Asahi Imports

Recommends

waxx

Joined 5 years ago

Wrong location posted. A pretty cool little grocery store if you're looking for specialty japanese items not commonly found in regular groceries, but! it is no longer located on north loop. After lots of driving around and phone calls, it's now located on the corner of Burnet and Koenig. It's a little harder to find but it's in the shopping center with blue awning. The phone number is still the same though, so call it if you get lost! Worth the trip!

Recommends

melonpocky

Joined 6 years ago

High prices, but still a local treasure. A great little shop for those curious about Japanese snacks and some foods, Asahi offers a good variety of dry goods and frozen foods, as well as souvenirs and videotapes for rent. If you're looking to do some experimentation into Japanese cooking or you're just looking for a light snack and a bottle of Ramune, this is your store. For those more hardcore into the cuisine and need difficult-to-find ingredients, you may suffer from their limited selection, lack of fresh groceries, and from sticker shock. Their price mark-ups are absurd-- many items will be at least two to three times higher than the same items found in San Antonio or Houston-- and although most items are imported directly from Japan, there are a few that, while the original product may be Japanese, the store only carries kinds made in other countries, so check your labels. The prices may be high, but remember that you are paying for the Austin convenience and supporting a unique local business. As is typical with Japanese shops, the staff are friendly, the store is immaculate, and whether or not you find exactly what you're looking for, you won't leave disappointed because you can find other delicious and collectible treasures-- some you may have never tried before. Go ahead-- take home that frozen oden kit and try it out tonight with some friends and a bowl of rice-- don't forget the karashi mustard (it's next to the wasabi). Grab a teapot and a bag of tea to enjoy with some rice crackers. You won't be sorry.

Recommends

blueakuma

Joined 6 years ago

JAPANESE? SHOP HERE!. Small place, not hard to find, has a bit of everything and its very clean. Locally owned by Japanese, not Koreans and they are very friendly and customer oriented. Always willing to recommend some of the locally owned restaurants owned by japanese folks. Although the prices on the tea sets might be a little bit expensive, the prices of the foods and goodies are not. They even have a little video rental section, froze good section, small (very small) vegetable are and a whole isle for candies and goodies to munch on. Great place, will go back!

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Austin's oldest Japanese grocery-gift store.. In Short
Around since 1967, this small store maximizes every possible space. Sally Matsumae, the granddaughter of the original owner, smilingly helps customers reach their culinary and shopping goals. Find all you need to make sushi at home with broiled eel, rice, fish eggs, soy sauce, wasabi (Japanese horseradish), pickled ginger, seaweed, rolling mats and Japanese trays. It also stocks breakables like sake sets and bowls, plus ceramic teapots, chopsticks, cookbooks, woks, greeting cards and origami paper.

Recommends

ancerj

Joined 7 years ago

Cute little store. A really cute little store with all kinds of japanese food ranging from a dozen or so kinds of rice, dozens of candy, teas, diswhare, soups, etc. all from japan. When we walked in we noticed a few japanese people shopping, but a lot of curious westerners too (like us). A bit pricey, but I guess thats expectable from a specialty shop geared toward a very small population in austin. They moved though; they're at 6105 Burnet Road; overall a delightful place that adds a bit of culture and color to austin, but it should be seen more as a specialty shop rather than an Asian Food Market like others in Austin.

Recommends

kuroneko

Joined 9 years ago

Shop HERE for Japanese Foods. I was so happy to find a market that sells the real deal! I've lived in Japan before and going into this store made me feel like I was back. This place is great for people looking for specific Japanese foods and ingredients. They're especially helpful for those who are intimidated to go into an Asian market and need help finding their way around.