The Battambang Market

Fantastic market for SE Asian ingredients. Thai soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, many types of fish and oyster sauces, fresh Holy basil and galangal, this place has it all!Bring cash. Don't be too freaked out by the neighborhood, it's all worth it to support this 35+ year old market and make some delicious food.UPDATE: Many years later, still the same; still amazing! Through the pandemic, through the changing neighborhood, the Battambang Market is still my go to place for SE Asian ingredients and fresh produce. Even with the H-mart now in town, this is still the only place you can find fresh holy basil and fresh green peppercorns. Also, love the ladies who work here! Very sweet every one of them!

I didn't know about the historical significance of this market until I read about it in the nearby Tenderloin Museum (review: http://bit.ly/2pMwOjA) and how it was and continues to be an essential business for the local Southeast Asian populace who started pouring into the embattled area since the 1970's. You would think the Cambodian proprietors would have expanded their space by now, but no, San Francisco real estate being what it is, the market remains a claustrophobic space where they maximize every square inch with produce and other goods native to that part of the world. You will be on sensory overload.The unique inventory includes jars of pickled eggplant and peppercorns (photo: http://bit.ly/2J1RagV), cans of grass jelly and fruit cocktail (photo: http://bit.ly/2J4epH6), and bunches of plantains (photo: http://bit.ly/2GCdIqm). It's in the deepest part of the 'Loin, so be cautious getting over here, but if you're intent on creating an authentic Thai dinner, I can't think of a market less likely not to have that particular ingredient you desperately need like kaffir lime leaves, fresh galangal, and mangosteens. The staff is also really nice and helpful here, and there's certainly no mistaking this business for the fashion-forward Meraki Market a few blocks away.

So as I have alluded to in prior reviews, we are blessed with such a huge variety of ethnic grocery stores here in the Bay Area is easy to get overwhelmed. However even among all of that largesse, Cambodian grocery stores are few and far between. Hence our stop here. As many reviewers have noted the neighbor hood looks sketchy, but we had no problem. Parking can be tight and the spaces are small. The market itself is packed to the rafters and the isles are a bit tight, but otherwise it is a fascinating place to look around. Lots of spices both fresh and dried, curries, canned goods of all descriptions, and more dried fish than you can shake a stick at. The fresh section has the usual suspects, plus turmeric root, fresh curry leaves etc. As one would expect since there a bit of overlap between Thai and Cambodian cuisine, there is overlap with the goods available. So while its Cambodian primarily, its really more Pan South East Asian. Service is friendly.

Great little Khmer market in the middle of the Tenderloin! Yes, the area isn't the best, but if you walk with purpose, you'll be left alone (my friend and I went together - we're two 5'1 Asian girls and we were fine). It's also right next to the police station. They have a great selection of Southeast Asian spices, sauces, and herbs - and a small produce section at rock-bottom prices. They even had Khmer "dessert tamales" (sweet rice and banana or jackfruit, wrapped in banana leaves).The owner is super nice, and explained to us how to eat the desserts. The even cooler thing is my friend is Khmer and her parents used to go to this market back in the 70's! You can tell they've been serving the area for a long time - they knew a bunch of the patrons in the store. If you're in the area, definitely give it a try!

Great place if you're looking for specific ingredients to make a Thai dish. The space is on the smaller side, located inside an apartment complex with a few other businesses around. They had a recent remodeling so it's easier to navigate the aisles.I usually grab galangal, bird's eye chili, kaffir like leaves, and lemongrass here when I make tom yum soup. The price is right and I'm usually out the door in minutes! I heard they also have a tasty papaya salad.They accept card with a $10 minimum.

Battambang Market specializes in cambodian goods but everything germane to southeast asia can be found here. place is cramped, narrow aisles. it's totally dark in the back (no lights)eats: thai coconut rolls (2.29)-resembles "love letters" cylindral tubes of crispiness via hong kongor "whiskey thin rolled crepe" in kirkland's european cookies-made with coconut milk, taro 4 stars

Well stocked, helpful employees, and cheap - what more could you want from a supermarket?I came here to pick up a few specialty ingredients for a Thai dinner I was making, including some hard-to-find items like Penang curry paste, kaffir lime leaves, Thai chilies, larb powder, green papaya, and palm sugar. Everything I needed was in stock (the woman working there walked with me to help me find each item) and affordable (everything we needed for a four-person dinner, minus the chicken, came to $25).Minus one star for cash only, otherwise perfect.

I'm so happy I found this market! I'm from the east bay and am use to having southeast Asian groceries easily available to buy. However in sf I found it a tad bit challenging... All the dedicated Asian sections in the markets are tiny (and mainly just have Chinese). Atlas-! I found Battambang, the nostalgia of it all takes me back to days when I had to go grocery shopping with my mom and we were on a mission to get ingredients for our traditional Laotian dishes :) Sure the market is in a rough neighborhood, and they could probably dust a bit more but you don't really mind when your there because your too damn happy a place like this actually exist in sf.

Honestly wanted to hate this place because the area is a bit sketchy, but they sell authentic Southeast Asian herbs. They have holy basil (harder to find than you think) perfect for Thai Basil Chicken. They also have coriander with the roots still for homemade curry paste or to boost coriander flavor in your dishes - yum. Prices are a couple of dollars over your typical asian market (please don't tell my Laotian grandmother) and the store looks like it's actually in Battambang, but hey - it's cheap to begin with and it supports a small local business.

Super friendly staff and only place I have been able to find real Prahok in SF. Truly a gem!