Where to find Asian Ingredients in San Francisco

Hint: Not at the misleadingly named Cost Plus “World Market”.  Not only will you NOT find lemongrass there, you may awake from a retail-induced fog to find you have purchased a wicker elephant “figurine”.  Don’t do it.

Sure, you can buy oyster sauce at every Walgreens in SF, but other items are harder to find here than a registered Republican.  Lucky for you, I’ve done the heavy lifting. Three month long sleepless, peyote-fueled quests for puya chiles, miles run through the Sunset with long-sought pandan leaves defrosting in my hand… I’ve done these things so that you don’t have to.

Here’s a guide that will help you spend less time driving all over hell and half of Georgia, and more time crushing Soju shots.  First, organized by ingredient, then organized by market, so that when you’re on-site you can stock up on all that is inconveniently essential.

*Check back for updates!

New May Wah Market  - 707 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Keffir lime leaves

Thai eggplant

Thai Basil

23rd and Irving Market 2101 Irving St 94122

Keffir Lime Leaves (cheap! $1/pack)

Thai Basil

Shishito Peppers

Kukje Supermarket 2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA

Shishito Peppers

Huge bags of ground peppers for kimchi

Manila Oriental Market 4175 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

Dried Puya Chiles

Spice Ace 1821 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Dried Puya Chiles

Dried Thai Chiles

99 Ranch Market 250 Skyline Plaza, Daly City, CA 94015

Thai Basil

BY INGREDIENT:

Keffir Lime Leaves

New May Wah Market  - 707 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

23rd and Irving Market 2101 Irving St 94122

Puya Chilies (dried)

Manila Oriental Market 4175 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

Spice Ace 1821 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Shishito Peppers

Kukje Supermarket 2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA23rd and Irving Market 2101 Irving St 94122

Thai Basil (real Thai basil, not some other similar versions found in most Asian stores)

New May Wah Market  - 707 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

23rd and Irving Market 2101 Irving St 94122
99 Ranch Market 250 Skyline Plaza Daly City, CA 94015

Thai Chilies (Dried)

Spice Ace 1821 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Thai Eggplant

New May Wah Market  - 707 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118