In my recent series of reviews, I've been writing about various stores and markets in Chinatown,…read morealmost all of which are located on Stockton St. Where Grant Avenue is dominated by gift shops, tea companies, and, on one particular block, fresh chicken stores, you'll find Stockton St. dominated by fish markets, produce stores, Chinese delis, and general grocery stores. This location used to house the most popular and famous meat market/butcher shop in Chinatown, Hop Sang Meat Market (El Dorado Meat Market to English speaking buyers). It was so renowned in its day that that pioneer of California of cuisine in Berkeley was buying its meats for their restaurant until this store closed in the early 1990's. Back to today, this store specializes mainly in fruits and vegetables with a small assortment of dried and canned good on their shelves inside. I happened to walk by on a weekday morning while running errands and saw some green bananas with a slight yellow tint hanging above their vegetable and fruit bins. I'd gone to a local western supermarket near my home for two consecutive days hoping to find this, but all of their bananas were fully yellow. I brought my bunch inside and waited behind two or three customers before paying. I was in and out of the store in about seven minutes. Do note that they mainly sell vegetables and the variety of fruit is often limited. There are stores that specialize more in fruits on and around Jackson Street. It's a good spot if you are walking by and not necessarily anything particularly special in Chinatown. However, you may come across that item that you seek like I did in this case.

I had no idea what a produce wonderland existed on Stockton Street. It's the kind of place I would…read morenormally walk on by, but I was with a friend who went to school around the corner & said if he ever ran out of money, he'd never starve because of places like this. Apparently, a lot of grocery stores in Chinatown have flash sales, you just have to know how to find them. You won't see posters, but you will see a small crowd forming around bags of fruits and vegetables. What decade is this? I got a box of fresh strawberries for One Dollar! Big bag of broccoli 79 cents/lb. Cherries, 79cents/ lb. Not some expired fruit, but firm, ripe organic cherries. Next time I'm in Chinatown I'll bring a larger shopping bag & be on the lookout. See ya later Whole Foods.

I used to love shopping here. They had mounds of great cheap produce. Not anymore. They remodeled…read morefor some reason making the store smaller. It really makes you wonder how people with no business sense get into business. I miss the old owners.

Purchased produce and couldn't see how rotten until one cuts it open. Avocados looked great ,…read morebrown inside ($2.99 each and I got 5 for guacamole ). Zucchini's were mixed... some good and sine very bitter . The new owners should also watch their cashier / front person. The pleasant customer in front of me said thanks twice. No response. Cashier monotonously told me my amount and as I was getting my card out of wallet, kept repeating it several times rudely. Dude, I am trying to get it as fast as I can! Hold on! Then he threw my receipt at me. :( I just took the high road by zipping my lip, quietly gathered my purchase and walked out. Terrible service!

Shopping in Chinatown can be confusing, especially on Stockton Street when it comes to vegetables…read more After all, 80% of the stores in Chinatown are on that street. And there is no shortage of choices. Though most of my normal veg shopping is done at the SoCal chain supermarket, I sometimes can't find certain items leading me to come here. Okra is a good example. For Christmas Day, I'd plan to pick up green beans at the Ferry Farmer's Market from Iacopi after seeing them available the previous Saturday. I was a bit panicked when the young gentleman told me the season is over with last week being their final harvest. Having to shop in Chinatown afterwards, I headed straight here and asked one of the vegetable ladies in front who pointed me to long beans before directing me to the green beans that I sought. A few minutes later, I was at the cashier where there was no line (there normally is one) and headed to my next shopping spot. I was relieved since I didn't want to be on the hunt like many others on Christmas Eve. It is also a trip hearing non-Chinese staff speaking in broken Cantonese. Check it out when you're there. I've bought taro, okra, leafy greens, and now green beans here now as there is no shortage of variety. They have a limited variety of other cooking essentials for Chinese cooking. It does get crowded here during peak shopping times. Will continue to shop here on an as need basis. *** By the way, here's what I created from my buy. (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ZgdFE2sP4B0Yvrp9TA0wRg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=CmxGPTmcwSOgA2wcjx8zrw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q).

This shop used to be own by the owner at New Louie's but he sold this one and kept the smaller one…read more This store is basically still the same. A bit more cleaner than before. Still good and fresh produce. Some times they have sale items if getting old. One of the employees, I think the son of the new owner learned some Cantonese, not sure from who! LoLs He says things like- I'll kill you! Because you're in his way and he needs you out of the way when he's pushing the dolly!!!!

This place is a legend. They always have a mix of random fruits and veggies at great prices--most…read moreof them just on the edge of their freshness window, which makes it perfect for stocking up on soup ingredients or experimenting in the kitchen. I even found the biggest carrot I've ever seen! Shop local and keep this little gem in business.

Amazing little Chinese market. All sorts of vegetables. Some exotic looking stuff. Some strange…read morelooking stuff. My friend came in for durian. They had it frozen and a small metal package. Service was friendly. Ambiance is exactly that of a small strange little produce and fish market

Great prices and produce selection for fruits and vegetables. Lots of variety and cool options for…read morerecipes.

Chung Hing Produce is mostly that-produce. inside has only a spotty inventory of canned groceries,…read moresauces, noodles. the aisles are cluttered with stuff. buys: baby bok choy. (.79/lb.) -seem to be, babies bigger here than elsewhere -not labeled, just assumed it was. leftovers: -not a madhouse like on stockton st.

I've been living in North Beach for a long time, and one of the highlights of my week is the…read moreFarmers Market. It started back in 2018 as a small, volunteer-run effort by North Beach Neighbors and Piazza Pellegrini, and over the years it's really grown into the heart of the neighborhood. Now, every Saturday morning on Greenwich Street by Joe DiMaggio Playground, the market is buzzing with local farmers, artisans, and about a half-dozen food vendors. My Saturday routine usually starts with grabbing a cup of coffee from one of the vendors on the Columbus Street end, then sipping it as I stroll through the market to the other side. Along the way, I love checking out all the fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade items that catch my eye. More often than not, I'll also pick up something tasty to eat from one of the food stalls. It's become one of those simple rituals that makes me feel connected to the community and reminds me why I love living in North Beach.

I was mainly here just to get sugar and carbs cookies (amazing new york style cookies). The farmers…read moremarket is relatively small and is only about half a block. The plus side is its in little italy where there's a lot of amazing food , so if you're already in that area its worthwhile to check it out!

One of the best surprises we found at Pier 39 was Vlahos Orchards Fruit Market…read more Amid all the tourist attractions, restaurants, and sweet treats, it was refreshing to find a place focused on fresh fruit. During a trip, it's easy to go days without eating enough fresh produce, so this quickly became one of our favorite stops. Everything we purchased was excellent--sweet cherries, crisp apples, juicy strawberries, lychees, and bananas. The fruit was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we needed after days of restaurant meals. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was kind, attentive, and genuinely friendly. They even had a good sense of humor, which made the experience feel personal rather than transactional. We ended up keeping the fruit in our hotel room for snacks throughout the trip, and it was one of the smartest purchases we made. If you're visiting Pier 39 and looking for something fresh and healthy, don't overlook this little gem.

My fav fruit stand at the pier! With all the fried options at Pier 39, I love having a healthier…read morealternative to donuts- and that's their beautiful and sweet strawberries, cherries, etc. The fruit is a little pricey, but you're at the pier! I come here every time I'm nearby...and they're one of the few spots I've found lychees in the city! Staff here is super friendly, love what they do, and the views of the bay are 10/10!

Cherries were fresh and only $1.49 per pound! It was a bit busy to check out on a Saturday…read moreafternoon.

When shopping in Chinatown, it's a challenge for those who seek specific things. Who has the best…read morecabbage? Who has the best fruits? Who is less or more expensive? The majority of the vegetable and fruit stores are on Stockton Street, spanning from Clay Street to Vallejo Street. Perhaps it is best to follow the crowds and lines, observing which has the largest crowd or longest lines. When it comes to fruits, it gets tricky as most will have your garden variety (pun intended) apples, oranges, tangerines, pears, etc. For those who seek more exotic fruits, you can pare the number to three or four stores. The one that I bought the most in the past was on Jackson Street but they have been closed for over three months. There was a sign posted that they would reopen in a month but... still crickets. There is a new awning and business name on it but, again, no opening date is posted and I don't know if it will be the same business. Anyway, the listing on the popular search engine still lists this business as May Sun Market which matches the Chinese name. The awning and signage (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=TqFXO9eXQqDCMGnInvKO-Q) should be current. I've walked here on many occasions on the advice of a friend to find particular fruits such as Hawaiian papayas. Said friend asked me to find lychee (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=CYT_kWlITO8bvGbejSgV3A) and guava (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=wVGuQrD1IFyDdsm5bhtpBw) so I completed my mission here. Besides getting the fruits for my friend, I bought a bag of lychee for my mom and me to share. I had some a few days later and they were sweet and juicy though the pit is on the larger side. I cannot read the Chinese characters on the listed sign so I'm not sure whether they are from Hawaii, Florida, or Asia. Prior to 2020, they also were the only store in Chinatown that sold a particular Hawaiian papaya brand in Chinatown, one that I found consistently good. Sadly, I have not seen them in recent years. I will likely stop here again next week when we finish those lychee and get more. *** I will be reviewing other stores in Chinatown as I believe this information is useful with the Chinese New Year celebration almost upon us. Happy shopping!