Thai groceries?

[childofthestorm]

Hi, looking to stock up my kitchen with a bunch of Thai staples. I just came back from a fairly disappointing trip to T&T, just not much there. Is there a grocery store I should be checking out?

[midtowngirl]

There is a vegetable store downstairs at SLM (just north of the bottom of the stairs) that sells fresh herbs used in Thai cooking - thai basil, vietnamese mint, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, etc.

[SweetSweetPotato]

If you're looking for betel leaves, have you tried Indian grocery stores? They usually stock them for paan.

[childofthestorm]

So it's not Vientiane Supermarket that's listed in Toronto Life then?

http://www.torontolife.com/guide/food...

[hal2010]

No, they moved from that location a few years ago.

[plug]

depends on where you live.

check out "Oriental" grocery store @ McCowan and steeles (alton towers)
they have:
thai basil
galangal
kaffir lime leaves
palm sugar
and the more common:
lemongrass
thai chillies
fish sauce

[hal2010]

Vientiane Trading Co.Ltd.
51B Jutland Rd, Toronto, On M8Z 2G6
Tel, 416 743 2911
Fax [phone]

[childofthestorm]

That was fast, thanks.

[elvisahmed]

Hi Childofthestorm if you do visit Vientiane Trading Co.Ltd. please share your experience as I am looking for a good resource for Thai ingredients.

[stayathomesommelier]

Maybe I went to the wrong door today, but it was locked. Called the number on the sign and asked about Betel leaves and the person on the other end had no idea what I was talking about.
Is there another entrance that I totally missed?

[elvisahmed]

What do you mean it was closed so this place is not a store? I was planning a visit there soon so now maybe I will postpone it till I hear from someone who has experienced it first hand.

[hal2010]

The door at the back of the building with the sign over it leads to their offices and it's not always open. If you go round the corner to the door beside the green garbage dumpster, beside 2 loading dock doors, that's the public entrance. No sign over it though. It's just a hollow metal door with a yellow stripe painted on the asphalt in front of it.

They are mostly wholesale to restaurants and stores - the place is a warehouse full of cased goods, but they do sell to the public. They have about 20 feet of dry goods on shelves and some produce if you ask.

Open 10-6 M-F, 10-4 on Saturday

[elvisahmed]

finally made it to Vientiane Trading. It is a bit of odd place to buy stuff as its more of a warehouse than a store.
Single person operation so I would make sure to call in first to see whether they are open and have the stuff in stock.
Prices were good and I did see some items that I haven't seen outside Thailand.
Otherwise I would say this place is strictly for home enthusiast or restaurants only.
Here are some pics