Lily L.
Yelp
I wanted to host a Kamayan feast at my apartment with friends, so I started seeking out places where I could buy all the ingredients I needed. After scouring Chinatown, I was disappointed because none of the ingredients I needed were there. Lo and behold, Johnny Air Mart came up on Yelp as a trusty source for some of the more hard-to-nab items. So I popped in and grabbed the following:
- Banana leaves (note: you might have to check the downstairs freezer for these. $2.99 a pack. You'll need two packs to cover a table for 6.
- Halo halo mix - oddly enough, I couldn't even find this staple in Chinatown. $3.99
- Longanisa sausages. I picked up three kinds. They were each $5.99-$6.99 each.
- Banana Ketchup. BTW I had never had this before in my life, and it is pretty awesome. It's like if Sriracha, sweet and sour sauce, and Tabasco had a baby, this would be their lovechild. $1.59 (I think)
- Patis fish sauce
- Calamansi extract. We made a rum, mint, and calamansi cocktail for the party and it was really yummy. $5.49 - it's strong, so you don't need a whole lot.
I found all the prices really reasonable, except for maybe their Magnolia Ice Cream, which was priced at $10 each. Otherwise, everything else was fair.
The staff was okay - sorta blase about life but whatever. That's the only reason why I'm knocking it down a star.
It's not the most well-stocked deli, nor is it that organized, but it's got the basics and gets the job done without charging an arm and leg for everything.