Americans are lining up for a taste of a grocery store Canadians have been in love with for decades.
Popular Canadian Asian grocery chain T&T Supermarket is getting plenty of love south of the border after opening its newest location in San Francisco, California, on Nov. 5.
The massive 50,000-square-foot store occupies a former Best Buy location that had sat vacant for nearly a decade.
It’s also T&T’s fourth U.S. location in just two years, joining two stores in Washington state and another in San Jose, California.
According to the New York Post, eager shoppers reportedly began lining up as early as 4 a.m., several hours before the store even opened at 8 a.m.
One customer waiting in line told local media which specific products were among the biggest draws.
“They are famous for their wontons and their crepes, so it’s definitely a must-try,” they said.
Beyond fan-favourite bites, the new store features an in-house T&T Kitchen with more than 20 dishes at its self-serve hot food bar, along with Taiwanese sticky rice rolls, Baby Bear Bao, baked goods, and plenty of packaged snacks.
Shoppers can also browse various Japanese matcha products and Korean and Japanese skincare products.
The San Francisco location is the chain’s first American store to feature a cafe, serving made-to-order drinks like ube and black sesame lattes and dragonfruit lemonade.
As for the grocery selection, shoppers can browse around 200 varieties of vegetables, 17 kinds of mushrooms, and an impressive selection of fresh fish, seafood, and meats.
ABC News was also on site to chat with the very first customer through the doors. When asked whether waiting hours in line was worth it for fresh Asian produce and snacks, the shopper had a pretty straightforward answer.
“Yes, definitely.”
The excitement continued online as one local shared their positive first impression in the r/bayarea subreddit.
“I like it! It’s clean, and prices are good. It’s super convenient for me, and there wasn’t a proper Asian grocery store in my area.”
Another Reddit user pointed out that Canada has a pretty impressive frozen food game, noting that many of the frozen products they buy in California are actually made in Canada.
Those who’ve spent years singing the grocery chain’s praises may be a little unfazed by the enthusiasm down south. After all, Canadians have long been devoted to the brand, with some fans going so far as to hyperbolically claim they’d “die for T&T pork buns.”
Since its first store opening in Burnaby, B.C., way back in 1993, T&T has become a staple for plenty of Canadians, with shoppers often making special trips just to stock up on their favourite buns, dumplings, and hard-to-find Asian snacks.
The chain is now owned by Loblaw Companies, which acquired the retailer in 2009 for a reported $225 million.
Today, T&T operates 38 locations across Canada, primarily in Ontario and B.C., with an expanding U.S. presence and more Canadian stores on the horizon. That includes Manitoba’s first-ever location, a 48,000-square-foot store set to open in Winnipeg in 2028.