Jana C.
Yelp
I'm quite a lucky girl....when Portland was my digs, i lived within biking distance to Vieng Lao... this, Heng Fath, is my 'Vieng Lao", my friendly neighborhood asian pick-up bodega...and without ever a need to get on the freeway and 3 mile it over to 99 Ranch (whose most frustrating aspect is the parking and the queues for paying).
I've come whenever I'm riding on a wave of culinary motivation, experimenting and dabbling on the Asian side of things....and today, I awoke after work and needed some ingredients for stew stuff that i'm making. Well, thuh AAAAANK U, HF, for being my no-brainer go-to....
I've never been one to buy their fruits, as they are never appetizing enough to just sacrifice for convenience (on the other hand, I've been known to go and practice conversing in Espanol and head across the street to large El Campesino (the farmer) and buy them there (they have fresh tamales and also a meat counter in the back area. Oh! but this review is for the SE Asian diaspora's small biz endeavors....)
Heng Fath has every sauce one would need to be culinarily deft around the Asian kitchen and palate. I always do little self-challenges/tests and decide upon an item in my head, and then go hunt for it. More than not, they do have it... the tops of the jars may be dusty, but they're in the inventory!
There are all sorts of herbs needed as staples for the Asian pantry, leafy veg, tofu, frozen seafood, spices, dried goods, noodles, and RICE!!!!!!! Rice galore.....
I've found some need rare items, like derivative taro stuff, and even bought my Mom some durian chips before! (oh yes, there's that stinky yellow oddball in its signature netting if you want the real olfactory challenge fruit).
Handy! However, all in all, store is discombobulated (which I don't care a lick about). For me, convenience rules. Located on the west side of always busily traveled S23rd St.
Traffic only runs north after a certain block; be careful! Understandably, most do not come if not local to the area. We all understand the reasons why...