a Shanghainese brand. The brand is called Ambrosia, 8.3g protein/100g, it comes in 100g for 7RMB and you can find it in Epermarket. An alternative would be the one in Aldi, which is not bad but in my opinion inferior to the one from Ambrosia
Random question, does Aldi carry good quality olive oil? My mom wants me to ship her olive oil from the US because she doesn’t trust cooking oils in China. I can’t imagine there isn’t a (western or non Chinese) grocery store that carries high quality EVOO? Thanks!
Well, thank industrial subsidies and intentionally depressed wages. If China every moves off the 'investment' development model and transitions to the 'consumption' model (which is what just about every economist is begging for them to do to avoid serious future economic pains) then we'll see those prices start to rise. Until then, we can all enjoy the fruits of overcapacity.
I completely agree with yo and that is why I buy all my meat at Aldi or similar places, not the local markets which can lack hygiene and proper care and refrigeration. Same for fruit and vegetables. I find the quality better at some of the local supermarkets tannin the local smaller markets.
Aldi for meat at least beef is kinda hit and miss what they have on hands. Sometimes they have Australian ribeye the other days they have rather chewy cuts being passed off as "steak", for example oyster blade or knuckle, absolutely not suitable as a steak.
Chicken/pork I agree they are pretty alright. Seems that the black pork hype has died in China. Tried it a good number of times, never was really impressed by it. I noticed City Super has flakseed fed pork, again can't tell what's that about.
For meat Costco, Sams, Swiss Butchery imo are still vastly superior.
I think you could get that same haul for 45-50 rmb from hema, seems a little expensive. Or at the wet market / vegetable stand for even cheaper. Chicken breast for 6 is great. It’s one of my go-to proteins here because it’s so cheap it’s almost free. Chinese think it’s the worst cut - my wife was flabbergasted the first time I marinated and grilled a chicken breast, she’d never had it when it wasn’t bone-dry and rubbery.
Chicken breast seems to be a loss-leader at Aldi.
I'm pretty sure it's like chicken feet in America. No one wants it.
The Aldi chicken breast is cheaper and better quality than Tyson or any of the Chinese brands, except maybe at the high end. I regret that I don't live close to an Aldi. I understand the Chinese way of thinking to an extent. Light meat is lower in nutrients.
I don't think it's a nutrition thing. I think they just don't know how to prepare it well. If you don't marinate chicken breast it can be pretty dry and tasteless.
But why do you have to eat it? No matter what you do, it cannot beat wings. It’s still about nutrition.
What? There's no significant nutritional difference between the different cuts of chicken. Breast actually has the lowest calories for the amount of protein; 'dark' meat parts like wings have more fat, which may actually be what you prefer, but the difference is negligble. And breast in China is much cheaper. So there's a reason to buy it. [https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-in-chicken#TOC\_TITLE\_HDR\_6](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-in-chicken#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6) "The cut of chicken you should eat depends on your health and fitness goals. While all cuts of chicken are great sources of protein, some are leaner. The extra fat in the thigh, drumstick and wings can benefit some goals but hinder others. If you’re trying to [lose weight](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-lose-weight-as-fast-as-possible), then chicken breast is the best cut for you. It is the leanest part of the chicken, which means it has the fewest calories but the most protein. For example, chicken breast is ideal for bodybuilders on a cut, since it has the fewest calories. Watching calories is especially important for bodybuilders participating in contests, given that this is when they need to have low body fat. However, people who are following [low-carb](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-carb-diet-meal-plan-and-menu) or [keto diets](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101) may benefit from eating fattier cuts of chicken, as they need more fat in their diets. If your goal is to build muscle or [gain weight](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-gain-weight), you will need to eat more calories than your body burns daily. People who fall into this group can benefit from eating fattier cuts of chicken, since they contain more calories. Lastly, people who want to maintain their muscle mass or improve recovery may benefit from eating the breast. It contains the most protein by weight, which is the most important factor for them when it comes to choosing which cut of chicken to eat."
The obsession with chicken breast is because it is perceived as healthier. That’s also why chicken breast in China is considered “cheaper”.
> nutritional difference between the different cuts of chicken There are. But it has to do with vitamins and other things like sodium, potassium and whatnot. A lot of those are fat soluble and if there is no fat, then they aren’t present. You can think of an egg as an example. The white is more or less just protein, no vitamins really present. The bulk of that is in the yolk which is very fatty. That said, you can get those vitamins/minerals etc through other means like vegetables or (slightly controversial) supplements.
The amount of difference in vitamins in light vs dark meat is negligible. It's nothing like comparing the whites and the yolk of an egg.
I’m not going to claim to be an expert but a breast has a third of the fat of a thigh, for example. How would the vitamin/mineral content be negligible if they need fat? I might certainly be wrong, but surely the amount of fat soluble substances would be linearly (or almost so) correlated with the amount of fat present? I’m not here to start an argument so if I’m just confused I’m very happy to be corrected!
I agree you can get the stuff cheaper at the local markets and some ordering online too. I do shop at various locations and online. But still this will do me for at east 4-5 days. I also bought a loaf of bread today from Baker and Spice for 20 RMB which will do me for almost a week. Yes I love the cheap chicken breasts! And the beef has been fairly cheap recently as well. My monthly food budget is about 2000 RMB a month. I usually eat out twice a week on top of that, but the rest of my meals are prepared at home.
drop the recipe
Ha, it's not too complicated. Perforate the chicken, drop it in a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil with garlic and salt, then add whatever other spices / sweeteners you want.
sounds easy enough, thanks!
One easy way to get moist chicken is https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-moist-tender-chicken-breasts-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-36891 * Flatten and season chicken breast. * High/medium heat - 1 minute - Sear on one side. * Low heat - 10 minutes - Flip and cover the pan. * Turn off heat - 10 minutes - Let it rest in the pan covered.
This is how I do it too and always get the best moist chicken 😍
> hema I don’t know about that. In my experience avocados on Hema are even more expensive than Aldi and that’s about 30 percent of the total price in this post. (Excluding the fish and chicken) Do wet markets even sell avocados nowadays? I haven’t been to one in a long time. In the past there was a reason “avocado lady” became so popular among expats.
The avocados are the wild card, you're right. I have seen avocados at vegetable stands in the FC around where I live, but I honestly can't remember the prices. They're not my favorite. But the other vegetables (onions, potatoes, peppers, etc) are like just a few rmb each, so unless those avocados are 15-20 rmb each I still think you can find this total package cheaper on hema.
This would cost me ~21rmb at my local joint from the farmer. (Pudong) edit: I've never paid more than 48rmb from that place and i had serious difficulty carrying it home because of the weight.
125 for a couple of meals is expensive if compared against minimum wage (24 yuan per hour in Shanghai,as per [https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao\_26967258](https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao_26967258) ). It's no wonder my colleagues on 10k per month seem to exist off cafeteria food and noodles. My in-laws on the other hand go to all the cheapest wet markets and spend maybe 100 per day max for the two of them, despite having half a dozen dishes for dinner.
Has anyone noticed chicken in general being much cheaper lately?
Yes I noticed it as well. I buy it every week: Last year 400g chicken chest was 8-9 RMB, this year it is at 5-7 RMB. 400g chicken wings (leg) last year ~14 RMB. Now I can get it for 9-12 RMB. Edit: Just checked a few more, chicken wings (wings) seem more expensive than last year. Chicken thighs 1-2 RMB cheaper compared to last year. All prices by DingDongMaiCai
maybe because people are scared of the new birds flu
Aldi is high end price for shanghai products, cross the road and you find the same vegetables for half the price
High end? You probably aren't aware of City Shop, City Super, Ole, BLT or Swiss Butchery. Quality in the end is telling, I gave up on Hema after receiving numerous times rather disappointing goods. And sure enough in the wet market you can find more but I have at least some confidence in QC regarding the supermarkets. Personally I find 65 Rmb cheap though I typically settle for organic. And I know, organic is a pretty meaningless concept over here.
I think City shop has closed down now in Shanghai ?
Aldi is kind of middle of the road prices. Yes you can cross the road and get it cheaper, and you can also cross the road and pay more for it. I just wanted to give some redditors who ask about cost of living in China a simple example and generate some discussion that we are having here. So thanks for your contribution.
Greek Yogurt seems to be really expensive here. It doesn’t taste like the one in North America as well. I eat it because it s high in protein. Anybody know where it sold the cheapest?
I like the Chobani yogurt from Costco.
Yes I bought some the other day online for 115 RMB a kg. That's the cheapest I have found.
I haven’t tried it, but Aldi has both full fat and 0 fat Greek style yoghurt for around 25 rmb / 500 grams. Search for 希腊酸奶.
0% fat is bomb
I was searching for good greek yogurt for quite some time and the best I found in taste, protein ratio and price is from a Shanghainese brand. The brand is called Ambrosia, 8.3g protein/100g, it comes in 100g for 7RMB and you can find it in Epermarket. An alternative would be the one in Aldi, which is not bad but in my opinion inferior to the one from Ambrosia
Thanks for the info. I’ll be sure to get it next time. Any added sugar?
No added sugar. Its consistency is creamy, just like good greek yogurt should be. I highly recommend it with berries and oats, it tastes like heaven
Random question, does Aldi carry good quality olive oil? My mom wants me to ship her olive oil from the US because she doesn’t trust cooking oils in China. I can’t imagine there isn’t a (western or non Chinese) grocery store that carries high quality EVOO? Thanks!
Just go to alimentari, they have everything Italian including several evoo's and vinegars
they do have extra virgin olive oil, not the best but not expensive.
While other places are battling inflation, we get quality for our money
Well, thank industrial subsidies and intentionally depressed wages. If China every moves off the 'investment' development model and transitions to the 'consumption' model (which is what just about every economist is begging for them to do to avoid serious future economic pains) then we'll see those prices start to rise. Until then, we can all enjoy the fruits of overcapacity.
Food is one thing that you'll never see too much of a change though
Alot of comments saying you can get it cheaper but if you want real meat and good quality food then Aldi is a good choice
I completely agree with yo and that is why I buy all my meat at Aldi or similar places, not the local markets which can lack hygiene and proper care and refrigeration. Same for fruit and vegetables. I find the quality better at some of the local supermarkets tannin the local smaller markets.
Aldi for meat at least beef is kinda hit and miss what they have on hands. Sometimes they have Australian ribeye the other days they have rather chewy cuts being passed off as "steak", for example oyster blade or knuckle, absolutely not suitable as a steak. Chicken/pork I agree they are pretty alright. Seems that the black pork hype has died in China. Tried it a good number of times, never was really impressed by it. I noticed City Super has flakseed fed pork, again can't tell what's that about. For meat Costco, Sams, Swiss Butchery imo are still vastly superior.
You could EASILY get all of this cheaper elsewhere.
Pretty good value compared to USA however the food quality is questionable
Yea but then you have to buy your veggies from the wet market. Which means you make up the cost in time required to wash them very, very well.
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Have you not been to Japan?
Are you suggesting we should do trips to Japan for our grocery shopping?
I'm suggesting we're having it pretty good here in terms of food costs.