Teso is sort of a Japanese department store, and it's one of the more unique retail experiences you'll have in San Antonio. Where other Asian places have the edges sanded down, this store revels in its Japanese weirdness. It's best described as one part grocery store, one part model shop, one part cosmetics department, and a big shake of the vending machine/arcade aesthetic. Shake carefully...and this is what you get! While the miniature model sets are fascinating to look at, and the cosmetics will appeal more to women, I'll admit I got a kick out of the grocery section. This is more of a bachelor snack-food heaven, with lots of frozen pre-prepared food and exotic (for Westerners) flavors of ramen, sodas, and chips. A bit on the pricey side, but worth it for the novelty. Service was fast at the register, and there's plenty of parking. Definitely worth your time for a visit! read more

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Domo arigato, Teso Life! This Japanese department store is something else! It's such a different concept in shopping from the other department stores that I'm used to seeing at the mall. The store is kinda sorta sorted like a grocery store, with aisles of food- so many different kinds of noodles, ramen and chips. The sodas are some of my favorite- there's strange exotic flavors of Pepsi that I've never seen before. I took home a can of Strawberry Milkshake Pepsi. Made with real pilk! The best deals are in the front by the registers, where they have gift bags- an assortment of a soda, something sweet, something salty, and something savory. For the price of the soda alone, you get three extra snacks and a J-Cool bag. I didn't try my luck at all the claw games they have, where you can win your merchandise. They have a whole section for models and toys. The clerk was super friendly and waved at me coming and going, with a huge smile. The rest of the stockers seemed completely aloof and checked out, just dusting or aligning boxes. Be aware of parking! This shopping center will tow you so fast, I'm nervous to go in. Also, they took away all the trash cans. It makes it pretty unpleasant to shop here when the shopping center seems out to get you. read more

Stopped by Teso, the new Asian store in San Antonio, and it's such a fun place to explore. They truly have a little bit of everything. Adorable miniature house kits you can build yourself to all the viral Asian ice creams and snacks you see online. The store is bright, well organized, and easy to walk through, every aisle has something new to discover. Huge selection of beauty products. read more

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Great store! Tons of snacks, drinks, stationary, household items and a huge beauty section. I didn't get to see the toys / crane game area, but would love to look around. They had a LOT of products. When considering that San Antonio does not have that many Asian stores, especially on this side of town, and with the price of importing products etc, I feel it is reasonably priced. Some items may have been a bit high pricing wise and they do have a lot of merchandise, so maybe just go in to browse to see what they have for your first trip and buy a few items that you're already familiar with. Their cash register situation was kind of funny to me because they have shopping carts, but then you have to hand the items across a counter to someone to scan, more like a clothing store. Clean store though. Several workers asked me if I needed help while I was there. read more

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Recommend: Yes. At least go and check it out once. Service: I wasn't greeted by anyone or asked if I needed assistance but that was ok, since I just wanted to peruse and see what the big deal was about the store. Selection: Lots of things to see and try out! Value: Some of the items I feel were expensive others not so much. read more

Teso Life - Ice cream - Toy Stores Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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It's been about two months since our first visit to Teso Life. We intentionally waited for the crowds (and those very long lines!) to die down before checking it out--and we were not disappointed.Since then, we've been back at least three times, and each visit has been just as enjoyable as the first. I even held off on posting a review because I wanted to make sure it wasn't just the excitement of discovering a new store full of knickknacks, collectibles, and all things cute. But nope--Teso Life truly holds up. I'm especially thrilled with their selection of Rolife miniature houses and puzzles-- prices noticeably better than Amazon! Miniatures have become my latest hobby, and finding Snoopy and Astro Boy puzzles here was such a win. They're fantastic additions to my growing collection and offer Lego- level quality at a friendlier price point. The store is consistently clean, well-organized, and always feels fully stocked. Staff member are warm, helpful, and easy to approach. The mini-grocery and snack section is a fun bonus, and their beauty and wellness aisles are surprising y impressive. Honestly, the pricing and quality here beat Daiso by a mile. Teso Life has officially become our new go-to spot for quality, hard-to-find Asian foods at great prices. Highly recommended checking it out! read more

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FIRST TIME VISIT *Disclaimer: only got thru 1/2 of the store. This new Asian store boasts 26,000 sq ft of Asian toys, home goods, food items and more. It's exciting that the Alamo City got a location of our own. And if the line of people that wrapped around the block opening weekend is any indication, San Antonio is excited, too! The day I went in I had only 30 mins to shop, the parking lot was PACKED but there was a decent flow of people coming out with pretty reusable shopping bags by the brand, so I took my shot. Lots of giftable opportunities on shelf after shelf and tons of displays. There probsbly have over a hundred different cutesy Asian character figures, the collectible kind, similar to but NOT Labubu and they even have some (licensed) Sanrio items, too. From what I saw, they do not have all the Sanrio characters, but the more popular ones, HK, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi. I did not see characters like Badtz Maru, Keroppi, Hangyodon, the LTS, etc. There was a ton of housewares to peruse, as well as some food items. There are also 2 long rows of toy crane machines! I've never seen that before in a store! I'll have to try my luck some time. Prices are pretty customary, not cheap but not expensive, either. I was prepared to purchase a few items when I turned to look and the line had easily 30+ people waiting to check out. Nope. I left and decided to come back a few months down the line when the hype has died down some. I look forward to seeing what treasures are to be had in the second half of the store. Lol! read more

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Even if you don't think you would like to buy something here, you will eventually find something. The store reminds me of a supermarket. It has food, household, products, stationery, pens, toys. It does get super busy. I didn't mean to go, but I was next-door having a coffee when I saw a bunch of people lined up to go in. It was definitely super busy. Sometimes it was difficult for me to go down the aisles to look at the different products. I ended up getting a bunch of different coffee, tea drinks and snacks. Considering that the store was super busy, checkout was pretty quick. Everyone was friendly and the store was very clean. Parking is available on site, but shared with the other businesses. On a Sunday around noon time parking was that difficult to come by. Prices are reasonable read more

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Popped by to check the store out while visiting my sister in San Antonio. As someone who travels to Japan fairly frequently & has an affinity for snacks from abroad specifically Asia I was quite pleased with the selection available here. The store is very well lit, immaculately clean, and very open with room to navigate. What I like most about it is it combines several different store types that you would encounter in a place like Japan under one roof. There are home accessories, kitchen gadgets, cosmetics, snacks, beverages, and collectible toys like you would find at a PopMart. Prices were fairly reasonable. For example, a bag of royal milk tea powder was $9.99 and it sells for 10.99 on Amazon. Hokkaido milk treats that I buy in Japan for ¥400 were $3.99. Many of the different types of chips they had were no more expensive than American ones you would buy at a gas station .So the prices were not exorbitant. I spent $45 here mostly on snacks like chips & cookies from China and Korea that I have not had before. overall, a cool place to check out especially if you have never been to Asia. read more

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Cute Asian store with lots to see. Lots of interesting chips, cookies, drinks and ice cream. Great selection for those wanting to try something new and different. The chips were about the same price as H-E-B chips so not too pricey, drinks and ice cream weren't pricey either. The service was good, we talked to an employee who helped us out. The line to buy items was ridiculously long, they need more cashiers, the line wrapped around the store, at least 80 people in line when we got to the end of the line. Will be coming back to try more of their chips and different ice creams. read more

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This place has EVERYTHING from snacks, to collectibles, stationary, to cosmetics! You can spend hours here just in awe of all that's there! The workers are very nice and very helpful which they were greatly utilized in the cosmetics area. Definitely will be here every other weekend! read more

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I really enjoy walking and looking around this store. They have so much Korean/Japanese stuff - snacks, toys, household goods, skincare, makeup and etc. So much to choose from and I'm happy they carry certain things I use here! I literally have to walk every aisle every time I go lol. The people that works there that I have come across has been all nice specially when they first opened, I was next in line but had to wait for my friends so he let me wait by the door so I don't have to go in the back of the line again. The only thing is that every little thing adds up so at check out, I just surprise myself with how much I've spent at the store lol. Anyway check this store out - it's worth it! read more

As soon as you walk in, the place stands out! Everything looks nice, pretty, and isles are full of Asian products, snacks, drinks, toys, and even some adult play products! Place is very open and clean! Lots of employees on site to help you navigate the place. Ended up just getting to super spicy chips on this visit. Prices aren't too bad here but could be better. Dislike- Most of their snack products are high on Sodium, added sugar, and calories! So, snack carefully! read more

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Teso Life is finally open and I went to check it out with friends the day after the grand opening. It's huge - bigger than the ones in Dallas for sure. 1/4 of the store is dedicated to collectibles/blind boxes that are so popular right now. 1/2 of the store is consumables, lots of snacks, candy, ramen, etc. and the other 1/4 is home goods and cosmetics. There's something for everyone here. My only complaints are the huge lines to pay, but I'm sure this will calm down as the novelty wears off. I also wish there was more frozen food variety - this location only has 6-8 refrigerators stocked with drinks, mochi, and a few other snacks. My office is not too far from here, so I'm looking forward to stopping by again! read more

Teso Life - Toy Stores Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The store is overwhelmingly big with so many goodies. Whether you're on the lookout for toys, skincare, snacks or drinks, you will find it here. The only thing we couldn't find during our visit were frozen treats. They were all sold out. Everything we purchased was good. The variety of unique chip flavors was fun to discover and all were delicious. The candy and other sweet snacks were yummy also. The Bourbon Chocoliere were not sweet treats for those looking for snacks/chocolate that aren't as sweet as the usual ones. The line was very long at checkout but went fast considering every register was open. Look forward to going back. read more

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I finally had the opportunity to come here. The line can be crazy long at the weekend. When you walk in there is plenty of items to look at. They had a lot of novelty items, food, refrigerator items, home goods, and skin care, etc. I felt as though you're paying more for the hype of where the items are from more than the actual product. I thought a lot of things were overpriced. My son's friend made the comment "overpriced dollar store snacks" which I feel kind of represents what this place offers. Don't get me wrong I did like a few items I bought but for the price I can easily find them elsewhere. I wouldn't come out of my way to shop but it's a nice eclectic shop. As always judge for yourself. read more

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This is my second time coming to Teso Life and both times the store has been packed, which says a lot on its own. It's one of those places where you walk in planning to browse and end up leaving with way more than expected. They carry a wide range of snacks, drinks, collectibles, plushies, skincare, and blind box figures. Everything feels thoughtfully stocked and not random, and the store itself is clean, organized, and easy to walk through even when it's busy. What really surprised me this visit was discovering they sell imported beers and sake. I picked up Lucky Dog IPA and Flying IPA and both were excellent. Lucky Dog is hoppy but very smooth and balanced, while Flying IPA leans more toward a stronger hop profile. Both were enjoyable in different ways and this will definitely be a new spot for grabbing beers on the go. They also had a Hefeweizen and a Red Ale that I haven't tried yet, but based on the IPAs, I'm confident those will be solid as well. The Lemon Slice Soda was another standout. My spouse picked it because she wanted something refreshing and not too sweet, and it delivered exactly that. It's light, clean, and even has a fresh slice of lemon inside. She originally got it to help with burping during pregnancy, and it ended up being so good I finished it myself. I also picked up a couple of unique Pringles flavors I'm looking forward to trying. I brought my two cousins with me and they enjoyed the store so much they left with plush figures and personal care items. There's a great selection for all ages. Some of the more desirable collectibles are kept behind the counter, which I appreciate. I'll definitely be back to pick up a Gundam kit next time. If you want to avoid crowds, I recommend going right when they open or early on a Sunday morning. Overall, Teso Life is a great store for kids and adults alike and easily worth repeat visits. I feel the Value is great & fair for what they offer and the selection they carry. You be the judge. read more

Teso Life - IPA, Red Ale, Hefeweizen - Toy Stores Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Think Daiso but on steroids. No lines today at 1pm and ample parking. Perk, it's right next door to 85C. 1/5 section has interesting toys that are like labubu, kitschy keychains, stationary, pens, pen bags, notebooks, lego like toys, collections of DIY decor. 1/5 was housewares like cute panda ceramic bowls and plates. 1/5 was kitchen and houseware items like Daiso. 1/5 or more was a wide selection of makeup, hair and body care. The same items that are in local grocery stores in Japan. 1/5 was Asian drinks, snacks, candy and icecreams like the popular fruit ones ($5 each). Def a place to check out if you are looking for imported Asian items. Purchased melon mochi, two bags of Korean chocolate covered nuts that have different flavors and kawaii Crayon Shinchan stationary read more

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There's so much to see and get at Teso!!! The Austin area needs one!!!! The location I went to was very clean and organized. I love their snack sections. Lots of great choices. They do also carry a lot of the make up products I enjoy. Now I can easily purchase it without having to pay for shipping. read more

Such a clean, brightly lit store with tons of toys, snacks, home, beauty, and much more! Make sure you set aside plenty of time to traverse through the packed aisles and shop through the plethora of interesting products. There are inexpensive and expensive items so there's a great range that will get you to quickly spend all your money. They also provided a cute orange reusable bag at checkout. I would compare it to a Daiso and Miniso along with a Japanese grocery and drugstore like Lawson! Expect to pay a little more for typical items as it's a Japanese chain store. read more

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Came here on opening day, as a matter of fact, was first in line with my partner in crime! As my PIC stated in a couple interviews, "we came here for the blind boxes, Asian snacks, and whatever else catches our eye. "We have been anticipating this day for months and put together a nice chunk of change to spend for Teso and that's exactly what we did. After about an hour or two of not really fighting crowds, but just mostly browsing around and seeing what they had available, we finally made our purchases. The employees were friendly and welcoming and very helpful. read more

Teso Life - Grand opening today - Toy Stores Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Enjoyed my experience shopping for different Japanese products. There were more blind boxes of different characters (no Labubu) than any store I have visited. My daughter liked the Pandas. The staff were friendly and helpful. Avoid the claw machines. $2 a play seems a bit much to me. Some products have reasonable prices and some you should avoid. I recommend trying Teso Life out and have a shopping experience like no other here in San Antonio. Their Rolife collection may get me starting a new hobby read more

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This place is like a wonderland ! Must go! Different thing to try and new things to see.

Lots and lots of stuff! Food toys drinks!!! A little bit of everything in this store! The ice cream (that look like actual fruits) is amazing!! Lots of noodles, chips and snacks read more

I love it so much!! It's huge!!! Like daiso and miniso had a giant baby. It's got such a variety of items it's almost overwhelming but i highly recommend a stop. Don't miss out on the claw machines in the back or the snack aisle! read more

Well this place was packed on a Saturday afternoon, even a month after opening. If you are looking for an Asian market in the traditional sense, this is not your place. There is not a produce or fridge/freezer section or grocery sections. But if you are looking for cosmetics, snacks, dish-ware, crane games, dioramas and hinges like that then this is a good place. We did buy some different ramens and candies, which were fun and tasty. But the dioramas and displays were pretty visually impactful. I could have spent all day in there and playing the claw games. The cashiers were nice. Everything seemed to be decently priced. read more

I loved this place. They had a lot of goodies that I had got when I was in Japan & when I say they had a variety of stuff! I grabbed a bit of everything. I came out spending over $200 which I'm not mad at because these products do work. Although it was a busy store the service was quick & the cashiers were very friendly. read more

Lots of really cool stuff. Beware I thought the little wooden rooms were pretty and neat. I'll be honest hard to put together and parts are hard to stay together. Long long line!!! read more

Such a fun place! Our whole family enjoyed looking at everything from house goods to toys to food! So much to see there and it was so clean! There were multiple employees straightening up and cleaning in the aisles. Highly recommend checking it out! read more

Ok, to be fair their snack selection is nice. The Ramen selection is sad. And their HBA product lines are the hook - truly. i'm not gonna pay $30 for a touchless foaming soap dispenser but I will pay the $9 to get a standard pump version with the very nice smelling Biore product inside. The soaps, face care - shampoos and makeup are all worth the price. My first review was based on the weeb trap toy selection. Spend your money on a home goods and HBA. Here's where they shine. read more

It was a great store for different products. We enjoyed shopping there. Great selection of cool figurines. Some of the things were a little overpriced, but great experience. The line is always super long. read more

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Store is under construction, but can't wait to see the newest location! Will be 27,000 sq ft with beauty products, snacks, drinks, games, and even sake selections. read more

Teso Life - Front of store - Toy Stores Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Teso Life is a unique Japanese store. Too bad it is in a terrible location and it has the worst parking spaces for a big business. The developer should have check out RBFCU Parkway; same location as IKEA. Sorry, just for that I have to wait a year or so to revisit this store. I cannot give this place a perfect score. Didn't buy anything because the line to cash registers were extremely long. read more

Cool place lots of stuff but absolutely awful parking and There so many people because social media that there Is no way for a quick trip expect to be there for 30-40 mins minimum if your going to buy something. read more

Had a great time in store especially with the large selection, but employees weren't really helpful or interested in helping those shopping which is fine, but in the several hours I spent in the store I was greated only once. When I got to the register my friend and I split our cart and went to check out with two different associates. While checking out the associate ringing me up was taking longer than I would expect and placed crushable items like chips and cookies at the bottom of my bag and the heavy items on top which made no sense. This was fine, I could fix it myself but what really shocked me was that I was asked if I was paying with a physical card and the associate tried to physically block from inserting my card when I said yes. I was then told it was policy to show my ID to make sure my name matches the name on the card when a purchase is over $100. I was confused, but willing to comply though before I could even say anything or ask a question I was immediately told it was just "a policy ma'am" with a hand up. I showed my ID along with my card and it felt like I was being checked by a bouncer into a club with how much she analyzed my card. The transaction finished and I met my friend I was shopping with only to then find out she was not ID'd for almost the exact same transaction (mine $107, her's $102) and while looking around those with larger carts were not being ID'd like I had just been. I understand the need and want to curb theft and fraud, but in all honesty this was handled very poorly and I feel wary about returning. read more