# THe Oriental grocery-What can you not live without? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273 "2002-08-30T12:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/1 "2002-08-30T12:47:53Z")
Sesame oil. Silver Swan Soy Sauce. Hoisin sauce. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/2 "2002-08-30T14:01:38Z")
Sesame oil Pearl River Soy Kechap Manis (thick, sweet Indonesian soy) Fish sauce Nori Rice vinegar Kaffir Lime leaves Dried shitake mushrooms Yeo’s Malay hot chilli sauce Palm sugar and that’s not counting South Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/3 "2002-08-30T14:03:55Z")
Rice vinegar Nori paper Wasabi peas Sushi rice Teriyaki and Soy sauce (though I can get those at the supermarket) Chinese dumplings Wasabi Pickled ginger ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/4 "2002-08-30T14:18:03Z")
Rice vinegar The ROOSTER (Sriracha sauce) Nishiki rice iced coffee kimchi Ohh, and this Vietnamese sauce that is a sweet chili sauce. Man, is that stuff awesome. Tibs. ---
**Author:** ![skot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@skot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skot)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/5 "2002-08-30T14:38:54Z")
Maggi Sriracha sauce Chinese 5 Spice Stir-Fry Sauce ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/6 "2002-08-30T16:09:41Z")
The good kim chee, not the crappy “Occidental” brand in the supermarket 😃 Panko Tempura mix Wasabi Rice vinegar Nori ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/7 "2002-08-30T16:13:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tiburon \* > **…Ohh, and this Vietnamese sauce that is a sweet chili sauce. Man, is that stuff awesome.** Mae Ploy ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/8 "2002-08-30T19:21:50Z")
Vietnamese chili garlic sauce - Tung Ot Toy (?) brand Frozen bbq pork buns Dark sesame oil A particular brand of ramen with no English on the package - spicy WOW! Kasugai Super Juicy Gummies at reasonable prices Cracker Nuts - bbq and garlic flavor Rice flour big bags of nishiki rice at a great price Yogloo - honeydew melon flavor Rice springroll wrappers ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/9 "2002-08-30T20:25:25Z")
tamarind chili paste wide rice noodles (for Pad Thai) coconut milk curry paste green papaya (whenever we can find it here, which ain’t often) nam bpla (fish sauce) wonton wrappers thai chilis thai ramen (spicy duck is the best) 50 pound bag of jasmine rice chinese sausages (and yeah, that sweet chili sauce is da bomb. just grab a rotisserie chicken somewhere to dip in it) ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/10 "2002-08-31T00:12:45Z")
Koon Chun brand hoisin sauce Sambal oelek Sesame oil Preserved black beans Coconut milk Star anise Curry powder Rice vinegar ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/11 "2002-08-31T00:42:19Z")
Black bean and garlic sauce. Mrs. Plant threw it out, I think. Maybe she just hid it. ☹ What is Sambal oelek? ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/12 "2002-08-31T00:55:03Z")
everything listed chili bean sauce shrimp sauce sesame paste dried shrimp whole fish fruit asian veg i’m sure there is more i live five blocks from oakland chinatown. how good! ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/13 "2002-08-31T02:14:08Z")
Tengu brand beef jerky Pac Sun Filipino Adobo sauce Kashu Koshihikaru (or something) rice. Pocky Japanese curry Furikake Tomoe arare Bean thread (a.k.a. long rice) Soft ika And since it’s Uwajimaya I have in mind, their beef is incredibly good-- nicely marbled, soft, and perfect. They also have tasty sushi-grade ahi, which I promptly waste by pan-frying in butter. ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/14 "2002-08-31T06:02:19Z")
I can’t live without: Ramune drinks (the kind sealed with a marble) Kasugai Roasted Green Peas Haw Flakes (although their quality has gone down lately) Kasugai gummies (orange, preferably) Glico tomato pretz some kind of soy sauce (the name escapes me, made in Taiwan) various noodle soups. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/15 "2002-08-31T06:38:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\* > What is Sambal oelek? \*\* What, indeed? Authorities differ: [http://www.mingspantry.com/m-chpst.html](http://www.mingspantry.com/m-chpst.html) > **[Epicurious – Recipes, Menu Ideas, Videos & Cooking Tips](https://www.epicurious.com?DEF_ID=3682)** > > Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. What I buy has some garlic and vinegar in it, and not as much sugar as the Epicurious definition suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/16 "2002-08-31T12:03:44Z")
Another vote for kimchi! ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/17 "2002-08-31T16:04:32Z")
Pocky! ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/18 "2002-08-31T20:41:49Z")
Fish sauce Curry paste Jasmine rice Lemongrass and chili noodles Mmm, now I’m hungry. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/19 "2002-08-31T23:02:02Z")
Knorr Chicken Powder (it actually tastes like chicken!) WonTon wrappers Dried deep fried onions Palm sugar Mae Ploy green curry paste Fresh coriander Mostly I can get the rest of what I use at the supermarket, although oftentimes the little grocery stores are cheaper…it tends to depend on what I forget to buy at Safeway! ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oriental-grocery-what-can-you-not-live-without/126273/20 "2002-09-01T02:41:56Z")
Hey, anyone know how to make good Tapioca milk tea? Tibs.