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East Bay Markets with Thai Ingredients

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East Bay Markets:   Berkeley  |  Oakland-Chinatown  |  Oakland-East  |  Richmond  |  San Pablo |  El Cerrito

This is just a partial list of the many Asian markets in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. This is Kasma's shopping area and she has shopped at all of the markets mentioned below. When shopping, she usually plans on visiting more than one market in order to get everything she needs. The list was last updated in 2018 so although all markets on the list (unless noted) were still in business, the narrative information may be out-of-date. (There is one update for 2020 in El Cerrito.)

* & ** – given for stores with a good (*) or better (**) selection of Thai ingredients.

Also see our blogs:

Oakland – Chinatown

Oakland's Chinatown should really be called "Asian-town" – there are as many Southeast Asian markets as Chinese. Street parking can be a problem here but there is a large underground lot in the Asian Cultural Center building on Franklin in between 9th and 10th streets. See our blog: Asian Markets – Oakland's Chinatown.
 

Sam Yick's Oriental Market Now closed.
New Sang Chong Market
377 8th St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 451-2018
This is where Kasma goes first if she's looking for fish. They usually have a good selection of good-looking, fresh, whole fish. Some live fish in tanks. Also some frozen foods (shrimp, scallops, etc.). If she doesn't find what she wants here, she'll try Lucky Fish Market right across the street. (August 2010)
Hometown Grocery
241 10th St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 835-2379
A fairly good all-purpose market with produce. (August 2013)
Old Oakland Farmer's Market
9th Street, below Broadway
Oakland, CA
Friday mornings only
The Friday morning farmer's market deserves mention as one of the best places to get Asian produce. When in season a very large bunch of holy basil can be purchased for $1.00. Asian greens of all varieties from the many Hmong vendors. What you don't find can be purchased in the markets across Broadway. Check out our blog on Old Oakland Farmer's Market.

Oakland – International Blvd.

International Blvd. (formerly East 14th Street), in the lower numbers, has some outstanding markets. Parking is fairly good. Some markets are good with hard-to-find items such as kaffir lime leaves (not always available). If you are shopping from scratch for a Thai feast or kitchen, the markets below are a good choice. See our blog: Asian Markets – Oakland's International District.
 

** Mitapheap Market
formerly Sontepheap Market
1400 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 436-3826
Cambodian market with most of Kasma's favorite brands and some great extras. Fresh young coconut and some excellent food to go - try the Laab when you can. Small aisles but a great selection. Often have fresh kaffir lime leaves and even pea eggplants in season (late summer). Two blocks away from the following two markets. (July 2008) Sometimes have fresh cha om and dtahm leung. Sometimes have Golden Boy fish sauce. (May 2010) See Kasma's blog: Mitapheap (was Sontepheap) Market in Oakland.
Sun Hop Fat 1 Supermarket Not recommended.
* Lao Market
1619 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 536-5888
Although this market and its neighbor, Mekong Market (below), are smaller and do not have as wide a selection as some of the other markets, they often have extremely fresh Thai produce, such as galanga, and items other markets don't carry, such as the occasional pea eggplant or wing bean. One or both often have fresh kaffir lime leaves, making it worth a trip out there. This market often has Klong Kohn shrimp paste. (July 2008) They often carry Tra Chang fish sauce, though on a visit recently they had the Golden Boy, instead. (August 2010)
Mekong Market
1613 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 261-7630
Although this is a smaller market they usually have fresh kaffir lime leaves and fresh holy basil. They sometimes sell their own home-made roasted chilli paste (nahm prik pao) and pickled vegetables. (July 2008) They carry Tra Chang fish sauce and Klong Kohn shrimp paste (both hard to find); also Dragonfly Premium oyster sauce (not Super Premium, though). (May 2010)
* Thien Loa Hoa
1199 E. 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 663-0138
A good market with many Thai ingredients. (July 2008) Carry Dragonfly Premium oyster sauce (not Super Premium, though). (May 2010)
Seemed to have a bit more SE asian produce than Long Hing, but not exceptional.  The big find here was the housewares.  There's everything you would want (except krawng kraeng presses apparently) - lots of kanom krok pans, many kinds of fruit peelers (some with ripples, some not), clay pots, etc. (An advanced student of Kasma's, August 2010)
New Saigon Supermarket Now Closed.
Long Hing Supermarket
830 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 832-1638
Didn't seem to have a ton of SE Asian vegies, but had a very good and cheap selection of frozen foods, and fish.  I scored some frozen basa in the 14 oz packages for only $2.19, a good price. I also found Golden Phoenix brown jasmine rice in a 5#  bag for only $4.99 - that's $4 cheaper than Kahnh Phong - wow! (An advanced student of Kasma's, August 2010)
Sun Sang Supermarket
751 International Blvd
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 891-0298
This is a great place to buy Lion &; Globe peanut oil; they sell the 5 liter container at the best price we've found. We'll also look for frozen seafood here. It's a full Asian market with other ingerdients as well. (August 2010)

Richmond

** Lao Jaleune Market
(formerly Heng Fath)
435 23rd St.
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 234-3895
A good market with almost everything at reasonable prices. Run by a Thai. Nearly all of Kasma's preferred brands, including her two favorite fish sauces (Golden Boy & Tra Chang) and Dragonfly Oyster Sauce. Stock can sometimes be a bit older, however and one wishes it were a bit cleaner at times. Produce can range from very fresh to very old. (September 2008)
Ranch 99 Market
3288 Pierce St., Suite 500
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 769-8899
A quite large market with a decent selection of Thai ingredients, although they are spread out all over the store. There is a decent fish market. They stock many of Kasma's preferred brands – unfortunately not her preferred fish sauce brands. (July 2008)

San Pablo

Houa Khong Market
"Honakhong" in phone book
2049 23rd St.
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 233-9542
A small Laotian market with almost any Thai ingredient you'll need. They may have (in season) some hard-to-find produce items such as pea eggplants, cha-om and winged beans. They have Dragonfly Premium (not Super Premium) Oyster Sauce as well as Golden Boy Fish Sauce. (October 2012)
San Pablo Supermarket
1188 International Mkt. Pl.
(turn on Laurie Lane)
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 215-0888
A large supermarket, somewhat reminiscent of Ranch 99. The full produce section included some hard to find items, such as fresh bamboo shoot. They have fresh, whole fish (some very fresh, some not), a full butcher and frozen seafood. They had most of Kasma's favorite brands including Tra Chang fish sauce and Dragonfly Premium Flavored Oyster Sauce. (May 2011)
That Luang Market
1610 23rd St.
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 232-2625
A small market but ok. They have some frozen items and some produce, including hard-to-find items (e.g. kaffir lime leaves) some times. (September 2008)

El Cerrito

Roong Jing Jing
10164 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA
(510) 524-1558
Although a small Thai market, it has many essential ingredients. As late as May 2020 in still had Tra Chang (Scales) fish sauce in glass bottles. On Saturday mornings they sell a wide variety of prepared Thai food – this food is quite popular. Check out the East Bay Express review.

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