I couldn’t believe I had never written about the phenomenal Super Cao Nguyen, located at 2668 N. Military Ave., right in the heart of Oklahoma City.
With all the columns I’ve written about quirky grocery stores, I think I avoided this one because it’s where I regularly shopped, meeting my monthly needs on my bike—until life got in the way.
First things first: I’m going to start biking again.
Secondly, after surviving more than two years without Super Cao due to health issues, comedian John Mulaney’s recent shoutout to it on Seth Meyers' late-night show lit a fire under me. I had to go back—before it’s too late.
It was definitely good to come back…
Grandiose on the outside and even bigger on the inside, this local Vietnamese-centric market (and much more) is tucked into the heart of the Little Saigon district.
Its sudden appearance among the houses, trees, and shrubs feels almost surreal—like you’ve stumbled upon Brigadoon. Only here, you’ll find fresh-made tapioca pork dumplings.
As you step through the sliding doors into this other world, the smells hit you first: sweet cakes, fried foods, and the unmistakable scent of fresh seafood. Live fish and other sea creatures swim in tanks, offering a strange sense of calm. Take it all in.
I usually start with the glass cases filled with homemade baguettes and all the bánh mì fixings you could want. Then I wander over to the fresh produce section, where familiar bananas and oranges sit alongside oversized tubers that I can’t even identify. But they’re key ingredients in dishes that customers swear by, and I want to try them all.
In the cooler section, you won’t find Coke or Budweiser. Instead, there are regional delights like Hawaiian Sun and anime-branded energy drinks with amazing designs. The premium malt beverages—with gold crests and all—make me want to develop a drinking problem. burp
Past the freezer cases of buns, fish, and tofu—playfully topped with panda-shaped gelatin snacks—you’ll find the real star of Super Cao Nguyen: the live seafood tanks. The freshest fish and sea creatures wait to be chosen, elevating any meal to a high-class affair. Their catfish, some of the best in the city, might even be the best in the state. And don’t worry—there are plenty of other meats, veggies, and hand-pulled noodles to round out any dish, not to mention an array of choice spices and seasonings.
Every visit to Super Cao reveals something new to try or buy, and that’s not even counting the pottery, plants, art, figurines, medicines, and the world’s most expensive candies that could put a drugstore out of business.
As we finally made our way to the checkout, my girlfriend promised to whip up a mean curry with the sadomasochistically spicy seasonings we picked up. But I couldn’t leave without grabbing lunch from the hot case near the front door—Korean Corn Dog and Fried Banana, of course.
Sitting in the car with the window down, as I took another bite of the fried banana, I smiled knowing that I’ll be back next week and every week thereafter—it’s one story that will never end.
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
