Nestled between the Dragon’s Lair Comic Book Store and Turquoise Trading Post in a low-key strip mall along Burnet Road in Austin is a quaint, family-owned Japanese grocery store named Asahi Imports. It boasts, rightfully so, that it is the only Japanese grocery store in Austin, and it has been so since the late 1960’s. The store offers a variety of perishable and non-perishable foods, gifts, personal care items, and DVDs and VHS tapes.
Asahi Imports' Storefront
When you first walk into the store, you realize that the owners have maximized just about every square inch of the store. The front section of the store is loaded with various gifts, including tea sets, dinnerware, sake sets and darumas. The middle is stocked with perishables in the refrigerated section on the left and non-perishables on the right. And the back of the store has personal care items, cookware and videos.
While the store is tiny when compared to the MT Supermarket in the Chinatown shopping center, you can find most of what you’re looking for, including sushi-grade fish; a variety of teas, condiments, spices, rice, and noodles; and plenty of Japanese snacks (Pocky anyone?) and drinks. It’s also staffed with people who are happy to assist you.
So, the next time you’re at the Dragon’s Lair, buying manga or renting anime, drop by the konbini (Japanese for “convenience store”) next door and pick up some snacks to enjoy.
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Asahi Imports
6105 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 453-1850
Store Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10:00am to 7:00pm
[rating:4.5]