Saigon Market

Saigon is popular with newly arriving immigrants feeling the nostalgia of their homeland and craving reconnection. This place carries a wide assortment of familiar food/grocery items to create culinary excellence that makes a lonely immigrant feel plugged into homeland familiarities, feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Saigon Market also have fresh and frozen good for mushrooms to fruits and vegetables to all kinds of animal and protein products. The customer service is top-notch.

Great place, well-run with everything you would need for a variety of different cuisines and if they don't have it they'll work on getting it for you. Kevin the owner introduced me to thai bananas and mangosteen and changed my life, just a great family

Wide range of products for a small Asian market. Some produce and frozen foods, good selection of dry goods and rice, and plenty of sweets and snack treats to enjoy. There is a surcharge for using a credit or debit card for purchases, bringing cash is best.

An African- American food/products. I was recommended this place by a friend and I found it useful for people looking for African+ Asian food. Visit this market you will be surprised to find some products you can't find anywhere else!

Been driving by this store for 15 years. Finally decided to go exploring and glad I did! Owner was super helpful and friendly and loved exploring all the fun new authentic ingredients. Prices were amazing and can’t wait to go back! Definitely recommend.

Last time I went I bought some green tea drink mix which expired 2 years ago?! ☹️ Other than that the staff are nice and I do like the selection

The people who work they are awesome and kind. We get a variety of foods from here!

Great place! Fantastic options and friendly customer service all the time. This family owned grocery store is perfect for your all around the world food options. They have sweets (candies, cookies- "biscuits" for my foreigners) fish (frozen, canned and fresh), vegetables of all sorts. I love my plantains! They also have cookware and utensils of all sorts! We love the teas from Africa; Tanzania, Kenya, or Rwanda all perfect for brewing. It's clean and organized. I love ginger packets they are perfect. Drink it cold or hot! Great service every time!!

Wonderful variety, and fresh produce to boot. Staff is extremely pleasant and helpful. Travel an hour to shop there, and appreciate having such a great store in area.

We have done into this store multiple times and after about the third time I realized there is a back room with frozen and refrigerator items! There are so many times in this store! Several times I couldn't find several things and the owner or cashier always walked me around to locate what I need. The staff are very friendly and always willing to help and the prices are great!

Excellent. Great customer service. Lots of hard to find items. Good prices. Love this place.

Awesome place to shop. Wonderful market owners. I love this place. I come here when I'm in Indiana to get ingredients for my Egusi & Fufu. Thank you for the hospitality I'll be back wherever I come in town.

The only place in town to get fresh oriental vegetables and an unbelievable list of other things my favorite store BBB

Great for the Southeast Asian taste bud. Go on Fridays after 2 for fresh pastries, meat and produce brought in from Chicago.

Wow! First time was a blast. The owner was so helpful and friendly. He told me Friday at 2pm is the day to shop! Can't wait!

Kinda disappointed by how we were treated by the owner of this store. I walked in with my girlfriend who has a medical alert service dog and her cousin, who also has a service dog. We were barely down the first aisle when a man came up to us and said "I can't say anything to you guys about the dogs because they have service vests but just make sure they don't sniff anything." Made us extremely uncomfortable and decided to leave because he was following us around a tiny store.

This is the go-to place for all Asian cooks. BONUS** Friday after 2 they have great spring rolls and a few other yummy lunch items to go. Want soy sauce that is better than any you'll get in a supermarket or restaurant?....they have about 20 to choose from! Nori paper in many different sizes and a plethora of spices and herbs you wont find anywhere else in town. Quail eggs, exotic fish and veggies as well. The owner is super helpful at helping me discover new ingredients and exploring new taste. Tiny little store but I bet they have 10,000 items!

This place has pretty much kept me from going insane since I returned from China last year. I live off-campus while going to ND and cook for myself, mostly Chinese and a little bit of Thai, and I've yet to find an East or Southeast Asian dish for which I can't purchase every ingredient I need here.*** Prices are good; higher than one would find in Chinatown in Chicago or Philadelphia, but that can't really be helped given how far a lot of this stuff has to come to get to South Bend. *** Whole spices are a little bit hard to come by anywhere, really, but their ground selection is fine and I mostly bulk order whole spices from Penzey's, anyway. The couple who runs the store are among the nicest and most caring proprietors I've ever met; they recognize my friend and I by face and name alike and never hesitate to point out if something we're buying isn't completely fresh so we can swap it out for another. Just to note, the people who mentioned that some things are expired are right; however, I've worked in a small grocer before, and without the sophisticated tracking systems the larger supermarkets have, it's very difficult to track exactly when dry goods and packaged foods need to be taken off the shelves. The owners have never had a problem with my running back in to grab a different item if one of us notices that one is expired. The best thing to do is check as you pick items up; the owners are always nice enough to mention it if they notice, but they don't always notice anymore than I do.

When I need supplies for my Chinese cooking, Saigon Market is the place to go. After all, what Chinese kitchen would be complete without a 20 lb bag of rice or gallon jug of soy sauce? Saigon Market has a wide selection of foods from just about every Asian country, and they carry all the Taiwanese brands I recognize from my mother's kitchen. It's unusual to find an Asian market with such a good selection of Chinese food from Taiwan. The produce and frozen sections are good, too. The owner is a friendly guy and always offers help with getting the aforementioned 20 lb sacks of rice to your car. If you've been accustomed to going to Martin's for your specialty Asian foods, you really have to give Saigon Market a try, because whatever you've been getting at Martin's is probably cheaper and fresher at SM.

It's a good place to shop to get everything you need to cook Asian food people are very friendly. I just have one suggestion. Don't store the cilantro basil other herbs and vegetables in the same cooler as the meat or fish. I bought some last week took it home and it smelled horrible And I wound up throwing it all away

This market is the only Asian market here that I can purchase anything I need, plus Friday Fresh market is a real deal because you can enjoy food delivered from Chicago too. However, i can't help but notice many products in the store are... expired but they never re-stock them. So BEWARE when buying your food, make sure it's not expired because I did bought home a bottle of olive-canola oil once and found out it expired last year (Ugh!), and some of the instant noodles are also old which should be a big No-No for a busy market like this one. I don't understand why they do that! However I believe most of the products are fresh and good to go, just some stuffs they might over-look and did not re-stock them (Gosh! hopefully!) so LOOK carefully! I DO enjoy shopping at Saigon market every Friday. The owner are very nice and cashiers are quick as squirrels at scanning and bagging items they amazed me. Note: $10 minimum for credit card purchases.

I'm new to the area.. Heck, I'm new to the Midwest. 5th day in and a few Five Guys and Chipotle meals later, the beau and I were already longing for some place we'd be able to get fish sauce, dried vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs and vegetables, etc (a BIG etcetera). This place has pretty much everything you need to make a home-cooked meal. They've got all types of Asian ingredients that cater to more than just Asian tastes. For example, the owner said they bring in 'older' Jasmine rice per the preference of their Jamaican customers. Pretty cool. I really feel no need to find any other Asian market at which to buy my groceries. Love the products, love the owners! ps. just wanted to comment on another Yelper's warning that some things may be expired -- this is true, so check the dates. This is normal for pretty much any small grocery store anyway.

The other reviews weren't lying about Fridays. I got there a minute before they opened (they open @ 3:00 on Fridays) and there was a queue of about 15 ppl waiting for the doors to open. Not to mention the few ppl waiting in their cars. They all headed straight for the fresh produce and meat. They also have a selection of baked goods and fresh prepackaged meat products. I looked but didn't buy (I'm a vegetarian.) By the time I left the parking lot was full. There was even an employee directing traffic in and out of the parking lot. If you're looking for fresh produce at reasonable prices this is the place to shop.

I'm from Hawaii and thought I would never find local food in Indiana. This market has so many local foods that I grew up on. I got candy, ice cream, vegetables, meats, Portuguese Sausage, Aloha Shoyu and most of all Rice. I won't starve in Indiana now. I also forgot my Japanese washcloth which we can find in most stores in Hawaii, I could believe that they carry the Salux washcloth, I don't feel clean without it. Their fresh vegetables and meats come in only on Fridays and go out fast. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I so glad that I found this place!

I'm newly returned to the area and have been scouting out places to eat and supply my taste for my latest favorite cuisine, Thai. I like a grocer that knows not only groceries, but cooking. The owner is a charming Vietnamese woman who really knows her stuff. She carries all the essentials at a nice price. When I asked about Kafir leaves, she knew that they were lime leaves, explained that there is an embargo on them, that there is no real substitute but that a small amount of lime zest will come close. Saigon Market is just what I'm looking for! Nota Bene: Go here on Friday night. It has a bazaar-like atmosphere with everyone shopping for their week's fresh produce which arrives by 3pm. TGIF!

This place was very nice - well organized and tons of Asian products, even produce. I was really surprised at the size of the store and I thought it was much smaller prior to entering... but it stretched far into the back. Staff was friendly and asked if I needed any help immediately.

Visited this place two times and both the times I received the best customer service. Friendliest staff, quality groceries but prices seemed to be little high.

This is where I go to get cheap beef bones and supplies for my soup. Tremendous variety with low prices!

Saigon Market is an important ingredient hub for Asian cooks in the South Bend area. They most likely have every ingredient you may need for any preparation. That being said, there is an intense amount of items in a small amount of space and that can create a disorganized store. For me, not a deal breaker. Go on Friday afternoon/evening for the greatest selection of fresh goods. For the locals, Friday is market day. You have to get to Saigon.

I give this place a 4 star simply because it is the only place in town that sells quail eggs. For a sushi nut like me, that is of utmost importamce.

We love Saigon Market for hard to find ingredients and amazing produce you can't find anywhere else in the area. The owners are super friendly and go out of their way to help you. They get to know their customers and even recognized us when they came into a restaurant we were dining in. Friday nights are great fun and a cultural experience hard to find outside of a much larger city like Chicago. If you're looking for a shiny, wide aisled, "fancy" store like the big box groceries this probably isn't the place for you but if you're looking for exotic items at good prices...this is it. {p.s. - I am gluten intolerant and can find many alternate flours here as well as rice noodles & wrappers.}

I went here to buy bones for pho. I politely asked for help when I couldn't find them. The owner pointed to the stand up cooler. I still couldn't find them, so I went to ask him again, but he was talking to his wife. Thinking I couldn't understand (my wife speaks Chinese), he cursed me in Cantonese. He took me to the cooler and found the right bones for me. I don't think I was being unreasonable with my request, since the meat isn't very organized (some of the raw meat is right next to the vegetables on the same shelf!), and there aren't very many reliable labels.

Living in downtown South Bend, Saigon Market has more or less kept me alive during the last year and a half. The proprietors are among the most genuine, kindest people I've met, and they really get to know their customers and try very hard to serve the diverse needs of their customer base, many of whom (like myself) would find life much harder in this town without them. There are more country/region-specific groceries in the Michiana area--Korean, Chinese, and South Asian in particular--but Saigon seeks to serve all local Asian populations and those who are eclectic in their appreciation of Asian cuisines. They go pretty light on South Asian supplies, and have a nice if small section of African and Caribbean foodstuffs. But they otherwise cover Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese very thoroughly, especially considering the relatively small size of the shop. They also take some pains to have vegetarian-oriented foods, serving another population that would generally have a tough time in South Bend. If you want to see just how beloved Saigon Market is in South Bend--and how essential it is to the community--come on a Friday, their usual restocking day for produce. It's like you've suddenly transported to a bustling, international metropolis--and while it's crowded and a bit hectic, the atmosphere remains friendly and neighborly. And speaking of the produce--the wide variety of greens and other veggies is excellent, and at very fair prices (especially if you compare the price of, say, bok choy at a large local supermarket--a quarter the cost). On Fridays they're also your only chance to get banh mi and fresh bao and Vietnamese pastries in South Bend (though sadly none are vegetarian). Finally, they bring much-needed business and activity to the almost-moribund downtown of this struggling city, when they might have vanished long ago to some strip mall on the outskirts. By staying in the city, they remain accessible to everyone, not just those with automobiles. The owners work too hard, and I hope they're able to take a vacation one of these days--but they are truly a cornerstone of the community, and I thank them for their boundless effort.

Owners are awesome!!! Again Friday the time to go in the afternoon and evening. Best place to get fresh shrimp (prawns). Cheap!! Even had Live blue crabs although I don't know what to do with them. Exotic fruits there too. It is an experience to go on Friday when they bring the fresh stuff from Chicago. Produce is great and have hard to find stuff like the purple yams, the have both ripe and unripe plantains. All kinds of mushrooms. Ginger. Hard to find potato varieties. Love the place!!

Friendly. Affordable. Excellent selection. This is one of the best fixtures of downtown South Bend and a must-stop for cooking Asian and South Pacific food. Bring cash for small purchases.

MAKE SURE TO CHECK EXPIRATION DATE!! I'm not sure if they intend or not but they sell expired products. When I brought back in, she doesn't seems surprised and just returned the money.

Saigon Market was my go to spot for asian grocery supplies when I was a student at ND. You really can't beat walking in and finding everything that was in my parents kitchen and everything is reasonably priced considering the store is in South Bend IN. Owners are super friendly and I always leave a happy customer. Great store and nice friendly mom and pop stop.

I've lived in Michiana for 3 years now. Saigon Market is my go to place to get most ingredients for Asian Recipes! I thought I would miss out on cooking Filipino food (which I grew up on), but this store makes it possible! I know everyone waits until Friday's to get the fresh meat and veggies, but as soon as they open at 3:00 pm is the worst time to go because there are times the parking lot is full! I was thankful the owner let me park where I was before I tried to turn around! I don't know what else to say, but I'm overall pleased with ingredients that Saigon Market has to offer!

I have heard great things of this store from people I work with . I moved from Chicago with my husband , so I am really happy I can find some stuff to cook for the two of us. I had ask a few questions , as the girls were fairly nice . The only bad encounter I had was when I Asked the very young girl about something she had to get her father or boss , and he was very rude . Overall the staff was nice even the lady I spoke with and she didn't speak English . I will still go there as I can't find any oriental market that is as good . I went on Tuesday called "Market Day" and it was nice to see the fresh bakery and a stock store as well .