Sun Sun Grocery

This place is so random that I was sure I’d be the first to review it.
It’s at Powell and Vallejo, well off the beaten Chinatown path. It’s adjacent to a police station and around the corner from a Salvation Army and a rest home. Unlike other stores of its kind along the Stockton Street corridor, it’s never crowded and sells no fresh meat or seafood.
But somehow it ends up being my go-​to place picking up spur-​of-​the-​moment produce, seasonings, sauces and snacks. I drop in about twice a week to grab anything from soy sauce to squash, broccoli to blueberries, tomatoes to potatoes. They also have coolers of soda pop and ice cream.
Service-​wise, they impress. Last winter I was in there mulling over squashes when an employee approached to ask what I was going to cook. When I described the soup I wanted to make, he directed me to the kabocha squashes, which ended up being a great choice. And, just a couple of months ago, I wanted to make something that called for a quarter-​cup of sesame seeds but they only sold the seeds in huge bags; when I inquired if there were smaller portions, they opened up one of the large bags and sold me the quantity I needed.
Other times I’ve run in as they’re closing and everything’s put away and they’ve pulled what I needed out of the back.
Organic, this place is not. But if you’re not persnickety about that and want cheap produce without the mêlée that is Stockton Street, wander over to Sun Sun. To give you an idea of what you can get for $ 7 and change:
That’s:
2 bunches broccoli
10 large limes
4 tomatoes on the vine
4 huge persimmons
Try doing that at Safeway!

One of the few benefits of being ass up against Chinatown is that you can score some fresh produce without a trip to Whole Wallet. If you’re willing to contend with some rot, some funky smells, and some unwarranted shoving from ancient old ladies, you can come out of Sun Sun with a giant bag of bok choy and pomegranates for under $ 5.00.