Asian Food Center

Just went in today and bought 16 sweet young coconuts at $ 1.39 each! At Raley’s and Safeway, they sell for $ 3.99 each! Yikes! At Grocery Outlet in West Sacramento and SF Asian Market off Florin road, it’s $ 1.99 each! Yikes again!
This is my «secret» Asian store. The people there are nice. I see all types of nationalities shopping there. It feels like «home.» It’s really small, approximately the size of 19^th Street Safeway produce section only! Haha.
I also bought 5 of the biggest, softest, and most yellow papayas ($ 1.39 per pound) I’ve seen! At Raley’s and Safeway again, it’s $ 1.99 per pound, but they are hard and green.
They also sell durians but I’m afraid to eat them. If you’re a fan of them, then be my guess.
If you’re a meat eater, try the roasted ducks here and spare ribs. They do it the old school Chinese way of roasting both, dipped in some sort of delicious sauce. Ducks are the softest meat with the most crispest skin. If you haven’t tasted it, you’re definitely missing out.
I honestly hate going to the Asian markets in South Sacramento because the area are ghetto. So I’m sticking to this Asian Food Center as long as I live in downtown. I just wish their produce section was bigger. It’s about the size of my bathroom! Seriously small.

Has some awesome frozen scallops! They are always good. That’s the only thing i get here but ya. My parents actually get other stuff here too but I stick to the frozen scallops lol.

Ever go into a business establishment and you don’t speak the workers’ native language and you wonder if they’re talking shit about you? Well, if you come here, you ain’t gotta wonder because they are. I know better than to expect anything more than below average customer service when I come to an Asian business, but for someone to talk shit right in front of you without them thinking that «hey, they look Asian, maybe they might understand me and I should talk shit behind their back so they can’t hear me, like any other normal Asian person would.»

They don’t always have young coconuts, but when they do, they sell them at a great price ($ 1.49 each). Their produce is also cheap and of good quality. Their ginger is especially good.

I agree somewhat with the prior 6 reviews re:
–no smiles (even when I speak the couple of words I pronounce well in Chinese)
–small choice, etc.
–parking issues from time to time
YET I STILL GIVE IT 4 stars for me (I go here once a month– Ignore the attitude, not everyone needs to like you and respond with a smile):
— My perspective: White male, I’ve lived downtown for 30 yrs: This store at 13^th and B-​way is close to my home (26^th & T)
— The store has the items that I need: noodles (many sizes), sauces (I buy mostly HOT: chili oil, chili bean oil, sambal garlic chilli, and their siracha has a lower price compared to Food Source), sometimes I can find fresh thai chiles. I look at the veggies… usually wilted. Yet, I’ve bought long beans and fruit from time to time.
–Sometimes they will have what is known as «morning glory» in Thai, or «water spinach». Easy to recognize, not easy to ask for. I can say it in Thai and write it in Mandarin. GREAT to prepare and eat. I have found it more often at the Sac. Sunday under freeway Farmer’s Mkt.
— Have been to SF Supermarket on 65^th in 2000 a couple of times… great experience but I don’t want to spend the time and gas. I want local to me and simple.
–I have to admit their (SF) baby bok choy in 2000 cost 10% of what Safeway was charging. I was impressed. And it was fresh. Yet having lived in China for 4 months and Thailand for 18 months… I just need what I want, simple, easy, and close to me. Asian Food Center provides me with that.
Though I wish I could easily find an unripe hard mango; hard like an unripe granny smith apple and very tart, within a mile of downtown Sac. In Bangkok, the mango’s tart white slices are sold from street carts dipped into a salt/​chili mixture. I’m a purist – no salt or chili. Here in Sacramento, people seem to only know and like the ripe golden yellow insides of the mango. I like both… used for different reasons in cuisine.
USA does not know what it is missing without tasting:
–Local sweet Dragonfruit
–Green Mango, shredded and made into a spicy Thai salad: Yam mamuang
–or Pad pak Boong Dye Fang (stir-​fried Morning Glory with garlic)
–Pomelo slices
STILL… after 10 years I continue to come here monthly to replenish my larder, add to my cupboard, and make my life a more diverse experience.
Try it, you might like it.
Don’t expect China Town in San Francisco (lived there), Temple or Graham St. in HKG (been there x5). Remember where you are and keep your expectations appropriate.
I do.

I believe that you will find this market to be noteworthy in a couple of respects, which will give you cause to subject yourself to the cramped parking and walk through the unsanitary-​looking edifice at least once to experience what this market has to offer.
While comfortably larger than the «cornermart”-styled Asian market, it doesn’t quite fill the shoes of the «middleman» market either; meaning, the establishment’s size isn’t easy to categorize except to say that it rests between a Quik Stop and a Bel Air.
There are only several aisles here but you will find the usual cookware, hot food, frozen food, produce, meat, seafood, canned goods, and candy/​snack offerings, even if only with the size of selection that a market of this relatively smaller size allows.
When thinking of Vinh Phat, SF, or almost any other Asian market I’ve reviewed thus far, the fresh fish department at Asian Food Center was comparatively gloomy, having only one tank with muddied water and one or two types of fish swimming around therein. Honestly, I wouldn’t buy fish from this market based on appearance alone.
There were some items here that I did not see at other markets, which is always a nice treat. Speaking of treats, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the candy aisle, which was certainly more robust than other Asian markets which benefit from a larger floor plan. This is one of the reasons to visit AFC.
While I do not drink tea, there was an impressive section of teas, as well as cooking oils and such things to use in your own kitchen. That would be the second reason to give AFC a chance.
I liked the interesting variety of noodles but when trying to locate the ramen bowls, I was disheartened to see that they only sold these by the box instead of individually. As at other markets, if you need to buy rice in bulk (large sacks), that option is available here.
There is a small fee to use plastic forms of payment if your total is under $ 20 but it’s nominal.
One quirk I personally enjoy on packaged, Asian food products are the misspelling of English words. I saw one such error in my visit here when I purchased a package of crispy peanuts. The first ingredient listed for this item? «Peanus.» Well, okay then!

Cool place to shop for Asian foods! Went here after a disappointing dim sum lunch at new canton!
This supermarket isn’t the largest but it has what you need for the most part! Their produce isn’t then biggest but it has the essentials!
The meat department is okay… Bought some pork butt and some pork bones! They have cooked duck and chicken ready go!!!
They have a seafood section with live crabs and fish! I didn’t take a real detailed look but that’s what I saw!
This place only takes debit card or cash! No credit card peeps!
It’s like a smaller version of the SF market… But closer to my area!

Well, I definitely can’t say much for the uninviting, impersonal staff who work at Asian Food Center and the virtually non-​existent customer service, … seriously, the people who work there all seem like they’re totally pissed off at the world and as many times as I’ve shopped there I’ve yet to have any of the cashiers say, ‘thank you for shopping at Asian Food Center, please come again’.
But then I digress … on the other hand, when I can’t (or rather don’t) want to make the trip down to SF Supermarket on 65^th Street in Sacramento, the Asian Food Center simply serves as a really quick, close to home ‘drop in’ location to pick-​up a few specialty Asian culinary items, e.g., Mito Natto Fermented Soy Beans, locally made seasoned tofu, etc., where you’ll also find just about anything you’re looking for pertaining to preparing/​cooking/​serving Asian dishes. Just be prepared to spend a little bit more money for the same products you’ll certainly find to be much cheaper at any of the two SF Supermarkets located in Sacramento as well as a much friendlier staff.

Even though their hours aren’t so great for a grocery store (closed at 6pm), they don’t take credit cards and nobody knows how to park in their lot (same as any supermarket), this store is still pretty damn convenient. Not as huge of a selection as the mega Asian marts like 99 Ranch or SF Market, but they still have the essentials when it’s getting close to dinner time and you need Asian stuff.
They have the noodles.
They have the rice.
They have the smelly stuff.
They have the fish balls.
Best of all, they have stupid low prices on avocados in the summer.
So yes, we’re all glad they’re here; and they know we’re glad they’re here. That’s why they play by their own rules. Good enough for me.

Asian Food Center is a tiny grocery store that packs in a lot of inventory. They have a fresh seafood area (that requires you to pay separately from the rest of the store – maybe it’s a business within a business?) as well as a raw meat and (for a lack of better words) deli station – where they sell things like roasted/​glazed duck, pork, chicken, etc. They obviously also have groceries, bulk rice, Asian snacks, teas, and random other goodies like plates, shoes, shampoo, etc. This isn’t a one stop shop because quite frankly, they don’t have the space to carry everything you’ll want/​need but this is worth the stop.
Some people have complained about the customer service, which isn’t the best, but they get the job done. I honestly just think they’re tired.
During the new years they give out free calendars!
Bathroom for customers only.

They got all the basic things you need from an asian super market. Smaller than most other asian super markets that are located on Stockton Blvd, but the location makes it convenient for those who live away from the South Sac area.

Definitely the place to be if you want fresh seafood. I was hell bent to cook Jambalaya this weekend and as all New O’s know, you MUST have fresh shrimp if making seafood dishes. So I went to another store first and of course, their advertisement was false. They has frozen fare. Looked up something and found the seafood Farmer’s Market. On the way to get cash I passed by this place. My roommate told me to stop there first just in case. Well I am so happy he did! Not only do they have fresh shrimp, they pack lobster, fish, oysters, clams, and roasted duck!!! I was in heaven for the seafood but they also had all the Asian spices and fare that I buy. Well it is the Asian Market! I was so happy that I felt it was Christmas! You have to pay for the seafood separate from the other fare but that is ok. I am fine with running my card twice bah boo! Be here for the freshness. The service was wonderful as well and I will continue to be a patron. Parking can get a little hectic and the main counter blithely told me that if I did not have cash I was done because her credit card machine was broken. She also told me I would have to restock my items because they did not do that. What laugh I got because I felt like I wished I was still in Japan! They would’ve never treated a customer so harshly. But the market is worth it but not my fifth star.

Asian Food Center is a great place to grab my asian nom necessities. They don’t have the largest selection ever, but it’s the biggest downtown-​adjacent asian market and they have all the basics if I don’t feel like driving down to Florin area jumbo supermarkets. Noodles and broths, check. Plenty of rice varieties, check. Pocky and candies, check. Live fish, check. Cute bowls and dishes, check. Plus this is the one place around town where I can buy my Thai Red Bull fix (Thai people do not mess around when it comes to energy drinks!)
Staff service has never blown me away but they aren’t rude. There’s a $ 10 card minimum so bring cash if you just want to pick up a few cheap things.

Customer service here is lacking. For instance, I once was waiting in line to buy ground pork for several minutes before anyone came out to assist me. It wasn’t a busy day and I was the only customer at the meat & poultry section. Another occasion the cashier got rather loud with me when I was picking apart some of the bananas: taking the ones I wanted and setting aside the bruised ones which I didn’t want. I have no intention of buying bruised bananas. Asian Food Center does carry a wide selection of Asian foods which the more conventional grocery stores often times doesn’t carry and they sell it reasonably cheap but poor customer service doesn’t merit an average of four-​star reviews on Unilocal

Cheap, convenient, fun to browse, and a great place to find elusive specialty items.
I’ve been here many times and I’m not sure how I haven’t already reviewed it.
There is plenty of parking out back and the hours are pretty reasonable. The store is cramped and smells like fish, but what do you expect from a place that sells live fish? Despite the amount of things crammed into the shelves and aisles, everything is organized and easy to find. They have a limited produce selection, but everything there always looks very fresh and, for lack of a better term, gorgeous.
Love the dish section at the back and the candy selection. This is also a great place to score Fortune Cookie «Belly Flops» from the factory in Midtown. They sell bags of the fortune cookies, but also bags of the cookies that came out wrong (didn’t fold right, broke, etc.).
My boyfriend and I are pretty into Asian cooking, so this place has been the go-​to when we are looking for hard to find ingredients. Unlike other specialty shops, this one won’t break your bank and sometimes you can even find the same stuff you see at regular grocery stores, but cheaper.
Complaints are few, but based on the service and behavior of some other customers. You will not be greeted or asked if you are finding everything ok. If you don’t ask, they won’t tell. Don’t come in here thinking you’ll have someone to hold your hand through getting ingredients for that crazy Chinese recipe. Do your research ahead of time so you know what you’re looking for.
Also, there is no such thing as personal bubble of space in this store. If you’re standing in an aisle looking for something, some customers will almost literally climb on top of you or reach through your armpit to grab something off the shelf. It happens every time I go. It is more amusing than anything.

I love this place! It’s so close to my house and it’s perfect if you are into authentic Asian cooking. Mostly it’s just fun to walk around and see what kind of stuff they have (if you are a white girl like me, they got some weird stuff). They usually have Thai basil and I have also gotten coconut cream and frozen coconut here for baking. They have almost every kind of condiment EXCEPT they don’t have gochujang, but you can get that at Oto’s if you drive a little further.
They also have a nice selection of kitchen supplies and everything is very reasonably priced. My boyfriend was tempted to purchase a five pound bag of rice just because it was so cheap.

Perhaps if I lived in Asia this place wouldn’t seem like such a unique oddity. But here in Sacramento where the average Asian/​foreign foods section is smaller than the sausage selection, it’s out of place in the best kind of way.
Walk-​in and prepare to be transported westward across the Pacific. To your left, strange carts for sale. Through a door to your right, little asian men crouched in a corner slurping noodles. On all sides, aisles and aisles of foreign goods the likes of which I bet you’ve never seen. And it’s not just products of Asia. Every continent is represented here. I found some breakfast toast sprinkles from Holland that my neighbor used to feed me as a kid. They never existed beyond childhood memories… until now.
There’s also some strange stuff. Weird seafoods and cuts of meat I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. Dried everything. I hear they sometimes even have live frogs in a bowl that are bought and sold that way. It all just adds to the character of the market and makes me all the more thankful it’s in my backyard.

I’ve been coming here with my mom for years.
This is a tiny place but it has everything you need for the most part.
On first impression, this place seems very dirty and old. Other than that, don’t be deceived.
It has your go-​to needs for Asian cooking and food. It has fresh seafood here. It has hot food like duck. It has fresh vegetables like chinese spinach. It also has snacks and other asian frozen snacks. The ingredients are definitely fresh.
I came here today with my mom to buy ingredients for sushi making. They had the nori I needed, they also had avocado and fish.
Checks and credit cards are not accepted here. They do accept debit cards but with a minimum purchase of $ 10. If it is less than $ 10, then there’s a charge to it.
For the fresh seafood, you purchase it separately from the other items.
Parking is limited but it never seems to be a problem. There’s a small parking lot and some street parking.

I have been coming here ever since I was a wee lad whenever my parents needed some groceries. Don’t expect a Safeway or Whole Foods when you walk in, you are going to get the Asian market experience.
You have your seafood and meat section on one side of the building, cheap veggies on the other, and a variety of sauces and delicious snacks in between. My parents sometimes get their meat here like some chinese BBQ pork, chicken, or duck. You can find items you wouldn’t find in an American grocery store too like pork blood and feet. The veggies here are pretty good and they’re cheap. You might have to wash them a little, but for that price, why not?
My favorite thing here are the Asian snacks. When I was young, I braved through the boring grocery shopping experience to get some shrimp chips or some gum.
The Asian Food Center is kind of like a Chinese restaurant. It might not be the cleanest, but it gets the job done. The prices are very reasonable and if you can’t find some Asian ingredients when you’re cooking a recipe from a hip food blog, you can probably find it here.

My Local Go-​To Asian Market For Hard To Find Asian Items
SITREP
I love this store for the things I can get here that I can’t get anywhere else.
There are specialty rices, specialty forms of canned gluten and other vegetarian-​friendly foods, and some delectable Asian candies you can’t find anywhere else.
POUTRY
All kinds of freshly butchered fowl, including chicken and duck.
CATFISH
Okay. It is a little unnerving to see a catfish staring back at your from the holding tanks, but if you are INTO catfish, you really can’t complain about the freshness of the Catfish here — or any of the fish contained here — when you see them swimming around.
TEAS
The variety is mind-​boggling! I love it. I think there are Asian cures for most ailments walking down this aisle.
THE LOWDOWN
A great local Asian market that I love to patronize for those hard to find random Asian items I would never find in Safeway.