Identifies as women-owned
Yes
Asahi Imports in Austin
Categories
Location on the map
Austin, Travis County, Texas, US
From the business
Service options
Kerbside pickup
Yes
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Health and safety
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Safety dividers at checkout
Yes
Highlights
Great produce
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Offerings
Organic products
Yes
Prepared foods
Yes
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Planning
Quick visit
Yes
Payments
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 512-453-1850
Site: http://asahiimports.com/
Site: http://asahiimports.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:10AM–5PM
- Wednesday:10AM–5PM
- Thursday:10AM–5PM
- Friday:10AM–6PM
- Saturday:10AM–6PM
- Sunday:10AM–5PM
Comments (199)
We always enjoy our experience at Asahi Imports - whether we are shopping at their market or grabbing take out! I love their selection of Onigiri and Bentos. My favorite Bento is their Saikyo Miso Salmon Bento, which is available on Saturdays. Their Korokke are also super crispy and delicious. The staff are always kind and helpful. You can text or call ahead to place an order or check availability, which is very convenient!
Very cool little Japanese grocery store. Best part is the hot foods made fresh. They have various rice bowls, fried foods, and various onigiri. All of it tastes homemade and still warm. Cap it off with some soft serve afterwards. They had matcha and black sesame when I was there.
I’m in LOVE! They make the onigiri rolls fresh plus they have some great bento boxes. Lots of cute items for gifts, kids, home and an excellent sakè selection. It’s a must visit.
Wow! Service 5 stars selection 5 stars! We love this place! Our kids has so much fun! This place is epic! If you are looking for Japanese products this is #1 place around! We are visiting from Dallas, and will be back! The staff here is so kind and friendly, I can’t even describe it! Check it out!
If you are looking for genuine Japanese food for cooking authentic food then this is the place for you in Austin.Its a small place however the shelves are packed efficiently so there is lots of choice.Parking is easy outside.There is even a small takeaway place for warm snacks.
I found this place for internet search to buy chopsticks. It was small a bit but I could find almost everything that I needed. Sesame ice cream was very delicious and also they had bento with chicken and fried pork. I like this place and I recommend it!
Lots of variety from sweet and savory snacks, to ingredients, meals and even beverages! Great place to find gifts for anyone who has a sweet tooth. I love browsing and trying out new snacks. The staff is friendly and happy to assist you if you need answers or recommendations. Wish there was a location closer to where I live so I can frequent it more!
When I lived in Austin a few years back, I would regularly go to Asahi Imports. This store was a great place to get Japanese food products and other items. It was terrific to see them expand and start serving food like fresh onigiri (rice balls) and bentos. They were like a lifeline for me so I could get Japanese stuff lol Hope they keep serving Austin and if you want Japanese goods, drop by to see this store!
It is a cute grocery store. They have all sorts of Japanese products including beers and umeboshi. I like variety of onigiri and some japanese snacks which are hard to find in other stores.I went there on Friday early afternoon and it was not crowded. Staffs were friendly.I give 4 because I find a whole section almost empty (idk if it is because it was their usual restock time) and I find some products are bit expensive compared to other asian stores.
This is the largest selection of Japanese goods I’ve found in Central Texas so far. Asahi imports sells things other Asian markets don’t sell. Some things are cheaper at Asian grocery stores, but some things are priced better here. I came here specifically for Japanese tea, and was impressed with the selection.
Cute little Japanese spot and I especially love their authentic curry buns (Sundays only)and matcha ice cream(weekends only)!
I always pop by when Im in north Austin. Great little import spot and the Onigiri are legit. They have expanded and have more lunch food available which is awesome and looks crazy good! I stuck with my standard though (ume onigiri!)
I love Japanese shops and this 1 has a great selection of products. My sisters and I stop thru on our way back to DFW. DFW has their own Japanese shops, so we wanted to see if they had something else to offer. Some items were priced higher than the shops we normally go to, but I heard Austin doesnt really have any other shops. I found a good deal on instant tonkatsu Ramen 🍜 that was cheaper than what daiso has or that I havent found in DFW.
Although its a very small market, it has lots of goodies. Besides food (of course), they also sell some other things like houseware. I personally think they are a little over priced but I understand as a small local shop, its hard to set their prices as low as some other big chains and still be able to survive. One thing I really like, though, is that almost everything you find in the store was really made in Japan.
This place has been a real staple during the pandemic. You can grab lunch and get into and out of the store in a few minutes. The selection of japanese products isnt huge but they do amazing job of getting unique items and staples to keep you coming back. My favorite part is the made daily onigiri. The karaage onigiri is a great place to start and an amazing deal for less than $3.
Here you will find not only rare Japanese ingredients and goods, but also delicious prepared foods and lovely staff. Highly recommended going in on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday so you can try some softserve!
Absolutely great little shop with awesome imports from Japan. A fresh onigiri station, which has amazing flavors, any Japanese sweets you could want. 10/10 for sure going back. Great staff everyone is super nice.
Got the salmon lunch box, matcha and black sesame soft serve, and the miso pork and miso shashito pepper onigiri for later. Ill have to try all the different onigiri!Just a heads up, the soft serve was more icy than creamy, but as someone partially lactose intolerant, I appreciated it.
Awesome little Japanese shop!!!! It reminded me of the little mom and pop stores they have over there. I had one bento box and it was amazing!!!! Definitely made me miss Japan and it’s culture. I just wish they had chu-his they only had beer & sake.
Asahi does not disappoint when it comes to the lunch options. Im there at least once a week for onigiri, snacks, and tonkatsu, as well as stocking up on Japanese pantry items/supplies.
The onigiri is always fresh. I love popping in for lunch. They make onigiri to order if they happen to be out of a particular flavor. At only $1.95 for most flavors its a bargain. Great assortment of snacks, sake and staples such as rice and furikake. They rotate their candies out so its always exciting to swing by. Also love the kitchen ware/small area of home goods. Even if you live near H-mart, Asahi is worth the drive for different reasons
We love this market so much! They have a wonderful selection of adorable dishware. They also have freshly made onigiri, with clearly labeled gluten free and vegan options, I especially love the umeboshi one! Definitely recommend.
This shop is AWESOME; great selection of items and super friendly staff. Their onigiri are the best and my favorite is the Shishito Miso. Sadly I live an hour away but will drop in whenever I get the chance.
High quality, authentic Japanese items here. Great selection of sake and Japanese delicacies. They even have fresh burdock root! Staff was SUPER friendly and helpful. Will definitely be frequenting Asahi Imports often!
Asahi Imports is such a unique store for Japanese goods. They have a lot of options that I havent seen at other Asian food markets like H Mart. Theres a decent selection, all decently priced. We had great service and all the employees are super nice and helpful. Ill definitely be coming back here to get more goodies!
First retail store I’ve seen that asks for tips. What service am I tipping for exactly?
Large variety of specialty Japanese foods and ingredients! Loved their warm food section, as well as the house made onigiri!
Love this place! I make an appoint to come here every time I’m in Austin! You can find things here that you can’t find anywhere else. From local cuisine and to Japanese groceries just about anything Japanese.
Amazing food! you have to order early (online) to get some specific foods. onigiri is fresh and delicious! bento box is perfect portion of food and always on point. staff is super friendly and they have all sorts of japanese foods and goods. we go nearly once a week, highly recommend!
Only place in Texas with CC Lemon (the objectively best lemon drink in the world). 5 stars.
My Dad brought my Grandpa & I here last week for the first time & I was so impressed with everything! The store was super organized & spotless, plus the variety of items that they carried for such a small store blew my mind! They had fresh foods, frozen foods, dry goods, sweets, & alcohol. Everything looked great & I just wanted to buy everything I saw haha They also had a great non-food items section in the front with adorable sake sets & bowls. Lastly, the customer service was stellar! The employees were welcoming & helpful 😊
Clean, well stocked with variety of Japanese items. Small store in a strip mall, reasonable prices. Everyone there is welcoming and ready to be of assistance. All store employees adhere to safe guidelines and ensure that shoppers adhere as well. Feels safe. Like your mom or Grandmother is there watching over you. Thank you Asahi.
Amazing Japanese grocery store! The pricing is a bit steep, but these things are imported overseas, so... They also make their own bentos, onigiri, and I picked up some homemade daifuku! There is a little clearance section in the back as well. And they have some kitchen goods in the front as well as a selection of liquor.
Theyve expanded since I was last here years ago, and I will definitely remember to come back! Their to-go bentos and onigiri are great, exactly like I remembered in Japan, and the selection of Japanese foods, snacks, and drinks is great.
Lovely store for authentic Japanese grocery. For someone who loves trying international cuisines at home, this place helps getting indigenous ingredients like sauces and spices. Ive always wanted to try the Japanese steamed pudding and cheesecake and so glad they had them. Boy are they little cups of clouds! ☺️
Wow, what an awesome place. After an 8 day visit to Tokyo this Spring, I wanted to try cooking a few of the dishes that I liked most. The Asian Supermarket didnt have much and no one was there to help either.This sparkling clean little store has nice, friendly, helpful people who will show you where things are. They have a lot of authentic Japanese stuff.They also have some really good prepared foods as well, different dishes daily. I now shop here regularly and love this place.
Decent store, locally owned with a large stock of authentic Japanese products. The service is alright, most people working there are polite and nice enough. The store is a little cramped, but not to the point where its uncomfortable to get around things. All in all, a decent store worth a visit if Japanese items/foods are your thing.
I think I’m obsessed with Onigiri now. I tried the Karaage Mayo and Ebi Tempura and WOW. I can’t wait to go back and get more. I’m scared to try another place because these were soo good and what if they don’t live up to my expectations now. The rest of the shop was also wonderful. A great variety of snacks and very friendly service. 10/10 recommend
This is a terrific place in Austin. Out of the beaten path. Thrives with business even in these hard times. They have a superb setup for safety during covid times. Only a few persons at the time let in by an employee at the door. They food is exceptional. Not just the thousands of imported Japanese goodies. But also the in-house made bento boxes and onigiri
Phenomenal, Fantastic, Outstanding, the Onigiri! & Great snacks! My favorite Onigiri flavors are the umi tuna, and the one with the spicy fish eggs!
Delicious onigiri!! And great spot for Japanese snacks and ingredients. I get all of my favorite items there: miso, umeboshi plums, pickled ginger, furikake, Nissin Roah ramens, and mochi!!Also, they are amazingly kind and careful when it comes to covid precautions. Thanks for being so amazing Asahi Imports!! :)
I really wanted to love Asahi Imports. They have great food, the people were lovely, and everyone was being very Covid safe. But the store is just too small for its own good. Theyve packed it so full of amazing items that its very difficult to navigate around. It also didnt make sense that they had 2 people stocking shelves 30 minutes after opening considering how tight the space is. I know running a business is hard in this moment but it felt like some management fine tuning could go a long way for Asahi. I will gladly go back but probably not for a while.
We love our local Japanese grocery story! Awesome selection of sake and you can’t beat grabbing a freshly made Onigiri!
The store is clean and there is a nice selection. The prices are steep. The mochi were about three times the price I expected them to be. I like the small baked goods and onigiri area that was reasonably priced.
Sorry folks. Not only am I Japanese, but having worked in Tokyo, LA, and NY where there are similar Japanese grocery shops, the onigiri rice balls here are quite bad. I understand this is Austin and selection limited, but literally the main ingredients are of the cheapest quality and the recipes (for those that require such) is grade school at best. I get that origiris are like hot dogs and burgers but it’s like getting a slice of pizza at a carnival and knowing that it’s from a frozen box. Can we not use that cheap pulverized salmon? Or the saddest saltiest umeboshi that no one in Japan would actually eat? Sell this in Japan and it would be considered rude.
Great store for all your Japanese staples. Fresh, high quality Onigiri, friendly staff and I love just poking around trying new things.
I love this store, it provides necessary and good quality material when I plan to make Japanese or Chinese cuisine. It also sells lovely Japanese chopsticks and bowls. The price is a little higher but they have loyalty card. In the noon, they provides Japanese lunch box and drinks which is delicious.
I love Asahi! They have so many items to choose from, I get a lot of my favorite Japanese foods here! The staff are very nice and welcoming too! Great choice of snacks and a cute and calm atmosphere 😊
A must try place for ice cream or Japanese snacks! My family and I went here because we are Japanese and I can say that they had a good selection of food. The day we came it was hot, so we got their ice cream. It was delicious and I can say that I would recommend their swirl of green tea and black sesame soft serve ice cream! The onigiri was also very good, although a bit pricey. Overall, I would recommend this place to any looking for some Japanese treats and groceries!
This is my favorite place to visit when Im in town. Fresh japanese produce, tons of kitchen ingredients for japanese cooking, and when Im required to be at work this is my regular lunch stop for the onigiri and bento selections.
Awesome Japanese grocery store with a great stock of items. I can find almost everything I loved getting in Japan here, and they have all the ingredients you would need to cook your favorite Japanese dish. Prices are a bit high, but due to export prices this is understandable. If you’re looking for a quick meal try the onigiri or bento boxes!
First time here, likes the ambiance of this small place. Most of the basic things can be purchase here. Within 15 mins you have already completed going through this place. Staffs are hard working and very friendly and will answer your queries with a smile.
I was impressed by their selection. Even though the shop itself wasnt too big, you can pretty much find everything you need/ want for cooking at home.
Asahi is my to go store for anything Japanese. Asahi is not simply a store, but a whole Japanese experience, as soon as you go through the door you are greeted by the friendly staff. I always go to pick up the Onigiri, my favorite one is the Ebi Tempura and also the Bento boxes.Also, you MUST try their Katsu Sando (pork cutlet sandwich) on Saturdays only, but you’ll have to call ahead and reserve one :)
Super safe Covid protocols (masks required / enforced), and cheap delicious lunches. Great for Japanese grocery staples, sake, and fun finds.
My little sister talked about this place and we finally went together and let me tell you, its so cute. I love the workers, the environment, and the layout of the store. You gotta get there early, first come first serve but its worth it. The sweets are my favorites.
Really a fun little store to get your Japanese food and household items fix. Simple little gifts from sake sets, writing materials, desk things, room decorations, to formal Ohashi (chop sticks for every day use). I also appreciate the large local selection of Japanese snacks and eats.The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable in your Japanese needs. I have lived in Japan so this was a refreshing familiarity.
Simply amazing!🇯🇵One of the best Japanese store I been, I drive 2 hours just to taste the Onigiri and more delicious snacks.Movies, snacks, food, vegetables, ramen, rice and much more... some nice Asahi shirt they have.Recommend to visit.
A good place to look around and shop around hell yeah 👍👍😂😂
They are taking COVID-19 precautions very seriously, allowing only a certain number of people in the store at a time and offering sanitizer when you enter. They also offered bottled water to those standing and waiting, so thoughtful. Staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful and enjoyed talking about the products. It was our first time there - what a delightful experience.
This place is great. I’m new to Austin so I have been looking for Asian markets and found this place for Japanese Foods. The staff were very helpful and friendly and availableFor questions. They have a good variety of goods from produce, to pantry and baked goods. Im glad I found this place definitely coming back here.
Lots of Japanese nostalgic food! The staff is super sweet, attentive and helpful! You can get some sushi-grade fish thats easy to defrost and make at home!We ate some delicious maguro and hamachi, but they also have all sorts of sweets and snacks that youd find in Japan!
I 👏 love 👏 their 👏 rice balls! 👏👏For a neighborhood grocery store, they have everything you need! Snacks, produce, very diverse frozen selection. But by far the main appeal is their rice balls counter 🤩
Tiny market with Japanese specialty imports on groceries as well as fresh onigiri (riceballs) stuffed with various choices of goodness.it is pricy but if you want japanese ingredients, snacks, staples, or flatware, this is a great small gem.
Very wide selective of things, and if you ask, they can see aboit getting whatever you need in stock. Very nice people to chat in Japanese or English.
Super cute! Things are kinda expensive, so keep that in mind when visiting. They take really good COVID-19 precautions so I feel safer when shopping here.
I love this little store. The Japanese food in the freezer is as good as or better than you will get in any Japanese restaurant, at a fraction of the price. I also love the selection of teas, and the wonderful little things that come from Japan in the gift section. Most amazing of all, I can buy those incomparable Tsubaki hair products (shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in spray conditioner) right there in the store - I no longer have to wait for 3 weeks to get it from Japan through Amazon! THIS is awesome. And the price is the same as Amazon. As to the human touches: The people who run this store have that special quality of being calm, quiet, welcoming and helpful all at the same time. Its actually soothing to my nerves to be there! There is never a need to search the shelves looking for a particular thing, not being able to find it. Just ask! They will take you right to it.I have been to many Asian markets, here and in Dallas. This one is the most pleasant and well stocked with genuine Japanese goods and foods, of any that I have ever visited. Here you will find all the special things from Japan that you would hope to find. Its an intangible thing, I suppose, but this store has a special charm and peacefulness that makes you want to linger. And I do, every time I go.
Love love love the fresh Onigiri made here! The staff is so sweet and helpful. Make sure to come around noon if you want Onigiri. They run out quickly, and have little selection by 3PM+ in my experience.
Favorite for Japanese rice, sweets, New Years provisions and reasonable sake selection (with proper labeling). Really nice and knowledgeable staff. If you miss Japan (and how could you not) you can get your onigiri fix here. They started offering fresh lunch packs recently.
Its a pretty authentic Japanese grocery store with lots of imported goods from Japan. They have frozen goods, snacks, and small gifts available. They also have ready-made meals such as onigiri and bento boxes which are fresh and delicious. On the weekends, they have matcha and black sesame soft serve which is made in house. Everything is delicious and the staff is exceptionally friendly.
Aside from having delicious fresh meals, an abundance of imported ingredients and candy, and the cutest little trinkets- this business did the right thing when they learned one of their staff had COVID. Thank you for keeping our community safe! Not many Austin business care as much about their staff and customers. I would give 10 stars if I could!
I understood why the uninitiated would give this place 5 stars: it has a diversity of cute Japanese drinks and snacks. That being said, if you think this is what a Japanese market is/should be, youre mistaken. Vegetables rotting in their own liquid and stale breads are kept on the shelf for sale, hot food uses some of the most low quality ingredients you would never see in Japan (or California). I guess Texans who have never seen whats really good dont know theyre being cheated? You can get 10% case discounts on items that are 150-200% the price of others!? Prices are insane and not because the items are premium, and if you want to ask the owner for her direction, shell gladly suggest the most expensive options. If this is the best Austin has to offer, it will be no time before 99 Ranch and Daiso (coming soon!) kick it to the curb.
Cutest little import store that sells all kinds of snacks, produce, tea ware, even sale! They also make food inside as well, rice balls, bento boxes, and matcha soft serve! Prices are great, staff is super nice, Im gonna be coming here pretty regularly from now on!For the onigiri counter, you can place orders via text ahead of time and then go pick them up after, around lunch they usually have a decent selection, but just in case you can order ahead!
I always adore this place. Ive enjoyed it for years. The onigiri and bento selection is wonderful and tasty. All the food, snacks and essentials are an amazing selection. The staff is always so kind and helpful.
Ive been shopping there happily every now and then mostly for sushi fixins since the late nineties and just recently moved closer by and fully expect to become a regular customer, especially now that Ive seen their expanded offerings, Onigiri Corner being the most notable in my mind.
The bento boxes and onigiri are always worth it, wonderful place to get fun snacks
My daughter frequents (its like) a hidden Japanese island at Burnet Rd & 2222 Northwest Shopping Center. The store is very clean & orderly. Most products have at least minimal description in English, but its easier to accompany someone who knows their way around. All employees were friendly, informative & eager to help us find what we wanted. Mid morning they started preparing popular fresh Japanese/American rice rolls (some w/ tuna) for sale. 𝑴𝒎𝒎 - 𝑴𝒎𝒎!🐟 One of 100s of cool items they carry is bonito (fish) flakes, the heat rising from what ever food you top them with, makes the bonito flakes twist-n-tango. Your food looks 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆! Fun to eat & tastes tremendous.🥚Such a variety of offerings, almost like being enamored by the Mirror of Erised 👀.🍲 I could spend hours exploring the different foods, spices, treats, Japanese liquors, & pottery.
A little piece of Japan in Austin. This place is amazing, the moment you go in you will think you arrived to Japan. Luis, who speaks fluent Japanese English and Spanish, helped me and my husband get all the ingredients for a traditional ramen!!!
Quaint store thats always worth the visit. The yummy onigiri is the real star of the store. Make sure you visit and grab one or two onigiri if youre in the neighborhood.
Great selection of authentic Japanese products. Staff is friendly. Since things are often shipped from Japan they run out of things. The onigiri and bento lunches are delicious definitely a highlight of our trips there.
Im a big fan of Asahi Imports. Its a family-owned and operated Japanese grocery store. From the outside, it looks pretty small, but they manage to pack in a lot of inventory to meet all of your Japanese food, snack and drink needs. Additionally, they have a variety of Japanese gifts, cookware, and personal care items. Lately, theyve been selling limited supplies of onigiri (rice balls), which is really nice. And theyve offered Japanese cooking classes as well. The staff is always friendly and helpful. While I feel like the prices are a bit inflated (due to either the lack of competition or the cost of importing these goods), I really dont have anything bad to say about them.
A little pricy, but a very nice clean shop with some very good store made foods. The one item I found to actually be a really good deal is the loose leaf sencha, there are multiple varieties, some of which are half as much as online. The store made daifuku and rice balls are amazing, definitely worth buying one or two each visit. Very limited fresh items, bentos have some interesting foods you dont usually find, but probably just a one time buy at the price. I will probably stop buy once a year to restock on sencha and get some rice balls/daifuku/ice cream/bentos while Im there, whichever of the specials are available that day.
Love the Onigiri, bento boxes and ice cream they sell. Great snack selection, not a lot of seating so if you are grabbing lunch, you will likely eat in your car.
Onigiri! So yummy. Such and cute place to check out and buy/try new products from.
I adore this store! I came from CA so am used to much larger Asian markets but this place has such a good variety of the same products I used to buy. The staff is helpful and friendly. I live in Leander but will happily make the drive to Asahi for my favorite foods. :)
Very cute small market with all the different foods I cant find at a regular grocery store. They manage to have a wide range of products in a relatively small space. They even have an excellent bakery inside.
Always lovely. Always fun! You can order ahead people. I placed an order for Gluten Free Natto, so go get your yummies!
My favorite place now. They need to do more marketing, if i hadnt randomly seen them driving by wouldnt know they exist. This is after driving by dozens of times and not noticing thrn.Anyway, super friendly and knowledgeable people. Great selection of unique snacks and food stuffs. Would recommend to anyone looking for unique items or a fan of Japanese stuff.
I normally love this place and have been going for years. I literally drive an hour and a half to get here, but the grocery and food are worth it. Normally the staff is very friendly, but my last visit the lady who assisted me was quite rude. I had a question about the onigiri and she was rude and then was rude when I asked for a punch card.
One of my favorite places to get Japanese specific food to stock my pantry. They have onigiri (riceballs) available daily as well as other fresh made goods. Nice, quiet, polite place to get a taste of Japan.
Great place for food (including frozen, veggies, beer, and freshly made!) and many other imported items from Japan (bowls, cups, luck cat statues, pens, shirts, etc.). Employees are always friendly, too. Love this place!!
This place is awesome! So glad Austin has a store dedicated to exclusive Japanese goods! Go check them out!
Its a bit small but has all the Japanese necessities including dishware all the way to miso and bonito for solid soup. Definitely recommend if you are coming back from Japan and trying to recreate your food experiences.
Best Japanese place in town. Wide selection of packaged Japanese products you cant get elsewhere. Much of this stuff is actually from Japan. So if your looking for Japanese brands this is your best bet. After their recent expansion they have been dabbling in serving prepared food like sushi, rice balls and snacks. Batches are small and selection changes with the day of the week so hit it early.While packaged stuff is ok their fresh selection of veggies is minimal at best. All meats and fish are in deep freeze frozen.For those with msg issues watch out. Its in a lot of the packaged stuff.Compared to other Asian markets they are a bit more expensive but the place is very clean, doesnt smell, the staff is very friendly and availing to help. They are also very strict about moving out expired stuff. They put it on a good sale.I used to but think they had much there as its not a huge place but I got a Japanese cookbook and went there to pick up the stuff I couldnt find the grocery store and with some help from the staff I found it all.Update 12/2018They have expanded. The core selection of products is the same but has a bit more depth. Naturally it evolves with the times. The staff is still always friendly and helpful.More interesting is the additional of prepped foods. Onagiri rice balls most days. Bento boxes some days. Soft serve in summer. So you can get your goods and a snack.Given that H-Mart and 99 Ranch are now in Austin is this place still relevant? Yes. Its the botique shop to those megamarts. There is some product overlap but this place still has stuff you cant find elsewhere.
Authentic Japanese snacks, food & groceries! The rice balls are amazing and on Fri-Sun you can get macha sesame soft serve! Yummy!
A cornerstone of old Austin, this delightful store continues to innovate with new ways to serve its community. From curbside pick up during the pandemic to their amazing deli section that reminds me of my trips to Japan, this store is part of the soul of the Austin Japanese community and anyone interested in Japanese food.
Ive slept on this gem for way too long. Bright and friendly, fast and very well stocked. The bentos are delicious and filling. A great value all around. And grab an onigiri while you can; they move.
Great selection of Japanese foods, reasonable prices, and a friendly staff and clean store.
Great little place! Good selection, even a nice little gift shop area. I wish there were more Japanese Kit Kat flavors though, but thats just me lol.
Always great selection for Japanese imports.
Love this place, I drive all the way up from south Austin just for the onigiri’s. A couple of the staff could be a tad nicer and less abrasive. But overall the people here are delightful.
Amazing onigiri and ice cream, vast sake and drink section, great selection of cooking ingredients and snacks.
Such a cute little Japanese grocery with lots of products I wouldnt know where else to get. But the absolute best is the onigiri made fresh there daily. Always the highlight of my day!
Small store, but their selection is great and their rice balls are delectable. Highly recommended if you need Japanese goods.
A little slice of Japan in an unlikely corner of Burnet Road. Asahi obviously provides an important service to Japanese people who find themselves in Austin, but theyre also handy for the culturally and culinarily curious who want to explore Japanese food at home. Im sure there are many fresh foods that are not practical to export, but theres a lot of frozen goodness here, and everything else, from snacks and sweets to mochi and matcha, seems to be here. Explorers will find the staff extremely helpful because they are knowledgeable, happy to explain anything or to answer any question. They tell me not only what things are, but how to cook them, and what the finer details are. This is just a wonderful place to visit and shop.
Looking for cool Japanese food? Try this place out. Friendly service, great selection, and people who are passionate about their products that are friendly too.
This is what I can comfortably call a Japanese grocery store! So many Japanese products at fairly good price. You can have authentic onigiri (rice ball) at very reasonable price. Black sesame soft served ice cream is so good! They sell not only grocery items, but other decorative items or kawaii-stuff. Also sold are some Japanese vegetables like kabocha and egg plant.
The workers are super helpful and joyful, the rice cakes are delicious-as are their candies+ they have cooking utensils such as bamboo steam pots, and rice molds for sushi. Bad news is they do not accept food stamps. So I am unable to afford it being that my pelvis, spine, and femur have been crushed
Great little shop! I have been coming here for over a decade, the employees are always helpful and the products are top notch. Do yourself a favor and get a bento for lunch sometime, I highly recommend the tonkatsu. Frankly the tonkatsu here is better than at several restaurants in town. ❤️
The staff is very helpful and welcoming, and some of them are Asian immigrants which adds a genuinity to the place. The food is organized and varied. Anything youre craving, you will find there. Also, they always have freshly made onigiris and (delicious) ice cream.
I love coming here on my lunch for onigiri and other japanese sweets! 11/10 would recommend.
Amazing selection and delicious Onigiri! And very nice staff to help you find anything in the store.
This is one of my favorite japanese stores, the onigiri is definitely now one of my favorite foods and there soft serve is excellentthey have a great selection of japanese treats and foods, also little toys and snacksI would whole heartedly advise anyone who wants a little taste of japan to go there
Best Japanese restaurant in town, lots of niche Japanese products you cant find anywhere else such as pickled plums and koji spores. Large boxed curry selection.
I loved this market while I lived in Texas. The staff was also so friendly and willing to help. I loved getting Ume Tuna onigiri at their little lunch counter. I bought five the day before I was leaving but they didnt make it to that evening. Lol. They were also nice enough to take the time and teach me how to make the onigiri and what ingredients I needed before I left because the town/nearby towns have no places that sell onigiri. They also said if I ever needed anything to call and they would ship it to me. I miss you Asahi market. I hope someday I will be able to visit you again!!!
Everything you need from a Japanese market. Its also an extremely clean place with great lighting. They have sake, a great selection or regular and premium items, green tea soft serve and an Ongiri Hotline. What more could you need?
Staff really knowledgeable and helpful; space is very clean, cute, no strange smells, has everything you need for Japanese cuisine from seasonings, sauces, noodles, sushi, in house cut fish, meats, okonomiyaki supplies, rice, beer, plum wine, sake, candy, daily fresh onigiri, daily fresh pickup items like bento and katsu pork sandwiches, even video rentals and house made ice cream. It is also a great place to get a quick gift like tea pots, lucky cats, origami paper...If you want quality brand authentic Japanese goods, this is the only place to go in town. Other stores mainly have knock off products not from Japan.
Great place to eat and shop for Japanese goods. Always get excellent service and a community feel when were here.
I like the variety of items that Asahi has. It seems its crowded around lunch time and has a line outside to get in. It would be nice to have online order for their lunch menu.
Wonderful pocket-sized japanese market. They have a nicely-curated selection of all the things you actually need to make a meal, plus a fun smattering of snacks and gifts. Would love to see them expand in the future.
I recently visited this market and I could not shop . there were far too many people inside. Many standing too close together!! I cannot say whether or not the food is good . I left, I am an older man and I cannot risk getting sick.
First time visit and gentleman greeted us at the door as they were at 10-person capacity but took us for a tour of the shop once we were allowed in and checked back on us during our visit. Wonderful experience and we will be back soon!
Rude staff. Guy kept following me around telling me to put my mask over my nose but not to other. Products are expensive. Saw a box of Pockey for $4.99. You can get 3 times as much for about the same price at Costco. Rude discriminatory staff and overpriced.
I can not describe how much I love this place. It’s like a candy store for adults. The lunch is also amazing. Their onigiri is second to none!
Unique store with some things you wont find anyplace else nearby. Made my first batches of proper sushi rolls with some help from the staff.
Such a cute little store! For all Japanese grocery needs. Always bought beverages here like milk tea. And love looking at the ceramics at the front!
Asahi is always a pleasure to visit. Its small, but has a great selection and variety of goods. I like to pop in for their onigiri whenever im in the area, its great!
Best little Japanese grocery. The selection of dry goods is amazing, the produce is is limited but focused on hard to find Japanese items. Check out the baked goods.
Awesome little shop full of imported treats, ingredients and other foreign items. Really friendly and helpful staff. Try out the onigiri (rice balls) if youre in the area.
This Japanese convenient store is the best!!! My inner weeb was so excited when I saw onigiri and other things!!! This store is freaking awesome!!
Awesome! Super clean, incredibly organized, and friendly staff! Got me some delicious rice balls from the freezer aisle as well as some snacks. Everything was fresh and tasty!
They are providing great customer service.
Authentic Japanese groceries and items. Try their onigiri, different fillings such as pickled Plum, salmon flakes, tuna, Etc. wrapped in a ball of sticky rice. This comes with a sheet of seaweed and everything is wrapped in a neat triangular package.
Always friendly and great service. The ready to eat food is awesome and great prices. Love this market!
I continue to support this place even though when I have been the past 3 times a vigilant worker will offer to give me a fragile homemade paper mask whenever I am Very clearly wearing a perfectly good bandana. Mystified, I will continue to shop there from time to time whenever I get the notion.
This store is extremely rare here in Austin. Theres not as much variety like in California but definitely worth it. Japantown is only found in California. In San Francisco, San Jose and LA. I already been to the one in LA. Im going to San Francisco this fall and cant wait to visit Japantown in the San Francisco Bay area. Its very exotic. California has the most Japanese goods on the mainland USA.
Best place in Austin for a quick Japanese snack fix. they have a great selection of sake, gifts from japan, green tea... you name it. You can even watch some variety game shows on their TV while you shop around.
Amazing service, great product selection, and friendly staff. Mrs. Junko is the best!
They have hitachino beer! As well as fresh produce, sweets, asian grocery items and beauty products. If you like fancy aka High quality beers, you should check this place out. If you are into natto, they have that too.
Very cute! I wanted the ingredients to make miso soup and they had all the ingredients. the staff were friendly. Would recommend and definitely going to shop again.
I got for the sliced ginger - not the red kind but the pale, non dyed kind. Also the rice seaweed wrapped snacks r great
Wonderful place for Japanese groceries and other goods. The handmade onigiri is top-notch, as are the pastries and Japanese ice cream.
Great for harder-to-find Japanese staples. Recently expanded and so nice and bright inside, with fresh produce and a ready-to-eat bar with homemade onigiri and pan!
Fantastic and friendly service. Great place!
Onigiri is a bit expensive, but I really like this place.Staff is very friendly, checkout is quick, and they have a lot of cool stuff.Bonito Onigiri is my favorite.
Great place to find anything you need to make som traditional japanese food. Went there to make sone yakisoba and it uad everything i needed plus lots of neat items to check out. Its a great little market with a kind friendly staff
Lots of tasty treats and delicious bentos. One stop shop for any Japanese ingredients you might need!
Lovely little shop with a nice selection of Japanese snacks and gifts. The house-made onigiri is great!
On November 17 (2015) my friends and I stopped by Asahi Imports to help a Japanese friend with his groceries. It was around half past six, but the place was absolutely clean.The person at the counter was very friendly and the workers frequently asked if we needed help.
Absolutely love the store. They have loads of great Japanese food and drinks you cant find anywhere.
Asahi Imports is a small Japanese grocer. It is always cleans, and the staff is always friendly. It has a small deli area that sells fresh onigiri, and on Sundays, ice cream.
Small market with good selection of foods and snacks. Great sake selection too. Ongiri are great when available!
Great food candy and gifts. Good prices for everything. Nice shopping if you have only a little time to shop or can take your time to see all that they have. Dont be afraid to ask questions about any of their products.
My favorite pocket grocery store in Austin!!! Small, but with a solid offering of Japanese ingredients, frozen foods, produce, and snacks. One of the few places Ive ever found real Mirin (i.e. not sweetened artificially by adding sugar/HFCS/ etc.). There are gorgeous imported tea and sake sets and other assorted figurines and such (daruma, maneki neko, etc) at the front of the store that make great gifts.
This place is wonderful! They even had koji (for making soy sauce, miso, and sake). Definitely coming back for any Japanese food specialty items.
One of the best fully authentic Japanese markets in town for sure. They have just about everything you can find in Japan but no passport required.
Surprisingly wide selection of Japanese imports and specialty foods at reasonable prices. I always end up buying a few extra items when I come here for sushi fish.
I love Japanese food and really happy that they have bento boxes on Wed, Thur and Fri. Very friendly staff and they have authentic Japanese groceries.
Love the place. Crew is helpful, selection is well-executed (it feels almost curated really) and wide. You will come away feeling like you just experienced a well-refined operation where efficiency, joy, and calm kind of just occur constantly.
Amazing place with everything I was looking for and more! Homemade Onigiri made right there in front of you! I will go back time and again! Really wonderful staff!
Super nice and attentive staff. Wonderful selections. Would have been 5 stars but store was overly crowded and the staff stocking shelves was making it hard to shop
Expensive, but they have everything you need for homemade sushi. And lots more. Very helpfull staff which is good because after going there three times I still need help!
A great assortment of Japanese goods including sweets, sauces and even fresh vegetables. Could improve their sake options a bit.
Their rice balls are my daughters favorite meal.I especially like that I can text them my order and they have it all ready to go for me when I arrive!
Coming from LA where there are several very large Japanese markets, this shop is tiny in comparison. Given that though they have most of the essentials. Picked up some udon, yakisoba noodles, and ramune for the kids. Pricey but an island of delicious Japanese staples in Austin.
Great store full of awesome products and the nicest staff. Definitely get the onigiri - so incredible.
Awesome! I have been going here for a decade or more, and it has always been a pleasant experience. The owners are always super friendly and willing to help and suggestions on things. Im so happy they expanded too!
Lovely little Asian store in Austin. With the newly built HMart, Im sure this place will get less traffic, but in the initial months of HMart being run over by crowds, Asahi could be the place to go to pick up a few things quickly and avoid the crowd.
The people that work there make you feel important theyre quick to answer your questions and help you with whatever you need me and my son found this store by accident and weve been there three four times since my daughter love Japanese candies and we hit the jackpot with the store along with the food they make is awesome the only thing is I wish I could speak and read Japanese so I wouldnt bother them every two seconds asking them what is what we will continue to go and recommend for others to come for a visit
So much fun. The kindest employees who take pride in their work. Don’t miss the soft serve Friday Saturday Sunday... the sesame soft serve is an invention of the angels
We go here, for the Japanese candy..Really kool store
Wonderful selection, helpful and resourceful staff, and convenient location. We love the expansion! My boys love to walk over and pick out a treat; a great part of our neighborhood.
Great selection in Japanese/Asian grocery items. Friendly, efficient staff. I shop there regularly, you should too!
Pretty great Asian grocery store. They have all the essentials and a bit of fun stuff. Their staff is very nice and the place is immaculate.
I love going to ask him it was very clean very respectful and the people there of from people from other countries you find the food that you need there especially when you like Im the most very clean very respectful and no scrim and ation well accepted
Super cute! Super friendly. Delicious soft serve on the weekends. The store is full of fun finds and tasty snacks.
Excellent small grocery store focused primarily on Japanese products. They have several in house made items that are extremely popular.
A most amazing market. Everything is so good here, including the fresh food made with great care! I have to go often.... I always find something new!
I love it. It has cute thing and things I love and I found the sticky rice flour and potato strach to make mochi
Great place to find Japanese ingredients. They also have a food counter that sells Onigiri (rice balls) and bentos.
Wonderful shop. Many things we have seen in other import stores but much more that we have not. Including fresh vegetables and other fresh and frozen groceries.
Best Onigiri ever. Perfect for shopping and getting a smack. Staff friendly and attentive.
I really loved the place, I would go back there again, they had alot of good stuff, these udon noodles I got were SO...GOOD! Whoever has been there should go there again!
I’m Japanese, and I can confidently say their rice balls are the best (and not expensive)! Great food, great service!!!!
If you love Japan snd Japanese items this place is for you. Love the onigiri, thank you for all the vegetarian options!
An amazing place, a piece of Japan in Austin. I love the selection of products, authenticity, and the vibe.
If youre looking for a konbini in Austin, this is the place to go. Theyve got packs of curry, spices, tons of refrigerated miso paste, and the typical items thatll make you say natsukashii~!
This place is amazingly real deal! Been coming here for years, groceries, treats and some really cool imports! Love that it gets bigger and bigger each year!
They have a good variety of Japanese items. Even a special food weve only found in Dallas. But a little pricey.
Total reviews rating 4.8
199 Reviews for Asahi Imports 2023:
Review №1
2022-01-29Edit: third time back in my week here. That is all----------------------------------Review just for prepared food:Oh my gooooodness this place is awesome. Onigiris, bento boxes, even ice cream are all amazing. Service is fantastic as well obviously. Prices are great. Workers are mainly all Japanese too and there are Japanese clientele as well.Im from Boston and jealous we dont have a larger (or any really?) Japanese community to create all these wonderful foods D:Ah also, freezing their soft serve ice cream creates a new way to enjoy them (their soft serve is a must try). Removes the creamy texture but lets you enjoy them longer
Review №2
2022-03-10After living in Austin for so many years I finally, at the behest of a friend, paid Asahi Imports a visit. It kind of what I expected, a place with lots of funky, aesthetically pleasing food items, as well as intricate plates, bowls, cups, chopsticks, etc. Its not a huge place, but they organized it in a way that made finding the desired items easy. In addition to some groceries, we also picked up some bento boxes that are prepared daily. I had the salmon and my friend had the pork katsu, both of which were quite delicious. The staff was very friendly and made the shopping experience pleasant enough that, should the desire for more Japanese foodstuffs arises, I will certainly make a return visit to Asahi Imports.
Review №3
2022-07-31Great place for Japanese groceries. They had so many nostalgic foods. Great selection of dry goods, frozen foods, beer and sake. I wish they had more options for plum wine. There is also a food stall for delicious traditional food and frozen yogurt. And a small area for make up and beauty. The cashiers take many forms of payment, even venmo. Which can be handy. Its a bit small for a market, but definitely worth the trip.
Review №4
2022-03-02I love seeing this place grow and continue its Austin tradition ❣EveryOne is always so very nice, always helpful and so welcoming.Just about everything can be found here, if not they can help you find it.*currently, as of Mar 2, 2022, masks are required; personalities choice, respect and love*
Review №5
2022-01-16Appreciating Austins adamantine appentency for Nippon alimentals. Northsides abreuvoir to quench a craving for Japanese ryōri - the dawn of a new day brings Tokyo tastes to Austin. Vegan items include bento, onigiri, and prepared side dishes such as pickles and mountain veggies.
Review №6
2022-02-260 complaints, super cool selection of items 👌🏻 extremely respectful staff that was eager to help in anyway they could!
Review №7
2021-09-10Great experience! Smaller sized store with a small fresh and frozen selection and a larger nonperishables section. The store also has ready-to-eat onigiri for ~$2.50 each and weekly soft serve ice cream as well. I was able to get what I was looking for, plus fun extras.
Review №8
2022-04-30Decided to shop here today and never again will I support them. The lady behind the register ran after my husband and I as soon as I picked up a basket to shop and yelled we cant have animals in here! My husband politely told her she is a service animal. Mind you our service animal is a 15 pound dog in a sling attached to my husbands chest. Shes not on the floor at all. And the lady that ran after us said she had to go check. Check for what??? At that point it wasnt even worth us telling her and arguing that service animals are allowed everywhere! She had her service vest on also, theres no question about it. We just wanted to shop locally and support a small business. Never thought we would be discriminated against due to my husband being a veteran.
Review №9
2022-03-18Authentic!!!! My best friend brought me here cause we both love Japan and we miss it so much!! She kept telling me about this market and it lives up to the hype! Theres plenty of goods to buy, both housewares and food. I went crazy buying a bunch of snacks to take back home with me to Miami. They also have freshly made onigiri that are absolutely delicious!! I tried the Abura Miso one and I wish I wouldve taken a photo before devouring it, lol. Highly recommend coming to shop here as it brought back so many good memories of Japan and theres so much variety of things to buy!! 油みそおにぎりはとてもおいしかったです。ありがとうございました。
Review №10
2022-07-16I love coming here. I lived in Japan for over a decade and am able to find most of the things I need to create authentic Japanese dishes at home. They also have Japanese vegetables that can be difficult to find in Texas. They make delicious onigiri and bentos. They have traditional onigiri but also Western inspired types. Of course I like the sake (salmon) but the Karaage mayo and shishito miso onigiri are also excellent. Most of the items in the store are Japanese so you may not find products from other parts of Asia but they always have what I need. If you are looking for Japanese items, more than likely they have it.