Asian markets closest to the Mission?

[yummyyy]

I recently moved to the Mission and am looking for a new place to buy my Asian foods...anything Chinese, Korean, Japanese and the like. I've noticed a lot of stores, like Duk Loi, say they're Asian markets, but when I go inside, it's mostly Mexican products. Does anyone have any tips? I saw there's a 99 Ranch in Richmond, but don't know if there's something closer.

Thank you!

[possumspice]

A quick web search for thai markets in SF led to this pretty awesome list:
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/mark...

It includes lots of the places mentioned on this thread. Clicking on the links leads to a 2-3 line review with a focus on availability of Thai ingredients.

[yummyyy]

Thanks for the awesome replies! I checked out almost every one. I think I settled most on Duc Loi and Bombay Bazaar. I was able to fill most of my needs through these places, with the occasional visit to 99 Ranch in the burbs. :-p

I wonder if there is more to be found in the Sunset?

[Robert Lauriston]

22nd & Irving is worth checking out.

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22nd & Irving Produce
2101 Irving St, San Francisco, CA

[Windy]

Do you mean 23rd and Irving? 22nd and Irving is a lovely store, but based on the teas, feta, and canned foul, the owners are from the Middle East.

Sunset Super has two big stores, one on Irving near 26th and the larger one out on Vicente. If you're going that far though, you might as well get on 280 and drive to Kukje (Korean).

[Melanie Wong]

22nd and Irving seemed far less Middle Eastern and more Chinese-y on my last visit a couple weeks ago. But I agree that Sunset Super or 23rd & Irving might be a better match for the OP.

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[Robert Lauriston]

22nd & Irving Produce seemed more Chinese to me, but they have a pretty eclectic selection.

[Melanie Wong]

The shift to more Chinese is recent, previously it was more Mediterranean/Middle Eastern.

* * * * *
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[yummyyy]

Thanks all for your responses! I tried Duc Loi on 18th and Mission...I thought it was just OK. Didn't actually seem to have that many Asian goods. But it is very convenient. I'll be sure to check out all your suggestions. Thank you!!

[possumspice]

I live in the Mission and am often on the hunt for Asian groceries. Like many others on this board, I found Duc Loi to be somewhat understocked and disappointing (though occasionally I'll pick up some veggies or noodles there). Hwa Lei, which another poster mentioned, is great for staple foods such as jarred sauces, dried noodles, jasmine rice, and other pantry items. They have a stunning amount of inventory for a relatively small space, and it's pretty much my corner store, so I can't complain. You can also find lap cheung, preserved duck eggs, fish balls, bitter melon, and Thai bird chiles here. There is a heavy emphasis on Thai and Vietnamese ingredients, but also some Chinese items available.

To really stock up on Asian ingredients though, you need to venture further from Mission. Not as far as Daly City, but still difficult to get to without a car are the markets in Richmond and Sunset. The ones I seem to end up at most often are Sunset Super at Irving and 25th or (probably my favorite), Richmond New May Wah, which has a huge seafood, produce, and meat selection, and appears to be cleaner than your average Chinese market.

Another interesting resource in the Mission is Bombay Bazaar on Valencia. Not super well-stocked given its size, but a good place to grab inexpensive Indian spices, pulses, and pre-made curries, as well as ghee and paneer. Venturing completely out of Asia, I also often stop by the Greek Market on Mission for tarama and the Middle Eastern market (Samirami's) at 25th and Mission for fresh pitas, pomegranate molasses, and other Mediterranean ingredients.

[rworange]

Links

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Bombay Bazar
548 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA

Hwa Lei Market
2970 16th St, San Francisco, CA

[david kaplan]

I had mentioned Hwa Lei above, and I should add that they don't carry my preferred fish sauce, Golden Boy brand. I've only seen that brand in SF at Battambang in the Tenderloin and have been meaning to check Duc Loi for it.

[possumspice]

my vietnamese friend who is an avid cook (her bun bo hue is outstanding) swears the only fish sauce brand to buy is three crabs (pic here: http://importfood.com/satc2401.html

)

not sure if hwa lei carries it (can check tomorrow) but the price tag on my current bottle indicates you can definitely get it at 23rd & irving market.

[possumspice]

just ran over to hwa lei and though they have 4 or 5 varieties of fish sauce, they don't have three crabs brand. nor do they have the tamarind chili paste i was looking for. guess a trip to inner richmond is in my near future.

[Nancy Berry]

Manila Oriental Market (MOM) on Mission just north of Silver carries Three Crabs brand fish sauce and lots of other Asian and Southeast Asian ingredients.

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Manila Oriental Market
4175 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

[emmaroseeats]

Ooh - I'll have to try Samirami's. I've been looking for a good Mediterranean supply spot.

[rworange]

Samirami's link

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Samiramis Imports
2990 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[possumspice]

Following up on my earlier post, Duc Loi really appears to be making improvements over the past few months. The stock was a bit sparse right after they opened, but recent trips have revealed harder-to-find ingredients like curry leaves and fresh (unrefrigerated) rice noodles, which I used to have to trek all the way to the Richmond to get. Also spotted spam musubi, though it doesn't look nearly as appetizing as the Mitsuwa version.

[david kaplan]

If you're near Duc Loi and you want fresh rice noodles, you could buy them right from the rice noodle makers on the south side of 16th between Mission and So Van Ness, roughly across the street from Hwa Lei. Not sure there's any signage, and you have to ring the doorbell on the gate.

[possumspice]

wow, that is an excellent tip, thanks! wonder why hwa lei doesn't sell fresh rice noodles...

[david kaplan]

Bombay Bazar has apparently closed.

http://missionlocal.org/2010/11/bomba...

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Bombay Bazar
548 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA

[augustiner]

when duc loi reopened, i noticed that it was understocked. i've peeked in a few times since, and it seems that the inventory is filling out, and if your looking for southeast asian or even chinese products, this market might fill most of those needs. otherwise, i would check out the aforementioned manila oriental market, just a quick ride on the muni. for korean and japanese, there isn't really anything near the mission. kukje in daly city is a huge korean market, if you have a car. otherwise it's japantown, at shops like nijiya, uoki, and super mira, and nearby on fillmore by geary, there's woori market for korean. it's tiny, but has all the essentials. otherwise i think its a BART or muni ride to the stockton st. markets for chinese, or a further trek out to clement st. for places like new may wah for chinese.

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Nijiya Market
1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Sakai K Uoki Co
1656 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

New May Wah
719 Clement St, San Francisco, CA

Super Mira
1790 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA

Woo Ri Food Market
1528 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA

[rworange]

A little more info about Duc Loi with photos. Looks good.

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2009/06/throw_money_at_something_and.php
http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2009/04/27/duc-loi-supermarket/

The link to the kqed blog also mentions they have a good selection of Latin American groceries and make their own chorizo. It goes on to say "In the coming months, expect to see a deli with Vietnamese sandwiches and other popular takeout food. An underground parking lot will also open soon. "

Really swell looking photo of what really does look like a happy dead pig ... but if pig heads make you squeemish, don't click on this link. That pig looks so happy it could make PETA rethink things
http://missionmission.wordpress.com/2...

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Duc Loi Supermarket
2200 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

[vliang]

I agree with "yummyyy"... this is not a market that one could get many ingredients for Japanese, Korean, or Chinese cooking. The majority of the selection is geared towards Latino products. The Asian products that they do carry are more for SE Asian cooking.

[Candice]

I tried Duc Loi last weekend and was disappointed overall with their selection of Asian products. There are definitely Latino products in there to cater to the neighborhood but I found it pretty sparsely stocked. Some organic produce though, which is kind of nice.

[Windy]

There's Casa Thai on 16th near Mission and the new giant Vietnamese market on the corner of Mission and 18th.

For something larger, there's Manila (as noted), which is several miles south, or jump over the hill toward Sunset Super or the many stores on Irving.

[david kaplan]

New giant Vietnamese market at Mission & 18th??? How wide is their selection, and what would you compare it to?

Check out Hwa Lei on 16th just east of Mission, north side of street: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/605110 .

[Windy]

It's called Duc Loi. I haven't been inside yet, but it looks great.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/duc-loi-super...

[Euonymous]

Manila Oriental Market might suit your needs.

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Manila Oriental Market
4175 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

[realspear]

Pacific Super is close to Manila. I find Pacific and Manila to be fairly similar, but Pacific has much better parking. Both are closer to The Mission than the Daly City markets. I'm pretty sure there's a bus right up Mission that will take you to Manila.

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Pacific Supermarket
2900 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA

[baron45]

I do notice that the produce at MOM is better than Pacific, and they also have a more diverse selection of fresh fish.

[kc72]

There;s a 99 Ranch and Kuk-Je (big Korean market) in Daly City

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Kuk Jea Market
2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA

99 Ranch Market
250 Skyline Plz, Daly City, CA