Minh Phat — Local services in Melbourne

My mum shopped here when I was a kid, so now I go here as an adult, to pick up my asian ingredients.

Good for fresh chinese style noodles, asian greens and mushrooms, tofu, sauces, marinades, condiments, spices, pots and pans, and a diverse frozen area. There's a eft minimum, and a discount incentive for cash payments. (Coles / Woolies versions of 'asian' isnt what I grew up with, so for the authentic flavours, try this place. E.g. Tofu, veggies, and some sauces).

Back in the day, there was a lot more competition. Seems like the vibe on Victoria Street has made businesses close.

Now, Minh Phat is one of the few asian grocery stores who have been around for a while and know what their customers want. Caters for Vegetarians and Vegan (there's about 3 bays, and ingredients here and there that are Vegan). But, it feels like not nothings changed in this business since the 80's!

TIPS: -Check out the pots area! Handy on days you need a tool, but can't be bothered going into another store..

-Always read the labels if you're needing a few requirements.

-Ask the staff for help finding something. If you've got a google image of the Ingredients, this might help for language barriers. (Some staff have worked there since I can remember).

-Pay in cash for a small discount! They do have eftpos, but I understand that the eft transtion fee might be better given back to its customers who most likely live locally in the giant housing estates you can see. You probably won't get charged an ATM withdrawal fee from a bank near by, but EFTPOS systems do charge businesses for usage.

-Bring a your own bags or market trolley. You may go on a...

Please check the expiry date and always keep your receipt.

It was my usual asian grocer place and yesterday I did my weekly shopping there and bought heaps of stuff from the store. When I got home I realised there were two items that have passed the expiry date. So I went to the shop today again hoping to get an exchange. Not to mention that the lady boss/manager wasn't apologetic at all for selling expired foods, she even accused me for bringing stuff from other shops despite having the receipt. I went to the shelf to check the item that I have purchased and not to my surprise, they are all expired. She gave me a refund in the end unwillingly (without an apology) but I know I will never return to the store. I understand that it is my mistake for not checking prior to purchasing the foods but this is not an excuse for them to sell expired food and accusing me for cheating. Really bad experience and I will not...

Just got back from spending an hour or so here and leaving with a full trolley of bags stuffed full of wonderful as well as stock items. From a new brand of soy sauce to my favourite brand of frozen fish balls, to sweet spicy crunchy anchovies snacks, to ginger in syrup, and lychee black tea, to ginseng tonic, and chicken extract, and brinjal pickles, and prawn balichow not to mention Chinese biscuits and sweets ... I had a lovely time and it did not break my wallet. You know what would make it even better? If they converted the mezzanine to a commercial kitchen and held cooking classes and demonstrations up there using all those mysterious incomprehensible packages as the ingredients. I would be...