If Willy Wonka ever pivoted to Southeast Asian groceries, it would look exactly like Thuan Phat…read more This place is a full‑scale Vietnamese fever dream disguised as a normal supermarket. You walk in expecting Vons. You get Saigon. The produce section alone deserves its own theme music. Herbs, mushrooms, greens you didn't even know had names -- all fresher and cheaper than anything your American supermarket is pretending to offer. It's a straight-up cornucopia. Then you hit the meat counter and suddenly Ralphs and Vons feel like they should issue an apology. Marrow bones, femurs, trotters -- if you're making pho, ramen, chicken stock, or just want to feel like a culinary warlock, this is your playground. You will walk out with ingredients you didn't plan on buying and absolutely no regrets. Every aisle has some kind of delightful chaos. Dried pineapple flowers for homemade bitters for your signature cocktail? Absolutely. Industrial-sized bags of frog meat? Listen... maybe not for me. But if you need it, this is the place. No judgment, only abundance. It's as big as any mainstream grocery store, but stocked with so much cool stuff it feels like a teleportation portal to Southeast Asia. You come for one thing, you leave with twenty, and somehow you're still thrilled about it. Five stars. A must-visit. And if you start making better broth after shopping here, you can thank me later.

Bored with your recipes? Venture to a market like Thuan Phat! You can shop here for your…read morevegetables, canned goods, meat and seafood items while finding that special sauce to kick up your dishes! There are plenty of items that I've never seen before, but I always find a nice person in the aisle either shopping or working for the store to explain to me what something is and how to work it into a dish! They have a lot of vegetarian items in the frozen food section. I haven't disliked one of them yet. One of my favorites is burdock patties which very closely resemble in texture and taste a McDonald's hamburger! I also like the shredded vegetarian lamb, their marinated chicken, and today I bought textured protein beef steaks to try. I know that some of the bigger producers of vegetarian and vegan foods have somewhat of a limited line of taste to try, so here's a store with an expanded vegetarian protein frozen food line. I posted one of the pictures below, and then, guess what? Kit Kats in matcha flavor, oooh! You'll find their aisles are prominently marked with signs above. Many visits Iv'e found they are sampling one to three items (always tempting.) Free large parking lot outside. Right along the bus line. Cash or card.

I'm picky when it comes to grocery stores and let me tell you... H Mart San Diego - Balboa is an…read moreEXPERIENCE This place is HUGE and dangerously easy to spend way more time (and money) than planned. The seafood selection is top tier, produce always looks fresh, and the ramen/snack aisles?? Eliteeee. They have everything from authentic Korean ingredients to fun drinks, desserts, hot foods, and little random finds you suddenly "need." The food court is also a whole vibe. Come hungry because the corn dogs, bakery items, and hot meals hit every time. Store is clean, organized, and honestly just fun to walk through even if you're "just browsing." Parking can get crazy busy during peak hours but it's sooo worth it. One of my favorite grocery spots in SD easily. service here is always kind and inviting

This location is a lot better than the mira mesa one. This Hmart actually has an Asian food court…read more Although I would not eat at any of those places bc the food does not interest me, its still nice. This hmart reminds me of a mitsuwa. They have a bakery and other convenient stores. I like that this hmart plays upbeat music and I like that its pretty evident where each item is. The layout is kind of funky, but you won't be taking forever to find what you need. The vegetables like spinach is still full of dirt and the meat and seafood is extremely overpriced, but this place has most of what I need for asian cooking.

I never realized just how much money I was spending on matcha and all the different ways I enjoy…read moreit, so I decided it was finally time to stop by this Japanese market to see if I could find both culinary and ceremonial grade matcha. I'm so glad I did! Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover several different varieties of matcha, along with some Asian coffee that I couldn't resist picking up. It definitely turned into a much more exciting shopping trip than I had planned. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile, which immediately made me feel welcome. As an African American woman, I noticed that most of the shoppers didn't look like me, but it quickly became clear that it didn't matter one bit. I was treated with kindness, respect, and genuine hospitality just like every other customer. The staff was incredibly helpful when I asked where the matcha was located and happily answered my questions. The store itself was bright, clean, and well organized. I loved seeing the teamwork among the employees as they restocked shelves, assisted customers, and kept everything running smoothly. There was a real sense of community and pride throughout the market that made the shopping experience even more enjoyable. Although I originally came in just for matcha, I couldn't help but notice how fresh the produce looked and how impressive their sushi selection was. I'll definitely be coming back to explore more of what they have to offer. If you're ever in the Kearny Mesa area, I highly recommend stopping by. You just might leave with more than you planned--and as always... you can thank me later!

This place is seriously amazing. I've been coming here for years and it never disappoints. The…read morepremade sushi is actually legit super fresh, tastes great every time, and you can tell they really keep everything clean and well taken care of. It's one of those perfect quick grab spots where you don't feel like you're sacrificing quality at all. The sashimi salad for $15 is a steal and the fact that you can also get it à la carte makes it even better for the price. They've got a ton of options too drinks, premade meals, snacks so you're not stuck with just one thing. Hands down one of my favorite places to eat when I want something quick but still really good. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't been yet. It's a Japanese market, but they also sell groceries, vegetables, and fruits. This is definitely a great experience in San Diego. It's a hidden gem, five stars all the way around. The only downside is they don't really have a dining area. They do have one table outside, but I usually like enjoying my sushi at home. Other than that, there's really no downside. Still a solid five stars for their food, produce, and overall products. #sushilover #quickbites #freshfood #foodiefinds #hiddengem #highlyrecommended

I have come to really enjoy roti chapati Indian whole wheat flatbread…read moreand discovered that a food market is now open in the North County. I visited today and am astonished by the wide range of food items dedicated to India and the surrounding regions now readily and freshly available locally. The store is spotless and the array of packaged and loose bin items is quite astonishing. The staff is very friendly and the cashier advised me on the ideal manner of home preparation of the whole wheat flatbread. I am eager to go back with my wife to scout out all of that which we enjoy in this food genre.

This has been my go-to grocery store for Indian groceries for years. They have a great selection of…read morespices, pantry staples, and one of the largest collections of frozen Indian food I've seen. The produce can be a bit hit or miss. I've picked up some really fresh vegetables here, but there have also been times when the quality wasn't as good, so I usually take a closer look before buying. The staff has always been friendly, and if they're not too busy, they'll even help bag your groceries, which is a nice touch. It's still my first choice whenever I need to stock up on Indian groceries.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good this supermarket is! I was expecting your usual Asian…read moresupermarket but what I got was an exceptionally nice one. I know my Asian supermarkets as my mom toted me around to Asian supermarkets all the time since I was a little munchkin. This market is very clean, very organized. So much stuff too. Fresh vegetables and fruits and the prices are very reasonable. Also so much fresh seafood to chose from! They are also packed with frozen seafood too! There is a hot food area and Im definitely going to come back and try some of these dishes. I came looking for some laksa ingredients as this week is much cooler and cloudy and ideal weather for a hot soup in the evening. I found everything I needed and so much more too. They also sell ready made seafood and I did buy a whole fried tilapia to give it a try. Its a little dry and not much flavor so I may skip it next time. I also got some desert and my favorite is the banana tapioca pudding. This is delicious! Can I say again that the prices here are fabulous?!! I havent see prices like this in a long time. Cashier was super nice and sweet. Im definitely gonna be a regular here.

Terrible service, I have always shopped at this market more than 30 years. But, now I was so…read moredisappointed. All the nice peoples back then are gone. They replaced with all new faces. Special the hot food section. I bought their food every day almost because I live alone and don't cook. More convenient for me is buying their hot foods there. The food are ok! But the women working there are very bad service. They treated customers like we are come there to ask them a free meals. No respect, no polite. And mean eyes sour faces. Special the heavy set Larry and a very thin lady. I don't know their name. I never come back to buy hot food again.

A variety of fresh made bread - yum…read more A great selections of products and produce. There is also a huge selection of delicious desserts.

Balboa Market never disappoints. The produce is always fresh and well stocked, and the new setup…read morelooks great. Huge selection of international products, plus the bakery is always packed for a reason. Good prices, clean store, and a great overall shopping experience. Definitely a top spot in San Diego!

It's not a big chain Asian market but they have your basic grocery needs. Friendly, family owned…read morebusiness. The parking can be a bit hectic at times trying to get in and out of there. They currently have stock of the instant boat noodles that people have been raving about, if you've been looking to try it out.

I grew up in City Heights, and as someone who's Cambodian, I know how important it is to find the…read moreright ingredients for traditional dishes. This is my go-to spot for authentic Southeast Asian ingredients. I come here for everything--from prahok essentials to papaya salad fixings and ingredients for yahon hot pot. They also carry everyday groceries like fresh vegetables and meat, so it's convenient for all kinds of shopping. The owners and staff are always kind and welcoming, which makes the experience even better.

The strawberry matcha latte was sooo good!! I loved the flavor profile but just wished there was…read moremore ice!

Delicious hidden gem !!! Matcha was perfect, not too sweet not too bitter, just right I ordered the…read morechocolate matcha w/oat milk and that itself earned the 10/10. The matcha bubble waffle was another 10/10! A bit of a wait (like 15 mins) but worth it !!!