Tola Angkor Asian Market — Attraction in Vancouver

I love Asian Markets. I adore rooting around in their Chili sections like a pig looking for truffles. I love musing over the various kinds of Furikake like a librarian over ancient texts. Throw me into a sea of strange tea and don't even get me started on the frozen food section. I want every kind of chili oil on the planet and I want spices plugging every pore. Generally if I want the true immersion, I go down to Portland and make a day of it. Lunch at some place with a 20 page menu full of stuff I don't recognize and a few special places capping it off with The Big One, But here I happened to be passing this place and thought I'd drop in and see what this old blindingly white guy could find. It is true that sometimes venturing into these kinds of establishment can be a little daunting. The staff can look at you as if you an invading force, which might have some small historical relevance. Like you might be hesitant to ask for information, but I didn't feel that here. First thing, I loved the weathered and jumbled altar that greets you as you come in the door, sacred, camp, glitzy, and authentic. It reminded me of my youth traveling abroad. A wild mix of solid commercialism, optimistic luck, and a host of deities, or semi deities. I would suspect it keeps the bad spirits out, but it didn't work on me.

The next thing I notice is the best selection of Furikake I've ever seen. a veritable cornucopia. There is so much to see, aisles packed with interesting things, I could spend a fortune here. More noodles than you could shake a stick at. At first it is a little confusing, like a market maze and the store feels like it might go on forever, but it's an illusion and it's not as big as I thought. I try and stay out of the candy and snack lanes but they have not only the oils and seasonings I want, but they have my favorite brands as well. It's crowded and the aisles are a bit tight, but if you've been to Asia, that is just the lay on the land. Get used to it and be ready to back down a lane a bit.

Get some fried garlic in Chili oil or some Tom Yum paste. Try the Pandan or the shrimp paste. Don't be afraid of the Fish sauce or the MSG. The place is a...

I like this Asian market and I've been coming here for over a decade. Their prices are fair their food is good although I have had one experience where I bought a bunch of moringa and when I got home and opened it the inside had moldy leaves. I called back first in the morning as they were already closed when I opened it and they gave me the absolute hardest time just to exchange it for another bunch. I've never argued with storm employees in my entire life until that moment but I was not going to be rough shot over a $7 item that they should have exchanged. I had to literally wait there for an hour as they made me talk to different people and then finally got the manager or owner on the phone who said just exchange her item. I never do this but the way they treated me I was not going to be bullied. Their answer was to open the packaging while there and expect it before buying or they'll never exchange something again. I asked you want me to open your package while you're in in the store to inspect it? And they said yes. Very strange practices but okay I do have photos of it somewhere but I'd have...

my mom takes me here after school sometimes, i enjoy the selection of poppin cookin (spelling?) and chips, i recommend those spicy corn chips in the matte black bag, as they are very yummers. also those salt and vinegar (i think, i can't remember if that's the actual flavor) chips that look like rectangles in that small bag are also very good, they hurt your lips if you have an injury though. honestly any chip/snack there is good but i may just be biased (idk if i'm using that word right) anyway the span of drinks is lovely, good variety of mogu mogu. it is a pretty quiet store and the workers are nice to me. i definitely recommend going here. the only con is that it's kinda cold in there sometimes. also the bbq bao...