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Categories: Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
Neighborhood: Barrington OaksMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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When will a restaurant drop a star for its review? In this case when I realized that the food is much better at the other SiChuan place (SiChuan Garden) at Round Rock.
Asia Cafe has served us well, regardless. It's closer to my house and we go there all the time. Lately it has been expanded to a bigger, cleaner, nicer space next door. I find that it is funny that they still use the old ordering system despite the such a grand looking design. The cook/old man speak out your ordering number at the microphone and people now has a longer line to wait to order.
Yeah, this place cook good homecook Szee Chuan meals and perhaps the most authentic one compared to… Read more »
Remember how you always used to ask what day was my birthday. For some reason you could remember everything I told you except that. You probably asked me every time we saw each other. It's funny how it's always the little things..... Well, today is my birthday.
One of the last times I thought I was ever going to see you was the day we went to Asia Market. You came over and said we probably shouldn't see each other anymore. You had a laundry list of reasons and I thought they were pretty valid. I said "that's cool," because I wanted you to be happy and to have the ability to find yourself on your own.
I said we should probably have lunch together one last time and I suggested Asia Market. I ordered the beef and broccoli and you got sesame chicken, because they were the most recognizable things on the menu. The plates were huge and enough to feed four people. We could have easily shared one plate. The food was awesome as always.
It's funny how you were impressed that I could use chopsticks. Is there any other way to eat Asian food? I tried to show you how, but you gave up too quickly.
When we were done eating we walked around the grocery store looking at all the strange items and laughing at their packaging. I picked up some green tea mochi and went to pay for it with my debit card. They have a $10 minimum on cards, but the woman went ahead and sold it to me after I told her I didn't have any cash. I told her I'd be sure to remember next time. We ate the mochi in your car and got powdered sugar all over the place.
We went back to my house and said our goodbyes. You had difficulty getting out the door, but you finally left and I watched you drive down the street. "That's that," I thought.
I found you a week later on my front porch. It must have been a lot harder to leave than you imagined. For another month you'd come over to ask me when my birthday was before you left for good. Well, today is my birthday.
Austin has so many asian options. In fact, I live across the street from Din Ho. I like Din Ho and I will still eat there regularly for all my chinese colonic needs. However, this place amazed me. My fabulous friend Sylvia is like their one woman PR machine. She picked me up and we zoomed along the tollway while she spun tall tales of a perfectly spiced fish dish and authentic chinese food. I have never had a chinese fish dish and so was a little skeptical. Then i had fish fireworks in my mouth. Perfect heat, fresh, lightly fried, salty, spicy, HUGE, lots of bok choy and the rice was so damn sticky that when i put soy sauce on it, I couldve still stuck it to the wall. I wanted to grab the dish and start calling it my precious. Folks, I think we have an addiction.
The market was fabulous but I was in too much of a food coma to process. Guess that means I'll have to go back. Darn.
Note: If you want soda, buy it up front first and then take it back to that little piece of heaven that is the cafe.
I can't believe I haven't updated my review! I have been eating fairly regularly at their restaurant.
Over the course of the past year and a half, I have become quite addicted to their Seaweed Tofu Soup! It's never exactly the same twice, the veggies vary according to season and what's in the kitchen. It's mild and warm and soooooo filling. We've tried a number of other dishes and they're pretty darned good, too.
Sometime very soon now, they'll be moving the restaurant next door into a space previously occupied by a comic book store. I do hope that the quality of the food stays the same!
Prices are good on a great selection of groceries and specialty items. The staff is friendly and… Read more »
Ambiance is very strange as you're eating in the back of this dirty asian grocery store. The whole shopping center in fact looks like it's straight out of the early 90's. The food wasn't actually that bad but the lady at the counter is straight up rude. We even spoke to her in mandarin, which I think made it worse. I think she really hated us for being asian. Anyways the beef noodle soup and the pork chop rice was pretty good. However at this point I was so peeved at the lady I just wanted to eat and leave. Oh and if you want any drinks you have to get them from the grocery store, pay for it at the front checker, then bring it back to your table. It's an odd place to eat. Go next door to Chen's Noodle House. Good food minus the attitude.
I have been dying for some fish sauce since I moved to Austin, among other pantry must haves, and finally made it out to Asia Market. I am very happy with the selection and was able to pick up everything I needed. It wasn't a super big grocer, but was well stocked with the staples. I was a little sad that they didn't have a wide assortment of fresh noodles or a lot of fresh produce, but I am a very happy customer.
I've eaten at the restaurant once and got the super American sesame chicken and wasn't disappointed. It was just what I wanted and expected, sticky white rice and big hunks of fried and sauce covered chicken. I managed to eat most of it with chop sticks (and it took me forever but I did okay) and had to take the rest home. They have a huge selection but I never know what the hell anything is at Asian places so I go for safe choices. If you are more adventurous then go for it and tell me what the hell is in the dish so I can get it next time.
Now, the market part is a whole other fantastic wonderfulness. I walked each aisle picking up stuff that caught my eye and tried to figure out what the hell the packages said. After much perusing, I ended up with kona coffee mocchi ice cream balls, peanut rice balls, these cookies that have amazing Engrish packaging, tofu, udon noodles and packages of sauces to make my tofu instantly tasty. I got a sweet sesame ball filled with red bean paste (I think they make it there) and a chicken dumpling that they had just brought up front from the back. All of that was $15 and I was very pleased with all of my purchases. I could easily have spent another $30 on candy and dumplings and ice cream, but restrained myself. They do have a frozen food section as well as some produce but for a casual shopper, I love the snack stuff.
Yeah, the shopping center is a little shady, but there are several cool places to wander around in and find something new to take home with you.
One of my close friends, Bobby (who happens to be Indian, but is probably more knowledgeable in Chinese cuisine than I am) told me about how much he loves this place and their mega spicy food. If you hadn't noticed, I'm Asian and I'm Texan. Statistically, I should be love spicy foods, and I am. I was also going through a spicy food phase, so I was looking forward to our visit.
Please keep in mind that this place is very authentically Asian with pungent odors of dried fungus, dried roots of plants that aren't native, star anise powder, and sun-dried seafood. Don't expect this place to be pretty and clean like Pei Wei. Also, being pretty, neat, and spic and span, are not high priorities for Asian markets. This is no exception.
Bobby and I have been a few times, and every time, the same scenario plays out. We show up, and there are kids running around the candy isle. I browse through looking for some comfort foods (adzuki beans, rice crackers, and milk caramel candy) as we make our way up to the counter. Bobby has been here many times with other friends so he starts asking me what I would like. I tell him, "I'll eat anything." And it's true. We usually wind up ordering some seafood dish and a meat dish. We grab some self-serve drinks and find a place to sit. Sometimes it is so crowded that you must sit next to strangers.
We get our food, some rice, and proceed to eat. The food here can be exceptionally oily so be prepared to skim it off, pick through it, or just eat it. The food here marked as spicy is also exceptionally spicy and oily.
I have vivid memories of ordering a seafood pot with chilis with Bobby. The bowl had about an inch layer of bright red chili infused oil along with whole red chilis. I try a bit of it, being the spicy food lover, and it hits me. The scovilles are burning my mouth. Tears start streaming. I'm literally crying it is so hot. A little kid next to be stares at me. He doesn't understand why I'm crying and asks his mother in Mandarin what is wrong with me. I replied back, "hun lai!" The tears don't stop. Bobby laughs at me as he thinks the dish is just mild. He's sitting there eating away.
Oh, the pain. Food covered in oil doesn't help. Oil only adheres the capsicum to your mouth. However, there's an enzyme in dairy that helps break down the oil and can cool your mouth. That's why there's cream in some spicy Thai dishes. That's why some cultures serve yogurt along with spicy dishes. That's why there's sour cream on Mexican food. And that's according to the FoodNetwork's Food anthropologist. What I would have given for a Mickey D's ice cream cone at that moment......
Some of the best Chinese food I've had since China. It's also about as far away from my place, but TOTALLY WORTH THE DRIVE!
Note to all you vegetarians out there, Asia Market is veg friendly. God I am getting hungry right now just thinking about this place.
This place... reminds me of Taiwan. Well, the atmosphere isn't necessarily Taiwan nor is the cleanliness, mind you, but the people and the taste of the food does.
I heard much about this place from several people and all of them have been praises. This is also a place that everyone can enjoy, if you can handle a little "too greasy." Also, I suggest you not to order the typical American-Chinese dishes: sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, beef broccoli, etc. If you want that, go to an American-Chinese restaurant because Chinese people don't know how to make that! (just joking, but probably true...).
I had the twice-cooked pork, spicy wontons, and this fish dish that was very spicy. Oh man, so good. The grease didn't kill me like I thought it would, but oh man, I want some now just typing about it.
The service is quick, but you probably shouldn't expect them to really "wait" on you. I don't know how good is their English, but they definitely speak Mandarin. If all fails, I'm sure you can point to what you want from the menu. Oh yeah, you order from the counter. They were also nice enough to give complimentary rice.
This review is for the grocery store, not the restaurant in the back. (The restaurant is awesome, by the way, but a subject for another day.)
This grocery store is not nearly as large as MT Supermarket or even Hong Kong Supermarket, but it fills a need, as it focuses Chinese and Taiwanese brands, rather than a more "pan-Asian" approach.
Veggie section is small, but it always has the standards like baby bok choy, snow pea leaves, hollow-heart greens, Chinese cabbage, gai-lan, etc. I've also been able to find specialty items like organic brown rice and homemade frozen dumplings made by actual humans (far more expensive but way plumper and al dente when cooked than the factory-made kind - just look for the amateurish typed labels).
But what really keeps me going back every weekend is the great selection of take-home prepared cooked dishes in the refrigerated section. Smoked chicken, anise-fried fish, soy sauce beef slices, tea-leaf eggs, tofu skin wraps, chopped mustard greens with pork, shrimp in rice paper rolls, sticky rice in lotus leaves, and so on. I usually whip up a huge batch of congee, then set out about 12 little plates with a little of this and a little of that from these dishes - and mmmm, it's like being in Taipei, baby.
The grocery also carries Chinese baked goods, like those great sweet breads (I literally mean breads that are sweet, not brains) from Olympic Bakery in Houston, man-tau, meat buns, and so on.
MT has a few of the same baked goods, but it has none of the prepared dishes, and neither does HK. I really think Asia Market is the only place in Austin that has them. They must have a truck bring these products from Houston on a daily basis, because this is exactly the same stuff I used to haul back from Houston every few months in coolers - but now that I've found Asia Market I don't have to anymore!
Thank you for existing, Asia Market. Please never ever leave.
Note: No wet market, so you'll have to go to MT or HK for that $7 pork loin that would have cost you $30 at Central Market.
I saw God today. He was at Asia Market Cafe. Seriously, it was one of the best meals I've had in ages.
Located in a dumpy strip mall at the back of the Asia Market, this is quite possibly the best Chinese food I've ever had in my life. My friend wanted Asian food of some sort and I'd been hearing about this place for a while on the Chowhound boards so we ventured way up north to sample some true Schezwan food.
If you hit up Asia Cafe, don't play it safe. Get some recs and go for it! We had the green beans, bok choy, spicy fish fillet and twice cooked pork and both of us nearly exploded. Seriously, there was a whole lot of "Sally Noise" coming from both of us as we ate.
It was all spicy, but without being so spicy you couldn't taste anything. It was a little on the oily side (from all the chile oil!), but not so much so that I wanted to not eat it. The rice (which I normally don't like) was so perfectly cooked I could have eaten the entire large bowl they gave us.
The amount we ordered would have easily fed 3-4 people and we both took lots of leftovers. Seriously, if you like Asian food, and like it spicy, you HAVE to get your butt up to Asia Market Cafe. Or don't. Because then there will be more for me.
This review needs pictures, so you can read more detail about the food and see pictures later on my blog. Also, get some good recs about what to order before you go. You're not going to want to get things like General Tso's and such at Asia Market Cafe.
Read stellar reviews on this place beforehand...check. Walked in and took note of decent selection of brightly packaged candies and asian foods-- somewhat lacking in the japanese department?..anyway, check. Ordered beef w/ bamboo shoot, one of my favorites, grabbed some tea and sat down..check. Got food, pretty good, spicy, definitely szechuan-y....ack, this meat is like chewing rubber :| Is it cooked right?
Not a good first impression, but maybe it was a fluke. And then I got distracted by the huge comic store next door.
This is my favorite place for Chinese (of any style) in Austin. For the purpose of my "list" and remaining consistent, I must point out that their's is a decidedly Sichuan style food. Most of their best dishes are going to be spicy. It doesn't mean that you won't be able to find non-spicy dishes that are good and that you enjoy. It does mean that their "specialty" dishes are going to have some kick, though.
I like the spicy fish and their chicken dish whose name, if translated literally, means "saliva chicken". Appetizing, no? Is it any wonder that they renamed it? Of course, as luck would have it, I don't recall its name in English. Sorry. You can try asking for Saliva Chicken when you order or you can ask the lady at the counter which dish that is.
One major reason why I love this place is that the portions are generous and the price is RIGHT. Since you order at the counter and they don't bring your food out to you, you don't even have to tip if you're not inclined. Again, order at the counter, get a number, pick up your food from the counter when your number is called. Help yourself to some water while you wait. That's pretty much the drill. I know that it can feel a bit overwhelming if you go in there for the first time and you're not Chinese or you don't speak Chinese. That's okay. It's worth the little extra effort for good, authentic Chinese food.
Ok I loveeeeeeee Spicy Food. I am extremely picky about how good chinese food is in Austin bc well... I am chinese and I am from Houston(good or bad?...).
Went to Asia Market area to try out Chen Noodles but decide to stop by Asia Market. WOW that was an awesome detour.
We ordered pork with chillies (combination of shredded celery, ginger, cilantro and green onions) and water cooked beef. Our favorite was the pork w/ chillies it had great heat and wok aroma. The Water cooked beef came out in a hot chili oil soupy plate. Yes it was extremely spicy and beef was very tender.
Will definitely go back for other dishes... duck tongue anyone? LOL
Not consider cheap for a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant but the portions are huge. Authentic
This place has many items I haven't been able to find at other Asian markets in Austin (although I'm yet to check out MT Supermarket - UPDATE: I have gone, and it was good. Amazing, dare I say). I come from an Asian family and its been hard finding authentic Asian items here. They even have "Rice Seasoning" (everyone I know uses it on popcorn - not rice. Go figure.) which I am yet to see in any other market.
I guess it doesn't have ALL the items I've been looking for, but it has my essentials. The strip mall its located in is pretty interesting. There's an Asian store nearby that serves pretty good boba ("bubble tea").
I also ate at the cafe in the back. I'll write that review on the Asia Cafe listing. Just know it was great! I'm so sorry Tobi D. had a bad experience, because I've had really good ones.
Eating here was sort of an adventure, but it's one I would repeat. I was the only caucasian in the store/restaurant at the time I ate here. I got sort of overwhelmed and didn't know whether to sit down or to order at the counter, but I figured it out pretty quickly.
At first I was intimidated because I the menu I saw was in a language other than English, but I was directed to an English one. I ended up ordering dumplings and something I pointed out from the wall (there were some pictures up) and both were excellent. They had a ton of exotic choices, but I'm allergic to seafood, which reduced the options a bit.
I was a little nervous because I got a number and sat down, then realized that the employees were not calling out the numbers in English. Fortunately, they did call mine in English.
The only thing I do not like about this place is it is too far north. Also, don't come here looking for ambiance - some of the chairs are metal fold up. You get to the restaurant through the grocery store which often smells like an Asian Market.
Forget all that close your eyes and eat the best Chinese food in Austin - you will easily imagine you are in an Asian cafe in Asia with all the Asians around you speaking in their native tongue.
The first time I ate here was with my Asian friend who ordered everything in Chinese. So, I was afraid I would never be able to go without her; but, she told me they have an English menu - much to my relief.
I highly recommend the Seafood Tofu Soup, Shrimp with Vegetables (broccoli, snow peas and red pepper) and the Hot and Spicy Tofu.
After lunch I can stock up on my oriental staples in the grocery store - Miso, Seaweed, Tofu, Tamari and frozen dumplings..
This place is bad and you should never go there unless your name is Carrie or you are with someone named Carrie. For real - DO NOT under any circumstances go here - unless you're with a Carrie.
P.S. You can borrow me if you need a Carrie to go to Asia Market with you.
A lot of authentic Chinese food! Always tasty! Only once have I been there and I think the Chinese spinach was not thoroughly washed as i found some dirt or something in my bite. Turned me off from finishing the rest of the plate. BUT I have been there lots and love their choices of real, not-Americanized, Chinese food. It's like I'm in Taipei eating at a no frills small restaurant. And the price is decent for what you get. Plus hot tea is always included.
Real ingredients necessary for real Chinese food are sold here alongside randomly selected flavors of Pocky. I always used to shop here for chinese broccoli for when I'd make Pad Ka Nar but the spice section is also pretty good. It's not the biggest market in the world but, for Austin, it IS the world. There was another market, the Hong Duc Supermarket, but since the chinese food in Austin is really taiwanese, the "chinatown" isn't something I'd recommend. Actually, I recall the supermarket closing down anyway so you're stuck with Asia Market anyway. As far as markets go, however, you could do far worse than Asia Market. And in the back is Asia Cafe, which serves truly good Chinese food. It's the closest thing to NY's chinatown you'll find here. Loads of parking too.
Michelle's opinion of Asia Market's cafe in the back resonates with mine: it's authentic (probably the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Austin), it's cheap, and it's charming in its own unpretentious way. I was there for lunch with a friend, and we tried the Szechuan-style duck and the hot spicy tofu (ma-po tofu). (Our order came with steamed white rice, of course.) Both of the dishes were awesome and were served in large helpings.
The cafe also gives you the option to place an order for a to-go dinner a day before: http://www.asiamarketa.... The three dishes that come in the $15 set change from day to day, and it seems like a good way to try out what they have to offer.
The verdict: Go to Asia Cafe immediately if you think that Dragon's Gate is authentic Chinese food. Keep your mind open: you probably have to drop all assumptions of what you think "Chinese" food involves. This place will take you to a new level for not a lot of cash.
Update: Available in the Asia Market, the taro xi mi lu (rice tapioca drink) is too thick and cloying for my taste. Skip it here in case you were wondering about dessert after eating a great meal in the cafe.
Best Asian restaurant in Austin in my opinion.. We eat there once or twice a week. If you love spicy food, you must try it. Favorite dishes.. Spicy Fish and the Rice Jelly noodles (cold dish).. I have tried about 25 of the dishes, liked all but about 2 of them.. LOVE this place.
Also, it passes the test of all truly good Asian restaurants.... very few white faces!!! 80%+ Asian clientele.. need I say more?
And this is why I love Yelp. I was staying in an uncharted area (for me) last weekend up by Spicewood Springs and 183 and I was computer-less (Yelp-less) and I needed quick spot for lunch before a movie at the Arbor. If it weren't for the numerous reviews of Asia Market that I've seen over the last couple of months I would have passed this place right up while scanning the strip malls for a decent place to stop. Thank you, Austin Yelpers!
It was a perfect place for lunch on a cold day. I ordered the beef noodle soup and it hot and spicy. The beef was super tender and the seasoning was really flavorful. For $5.50 it was too filling (I didn't have room for popcorn at the movies). If everything on their menu is as good as the beef noodle soup this place is an anomaly and it should be visited before giving up entirely on Asian food in Austin.
I personally like the atmosphere because I love checking out the packaging on groceries and cooking ingredients from other countries. Plus, it's inspirational for picking up new items for cooking at home.
Every dish I've had here has been super delicious, plus it looks pretty when it comes out of the kitchen (always a bonus!). Recently I tried the spicy eel, which tasted great, but it had all the bones. Sucky! Next visit it was the spicy fish, which was oh-so-yummy, and fortunately, had no bones.
I cant wait till I have friends and family come visit me so I can bring them to Asia Market!
Well, my wife and I just had lunch at the Asia Market restaurant today. Mmm, mmm mmmmmm...
She had the seaweed and tofu with egg soup and I had the beef and rice noodle soup. Both were very generous portions. It was only $11.31, which is the cheapest lunch we've had in a long while.
I didn't get a chance to taste my wife's soup (I didn't want to get my hands too close ;oP ) but it SMELLED awesome! She'll probably write a review of it as well, so I'll leave that to her.
My soup was nicely executed. There were large chunks of meat (looked like pot roast or some other stew meat), TONS of the fine rice noodles, a couple of kinds of veggies (looked like bok choy and something else that I couldn't identify but that tasted pickled - it was very tasty), and a meaty broth. The thing that I liked best was that it relied on the beef for the flavoring. There were other seasonings, but they were just accents to the rich, beefy flavor of the soup.
We got there just at 11:00, so there wasn't a crowd at all. The service was good, except that they got my soup out about 5 minutes (give or take a bit) before my wife's. Other than that, we'll DEFINITELY be going back to try something else. I did see some other dishes coming out; they were in large portions and smelled and looked awesome. If you decide to go, bring an appetite!
I was going to take off a star for the lateness of my wife's soup, but my tummy just gave them extra credit for its happiness.
Update 12-19-2007
We went back a couple of days ago and it was STILL great! And PACKED too. This place gets hoppin' and it's no wonder why - the food's fresh and tasty!
This time we split the seaweed and tofu soup with egg and a beef and bamboo shoots dish between us all. There was ample for the three of us to scrum ourselves silly and still have plenty of leftovers. Next time, I'm trying the dumplings!
One of my good friends is leaving Austin to move to Charlotte, NC. Our "goodbye" lunch was here today. It is his favorite lunch place in town. With all the "hype" about the place, I was wondering how it was going to be. Sambets is two doors down, and has generally been one of my favorite lunch spots (a yelp for some great Chicken/Sausage Gumbo from there).
You do walk through a grocery store to the "back" where there are about 12 pictures of food on the wall, but about 100 dishes to order. Nice wood tables for four, but some have folding chairs, some wood chairs maybe some plastic lawn chairs. If you want the ambiance of eating at Kenichi, this isn't it. It's very practical, and you serve yourself good hot tea from a coffee pot.
The door between the cashier and the order counter was wide open (in fact, the side doors to the kitchen were open too I could watch them make my food (almost). Go to their website to see a good picture of the area.
They claim they are an Austin Szechuan Chinese restaurant. One of my dishes had the Fagara pepper in it, another didn't, but they seem to pride themselves on diversity. I was impressed by the huge selection. You can find their order menu online at their website, http://www.asiamarketa...
We had Stir-Fried Chicken with hot chili, which had green pepper, carrots, chilis and water chestnuts. Delicious. #346. We also had the Spicy Fish Filet fish dish (234). Everything was cooked perfectly, and spiced perfectly. Whatever that means, but I tell you, I was really happy. Not very fishy, and lots of sauce flavours.
We also ordered won ton soup (113). It was now just way too much, and compared to the other meals, much blander. Hot tea was good, and I could have used just a little more rice in my bowl, and I'm sure they would have given me more but it was a good sign for me to stop.
We were also lucky to sit down right away, and have lots of room (only 2 to a table). With lots of meals and 4 to a table, it would be crowded. I suspect they'll need to expand with all the hype this place is getting. There is another restaurant (Chinese) around there also. Make sure you go through the grocery store. Because that one doesn't hold a candle to this one.
You'll probably be taking home a lot of food though if you want more than one dish or have a large party. Good for groups of about 4+ but not enough room at the tables. Oh well.
Grabbed some green tea ice cream on the way out for tonight (they had 4 different types).
I think you can call and pre-order, and there is a catering menu also. 3 dishes plus rice for only $15/cash. They post those online also and vary daily.
A note, they don't take American Express.
Tiff introduced me to the Asia Cafe, and I was immediately addicted. I wouldn't know authentic Chinese food if it jumped out and did cartwheels in front of me, but this has to be close! The hot spicy tofu is excellent. I can't say that I've ever enjoyed tofu more!
Our company moved slightly farther away from this place than we'd all like... but we will be back!
I wish I could give this place more than 3 stars, really, I do. Ok, scratch that, I hate people who start out their reviews that way.
To date, I've been here three times, twice with my brother and once more con frre et pre. The ambience is meh, but as my father says "all Chinese restaurants are depressing," so I won't factor that in. Why three stars?
This place is just so hit-and-miss. The twice cooked pork is probably some of the best I've ever had; a little oily, yes, but good Sichuan food usually is. They use pork belly and it's mmm.
The Sesame chicken is delicious, I like their veggie eggrolls, etc.
However, it just hasn't been consistent enough for me. The first time I came where was for lunch with my brother; we're both from LA (and while it's super-douchey to mention that, there is a sizeable difference in terms of Asian populations/culinary expectations between the two cities), and were very impressed. Everything was fantastic, probably 4.5-5 stars-ish. Fast, super delicious, inexpensive, and huge portions. My brother made 2 1/2 meals out of his dish (I, sadly, was unable to restrain myself).
We came back a few days later for dinner with my father. Granted, it was like 45 minutes before closing, but my father's kung pao chicken was so-so (big portion, hot, but almost flavorless), and my brother's orange chicken was mediocre. He still ate it, though. My squid was pretty good, though.
My brother and I decided to give it one more try: 2nd lunch around, my beef and broccoli was just. not. good. although my brother loved his shrimp. I tried one and it was mighty tasty and I was mighty jealous.
So what gives, Asia Market/Asia Cafe (WTF SHOULD I CALL YOU?)?? Why such mutability in the quality of your foods?
Plz be consistent so I can love you again :'(
I want to give it a "3" just for being Sichuan, but I'm honestly just not that thrilled with it. I can deal with terrible ambiance, menu with no connection to the actual kitchen, etc. if the chow is good. I just was disappointed with the grub.
I've had some outstanding Sichuan food at restaurants in Central Asia catering to Chinese businessmen, and another expat joint in Canada, and the food at Asia Market just seemed an overcooked and oily version thereof. The spices were good overall, but my Ma Po Tofu was gummy and textureless, and the twice-cooked pork was bacon (as mentioned above) and swimming in grease.
I'm glad I dropped by (twice), but I'm not in a huge hurry to go again. I will, however, hit up the best Sichuan place I can find next time I'm traveling to another large city.
I have no words that are good enough to convey the way I feel about this place. So I'll quote Homer Simpson...
Gggaaaarrrgggghhh....(With a healthy bit of slobbering)
Right, so my first thought when I drive up to Asia Market is - that's interesting, I would have expected an "N" - you know like, AsiaN Market. No big deal though - both ways work totally fine. And my second thought is, "woah, I am in Sketchville!"
It didn't get much better when I walked in the door, and saw the most bizarre assortment of prepackaged foodstuffs I'd ever encountered. But I knew this place was highly regarded, so I hung in there. Wait for it...wait for it...
Oh. Hmm. Well, this is it I suppose. A small, cordoned off section of a supermarket with metal folding chairs around acrylic-coated tables. A counter with a neither friendly nor unfriendly-Asian man standing behind it, staring at me. Do I find a seat, or order at the counter? Yeah, probably the counter. I walk up, smile at the man, hoping for some assistance, or guidance - a clue of some sort. Nada.
What's this? A menu! Let's see, yes, I like what you've done here...yes, yes... Okay, I admit it - I'm totally lost in this menu. But what's this? Posted high on the wall in front of me? Yes, it's pictures of food, with numbers!!! Okay the numbers are not in English, but I can still point, baby!
Long story short, I end up with dumplings and something that tasted like General Tso's Chicken. And goshdangit, I LOVE General Tso's Chicken. Under the right circumstances, I would probably challenge General Tso to a duel for a dish of that tasty chicken!
Where was I?... Right, Asia Market. It's good food, prices were very reasonable. I might need to learn another language to really hold my own there, but I'm definitely going back. And I'd be willing to try something even a bit more daring than General Tso's Chicken this time!! Any suggestions?
This is a truly excellent place to eat. I am falling short of five stars, because the atmosphere isn't good at all, and I generally need all the help my Chinese-speaking friend can give me to make the most of it.
Once we are at our table with our order, gorging ourselves family-style, however, it's top notch. My favorite dishes are the sauteed bok choy and beef with bamboo. Nothing I've tried there has disagreed with me.
The place can be a bit intimidating. Go all the way to the back of the grocery, and you'll see the counter with a guitar amp on it. Some of the menus are in English. Listen close for your order ; sometimes it's hard to hear. There is free water and stuff; serve yourself. It's definitely worth giving up the normal restaurant atmosphere for the food.
If the reviews are for the restaurant inside the store, I cannot understand the 5 star reviews. I ate there twice and was disappointed both times. The dumplings they serve are clearly not made fresh, and when we ordered twice-cooked pork, they used bacon, and the resulting dish was just awful. The restaurant has also failed its health inspection not once but twice (scored 60 points out of 100 on August 6, 2008, and 60 point out of 100 again on August 27, 2008.) http://www.ci.austin.t... There is better Chinese food in town that won't endanger your health.
I have been here several times with my friends and had great experiences. I don't care that the atmosphere isn't fancy. The food is delicious with family size portions to share. Prices are just right. My favorite dishes are sweet and sour fish, spicy lamb, and mango chicken.
My parents visiting from Houston found the $8 price tag of the regular dishes too high so we just ordered two soups for about $5 each: Spicy beef noodle soup and seaweed egg soup. Both came in huge amounts and were really delicious. The spicy beef noodle soup was a little oily, though. Two people should consider sharing one order of soup as a meal.
The tables are a little crowded. There is free hot tea and water that you serve yourself on a table to the right of the register. Lots of Chinese parents with little kids seem to like it here. You don't have to pay a tip since you carry your food to the table and serve yourself drinks.
An interesting thing is they seem to actually have Chinese cooks in the kitchen. Correct me if I'm wrong--I took a quick glance through the little window.
This little market is located to the left of Thor's Hammer in the back of a shopping center on the Northwest corner of 183 and Spicewood Springs/McNeil.
What's with the mediocre reviews of this place? I just ate here (at the cafe in the back of the market) for the first time, and I thought it was fantastic. It is severely lacking in atmosphere (think cheap tables and plastic folding chairs in the back of an Asian supermarket), but for some reason, that charmed me rather than putting me off. I can't believe I just discovered this place! Spurred on by a glowing recent review in the Chronicle that named it "Best and Most Authentic Chinese food in Austin," my husband, friend and I drove out there to check it out. We ordered five plentiful, family-style dishes and the total was $33. You both order and pickup the food from the counter, so no tipping is required or solicited. My favorites were the green beans with spicy sauce and the eggplant with garlic sauce, followed by the salt and pepper squid. We also had won ton soup and twice cooked pork, both of which were very good but didn't quite make us swoon the way the other dishes did (I think Din Ho's won ton soup is better).
The experience was delightful, too; I really did feel like we had been transported to China. Most of the patrons were Chinese, and the employees called the order numbers out in Chinese. As I was leaving with our leftovers in styrofoam boxes, the woman at the register up front motioned me over and said in Chinese, "Let me give you a bag for those." I was born and raised in the U.S., but my parents had lots of Chinese-speaking friends, so being spoken to in Chinese by kindly older women makes me feel right at home.
The market is wonderful, too. A very good variety of wonderful-looking treats; lots of ready-to-eat stuff, too. I will definitely be going back, hopefully often!
When I was little I would always stand outside while my mom went into asian markets because I refused to subject myself to the smells. Being older now and with a larger tolerance for smells I love eating at this place! The little cafe in the back is the mother of cheap, good, and hot chinese food. I generally get a vegetable and a shrimp dish and I am never dissapointed. And you can get bubble tea at the little shop right next door!!!
Best Chinese restaurant in Austin.
Fast, cheap, tasty, spicy. The setting isn't the most romantic, but when you just wanna eat and enjoy life it's on.
Absofreakinglutely excellent asian food. And it's conveniently located in the back of the grocery store, so it's easy to grab snacks and other assorted asian goodies.
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Ethnic Food
Austin, TX
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Allandale
Category: Ethnic Food
Cedar Park, TX
Category: Shopping
Neighborhood: Barrington Oaks
Category: Chinese
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