Vien Dong III Supermarket - Another Morning, Another Market

*** Vien Dong Market is now Thuan Phat Supermarket. A post can be found here.

*** Updated posts on Vien Dong Market can be found here and here.

I'm sure most regular Visitors already know that we really don't care much for crowds. And that I find shopping at an unhurried pace rather "relaxing". So I usually will do my shopping at the  local Asian Supermarkets in the morning; and Vien Dong is no exception.

Though the parking lot at Vien Dong on Linda Vista Road, never seems to be very crowded, I can't really say the same about the Market. If anything, the small isles and store configuration makes it feel like Vien Dong is always packed to the rafters. So a morning shopping excursion can provide some relief from the claustrophobic experience.

When entering one of these Markets, I noticed I usually follow the same "pattern". Head to produce, either to the right or left and and walk the perimeter of the Market, before exploring the isles. Today as I entered and headed toward the produce section, I passed a fairly large display of New Years items. I believe that this year the 3 days of Tet(Vietnamese New Year) starts somewhere around January 29th. BTW, I've been told that the phrase "Cung Chuc Tan Xuan", on those bright red New Years banners mean something along the lines of,  "Many wishes for the new spring".

Oh, and I made sure to pick up some flavored melon seeds, the Missus's latest obsession, as well as the important red-dyed watermelon seeds:

As with most Asian Markets, there are always a few "interesting" signs. Here's one that Sammy and Frankie may or may not like:

The produce section at Viet Dong is large and sprawling, and also quite diverse. The one thing to know is; if you ever need mint, you will almost always find it at a Vietnamese Market.

Because Viet Dong also serves the local Hispanic and Filipino community, you'll find a great variety of produce. I'll just be quiet for a few seconds and post some photos.

There used to be a Vietnamese-Chinese Fast Food stall next to the produce section; but it is now mostly gone, except for the roasted meats.

Along side the roasted meats is the requisite fresh "bread" stand. One thing I noticed is that the price of these French-style baguettes have risen. They are now 30 cents a piece; they used to be 20 cents. Also, I apologize for the blurry "bread" picture. As I was pressing the "shutter" I was blind-sided by a Little Ol' Lady whose shopping cart almost knocked me over into a crate of bittermelon.

With my pride somewhat damaged, and my shins aching, I decided to leave the produce section and head over to the meat and seafood section. At Vien Dong, the meat and seafood section occupies almost one-third of the entire store.

A section with pre-cut and packaged meats occupies the South facing wall, while the meat and seafood counter takes up the entire rear of the market. There is quite a variety of "cuts" available, everything from thin sliced rib for Pho' to "carne asada" cuts.  Also, some of the more "interesting" cuts are available. Like Beef Tendon:

You could say that Vien Dong has everything from snout to tail:

Vien Dong is a pretty good resource for those more "exotic" cuts of meat.

About this time I checked my watch, and did notice the Market getting crowded. So it was time for me to leave. Walking to check-out I passed this collection of steamers sitting on top of some deli-cases that line an entire wall. For some reason it always catches my eye:

Some Notes on Vien Dong: The "pungency" factor is not very high in the morning; in fact the smell of bread baking as you enter the store is quite enticing. The check-out counters at Vien Dong always throw me off, they are set-up "backwards". That is you place your groceries on the conveyor and walk behind the register. So for most of the transaction you are facing the back of the Cashier. I just find that a bit odd.

Vien Dong Market III
6935 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Comments

[Joan]

Kirk, I was waiting for a comment about the "pungency" factor- you didn't disappoint! That's the one thing my husband and I always joke about when stepping into an Asian market. He always says it makes him feel like he's travelled to another country :)

[noromdiam]

I've only been to Viet Dong once on a weekday to get some dungeness crab after finding out that 99 Ranch was completely out. I remember Viet Dong being strangely empty, and I had to catch my own crab...having to walk around the slippery floor and dipping my hand in the cold water was not fun.

[clare eats]

I still can't get over just how HUGE your markets are!!!

[Kirk]

Hi Joan - Yes, we really can;t forget the pungency factor, can't we! LOL!

Hi noromdiam - You had to catch your own crab! Really! geez. I've had my share of indifferent service here; but it's on par with the lousy service at 99 Ranch Market and Seafood City.

Hi Clare - There are even more of these huge Ethnic Supermarkets in San Diego.

[Rachel]

Hey kirk ! Loved you taking us along with you on your morning shop again. It is quite amazing to find a place that sells virtually a whole pig. Wonder what they would use the snouts for? Also, couldn't really identify some of the strange produce. Except the middle one I believe is water chestnut which is excellent in dumplings for that extra "crunch factor" and makes the pork sweeter tasting.

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - You know what? I really don't know what they use the snouts for either....As for the produce; the top photo is Yuca(cassava), of which I purchased a few to make Yuca Con Mojo, and the bottom is a type of Eggplant; well, I believe is a type of eggplant, since it was right next to the green Thai Eggplant and other eggplants....

[Passionate Eater]

I've only been to the Vien Dong Supermarket in El Monte, but I'm always amazed by the Costco-sized portions inside the store.

Also, you *always* have to watch out for old Asian ladies with shopping carts. Otherwise, you may walk out of the store with bruises all over your ankles and legs.

I enjoyed your great post! It allowed me to visually enjoy the shopping experience without having to brave the overwhelming shopping crowd!

[Kristy]

Wondeful DOG candy?? Hmm...yeah, sounds like Sammy and Frankie might not like those. LOL! And I love beating the crowds at markets and stores too!

[Jack]

I really like going to Vien Dong because as you said, they also service the hispanic and filipino community. It's one stop shopping for a lot of items.

[Rachel]

LOL Kirk ! I guess no one can say that you have lost your mojo. And even if you did you could always make some more :)

[Kirk]

Hi PE - I have slight "phobia" with regards to Old Ladies and shopping carts.

Hi Kristy - I guess it depends on what the candy is made of.....

Hi Jack - I guess you shop there alot?

Hi Rachel - LOL! Yoso-pun-ny!

[Jen]

do sell clams? how much by the pound?

[jen]

Do you sell clams? How much by the pound? Do you sell Oysters fresh? How much by the pound?

[Kirk]

Hi Jen - I'm trying to understand your question. I believe you're asking if Vien Dong has clams and oysters, right? At least that's what I thought. So on the way home I stopped by just to see; and there were Manila Clams for $3.79/lb; but they looked terrible - you're better off at 99 Ranch Market. No oysters, but the live frogs looked good though! I'm just glad you didn't ask if I had "crabs". LOL!

[Nguyen thi Tan (Diệu Tuyền)]

Chúng tôi muốn order một loại ham
chay của Mỹ Có tên là MEATLESS CHICHKEN STYLE loại 4bls mỗi cây,
bao màu trắng đục, dài 2 tất 1/2.
bên trong màu trắng. không phải sản xuất tại Đài Loan, mà sản xuất tại Ohio hay vùng nào khác tại Mỹ, để mua cúng dường cho các
chùa và tăng ni. Xin qúy vị cho biết, có lọai ham chay nầy tại bổn tiệm hay không, và bao nhiều tiền một cây dẻ chúng tôi có thể order
và gửi về Pensylvania, tổn phí như thế nào ?. Chân thành cảm ơn.

[Nguyen thi Tan (Diệu Tuyền)]

We would like to order the AMERICAN MEATLESS CHICKEN STYLE
4bls each roll. 2.5 dm long, cover by white color plastic bag, ham inside white color as the white chicken meat, not product of
Taiwan, they are product of some company in USA (0HIO) ?
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOU HAVING THIS KIND OF HAM IN YOUR SUPPERMARKET OR NOT, HOW MUCH PRICE, AND HOW YOU CAN SEND TO US AT PENNYLANIA,AND HOW IS ITS WITH THE PRICE ?
Thank you very much.

[Kirk]

Hi Nguyen thi Tan - I've forwarded your comments to someone who I think can help!

[ray]

i was asking on craiglist for a source for live tilapia and they suggested viien dong market...we have sourced ranch 99 but the fish were in poor condition and did not survive....

[Omar]

Just noticed this post and comments. Vien Dong serves a couple of purposes for our house:

My wife is from Philly, so when it's cheesesteak time, I stop at K Sandwiches for hoagie rolls (closest thing to East Coast I've found) then head to Vien Dong for peppers, onions, Cheez Whiz, and boneless ribeye roast, often on sale at around $4.50/lb.

Being from the mid-Atlantic seaboard, the wife and I crave steamed blue crabs, and occasionally Vien Dong sells the larger ones at about $4.00/lb. By the way, noromdiam (maidmoron?) the shellfish section usually offers tongs for self-crabbing.

Anyway, I know that 99 Ranch has the same stuff, but it's a farther drive for me, so unless I'm shopping *hard*, I'm a confirmed Vien Donger. Plus, VD is around the corner from Pho Hoa Hiep... and so the world spins in greased grooves...

[Kirk]

Hi Ray - Yes, give Vien Dong and maybe Lucky Seafood a try.

Hi Omar - Nice variety of produce at Vien Dong as well as the "Deli". Since you seem to be working your way through all of our posts...here are a few Vien Dong updates:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2007/05/return_to_vien_.html

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2007/06/return_to_vien_.html