Not that this is the fist time I've ever reviewed a market before (and it most certainly won't be the last), but I have to admit that me posting this has more to do with not having a lot of new places to write about right now and less about feeling compelled to add to Sunset Supermarket's Yelp rating. Don't bet me wrong, though - this place is great and I'm actually feeling motivated to post this despite my writer's block. It's just that, if these were normal times, you'd be reading about some eatery/restaurant instead of this. I guess it's just another byproduct of being cooped up in the house for so long. I never though I'd actually need to rebuild/refresh my list of places to write about!
Now, while there clearly isn't a shortage of Asian markets in the Sunset and Richmond districts, not many, if any, can approach the size of this place (save for the Sunset Super on Irving, which may or may not still be a Sunset Super and/or owned by the same folks). In a sense, these guys were 99 Ranch before 99 Ranch started sprouting up around the Bay Area! Although they don't have the same depth of brands/varieties that 99 Ranch has to offer, they very much have the same range of offerings - fresh produce that's cheaper than the likes of Safeway and Lucky, a wide array of Asian snacks and instant noodles, large seafood and meat counters, Asian ice cream and boba bars, frozen sliced meats and fish balls for hot pot, fresh noodles and tofu, and so much more. Like literally, my list does them zero justice.
Given how they may (or may not) still be sister locations, it's no surprise that this place is laid out exactly the same as the one on Irving. However, while it seems slightly smaller in size, this Sunset Super doesn't feel nearly as cramped. Not sure if it's because the aisles are wider, but it's definitely not as crowded (super clutch both pre- and post-COVID), which is a big reason why I actually prefer driving out here even though I'm on Irving far more often. What's more, despite the fact that this location's parking lot is less than half the size of the other one, it's actually way easier to find parking here - and there aren't any meters either!
As far as prices go, I can't if there's much of a difference between the two Sunset Supers, but prices here are slightly higher than some of the smaller ones in the Sunset and Richmond (though they are superior in selection), comparable to 99 Ranch, and certainly higher than the markets in Chinatown (but that's true for every non-Chinatown Asian market). Regardless though, it's hard to argue with the convenience and shorter drive. If I'm armed with a longer grocery list, I'll probably still head down to 99 Ranch. Otherwise, to get whatever few necessities in between those trips, this is definitely my go-to spot! read more