Battambang Oriental Grocery

How have I NOT reviewed this pLace?
Located in a sketchy Looking part of ESSJ, this market is a hidden gem! Battambang is a teeny tiny orientaL market that speciaLizes in Cambodian, Thai, Laotian goodies. FamiLy owned and run, they offer homemade goodies that peopLe can’t get enough of.
I come here strictLy for the homemade Laotian/​Cambodian styLe papaya saLad that is made fresh for each order. This stuff is the reaL deaL and is authentic as you can possibLy get (fishy, spicy, & finger Licking good).
Be aware, they don’t mess around with the chiLi and Spice. Let the Ladies know how many chiLis you wouLd Like for your dish depending on how much heat you can take.

Battambang isn’t an «Oriental Grocey». it’s Cambodian. small cramped space with homemade edibles by the front door.
everyone is congregated around the cash register, not much chance to peruse what was available.
eats: fried breaded potato/​banana sweets (2/​$ 1)
–lots of batter, sweet tasting, some fruit/​veggie within
–no pricing on prepped foods, had to ask…
3.5 stars for ready to eat foods.
crumbs:
–grocery too cramped for me to check out inventory
just got eats and left.

Wow wow, this place sooooo freaking good for papaya salad. Flavor is strong, pungent so flavorful. It’s salty spicy and sweet n a bit sour. They add crab, string beans and I think it’s basil but that addition of basil was super fantastic. Love this style way more than Thai papaya salad. I thought I can handle heat but one pepper was spicy spicy for me. Call ahead

At 1pm today My sister and I stopped by to order two dishes of papaya salad (5 $ each.) We both had the runs after. This is our third time ordering at this place and it never happened before. My stomach still hurts. Sister is still in the restroom and I have just finished. Hopefully they put on some gloves or in some way sanitary when they go in the back to prepare the salad. :(it taste great but I think they only used one crab sauce for our two orders. Maybe my review will change if i have the stomach for it and decide to go back.

My parents used to take me here every few weekends or so. I remember my parents shopping here and buying my sisters and I desserts, beef jerky, ang syk goh (beef skewers). & then stop by the cambodian karaōke cd/​dvd place around the corner. We also got our hair cut at the salon next door as well…
I don’t remember this area being quite as ghetto as it is now. but that could just be my childhood memory. Nothing was as scary when you had your parents around. But it’s fine, guys. Really.
Anyway, I finally found this place. & let me just tell you. my inner ¼ cambodian in me is SO HAPPY. Their boklahong (papaya salad) is, like everyone else has said, to die for. You will pay for it on the toilet a few hours later, but SO WORTH lol. I also like their fruits which they packaged with a little chili salt. & their cambodian dessert (stored in their refrigerator). Is this the only place that makes cambodian dessert? (Thai name for it is: Kanom Tong Yip, I forget the cambo term for it.) If so, back off. All the flowery designed ones are MINE.

Woohoo!!! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! (Happy dance). An authentic place that makes papaya salad the way it should only be made!!! I like it dark, fishy, spicy, sour, etc… It has everything!!! Spicy is spicy so beware but I love it.
I’m from Fresno where there are a lot of Laotian and Hmong people who makes the best papaya. Since moving here, I’ve searched for anything similar to the taste but unfortunately, most places here serve papaya salad the Thai way which is a lighter version, in both color and taste. While it’s still very good… Nothing beats this. Definitely coming back.
Tip: Call ahead and just pick up when you arrive! Win!
Tip #2: Eat with pork rinds!!! Trust me. Just do it. :)

I come here for the papaya salad which is among the best I had. I love the fermented crab that they put in it that makes it especially good. Made to order, you can choose the spiciness that you like. For the last 2 times, I got the medium which gave a a good kick, even for someone that like spicy food, I find myself downing a bottle of water. It’s a great deal as well, they are getting generous on their portions!

A hidden «a hole in the wall» joint in not the best part of San Jose. I’ve been searching for kaffir lime leaves at all the Asian markets but no luck… until I Unilocaled for a Thai market. We came here for the leaves but also ordered the papaya salad based on the Unilocal reviews. It was the Bomb!!! The salad came with the salted crab which added the perfect amount of flavor. We got mild but tasted like medium heat. We would come back to this place next time we visit San Jose.

I love papaya salad here, it is so good really.

Came here to pick up Cambodian Sausages (kwah ko) and lim leaves. they make fresh papaya salad made to order $ 5. The store is very small but a lot of items you cannot find at a regular grocery store

Ha… This place looks hella sketchy… I was craving some papaya but wasn’t feelin for Thai so Unilocaled it and came across this spot. $ 5 for an order of papaya!!! So bomb! I know my picture said it wasn’t spicy enuff but after a few more bites it started to kick in… Hiccups n sweat dripping in full effect! Ha! Must go to next time I’m craving!

I asked the owner to make me this pork spareribs stew, somla kako, and she did for $ 20. It was the best somla kako I’ve ever tasted. It’s so inexpensive having her make it rather than making it yourself. Just the ingredients alone would have cost me more than $ 20. Those know what goes into this dish would know what I’m taking about. So many kinds of vegetables and buying individually would add up at no time and not to mention the spices that it takes. Next time I will ask her to make another dish. May be somla beef kreung!
Also the people are so nice and very pleasant to work with. I returned a pickled crab I accidentally purchased and the cashier took it back without any hesitant.
You can find pretty authentic Cambodian food here.

This may actually be one of my favorite finds this year…
Papaya salad is hands down one of my favorite foods, and because of that, I’d say that I’ve had my fair share of variations of the dish. I’ve come to be quite well-​read when it comes to the dish, and I can honestly say that the papaya salad at Battambang Oriental Grocery is one of the best I’ve had…
The grocery itself is the definition of a «hole-​in-​the-​wall» joint. It’s small and unassuming, and I honestly would have missed it had a) there not been a small group crowded outside the entry way around a mortar, pestle, and bowl of freshly grated papaya, and b) I been actively looking for it. Upon entering the small shop, the smell (fishiness) can either be off-​putting or just what you were looking for depending on your purpose. Me? I was in it for the authentic stuff, so the fishiness of the store was a great sign.
I was a bit unsure what to do or say, but thanks to the guidance of Unilocal,I walked up to Sally, the store owner, and murmured a bit too timidly, «2 papaya salads please», to which she replied, «How hot?». Now for everyone considering making a visit, and by this I mean for everyone, because everyone should DEFINITELY make a visit, let me just warn you that Sally doesn’t mess around. I ended up ordering 1 medium and 1 hot. The medium consisted of around 3 – 5 chilies, while the hot consisted of around 7 – 8. My friend had the medium box, while I, the trooper, tackled the hot box, and it was honestly the spiciest papaya salad I’ve ever had. By the time I was through, I wasn’t too sure whether the tears streaming out of my eyes were due to the intense heat or happiness of the situation (and I’d say that I could handle my heat fairly well), so choose your level of spiciness wisely!
WIth that being said, the papaya salad itself was everything I could practically hope for. It was unbelievably crunchy and packed with flavor. The crab added the perfect amount of saltiness and the tomatoes added for a contrast of textures were a nice touch! I still can’t believe the whole box was only $ 5. The portion is extremely generous, and I’m honestly just wishing that I lived close enough to frequent this place at least twice a day. Until that happens, I’ll just try to make the drive out while I’m still in the bay area. Once I head back down South, I’ll just have to dream about Battambang and live vicariously through all you who, after reading this review, are going to head there, because if you’re a papaya salad addict as I am… it’ll be the biggest mistake not to.
P. S. If you’re short on time, call Sally ahead of time so your order is ready upon your arrival!

This review is for the mouthwatering delicious papaya salad. It’s not thai style, it’s more Cambodian/​Laotian style papaya salad which is way better in my opinion. It comes with chunks of pickled crab. I also feel that its important to mention its really spicy. and made authentically by using a mortar and pestle. It’s so worth the $ 5 and journey through Story Rd.
The storekeeper of this tiny oriental family-​owned grocery store takes the papaya salad order at the cash register. Her name is Sally and she gave me the store number and suggested that I call and order ahead. It gives her time to get the order started so you don’t have to stand around and wait.
The store was a little difficult to find, but if you drive down the narrow alley it’ll take you to the other side of the parking lot where the store is located. Also, expect to be eating your papaya salad at home or in your car. This is not a restaurant and there’s no dining/​sitting area.

Like everyone says, get the papaya salad. You have to order it from the cashier. It’s a tiny, cramped market that carries stuff I don’t see at other Asian markets — mainly Cambodian and Laotian spices. It’s in a very sketchy area so be careful. I wouldn’t venture there when it’s dark.
The papaya salad is very authentic. You have the option of 1 to 3 chilies. I got the 1 and it was still burning my mouth. They give you a huge portion and fill the entire takeout container for you. There were no noodles in my order. The pieces of crab were a nice addition. Well worth $ 5.

I don’t see where’s the papaya salad… or noodles or anything
Its so cramped up inside… and feels like the items have been sitting there forever.
The area feels so… just scary.
Not going back…

$ 5 Papaya Salads & $ 5 Cambodian style Noodle soup is awesome!!! For their portions it’s so cheap and affordable but also great tasting…
My dad recommended this place because my parents grew up in Cambodia and my Mom would sometimes make the Nam Pa Chok (Cambodian Noodles), but he found this little hidden gem to satisfy my cravings. It’s worth a try if you love noodles soup and veggies. It’s a fish based soup, and it looks and smells basic but it’s delicious…

This review is strictly for the papaya salad. Its a hidden store, located in a very sketchy looking area, but don’t let that scare you away… I recommend coming during the day time!
Their authentic Cambodian papaya salad is so mouth-​watering and flavorful! They make it as you order, let you decide how many chili peppers you want, and add little sweet crabs that you can suck on for extra flavor. With five peppers in mine, its STINKingly freaking good/​spicy and is seriously one of the best I’ve ever had! The better part? IT’S ONLY $ 5 AND YOU GET A FULL TOGO BOX WORTH!!!

Sometimes… It’s not all about the location…
This is possibly the first Cambodian grocery store in the area (from what I know of atleast…)! Like other reviewers have mentioned it’s hidden and located below an apartment complex! They sell plenty of Cambodian and Asian goods, but I went here for their papaya salad!
I enjoy that authentic papaya salad taste (yea that stinky stuff is good!), and the nice lady who runs the store makes it really good! She charges $ 5 for a to-​go box full of the salad. I ordered two thinking it wasn’t gonna be much for an order, but she actually filled up the box! I ended up giving the other to-​go box to a friend, and she enjoyed it as much as I did!
Since it’s made when you order, you can even tell the lady how spicy you want it! It’s guaranteed to make your mouth water… Nothing beats that authentic taste. since most restaurants out there make their papaya REALLY sweet.
Best $ 5 I’ve spent in a while!

This place is a hidden gem. Don’t be turned off by its janky location!
Their Bok Lahong (Cambodian style papaya salad) is THE shit and will give you the shits (or for me at least). I had this 3 times in one week and let me tell you: TOTALLY worth having the runs. If you love papaya salad like myself, then you will love this even more because it’s super flavorful and actually spicy! Last two times I had it was with 7 chili peppers and my mouth was on fire and my eyes spewed tears of pain and joy.
What’s also great about this place is that they make it fresh (so there is a bit of a wait). They literally grab a spankin’ new papaya and shave away. Oh yeah, and it’s ONLY 5 bucks for a huge portion. This is officially the most delicious and stinky salad I’ve ever had.
P. S. They have some weird hours; I believe they close by 7PM on weekdays and 6PM on weekends. You might also run into the cutest tomato throwing baby.