Asahi Imports is Austin's only exclusively Japanese market. They have everyday Japanese food items, specialty ingredients, fun snacks and sweets, sake and Japanese beers, household goods, origami, unique gifts and more. I first discovered them at their Burnet Road location and was so excited when they opened a new location on Lamar. The store is compact but packed wall-to-wall with authentic Japanese groceries, snacks, drinks, and home goods you just don't find in mainstream supermarkets. The staff is polite and efficient, and the checkout process is quick even when it's busy. Parking can be a little tight depending on the time of day. I especially love ordering their freshly made bento boxes for lunch. They go pretty fast but they allow you to reserve them over the phone on place an online order. My favorite is the Ebi fry which comes with 2 fried shrimp tempura and the Aji fry with fried fish. Then bento boxes come with rice, kinpira, tamago yaki and shibazuke. They also have a lot of Japanese items including my favorite sake Hana Awaka and other fun items. If it is a speciality Japanese item, I know I can most likely find it here. read more

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I'm genuinely so happy that Austin has a Japanese grocery store like Asahi Import. This was my third visit, and every time it feels like a little slice of Japan right here in the city. One of my absolute favorites is their onigiri rice balls--I honestly crave them. I stopped by a little after lunchtime, and there was already a sign saying they were finished taking onigiri orders for the day. I was browsing around anyway when one of the ladies kindly asked what I was looking for. I casually mentioned a few onigiri styles, and to my surprise she smiled and said they still had some left and could make them for me. That small gesture completely made my day. The kindness and warmth of the Japanese ladies working there truly stands out. You can feel the care they put into both the food and the customers. I also picked up some Japanese noodles and sweets while I was there, which made for a very delicious and comforting lunch at home. Thank you for the wonderful service and atmosphere. Keep up the great work always. Cheers read more

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I came into the market on Friday 11/14 to pick up my online order out of Erica's Cookie Wookie Kitchen. The pickups opened at 1pm but I had been sitting on the green bench outside since 12:08pm. People probably wondered why I was there for so long, haha I did a quick walkthrough before sitting down but did a more thorough look when the time came. It's smaller than I expected. I purchased 3 onigiris which were already warmed and sitting within small wicker baskets lining the shelf opposite the cash register. The pickup process didn't take long. When I arrived at my next stop, I immediately dug into the onigiris since they can't sit out for too long. I was disappointed with all three, feeling like each lacked flavors. Also, one of my cookie boxes was mistakenly given to someone else. Erica was nice about it though and gave me a refund. Overall, I think you can find a lot of this at a Ranch 99 or H-Mart. I guess it's nice that this is closer to Downtown/South Austin and saves those of us who live here a trip up north. read more

Been wanting to check Asahi Imports out for over a year now and finally got to do that today. And I am in love! So many Japanese products, including ready-to-go snacks and drinks. I love everything Japanese and this was such a cute find for me. We got some items today, including a black sesame and matcha soft serve that is only served on weekends. The matcha soft serve is average but I really like and can taste the black sesame soft serve. This is a legit Japanese grocery store to check out, especially if you can't find certain items in typical stores. read more

Asahi Imports - Matcha and black sesame soft serve. - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

1/31/25- Always in search of bento boxes and Japanese grocery stores- I didn't realize there are two stores- and the bigger store makes the bento boxes and delivers to this store- Took an Uber over from the hotel-.. a little too far to walk- lol.. Staff was so helpful! Went a little overboard- but that's okay- Fresh made onigiri- soba noodles and a mini chasu don- really good (had to taste test).. Snagged a salmon bento - 50% off.. So glad I stopped in! read more

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Like I stepped right into Japan! This store was absolutely adorable and had such a cozy, authentic atmosphere. The selection of snacks and kitchen items was impressive and well stocked, with so many unique items to choose from. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. The hot foods were fresh, delicious, and tasted just like something you'd find in a real Japanese convenience store. My top recommendations: the soft serve ice cream, onigiri, and mochi - all must-tries! I can't wait to come back and try more next time. read more

Asahi Imports - Donburi - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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10/10 onigiri so fresh and delicious. I don't know what they put in here but I'm addicted and it's better than some onigiris I've had in Japan. They don't do soft serve at this location anymore though which is sad. They have more onigiri flavors at this location compared to the north location and they make it fresh to restock. You can also place an order. read more

Asahi Imports - onigiris many flavors... - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by and it was a really cool spot! Great selection of authentic Japanese goodies--everything from fresh sushi-grade fish and specialty rice to sake and snacks!! The store is tidy and easy to browse, which made picking out stuff easy. Loved that they have an Onigiri Corner too, where you can grab fresh rice balls and bento boxes Staff were friendly and helpful. Parking is easy with a lot right outside. Lots of other shops and resturants in the same shopping complex. read more

They have so many imports from Japan! Missing your Japanese Onigiri? Matcha products? Calpico or Pocari Sweat? They have it. Didn't buy dishware while in Japan - they have it here! Want a little sweet treat? They have so many - including soft serve (certain days of the week). This little store is packed full of goodies and good finds. Staff are very friendly. If you want more fresh options from the deli counter - be sure to get here earlier in the day. read more

Asahi Imports - matcha soft serve (small) - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I loveeee this store! I'm a private chef so I come here all of the time to get specialized ingredients! They have great sushi grade fish and scallops! Also just a bunch of yummy snacks for myself. The workers are so sweet! read more

The atmosphere was nice. Employee were happy and semi helpful. I asked about udon expecting to get the thick noodles but was pointed to the wrong size. Yes I should have double checked but the packaging was also deceiving. But all in all a nice place! read more

Clean place with friendly, helpful staff always ready to assist. Great selection of fresh fish, vegetables, and a wide variety of Japanese products. If you need anything from Japan, this is the spot. A must-visit in Austin. read more

Omg, THIS PLACE IS AN ABSOLUTE GEM. I have placed myself in the fan club of Asahi Imports! There are parts of me hesitant to share this review because I want no one else to know about how awesome it is, but the other part has to brag about them to help keep business good! I stopped in here because I kept seeing repetitive Tiktok videos of folks making crispy rice and sushi (damn algorithms). I was all like, "oh I can do that." So I googled sushi grade fish in Austin and this place popped up. The fish was frozen when purchased but when it thawed, it was complete perfection (see photos). It even SMELLED like complete perfection. I felt like a true sushi master handling these filets. Truly delivered, my dish was incredible. My crispy rice didn't turn out like those on Tiktok but it was still delicious. I can't wait to go back here and buy a bunch of Japanese candy and sake! read more

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This store closes at 6pm. They have a variety of Japanese snacks, cooking staples, desserts, Japanese sake and beer! My favorite were the seaweed snacks and the plum Onigiri!!! These sold out really fast. The store is small and the cashiers were really friendly! They also sell little tea cup sets. read more

Asahi Imports - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The CUTEST quiet cute shop for japanese groceries and fresh baked onigiri! This shop's employees are so kind and willing to help you find whatever you need. The onigiri is freshly baked and if you go near closing time, they discount all of them! We got some onigiri, red bean filled pastries, and some drinks. I think this is a place worth checking out! read more

Asahi Imports - Onigiri Red bean filled bread Gokuri - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

I didn't know there was another Asahi Imports here! This one looks to be a bit smaller than the other location. I like that I can buy fresh onigiri here. You can also order specific flavors in advance! They have all the Japanese convenience store staples such as ramen, seasonings, tea, and more. read more

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Sister store to the north Austin location on Burnet Road. The best place in Austin for authentic Japanese food, glassware, and gifts. This store has items that simply aren't available anywhere else, even at the humongous H-Mart stores. It's worth a trip just to gawk at the amazing array of awesome goods. Super staff as well. Highly recommended. read more

Asahi Imports - Yummy gummy candy - the yuzu flavor is soooo good. - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

I want to live in this store!!! Love the matcha options and the onigiri made fresh in store. It's a small store but has just about everything you need. The people that worked there were super friendly. Can't wait to come back and try a bento box! read more

It's a small Japanese store that sells authentic Japanese snacks, groceries, gifts, and other products. Everyone there was so nice! When I checked out, the lady spoke in both Japanese and English. I thought it was rather charming. Snacks galore! I wanted to grab everything even though I couldn't tell what they were! I was able to find some good premium sakes there. Probably spent more money than I'd like. The original quest was finding mochi ice cream for a NYE party, and I found some matcha flavored ones. They tasted so yummy and authentic. Unlike some other brands, no need to wait to thaw the mochi for a few minutes, it was chewy fresh out of the freezer. I also bought a couple of onigiri's (salmon and karaage/mayo) made that morning. I was there about 20 mins after they opened. The onigiri fillings were still warm and delicious. when I got home. They also sell cute gifts such as sake sets and chopsticks. Due to the lack of Asian grocery stores in South Austin, it's a 5 out of 5 stars from me! read more

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FINALLY! A Japanese market south of the river, bringing a taste of The Land of The Rising Sun closer than ever! This second location for the famed Asahi Imports is still in soft opening mode at the moment, with fresh onigiri coming this Thursday and a grand opening celebration planned for January 2022. That's right around the corner, but why wait? There are still plenty of tantalizing snacks, drinks, frozen specialties, and pantry goods to snap up. They're still feverishly stocking shelves so you may not see everything you want at the moment. Be patient! Everyone working here is incredibly friendly too; don't be afraid to ask in case they might have more in back. Price tags are also forthcoming, for anyone daunted by unknown expenses. Other big pluses: Ample free parking! Easy access on South Lamar! Fresh produce! Lovely people to practice your terrible Japanese language skills with (or maybe that's just me?)! It's already wonderful and promises even greater foodie riches in the near future. read more

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Small, clean store, conveniently located and they had just about everything I was looking for. Onigiri was tasty! I got a tempura shrimp one and it was delicious! I went to find packs of yakisoba and found an ample supply. Made some that night! Yum!! I was in search of Japanese candy for my 90 year old mother and found a wide variety of tasty treats. My mom was so happy when I gave them to her! She knew the cities of origin, and complemented on the authentic Japanese taste! (I had bought her some from the Korean store and she enjoyed them but really prefers the Japanese candy. A bit more expensive but worth it!) I can't wait to go and visit their larger store up north and hope for a wider variety of treats and snacks! read more

Love that this place is in South Austin now. Onigiri made fresh here really satisfies a craving - the have a mix of seafood, veggie and meat. So Good. They also have some bento boxes for those wanting something other than onigiri or something to supplement. Other than that they have assorted Japanese groceries/staples (including sashimi grade fish). As a speciality shop some of the prices are slightly elevated as you would expect. Complaint - not open late enough for me to swing by after work to get onigiri. Maybe they need an after hours onigiri ATM. read more

Marvelous little place. We visited Japan and really came to love Okonomi Yaki. I made with ingredients from this beautiful store and it's become something we really enjoy regularly. There are all sorts of strange and exotic snacks, rice cakes and excellent prepared foods to try. I'm really glad there's one down South now and I hope to get there soon. read more

RUN, DON'T WALK, TO ASAHI ON S LAMAR! I am so happy we stopped in here one day. I have been pretty interested in Japanese and Asian cuisine & culture as a whole for a while now. This store is incredibly cute with the candies and snacks. We noticed the different Onigiri (which we had never tried before) and decided to try the Kara-age (fried chicken) one. It's safe to say we have a new obsession. They allow you to text in your order and pick it up. It's SO easy! Everyone here is extremely nice and helpful! read more

Asahi Imports - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I'm a huge fan of Asahi Imports and am so happy to have a location closer to me on the South side, so now I tack it onto my Central Market grocery runs since they're close to each other. It's actually a little dangerous because having the original Asahi be further away was a natural laziness barrier to grabbing onigiri on a whim. I now don't have that excuse. This location is tucked in the middle of a strip mall on South Lamar that has a Torchy's. Also next door to Asahi is an Auto Title store that always has a huge line for DMV services, so don't mistake that line for getting into Asahi like I did on my first visit. Compared to the North location, this Asahi is a bit smaller and narrow but bright and clean, making it feel more like a compact Japanese convenience store. It has a bunch of the staples I come here for - frozen items (gyoza, karaage, takoyaki, sushi grade fish), ramen, snacks, condiments, yuzu juice, onigiri and bento. At the moment, it doesn't have as many groceries as the original location and I'm not sure if that will change. Notably missing was fresh shiso leaves that I use for raw squid, cocktails, and salads. It has the same amazing staff and prepared foods so I really can't complain. It adds such a quality of life to have Asahi in the community. read more

this little shop is great! it's mostly snacks with some frozen meals, drinks and cooking ingredients. i love that i don't need to drive all the way to north for some asian goodies. i love their candy gummies selection, they're so addictive. they have all kinds of onigiri and it's so affordable. employees are always friendly. def check them out if you're in the area! read more

Asahi Imports - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Love this place for so many reasons. I love the pickled vegetables, the little seaweed rice cakes they make fresh, the many options of noodles, including their real soba noodles, which are made from buckwheat and many places don't sell real soba noodles. All of the different broths also are amazing. I just recommend going because you just need to look around to find the things you like or are willing to try. Have fun!! read more

If you're looking for authentic Japanese foods/goods this is THE place to go! While shopping you must try their daily oni giri specials, as well as their Bento boxes. You can order online for pickup as well. read more

Always great food and the staff is so considerate. We stopped in to buy some onigiri and rice bowls for a picnic the other day, and just outside the door in the parking lot my kid accidentally dropped one of the chashudon bowls, and it went everywhere. Right as I was re-entering the store to purchase another, the staff already grabbed another and gave it to me. They even refused payment! Please help me repay them with additional customers. read more

I've lived in Austin since 1995 and have been to this little shopping mall where Kerby Lane and uptown cheapskate is I can't even tell you how many times and I've never noticed this Japanese market before! What a great find! I'm eating a Bento box that they have brought in fresh made Wednesday through Sunday. Everyone there is friendly, and they have a very good selection of Japanese goods. I will be back! read more

Asahi is my go to for all things sushi! They have the best frozen sushi grade fish cuts at such a reasonable price and the best onigiri! Love coming here weekly to get my fix of Japanese goodies! They also carry the sando bread which I use to make my own egg sandos at home! The staff is always so friendly and helpful! read more

Love this store. The staff is awesome and helpful. The food quality is great too. We desperately needed better Asian food options in south Austin. Unfortunately for my wallet, this place is 5 minutes from my house. I love purchasing their frozen sushi fish, shiso leaf and ikura for an easy sushi lunch. Randomly grabbed the frozen tamago and let it thaw under refrigeration before slicing thin. It was so delicious. read more

Such a cute little Japanese store selling Japanese goods and little gifts. They have Japanese meals as well for sale if you need a quick lunch on the go. This is clearly a store that takes pride in what they sell. The employees are sweet as well. read more

Love Asahi and there every weekend. Really nice selection of Japanese food and drink. Have onigiri freshly made. Staff is super friendly. read more

Great selection for their size and great customer service. It's been some months since I visited but I can't wait to go back!

Love the freshly made Onigiri! Salmon, Mentaiko and Salmon Kombu are absolutely delicious. The staff are very friendly! The store has a large assortment of authentic snacks, groceries and gifts. Asahi Imports is a must go whenever we're in Austin! read more

I am here mainly for the Origiri and picked 3 today for quick lunch and dinner as well as an icy cold coffee. The food is fresh and delicious, and the lady at the register is friendly and polite. read more

meh. lots of out of stock grocery (went there looking for 4 items all were not available) AND they don't have a matcha ice cream machine means that i will have to trek to their north location. read more

We stumbled upon Asahi during a random day out and were delighted to find a charming store full of high quality, fun Japanese treats. My kids enjoyed picking out a yummy sweet that they'd never seen before. I perused the sake wall and received incredibly helpful guidance on how to make a selection. We look forward to going back to try the ongiri (rice balls)...I'm especially intrigued by the one with shishito peppers and miso. Yum! read more

A cute little Japanese grocery store, really just came here to check it out as we don't have one of these in Houston, and let me just say.. They have fresh onigiri!! The chicken & mayo one... SO BOMB!! (We were able to check out both locations, by accident and the one on burnett I think is just a bit bigger with more house wares) read more