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Thai Markets, East San Francisco Bay Also Available: Markets in the S. F. Bay Area | Online & Mail-order Markets | Markets in the U.S. | Seeds & Plants |
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Ingredients East Bay Markets: Berkeley | Oakland-Chinatown
| Oakland-East | Richmond
| San Pablo aste This is just a partial list of the many Asian markets in the East Bay of the
San Francisco Bay Area. This is Kasma's shopping area and she has shopped at all of the markets
mentioned below. When shopping, she usually plans on visiting more than one markets in order to get
all of her favorite brands, the very freshest produce, and to track
down fresh ingredients, such as holy basil. * & ** – given for stores with a good (*) or better (**) selection of Thai ingredients. Thailand Market
1704 University Ave.
Berkeley
(510) 486-0515 | Formerly "Chao Thai" market. Many of
the basics, not always with Kasma's favorite brands. Still, you can pick up a curry paste or needed
tapioca starch (for example) in a pinch. | TUK TUK Thai & Asian
Market
1581 University Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 666-1120 | TUK TUK has
morphed from a large, well-stocked Thai market into one that looks like it's barely holding on. As
of May 2008 the shelves are minimally stocked, though they do have many of the basics (curry paste,
etc.) – not too strong on Kasma's favorite brands. |
Options: S.F. Area Market Listing
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Oakland's Chinatown should really be called "Asian-town" – there are
as many Southeast Asian markets as Chinese. Street parking can be a problem here but there is a
small lot on Franklin and 9th street and a larger underground lot in the Asian Cultural Center
building on Franklin in between 9th and 10th streets.
*Khanh Phong Supermarket
429 Ninth St.
Oakland, CA 94067
(510) 839-9094 | A
complete market, with a full produce selection and even some fish. Carry most of Kasma's preferred brands. This is where Kasma begins when shopping in
Chinatown. | New Saigon Supermarket
441 Ninth St.
Oakland, CA
94607
(510) 839-4149 | Mostly dry goods but including some of Kasma's preferred brands at good prices. | Silver View Market
259 Tenth St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510)
834-2388 | Acceptable market, worth a look. | Sam Yick's Oriental Market
362 Eighth St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510)
832-0662 | Vietnamese owners and a fairly good selection, including produce. It could be cleaner. |
Old Oakland Farmer's Market
9th Street, below Broadway
Oakland, CA
Friday mornings only | This Friday morning farmer's market deserves
mention as one of the best places to get Asian produce. When in season a very large bunch
of holy basil can be purchased for $1.00. Asian greens of all varieties
from the many Hmong vendors. What you don't find can be purchased in the markets across
Broadway. | Options: S.F. Area Market Listing |
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International Blvd (formerly East 14th Street), in the lower numbers, has some
outstanding markets. Parking is fairly good. Some markets are good with
hard-to-find items such as kaffir lime leaves (not always available). If you are shopping from
scratch for a Thai feast or kitchen, the markets below are a good choice. ** Sun Hop Fat 1 Supermarket
501 East 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94606
(510)
763-8888 | A large market, really quite excellent, with a parking lot – most useful!
They carry most of Kasma's preferred brands. Often have Ebelskiver pans (used for kanom krok). |
* Thien Loa Hoa
1199 E. 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 663-0138 | A good market with many Thai ingredients. |
* Sontepheap Market
1400 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510)
436-3826
| Cambodian market with most of Kasma's favorite brands and some great
extras. Very fresh young coconut and some excellent food to go - try the Laab when you can. Small
aisles but a great selection. Often have fresh kaffir lime leaves and even
pea eggplants in season (late summer). Two blocks away from the following two markets. |
* Lao Market
1619 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510)
536-5888 | Although this market and its neighbor, May Kong (below), are smaller and do not
have as wide a selection as some of the other markets, they often have extremely fresh Thai produce,
such as galanga, and items other markets don't carry, such as the occasional pea eggplant or wing
bean. One or both often have fresh kaffir lime leaves, making it worth a
trip out there. This market often has Klong Kohn shrimp paste. | May Kong
1613 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 261-7630 | Although this is a smaller market they usually have
fresh kaffir lime leaves and fresh holy basil.
They sometimes sell their own home-made roasted curry paste (nahm prik pao) and pickled
vegetables. | Options:
S.F. Area Market Listing | Return to top
* Heng Fath
(Wong Fat in phonebook)
435
23rd St.
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 234-3895 | A good market with almost
everything at reasonable prices. Run by a Thai. Nearly all of Kasma's preferred brands, including her two favorite fish sauces (Golden Boy & Tra Chang) and Dragonfly Ooyster Sauce. Stock can sometimes be a bit older, however and one wishes it were a bit cleaner at times. Produce can range from very fresh to very old. (September 2008) |
Ranch 99 Market
3288 Pierce St., Suite 500
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 769-8899 |
A quite large market with a decent selection of Thai ingredients, although they are spread out
all over the store. There is a decent fish market. They stock many of Kasma's preferred brands – unfortunately not her preferred fish
sauce brands. | Options:
S.F. Area Market Listing | Return to top
Houa Khong Market
2049 23rd St.
San Pablo, CA 94806
510-233-9542
| A small market but ok. They had some hard-to-find produce items the day we visited. (September 2008) | That Luang Market
1610 23rd St.
San Pablo, CA
94806
(510) 232-2625 | A small market but ok. They have some frozen items and some produce, including hard-to-find items (e.g. kaffir lime leaves) some times. (September 2008)
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Also Available: Markets in the S. F. Bay Area | Online & Mail-order Markets | Markets in the U.S. | Seeds & Plants |
Kasma's preferred brands!
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* & ** – given for stores with a good (*) or better (**) selection of Thai ingredients. |