I love this little store. So cute. I am Japanese and there are some Korean / Chinese super markets around but hard to find Japanese store in town. I like looking around the store for some cute little Japanese snacks and sweets. I wish they carry more cosmetics / skin care products from Japan because that is what I miss from Japan. Also more variety of magazines would be awesome. But overall, I like this place a lot. read more

This store has become our "go-to" for Japanese imports. While we prefer to buy our rice at the larger Asian supermarkets (better price for the same product), we get our specific Japanese goodies here. Unagi, Kewpie dressing and even fresh daikon can be found ready to go. On my most recent trip, I even tried their rice balls, which were a prepared snack right by their register. They were thoughtfully wrapped and stuffed with a well prepared and flavorful salmon. It was a great lunch on the go. Topped off with chocolate covered macadamia nuts, I was a happy camper. Seriously, if you are looking for Japanese imports, this is your place. read more

THE BEST JAPANESE store. it was very niche products witha wide variety of ingredients. theres fresh produce, snacks, drinks, frozen foods, home items as well as fresh foods that are premade. i love the green tea and black sesame ice cream thats made every weekend as well as the daily premade meals! check it out read more

Super cute little Japanese market with a variety of items you probably wouldn't be able to find anywhere else! They have all the Japanese condiments and a small produce section. It's not a big space, but they've managed to fit a lot into it. I didn't have a chance to try their onigiri, so I look forward to it next time. They carry the sun noodle ramen packs in the freezer section, but if you're looking for a specific one (like my favorite, tonkotsu), call in before you come because they run out pretty quickly. read more

Pokka canned coffee and some mochi.. .. some staple cravings of mine. Also I love the rice paper this store carries very nice. Honesty I can say I love Japanese culture but no nothing about preparing their food. This place is the only real deal involving Japanese food in Austin. So thanks to them I can make Dashi now ..and at least dabble in the art of soup. Also they have beautiful ceramics, Plum Wine, Sake, AWESOME incense, sumi supplies if you are an artist. It's more than just food but their noodle and green tea selection are enough to warrant a visit. . read more

There's only two Japanese Grocery stores in Austin that I've been to. Though Asahi isn't a full-on grocery store (you'll have to go to HEB or Fiesta if you want Avocado to go with your Hamachi Shots), they do carry sashimi-grade fish, which earns them 5 stars alone. As a footnote, I've heard the stories about about Karōshi (), "Death from Overwork." It is reported to be a very serious problem in Japan, but it seems one out of four times I go to a Japanese restaurant or a Japanese-owned store they're closed (as happened today. Asahi was closed both New Year's day AND the day after New Year's day. Who does that?). Seems to me like they have a pretty relaxed work schedule to me (or maybe all the workers die so frequently they're constantly at a funeral?). Anyhow--always a good idea to call in advance just to be sure.... read more

Cute little place. Very small but well organized. They have the star Japanese food items. They have a small selection of Japanese toys, trinkets and ceramics. I really like this place. The restroom are clean. read more

Asahi Imports - Some things that I bought. A book on bento boxes ,a tea strainer, hello kitty marshmallows and a sushi mat. - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I absolutely love, love, love this place. It's small and hidden between a bunch of other stores, but it has a great selection of Japanese teas, snacks, foods, and other desserts. Look for their coffee jello- it is AMAZING. My favorite thing to get there. I will definitely continue to go there!! read more

First time shopper at this store and I absolutely loved it. They've got a great selection of better Japanese branded snacks, drinks, cooking ingredients, seasonings, tea mix, etc. Even better, on the left side of the store, you can order a bento box! I haven't tried yet, though. I saw soft serve ice cream as well. I didn't have time to go to the back part of this area, but it looked like they carried alcohol. But it could be just more beverages. :) read more

I love this store, and the food that gets sold here. The Curry Pan is so good. I will continue to come here and support this business.

I don't come to Asahi very often, but when I do, I always find what I'm looking for. This place is the perfect store to get anything you need that is specific for Japanese cuisine or things from Japan. I cook a bunch of lesser known Japanese food and whenever I need something for my recipes I come here and always find what I need. Things I can't find anywhere else. Aside from the great selection of Japanese imports, Asahi is also a good-samaritan company. Being a former UT Japanese Association officer, we've done plenty of business with Asahi, purchasing specific Japanese products at a reasonable price to use with the food we prepare for our festivals. Bottom-line: If you need some Japan-specific product or anything Japanese, you're best bet is definitely Asahi. Check it out, buy stuff there. simple as that read more

A great place to get rice, noodles, and tea, and all those special Japanese grocery items. The freshly made onigiri is bomb!

Our favorite place to shop! Onigiri, Bento box, Yakisoba etc.... my family loves this place! It's great little local store I'll always support it ! read more

This place is a must have. The food is amazing and the staff is so friendly and helpful! One of the best places in Austin. Make sure to get there early to get first picks! read more

I love this shop!! They make fresh onigiri that's so delicious. The staff is also so kind and helpful. They always are ready to help and give recommendations if I ask. All the food is great and tasty. read more

Every japanese mini mart I have been to in various cities is meticulously clean and well designed. It's the kind of place where you know nothing fishy is going on in the backroom and you know that your mushrooms are safe from rodent harm. Asahi is no exception. Its produce is tightly and carefully packaged in adorable portions. They choose stainless steel racks instead of the depressing yellow stained librarian shelves. It's strategically and rightfully placed large weaved buckets greet you when you enter. I wanna buy one. I assume the prices are inflated bc they are imported and its such a small business, but their sauces and frozen noodles are affordable. read more

This is the best place to find all your Japanese groceries. The store is clean and the staff is helpful. They have cute gifts and lots of little snacks and the produce is fresh. There is also very good parking read more

I've only been here once so far but I do plan to go back. Asahi Imports is a very tiny store. Everything is bright, clean, and neat. I came here because I needed a small container of instant dashi. They had exactly what I needed and it was very easy to find. There's really only perhaps 3 small isles and a freezer case. If you're in the area drop by, it's too cute to pass up. The shopping experience is a nice change from the incredibly large Asian markets that can overwhelm a person such as myself who can only read English. read more

My visit was actually way back in September but I am behind on making reviews. Really cute shop. I was really glad to find this place. A good selection of Japanese snacks and other products for how small the shop is, but its not cluttered. The main reason I was in, I was looking for a particular candy a friend had me hooked on that he brought back from his trip to Japan. Found it and bought it and a few favorites plus some that I hadn't seen even in the big stores I have here in Houston. I will definitely return. read more

Stumble upon this place while in Austin. I watched a ton of anime when I was in highschool and always wanted to try onigiri. This is where it happened. They made it fresh for you and it was delicious. I tried their shrimp tempura and their mayo tuna. They also have soft serve ice cream in the weekend. I tried their matcha flavor and it was not as creamy as a regular soft serve ice cream but still tasted good! read more

Asahi imports is great for those "little things" that you miss the most when you have moved away from Japan. My wife relies on Asahi for everything that makes our dinner table closer to her home. We have just moved to Austin from Japan, and frankly I dont know what we would do without the place!! If there was one thing they could stock that would make our day, it would be haccho miso!! A great place, and a must find for any Japanese people that need a little taste of home! read more

Interesting... everything here is so damn cute. And that includes the grocery carts. They have a wide selection of Japanese desserts and condiments. They also offer daily bento boxes, and the packaging is sooooo cute. Definitely grab a box of mocchi ice cream! Cuteness is all over the place here. It's a great place to check out. read more

I love this place for those specialty Japanese things that MT doesn't carry, particularly their matcha powder and bancha leaves, plus a wide variety of seaweed and ingredients for homemade dashi. One of my favorite dates to have with my partner involves coming here and getting soft serve and onigiri on the weekends. I honestly have a lovely experience every time I come. The people are so nice and the products are top quality. read more

I go here regularly and consistently have good experiences. Even as a small business, they've done a great job at making effective changes to deal with the pandemic. Everyone is friendly and they've been really helpful when I need it. I absolutely love the onigiri and getting it freshly made while I'm in the store. Would highly recommend!! read more

I am a regular at asahi imports and always eaten their bento boxes with the rice. After so many years eating and loving the moist sushi rice, their rice is starting to taste dry and not moist anymore and taste like a day old rice. I felt like they threw old rice and water and mix it in the rice cooker and serve it on the bento boxes. Asahi! Please return to cooking new fresh moist sushi rice! read more

Fun little store. Has everything we needed to cook up japanese udon and tofu salad. Very nice owner. Would definitely recommmend this place! read more

Asahi Imports - Yummy food! - International Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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An cute little family owned and operated grocery store offering hard to find Japanese goods and snacks. Recently expanded to offer more fresh baked goods and foodstuffs. Everything is typically clean and well organized. Not the largest store by any means, but a gem in Austin. read more

Being a California native, I grew up with Japanese markets like Marukai and Mitsuwa. When I moved to Austin I jokingly told my parents to stock up and ship me everything I need. Luckily I found this gem and it has pretty much everything that I could need. So glad I found Asahi imports! read more

This place is always the place to go if you're near by. The riceballs are so cute, with everything else in the store. So get some snacks and drinks here read more

The fresh food is amazing! Great variety in product and awesome pricing! So many different onigiri and they are all delicious and fresh.

I love this place! The rice balls are super yummy and if you are looking for any kind of Japanese drinks, pastries, snacks, candy, condiments and/or food you can prob find it all here. They also have vute little knick knacks and fun stuff to look at. My fav thing to do is go in and pick out stuff I have never had before. I haven't had anything I didn't like yet. Just as an FYI, don't go on a Monday bc they are closed. read more

Asahi Imports is a great, authentic Japanese market. It is terrific to see how the store has expanded over the years while maintaining the highest level of quality and service. There may be bigger Asian markets in Austin now, but back in the day Asahi was one of the only options and they still are the best choice for Japanese specialties. You can find everything from basics like rice, ramen and tofu to items like frozen seafood, natto (love the brands they carry!), Japanese soft drinks and even kitchenware. Not to mention the other big markets don't have the wonderful bento lunches and onigiri you can find in Asahi! It can be hit or miss with the bentos since they sell out so fast, but there is almost always a decent stock of onigiri. The staff is very friendly and incredibly helpful if you have any questions. I give this market the top recommendation I can give and I advise anyone in Austin looking for Japanese or Asian groceries or products to check it out! I'll be moving away and this charming, wonderful store will be one of the things I will certainly miss : ) read more

Fresh rice balls made daily. Awesome and kind staff. Good selection of sake and snacks!!!

Much love for Asahi - they've got a little bit of everything there (without the nasty catfish smell at the Asian Wal-market north of 183). I generally just drop in for stuff I'm aware of - yakitori sauce, togarashi spices, Calpis, etc. - but I always find something cool and new. Haven't been able to convince them to stock the fluffy ear-picks that I've seen in Tokyo. Good selection of sake, nori for sushi, bath salts. Asahi ga daisuki da yo! read more

Asahi is a little store packed full of wonderful things, and a tad dangerous to stop in when you're a bit hungry. Much of the store is food--mochi ice cream, squid snacks, sake, Pocky, tofu, sushi-grade tuna, the only ramen I've ever eaten and actually liked--the list of tasty treats goes on and on and on. There's a selection of gifts, DVD rental, and some other Japanese items, but the majority of the store seems to be delicious noms. The staff is friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable. I can't say enough awesome things about this little store. It's a real treat to have awesome Japanese stuff close in to Austin, and a total joy to browse even for folks like me who've never even been to Japan. read more

full disclosure, I know Sally and her family- who own this place. good folks! That said: Decent little store- not gonna give it 5 stars, herein are my reasons: Expensive- out the wazoo. A little secret, the japanese Moms in town know exactly how much something is, and where to get it cheaper. While Asahi carries some unique stuff, most of it is from a Asian distributor out of Cali~ same vendor used for several of the other Chinese-based markets in town. Therefore stuff like Bulldog sauce, edamame, frozen Gyoza, New York Bakery items(out of Dallas oddly enough), Panko, Rice (japan does NOT export Rice- it's all from CA) etc. is ALL much cheaper at New Oriental Market. Lack of selection: It's a small store and I'm not gonna buy dish detergent here. I buy absolutely nothing from the Front or Back of the store. It's gifts and household items. Anyone buy a rice cooker here? you can get one on Amazon for about 1/10th the price. The deep fryer splash guards? nope- got one from chinatown for like 2$. Freshness: turnover on the limited produce is iffy. The Daikon doesn't look that great~ HEB carries it, I'm not gonna pay more for a flaccid Daikon. Of course, there are some things i MUST get here. But with NOM getting more Japanesey stuff, i'm going to Asahi less and less. Sure, I'd love to patronize a JPN own store, but the incentive has dwindled. read more

i was in the mood to make some okonomayaki and this place had all the ingredients i needed. the staff is very helpful since there were several kinds of okonomayki flour to choose from and i could not read Japanese - they even made suggestions as to what other ingredients i was missing from my list. they even have a small section of health and beauty products and dvd's in the back... it's no Daiso department store, Uwajimaya Grocery, or 1 dollar Japanese store that you might find in at a Japan town in the West coast... but is local and this little store has most of what you would need to make Japanese dishes. read more

I'm a fan of the Morinag Hot Cake mix, which somehow always changes its packaging during the interim periods when I'm using up my existing supply. The staff here are always super gracious in helping me find it, and I like that they do the traditional Japansese two-handed acceptance for taking and returning credit cards. read more

This is somewhere I find myself going to very consistently since I've moved to Austin. Though it IS a small store, what it has is more than enough to quench my taste buds and bring me back to a genuine little Japanese marketplace. Their handmade onigiri is absolutely delicious and filling -- my sister and I constantly stop by during lunch hours to grab a few. I also stop by here whenever I have a craving for certain snacks/foods. Their staff is very friendly! read more

What a delightful and unexpected gem on Burnet Road! They have a well organized and attractively-priced selection of Japanese dry goods, cookware, frozen foods and vegetables. I was most impressed that they carried escolar, a fish that is actually banned in japan, but is still considered a Sushi Delicacy. Indeed this place is probably the best place to shop if you want to make quick and easy sushi. In the front they also have cute little souvenir sets for the sake enthusiast in all of us, and adorable candles and highly original refrigerator magnets. Indeed this is the best place in Austin to find gifts for your kooky old aunt. Ah the Noodles: They have many. I was especially pleased to see they carried these instant noodle packages that have like 2 pages on instructions. Indeed I expressed my delight at these expensive noodles to the checker and she responded with much enthusiasm, as she too preferred the fancy noodle packets. Did I mention Specialty Japanese Booze? They have Japanese beers wines and Sakes unavailable at Grapevine, Whip in and/or Specs. They also Carry all the coolest Japanese junk food which is supposedly healthier than American junk food. This a fun place with cool staff who are fun to talk to. IF you're poking into shops on Burnet road, don't miss this one. read more