Large Asian and Latin supermarket. Sells frozen mock meats supplied by May Wah Vegetarian Food along with other ethnic groceries. Open Mon-Sun 9:30am-6:30pm.
Huge variety of vegan mock meats & Asian foods, if you can stand the stench & filth - Edit
This place is kind of like a sleazy perverted boss who dangles your paycheck, but only if you can tolerate his aggressive flirting and horrible breath.
This is a huge asian supermarket and is the only place to buy May Wah frozen vegan products in Long Island as far as I know; the alternative is ordering by mail and paying for shipping, or going into Manhattan. V&C stocks the popular items including vegan citrus spare ribs, vegan gong bao chicken, ginger chicken, teriyaki beef, "beef" chunks, "chicken legs", "chicken ham" (whatever that is), and a few more. Note that prices have skyrocketed since the pandemic.
They also sell tons of great, imported vegan products from around the world at great prices which you won't find at other stores, like dark soy sauce, Ajinomoto MSG (only $4 a bag), pad thai noodles in many sizes, Ramune Japanese soda in the Codd-neck bottle, scallion pancakes, yuba sheets, etc.
In exchange for access to a huge variety of specialty food at good prices, you'll put up with:
-the caustic, putrid stench of rotting fish that assaults you the moment you step in. It gets worse as you approach the fish counter. It's relentless.
-the absolute filth covering every floor and surface. Bring gloves.
-freezers are broken and covered in condensation with puddles all over; handles are rusty and caked in grime. Seriously, bring gloves.
-a customer once plopped down a thin, clear baggie of raw chicken parts swimming in blood on the checkout belt. I didn't want to put my food down after him
-butchers hose down surfaces and make huge puddles while others mop floors during open store hours.
-language barrier if you do not speak Mandarin or Cantonese; most if not all the staff does not speak any English, and they don't even try to communicate. Also:
-the rudest, most condescending employees you'll meet. They seem perpetually miserable and annoyed. From the cashiers to stock boys to managers, nobody will help you - ever. This is in stark contrast to the warm and inviting staff at May Wah (aka Lily's Pantry) in NYC, who have always been amazing. If customer service matters to you, that may be worth a trip.
I've been shopping here for 8 years and nothing has changed. Don't expect any improvements.
V & C (also called V & T) is a disgusting wet market that feels depressing and has horrendous service. If you can deal with that for a little while, you will surely find a ton of great products.
PS: Do not visit at night. The neighborhood is not safe
My experience here was very lovely, but I have to point out I am a pretty lenient person. The store is not perfectly well kept, it can be a bit disorganized at times. However, you will find so many things here you can’t find anywhere else and at great prices. The store is not perfect, but it is worth it for the great things you will find.
Great for exploring and getting ingredients - Edit
V&T is a paradox for vegans and vegetarians. You will see more strange and unusual kinds and cuts of meat here than in any western supermarket. And there is a fish market with both fillets and live fish.
But you will also see equal numbers of exotic Asian green and other vegetables and fruits that you can't find anywhere else or maybe even have seen before. Lots of unusual tofu and shirataki selections too. If you like to cook this is the place to go to get ingredients for exploring many Asian cuisines. They also sell more healthy brown rice, grain and bean mixtures than any place but H-Mart. Explore the many Chinese, Vietnamese, Phillipean (but not much Korean) sauces and condiments although with primarily foreign labels with sometimes poorly translated English labels added, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which are vegetarian or vegan and which are not. In the freezer cabinet they sell the truly excellent May Wha vegan mock meats that you'd otherwise have to go into NYC Soho for. At lunch time they have a very inexpensive buffet that, along with the many meat and fish dishes has a lot of vegetarian only selections. If you can deal with the paradoxes, V&T is a food circus with many excellent choices for vegans and vegetarians. The Hispanic sections have lots of dried and canned beans and condiments from all over Central America.
One word of warning though, if you've never been to a traditional Asian or Hispanic market, the panorama of scents and smells will take you by surprise. But don't worry, everything is good!
5 Reviews
First Review by MHC48
Tumbledrylow
Points +43
Huge variety of vegan mock meats & Asian foods, if you can stand the stench & filth - Edit
This place is kind of like a sleazy perverted boss who dangles your paycheck, but only if you can tolerate his aggressive flirting and horrible breath.
Read moreThis is a huge asian supermarket and is the only place to buy May Wah frozen vegan products in Long Island as far as I know; the alternative is ordering by mail and paying for shipping, or going into Manhattan. V&C stocks the popular items including vegan citrus spare ribs, vegan gong bao chicken, ginger chicken, teriyaki beef, "beef" chunks, "chicken legs", "chicken ham" (whatever that is), and a few more. Note that prices have skyrocketed since the pandemic.
They also sell tons of great, imported vegan products from around the world at great prices which you won't find at other stores, like dark soy sauce, Ajinomoto MSG (only $4 a bag), pad thai noodles in many sizes, Ramune Japanese soda in the Codd-neck bottle, scallion pancakes, yuba sheets, etc.
In exchange for access to a huge variety of specialty food at good prices, you'll put up with:
-the caustic, putrid stench of rotting fish that assaults you the moment you step in. It gets worse as you approach the fish counter. It's relentless.
-the absolute filth covering every floor and surface. Bring gloves.
-freezers are broken and covered in condensation with puddles all over; handles are rusty and caked in grime. Seriously, bring gloves.
-a customer once plopped down a thin, clear baggie of raw chicken parts swimming in blood on the checkout belt. I didn't want to put my food down after him
-butchers hose down surfaces and make huge puddles while others mop floors during open store hours.
-language barrier if you do not speak Mandarin or Cantonese; most if not all the staff does not speak any English, and they don't even try to communicate. Also:
-the rudest, most condescending employees you'll meet. They seem perpetually miserable and annoyed. From the cashiers to stock boys to managers, nobody will help you - ever. This is in stark contrast to the warm and inviting staff at May Wah (aka Lily's Pantry) in NYC, who have always been amazing. If customer service matters to you, that may be worth a trip.
I've been shopping here for 8 years and nothing has changed. Don't expect any improvements.
V & C (also called V & T) is a disgusting wet market that feels depressing and has horrendous service. If you can deal with that for a little while, you will surely find a ton of great products.
PS: Do not visit at night. The neighborhood is not safe
Pros: Huge variety of vegan mock meats & imported foods, Most things besides MayWah vegan stuff is cheap!
Cons: Overpowering nasty smell , Filthy , Abysmal customer service
Guest
jayluhx
Points +1462
Filthy store - Edit
Some good vegan options, but this place STINKS of fish and is absolutely filthy. Warning
Read moreTumbledrylow
You hit the nail on the head! I wrote the same only in many more words, lol.
Read moreGuest
IsabellaMilgam
Points +34
Unique Place - Edit
My experience here was very lovely, but I have to point out I am a pretty lenient person. The store is not perfectly well kept, it can be a bit disorganized at times. However, you will find so many things here you can’t find anywhere else and at great prices. The store is not perfect, but it is worth it for the great things you will find.
Read morePros: Unique Mexican & Asian items, Cheap, Massive selection
Cons: Not the cleanest, Not the most organized
Guest
Vegan Goddess
Points +118
Dirty - Edit
Good selection but dirty & they have a health warning outside.
Read morePros: selection
Cons: dirty
Guest
MHC48
Points +207
Great for exploring and getting ingredients - Edit
V&T is a paradox for vegans and vegetarians. You will see more strange and unusual kinds and cuts of meat here than in any western supermarket. And there is a fish market with both fillets and live fish.
Read moreBut you will also see equal numbers of exotic Asian green and other vegetables and fruits that you can't find anywhere else or maybe even have seen before. Lots of unusual tofu and shirataki selections too. If you like to cook this is the place to go to get ingredients for exploring many Asian cuisines. They also sell more healthy brown rice, grain and bean mixtures than any place but H-Mart. Explore the many Chinese, Vietnamese, Phillipean (but not much Korean) sauces and condiments although with primarily foreign labels with sometimes poorly translated English labels added, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which are vegetarian or vegan and which are not. In the freezer cabinet they sell the truly excellent May Wha vegan mock meats that you'd otherwise have to go into NYC Soho for. At lunch time they have a very inexpensive buffet that, along with the many meat and fish dishes has a lot of vegetarian only selections. If you can deal with the paradoxes, V&T is a food circus with many excellent choices for vegans and vegetarians. The Hispanic sections have lots of dried and canned beans and condiments from all over Central America.
One word of warning though, if you've never been to a traditional Asian or Hispanic market, the panorama of scents and smells will take you by surprise. But don't worry, everything is good!
Pros: Selection of Asian veggies, fruit, rice, Tofus sauces and condiments, Hispanic section has lots of beans
Cons: You'll see lots of strange meats, Kind of, well....smelly, Employees don't speak much English.
Guest
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