Vinai Market

Yes, the store is small. Yes, it can get crowded. This is expected with any small store and I have no issues with it. I do, however, have an issue when their hours of operation says closing time is at 8 and I get there before 8 and they’re closed. More specifically, I called them when I got off work at 7:15 to ensure that they would still be open. Lady on the phone said they close at 8. I get there at 7:40 to refill my 5 gal water jugs and they have already locked their doors. I see a young lady through the window and she’s cleaning the floors or counter or something and she completely ingores me. I knocked on the window and she finally notices me and she comes to the door only to tell me sorry they weren’t busy so they closed early. Really?! You are a business. You have loyal customers. The very least you can do is remain open during your posted hours of operation. Closing early because you’re not busy is very unprofessional. And plus maybe if you guys train your gals at the register to greet people and say thanks and you’re welcome and smile, maybe people would feel more welcomed. At least smile jeez. I’ve had many encounters where I look at this gal straight in the eyes, smiled and said thank you and she had no reaction whatsoever. One day I walked away thinking maybe shes deaf? But when I looked back over my shoulder, she’s smiling and chatting with the young man who stocks the shelves. It’s no wonder my mom stopped shopping there. Btw, I am female so the gal at the register has no excuse that I was trying to hit on her.

It’s not so bad. I usually come here for the deli. Closest hmong store in this area since I live around here. Food tastes pretty good or maybe I just grew a liking to it because st. Paul is a father drive away! Hahaha

This is the only place I go to get filter water only $ 0.35 per gallon. I have been going here for years! Their deli is pretty good it’s not anything extravagant but it’ll keep your cravings down.

The store is über small and crowded. The cashiers are slow and their register system is old and slow. The deli food is ok. The papaya salad taste watered down, the eggroll has no meat in it, and the duck taste bland. I recommend the laab and chicken wings. I got diarrhea last time I ate the curry noodles here and it’s not the good kind, it’s the food poison kind. Beside the food and cashiers, their grocery selection is good. They have certain brands and produce that Sun food does not have. Sometimes their vegetables are more fresh then Sun foods.

I usually go for the papaya salad; which is so good.
Market is great, but not a fan of the location.

This is your typical S.E. Asian grocery store. Overall ambiance and cleanliness is rather divey.
The space is small and cramped. I think some re-​arrangement of the aisles would really make a difference. They should just break down the wall that separates the rice bag room from the rest of the store.
Many Hmong people bring along their entire family of children. When there is four or five couples who bring five to eight of their kids per parents, the store can get crowded… fast!
There are only two registers, and with absolutely no space, the «line» ends up turning into a bunch of people crowded up at the entrance/​registers. Customers trying to enter have to fight through the crowd of people waiting at the register. It’s truly abominable.
Oh. And I don’t think they make papaya salad here. Typically at S. E Asian groceries, you are able to order freshly made papaya. Some S.E. Asian markets make it known with signs or a deli in the front, but some places are not as obvious.
Some of the best papaya salads I ever ate, were made at grocery markets where there are no advertisements for it at all. Just word of mouth.
The reason I go to Vinai Market is because the bus goes by there. I would rather go to Koom Siab grocery market –but there are no buses that go by there.

Hmong sausage, sticky rice and some spicy papaya salad. Skip the pork belly unless its early in the day. The skin looked crispy but wasn’t.