Some places take years to find. Tam-Ky took us about ten minutes of wandering through the Noailles district before the smell of coriander and fresh herbs pulled us straight through the door. And we haven’t stopped going back since.
Open since 1989 and run by the same family for over three decades, Tam-Ky is Marseille’s most complete Asian grocery store, and that’s not just a claim. From Vietnamese staples to Korean noodles, Indian flours, African spices, and seasonal festival treats you won’t find anywhere else in the city, this place genuinely delivers on the promise. If you’re a home cook, a curious foodie, or someone who just misses a specific ingredient from back home, Tam-Ky is where you come.
The Experience
The shop sits on Rue Halle Delacroix, just steps from Marché des Capucins, and from the moment you walk in, it’s clear this isn’t your average grocery run. The aisles are tight and shelf-stuffed, packed floor to ceiling with products from Vietnam, China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, India, Senegal, Mali, Congo, the Caribbean, and beyond. It’s the kind of place where every visit turns up something you’ve never seen before.
The smells hit you immediately: coriander, mint, fresh produce, and the warm, savoury waft of freshly made banh bao steaming somewhere nearby. The crowd is as diverse as the stock: locals from all corners of the world picking up their weekly shop, home cooks hunting for a single specific ingredient, and first-timers doing what we all did on our first visit, standing in the middle of the aisle with wide eyes, not knowing where to start.
What makes Tam-Ky genuinely special, though, is the people running it. The Sy family have been here for over thirty years and it shows. The atmosphere is warm, the staff are chatty and helpful, and there’s a real sense that this shop exists because the family loves what they do, not just because it’s a business.
What Not to Miss
Freshly made Vietnamese snacks
If there’s one thing to grab on your way through, it’s the banh bao and nems. The steamed buns are soft, filled, and made fresh, the kind of snack that disappears before you’ve made it back to the front door. The spring rolls are crispy and just as good. Eat them warm, right there.
The exotic produce aisle
This is where Tam-Ky really earns its reputation. Look out for Madagascan kumbawa citrus, Mauritian piments, Indonesian pepper, and a rotating selection of vegetables and fruits that change with the seasons. If you cook and you’ve been looking for something specific and unusual, there’s a decent chance it’s here.
Prepared specialties and seasonal treats
Beyond the pantry staples, Tam-Ky carries prepared goods that shift throughout the year. Cassava cakes, bo bun, fried rice with lacquered pork, and special items made only for Buddhist festivals or Chinese New Year. If you happen to visit during one of those periods, don’t walk past the counter without checking what’s out.
Go early on a weekday
Aim for around 9 AM on a weekday for the freshest stock and the most helpful experience. The shop gets busy as the day goes on, and the staff are much more able to point you toward hard-to-find items when it’s quieter. Plus, the snacks go fast.
What Locals and Regulars are Saying
Tam-Ky has a loyal following that spans decades and continents, and the reviews speak for themselves.
This is a highly recommended shop: in addition to the wide variety of exotic products, you’ll enjoy the constant friendliness of the members of this Sino-Vietnamese family who have run it since 1994, and a smile to boot. China, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Japan, Korea, Congo, Mali, Senegal, Guyana, the Caribbean… You can find almost everything you need to cook at home, but you can also enjoy Banh Bao, spring rolls, fried rice with lacquered pork, banh cam, mi noodles with beef, cassava cakes, nems and bo bun, not to mention certain specialties prepared only at certain times of the year for Buddhist festivals or for the Chinese New Year.
Michtomichko from Marseille, writing on TripAdvisor
You find all good Asian food and vegetables. I saw frozen jackfruit and lot of other green leafy vegetables.
Deepsikha Majhi, a Local Guide on Google
I have been going to this market regularly since 2018. It has been my go-to store for ingredients in Korean and Indian dishes, and I have also enjoyed sampling new-to-me products there. The staff are a lot of fun! I highly recommend at least stopping by even if you’re only visiting Marseille, they have really cute hats with their logo on them. This store is truly one of the biggest highlights of my time in Marseille. Thanks to the owners.
Emily Chase, a Local Guide on Google
Few social media posts
Know Before You Go
Address and opening hours
Tam-Ky is at 5 Rue Halle Delacroix, 13001 Marseille. You can reach them by phone at +33 4 91 54 00 86. The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM and is closed on Sundays.
Direction: Google Maps
Getting there
Take Metro Line 1 to Canebière-République, it’s a short walk from there. Buses also serve the area well. As with the rest of Noailles, skip the car. Parking in this neighbourhood is chaotic and rarely worth the stress. Walk or take public transit.
Nearby landmarks
Tam-Ky is steps away from Marché des Capucins, making it an easy and obvious pairing for a morning in the neighbourhood. Vieux-Port is about a ten-minute walk, and the historic Le Panier district is just as close. Plan to do both and make a full morning of it.
Tam-Ky isn’t just a grocery store, it’s a Marseille institution. Over thirty years, one family, and more products than you can count. Whether you’re stocking up for a week of cooking or just popping in to see what’s new, you’ll leave with something you didn’t expect and a reason to come back. Don’t skip it.
