OMG thanks, PPs! Lots of good leads.

And I love the suggestion to talk to Number One Sons. I'm totally going to do that

Why don't you ask Number ONe Sons, a great local pickle maker, to try making this? They're Asian and their pickled stuff is great - I bet they'd be up for the adventure.

Maybe Hmart?

FYI: There is a new chinese grocery in Centreville which is pretty awesome.

http://www.goodfortunesupermarket.com

Have you tried the Great Wall grocery store in Falls Church? They have a refrigerated aisle of fresh tofu, bamboo, and pickled veg. I can't remember if I've actually seen zha cai there, but that's the first place I'd try if I were you. Just avoid going during the weekend rush. That place is a total zoo.

MAN do I love zha cai. I would eat a plate of it plain (okay, with some rice...begrudgingly so I don't get a stomachache).

But I can't seem to find the good stuff, OR I don't know what I'm looking for. Most Chinese pickles sold in the U.S. don't even seem to have characters on the package/can -- they have code names like "Szechwan pickle," which is probably zha cai, but the cans/bags look a little disreputable.

Anyone know a good place to pick it up in NOVA that's less likely to have weird additives like MSG and just be the plain pickle? Really GOOD zha cai that I could eat plain like the awesome stuff I had in Asia? What's a good brand?

God, I would give anything for the hipster artisanal pickle makers to start making good zha cai instead of a billion types of cucumber pickles.