Asahi Imports

Austin Japanese Grocery Asahi Imports Is Opening a Second Location | Eater Austin

"A longtime family-run Japanese grocery that began with the founder’s store in North Loop in 1967 and was later moved to Burnet Road in 2003, this shop opened a second South Lamar location at 3005 South Lamar Boulevard in Barton Hills on Monday, December 13. The new outpost mirrors the original’s vast selection—more than 30,000 Japanese items—including 30 kinds of rice, 20 kinds of miso, dumplings, soups, produce, sushi-grade fish, ramen kits and roughly 100 kinds of sake and beer. Prepared foods are a highlight: onigiri and bento boxes are made in-house, an onigiri program launched at the register in 2013 and is now led by Masumi Jones, and the store offers an “onigiri hotline” for call-ahead orders. Customers can shop in person, place online grocery orders, and use home delivery; the owner, Sally Matsumae, says the expansion responds to long-standing requests and a need for more ethnic-market options in South Austin." - Erin Russell