Chinese (Lunar) New Year starts February 17, 2026 and runs until Lantern Festival Day March 3, 2026...Order Tim's Famous Cantonese BBQ to celebrate!

Restaurateurs to Grocers

Tim and Cathy have deep roots in bringing food to others. Tim's Yeh (paternal grandfather), Koon Yen Lim, immigrated from China to the United States in 1913 as a newly minted teen. Koon Yen later settled in San Antonio, TX as an entrepreneur to feed his family and the community around him. Koon Yen opened Golden Star Cafe in 1932 - still a longstanding treasure to San Antonio's west side community.

In the 60's, Tim cut his teeth in the 24/7 cafe alongside his Yeh, father (Raymond Lim) and his other family members. Tim learned every single task that would later prepare him for his own legacy.

In the 70's, Cathy developed her business foundation while running administrative operations in one of Hong Kong's many factories. Cathy joined Tim at Golden Star Cafe soon after their marriage.

The 80's was a decade of change. Tim was part of the executive chef team that launched his family's next restaurant, Golden Palace, on the north central area of San Antonio. The menu and execution of flavors was the talk of the town.

Cathy took lead on developing their idea of opening an Asian grocery store. She forged relationships in San Antonio and Houston to make her and Tim's dream a reality - all while she continued to work the graveyard shift at Golden Star Cafe!

Their dedicated work ethic and willingness to take risks to serve others has laid the foundation for their legacy in San Antonio.

Over the last 40 years, Tim's has become a trusted destination for authentic Asian groceries and learning how to "do it yourself." Tim and Cathy's diverse team strives to bring the essence of traditional flavors and modern conveniences to your kitchen.

So, whether you’re a seasoned chef or someone looking to taste a memory, or just exploring for something new, our team at Tim's Oriental & Seafood Market looks forward to your visit!

We'll guide you through everything you may need to make your meal deliciously memorable.

In The News

On the air with SA Live Feb 2026

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Tim’s Oriental Seafood Market, where CEO Vanessa Egle shares the secret to longevity through delicious traditional and modern Chinese dishes. Join the festivities with a vibrant lion dance in the parking lot and explore a variety of culinary delights, from Cantonese roast duck to sweet chili crisp, while learning about the market's 40-year journey and expansion.

Meet The Owners

  • Tim and Cathy

    Tim and Cathy Lim

    Tim and Cathy (San Antonian's know them as Buffalo and Flaca) opened San Antonio's access to Asian foods in 1986 to meet not only their own grocery needs, but also those of the diverse communities around them. For over 30 years, their market served as San Antonio's largest, most assorted Asian grocery store. Today, it's still a cornerstone for those seeking Asian groceries and friendly advice on how-to build a successful Asian pantry of goods.

  • A Real Family Business

    Tim and Cathy's children round out their leadership team - each one playing a pivotal role in continuing the family's legacy as passionate grocers.

Celebrating our Community's Cultural Diversity

Tim's Oriental & Seafood Market opened in 1986 with a vision to provide our Asian community with greater access to "their" ingredients and seafood. From humble beginnings in Leon Valley, Texas, (tucked between Loops 410 and 1604) we have grown to be the cornerstone of the local and greater communities. Each customer shared stories of their own experiences, travels and joys for eating. The diverse uses of Asian ingredients created an explosion of tasty ideas. Through the ongoing trust and loyalty of our customers and hardworking team, our journey continues. We're dedicated to customer service, passionate culinary exploration, and talking about - food!

1986
1986
Tim and Cathy Lim opened San Antonio’s largest Asian grocery store, a cozy 5,000 sq. ft. market filled with the flavors of home.
1987
1987
Tim and Cathy retired from the restaurants, Golden Star Cafe (still in business today!) and Golden Palace, to devote themselves fully to the market.
1989
1989
Tim's was approached by the Asian restaurant community to help them source their ingredients. Tim's began their food service offering, expanding their reach beyond San Antonio - serving restaurants and quick service operators as far west as Abilene, TX to the south in McAllen, TX.
1994
1994
Tim's expertise was well-known. Tim's eventually built a full-scale food distribution arm, populating food deserts with authentic Asian food products in West, Central, East and South Texas.
2003
2003
Tim's secured land and broke ground on its first multi-functional distribution center in Leon Valley, TX - creating a new home for its growing operations.
2007 - 2018
2007 - 2018
It may seem like they never left! Tim and Cathy's kids continued to support and grow the family business through all phases of their primary and higher educations. Over the years after their own successful careers, Vanessa, Randy and Erica rejoined the business to continue the family legacy.
2018-Present
2018-Present
Tim's has won "Best International Market" by San Antonio Current Editors and its readers - its made Tim's work even harder! Every year, Tim's has been recognized by local foodies and their diverse customer base as one of the best places to shop and just "talk food." Its no surprise Tim's footprints continue to show up proudly all around San Antonio.

Recognitions

  • Best International Market - 2025

    San Antonio Current, Best of

  • Best International Market - 2024

    San Antonio Current, Best of

  • Best International Market - 2023

    San Antonio Current, Best of

  • Best International Market - 2022

    San Antonio Current, Best of