Bách Hoa Việt Kyoto
📍 Address: 26-1 Saiin Shimizu-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, 615-0052 Japan
Located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, roughly halfway between Hankyu ‘Saiin Station’ and ‘Saikyogoku Station’, ‘Bách Hoa Việt Kyoto’ (a Vietnamese supermarket) has become an indispensable hub for international students and long-term Asian residents in Kyoto since its opening in March 2021. It’s a deep-dive supermarket, known to those in the know, gathering enthusiastic support from local Vietnamese food lovers who say, ‘If you’re looking for Vietnamese ingredients in Kyoto, this is the best place.’
The store is packed with carefully selected ingredients directly sourced from authentic Vietnam. Stepping inside, you’re enveloped in the vibrant atmosphere and spicy aroma, as if you’ve wandered into a local market in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Its proximity to the large ‘Gyomu Super Saiin Store’ and the hardware store ‘Shima Corporation’ makes it convenient for everyday shopping or a stop on the way home from work. It also supports smartphone payment methods like d払い, making it highly convenient for Japanese customers as well as international students.
Local Items You Can Only Find Here and Recommended Shopping Tips
The greatest appeal of this supermarket lies in its deep and niche product selection, which is rarely found in typical Japanese import food stores. The shelves are stocked not only with classic pho and Vietnamese coffee, but also fresh vegetables like coriander and morning glory, local fish and meats, and frozen traditional Vietnamese desserts like ‘chè’ – a lineup truly reminiscent of Vietnam.
Particularly recommended are the many seasonings that allow you to easily recreate authentic Vietnamese flavors at home. ‘Chili Lemon Pepper Salt’ is a hot topic among regulars, who say ‘it’s delicious and a must-buy.’ With a perfect balance of sourness and spiciness, it’s a magical powder that instantly adds an Asian flair to meat dishes, seafood, and even french fries. The trick to getting the most out of this store is to start with easy-to-use seasonings and instant noodles, then gradually step up to deeper ingredients like frozen fish and various spices.
Beyond Vietnamese ingredients, the store also handles niche items from across Southeast Asia, such as ‘tempeh’, an Indonesian fermented soybean product. For cooking enthusiasts who enjoy a multicultural dining experience, it’s truly a space where you can feel the excitement of a treasure hunt.
Homely Atmosphere Run by a Japanese-Vietnamese Couple
Another charm of ‘Bách Hoa Việt Kyoto’ is the unique local warmth it exudes. The store’s facade, perhaps a repurposed former snack bar, has a retro Showa-era feel, which, combined with the exotic Vietnamese ingredient signs, creates a uniquely striking presence within Kyoto’s cityscape.
The store is managed by a Japanese owner and his Vietnamese wife. Both are incredibly friendly and kindly assist Japanese beginners who ‘fell in love with Vietnamese food and came to buy ingredients.’ For Vietnamese international students and workers, it also serves as a small community and exchange hub where they can shop comfortably in their native language and share information about their homeland.
Even if you stop by alone, you won’t feel out of place at all; in fact, there’s a homely atmosphere where you can casually ask, ‘How do I eat this?’ If you want to immerse yourself in local Asian culture or add new spices to your daily meals, be sure to bring your own reusable bag and open the door to this deep Vietnamese supermarket.
