Red Boat fish sauce has become my absolute favorite pantry staple over the last few years. As someone who loves cooking Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisine, I’ve tried countless different brands of nuoc mam (fish sauce) trying to find the perfect one. After sampling many too-salty chemically-tasting or just plain bad options, I finally struck gold when I discovered Red Boat.
Red Boat fish sauce is made using only two ingredients – wild-caught black anchovies and sea salt That’s it! No extra chemicals or additives It delivers the most pure, clean-tasting umami flavor imaginable. I truly believe it’s one of the highest quality fish sauces available today.
But there’s just one catch – where can you actually buy the good stuff? Red Boat may not be as ubiquitous on store shelves as some of the mass market brands. But don’t worry, with just a bit of detective work, it’s possible to track down a bottle. Here’s my guide to finding Red Boat fish sauce near you:
Check the International or Asian Foods Aisle
Your best bet for locating Red Boat is to head to the international foods section in your grocery store. This is sometimes labeled the Asian foods aisle. Take a peek on the shelves near other Vietnamese, Thai, and East Asian ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, rice noodles and coconut milk.
I’ve had good luck finding Red Boat at large supermarket chains like Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Giant, Wegmans, and more. It’s often stocked alongside other Asian cuisine essentials.
One thing to note – you may need to hunt around a bit and scan the shelves closely. Red Boat tends to be stocked deep within the international foods section. It won’t be sitting out on display front and center. Just be patient and keep your eyes peeled. When you spot that beautiful red label, you’ve struck fish sauce gold!
Check Specialty Grocery Stores
If your regular supermarket is coming up empty, consider checking “gourmet” specialty grocers and health food stores. Chains like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Earth Fare, and Fresh Market tend to have great international and ethnic food selections. There’s a good chance you’ll locate Red Boat fish sauce among their Asian ingredients.
You might also get lucky at a local health-conscious or organic market. Even though they cater to a health-minded audience, many specialty grocers recognize Red Boat’s commitment to pure, clean ingredients. Just ask – they may stock it on their shelves or be able to order it for you.
Look for Red Boat in Asian Markets
One of the easiest ways to buy Red Boat fish sauce is to visit an Asian, and specifically Vietnamese, grocery market. These specialty markets cater to Southeast Asian communities by stocking all the authentic imported ingredients for Vietnamese, Thai, and other cuisines.
At large Vietnamese markets like Hong Kong Market, Nhu Lan, or Tan A, you’ll find entire aisles dedicated to fish sauce. And chances are, they’ll have Red Boat fish sauce in stock. Even smaller mom-and-pop Asian grocers tend to carry it.
Shopping at one of these markets is a great experience. You can stock up on Red Boat while also grabbing other hard-to-find ingredients like lemongrass, Thai basil, rice paper, and unique spices. It’s worth a visit for any home chef interested in Asian cooking!
Check Amazon and Online Stores
When all else fails, you can always order Red Boat fish sauce online. Amazon carries it and will ship it straight to your door. Other online grocery delivery services like Instacart allow you to search local inventory and may be able to source a bottle for you.
There are also many Asian grocery delivery services that specialize in sourcing authentic imported ingredients. Sites like Weee!, Umamicart, and Katong Shopper make it easy to shop all your favorite Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, and other Asian foods in one place. Red Boat fish sauce is usually available.
Ordering online is convenient if you have trouble finding Red Boat locally. Just account for shipping fees and delivery time.
Ask Your Local Stores to Stock It
If Red Boat fish sauce seems totally unavailable in your area, don’t give up hope! You can always request that your local markets and grocery stores consider carrying it.
Most store managers appreciate customer product suggestions, especially for niche ethnic ingredients. By showing interest and asking about Red Boat, you might convince them to place an order. It never hurts to ask!
Leaving positive reviews for Red Boat online and sharing why you love it so much can also help prove there’s consumer demand. If enough customers request it, stores will take notice.
Check Red Boat’s Store Locator
Stuck searching aimlessly for this precious bottle of fish sauce? Go right to the source – Red Boat’s website!
The Red Boat Store Locator allows you to enter your zip code and radius to search for local stores that may carry their products. It compiles information directly from retailers that stock Red Boat on their shelves.
This is by far the easiest way to see if any markets or grocers in your area currently have Red Boat in stock. No more fruitless searching – just consult the handy store locator!
Look for Red Boat at Restaurants
If you still have no luck finding Red Boat fish sauce to buy at home, try sourcing it through restaurants!
Many Vietnamese and Thai restaurants use Red Boat fish sauce in their cooking. Next time you dine at one, ask your server if their kitchen stocks it.
Some restaurants may even be willing to sell you a bottle if you explain you love cooking with it at home. It never hurts to ask! Worst case, they say no.
Dining at an Asian restaurant that uses Red Boat is also a great way to sample its flavor. You’ll get to enjoy it enhancing complex dishes like pho, pad thai, and caramel chicken.
Don’t Settle for Less
Once you get a taste of Red Boat fish sauce’s clean umami depth, you won’t want to settle for any other brand. It truly elevates Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisine.
While it may take some sleuthing to buy, the hunt for Red Boat is well worth it. With so many stores now selling it, you should be able to track down this “caviar” of fish sauce.
Just be diligent in checking international aisles, Asian grocers, specialty markets, and online shopping options. And don’t be shy to ask food retailers directly to carry it. Before you know it, you’ll have a bottle of this liquid gold ready to bring pure flavor to all your cooking!
Shop Red BoatReady to add another secret ingredient to your pantry and leave your friends and family speechless? Here are three of our newest products you can’t find anywhere else!
Made from black anchovies caught off the crystal clear waters of Vietnams Phu Quoc archipelago.
For a clean, natural umami flavor, our fish sauce is fermented in big wooden barrels using a method that dates back hundreds of years.
Our classic dark amber color shows that we only bottle first-press fish sauce, so you can be sure that it has never been watered down.
The extra-virgin olive oil of fish sauce. -Stuart Brioza
Which Fish Sauce is Best? Red Boat vs. Three Crabs
Where can I find red boat fish sauce?
We are usually found in the Asian or International aisle. Stay in the know The most premium fish sauce available. At Red Boat Fish Sauce, we take full pride in the way we make fish sauce. From the way our fish sauce is fermented, all the way to how it is bottled, no shortcuts are taken.
What is red boat fish sauce made of?
Made from black anchovies caught off the crystal clear waters of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc archipelago. The extra-virgin olive oil of fish sauce. Stay in the know The most premium fish sauce available. At Red Boat Fish Sauce, we take full pride in the way we make fish sauce.
Who invented red boat fish sauce?
But not even the vibrant Asian markets of San Francisco offered the intensely fragrant first-press fish sauce, nước mắm nhi, that Cuong remembered from Vietnam. So in 2006, Cuong decided that if he couldn’t find it, he would make it — and started Red Boat Fish Sauce.
Is red boat fish sauce gluten free?
Red Boat – Fish Sauce, 8.45 Ounce – Chef’s Grade, Gluten Free, Sustainably Sourced & Artisan Processed, 100% Pure, Protein Rich, No Added MSG or Preservatives. Red Boat Fish Sauce offers an unrivaled purity that will transform your meals.