Long awaited review as I have been coming here for decades. There are so many markets all over Little Saigon, however, I keep gravitating here. Seems to me, it is less crowded than other markets. (If I can avoid crowds, I will).
It was Tet New Year season and I needed to get a few ingredients for some dishes I planned to cook.
My first priority was the fresh oxtail in the meat department. I have gone to many markets for this cut and it seems this is the best place for a ~2 pound tray of mixed size tails. The fat is all trimmed off, as opposed to other markets that leave a fat layer behind that you are paying for. It also depends on if you prefer leaner tails.
Next, the produce section. I picked up some cailan (Chinese broccoli). For the most part, the Asian veggies are pretty fresh - since there is a higher turnover rate of Asian veggies in this area. It was good on this day. So many varieties of green veggies, I love it!
The fruit section is also pretty impressive. Papayas, guanabana, dragon fruit, pommelo, tangerines, korean pear, manzano bananas,...Not your ordinary apples and oranges.
Dry goods include a plethora of rice, including Thai sweet rice, Japanese rice (perfect for sushi rice), red rice (known for high fiber and low glycemic index)...
Who likes Chinese Style sausage? Me! It is called Lap Xuong, in Vietnamese. I love making Thai sweet rice and serve with thinly sliced Lap Xuong - my mom fed us kids this often! And yes, they have a good supply of this here, so stock up, it will last forever in the pantry.
Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee producer. You will see the crazy amount of coffee products sold here, for example, Vinacafe. Most are packed as individual serving packets which includes cream and sugar. Too convenient for consumption! Also perfect to have in your pantry.
You shall be impressed with the chili aisle. Sambal of all kinds. You can make an awesome pot of chili with this heat!
Lots of Lunar New Year items too. I am sure there are still some left for purchase if you didn't have a chance to pick some up yet.
They do have a liquor department too. Asians can drink iykyk. If you do, please don't drink and drive.
Parking is ok, if you go shopping off peak hours. Market is on Beach Boulevard and it could get pretty busy so plan wisely.
So enjoy your visit. It is always fun to discover a new product and try something you have never eaten before! read more