Tian Phat Asian Grocery — Local services in Halifax

Huge selection and variety of Asian foods. Some random trinkets kicking around the shelves too. I was first introduced to authentic Chinese/Asian food in university by my Chinese roomates. These boys (and 1 girl) were legit Chinese country bumpkins, they were just like me except I was a Canadian country bumpkin. They weren't Beijing cosmo type of hipster Chinese at all, but I'll tell you one thing - they were smart, and we'd stay up late laughing and chilling out. They liked to drink heavy too. Taught me how to speak Chinese over the few years I lived with them. Had a Malaysian roomate too, he was pretty cool. Authentic as it gets - squid, fish heads, five spice, dumplings, countless bottles of Lee Kum Kee stuffs, friggin eggs done a 1000 different ways and harvested from half a dozen different birds or reptiles. Cabbages, garlic, onions, greens. FUNGI, mushshrooms of all shapes, colours and sizes. I once ate a mushroom the size of a satellite dish with the boys at 4am. Mystery meat for every day of the week up in the warm cupboard or jammed into the fridge. That damn freezer needed a defrost from day one, but it never did happen. It was one huge block of frost that turned into a giant stationary ice cube. There was a small space in the middle of the ice block, but I could only fit my index finger into it. I believe that we would've all missed the block of ice if we'd decided to melt it, so it stayed put. I often think about the old ice block and wonder who pulled the plug and finally melted it. Imagine sucking back a cup of that freezer melt water - yikes. Such a surreal experience that my stories about the ordeal are even hard for me to believe when I really think back. We conjured up a condensation tube from Dal and a Bunsen burner/flask outfit for distilling the alcohol out of the salted cooking "wine" that we'd buy at the Chinese grocery store down by our university. Holy moly, it was a harsh plum mash liquor and would get us all lit up for less than a few bux. It was sorta tequila-ish in its taste severity. Lit. Well, enough of that nonsense, I'll get to the review. I dropped into Tian Phat the other day and it took me back in time. It's a wonderful place to shop and get lost in some memories. The ramen selection is OFF THE CHARTS awe-sum, so when you go, don't forget to grab some INDOMIE MI GORENG RAMEN NOODLES (a few different flavs). You'll think of me fondly and you'll thank me every time you put on the pot to boil the water for your trip into ramen...

Many of their products are expired. Majority does not have expiration date and in the past I bought lots of snacks here that end up in the garbage after I opened them. The daughters are nice and helpful. However, when it is the older lady who will ring you in, be careful especially when your in a hurry because many times I end up paying for something I did not buy or she end up charging more than the actual price. I had been to many other asian grocery stores and she is the only one who is consistent with that type of habit. Good thing that from the past decade, lots of other asian grocery stores popped-up so I could avoid this store. Plus, I do not like the way they I had seen them treat their canadian helper. I wonder when was the last time they cleaned...

I have always loved this store, however, the owner needs to install a handrail on the entrance steps. The clerk informed me he has had to assist people. This is a serious safety issue. And one that isceadily rectified. They are dangerous and anyone with a knee, hip issue cannot access the store. It us a simple fix and in this day and age i am surprised there is no accessible area. I hope the owner will rectify this a.s.a.p. he must be losing some customers for sure...

Great variety. Shelves could use some dusting...well stocked great variety. Not for the disabled. The stairs leading into the store require a handrail..

I have been mentioning this for years ....its a little thing but its a safety issue that...