For Asian students studying in the UK, searching for Asian grocery shops is important for several reasons. Firstly, it allows them to access familiar ingredients and traditional foods that are essential to their diet and culinary culture.
This connection to their home cuisine provides comfort and a sense of satisfaction, especially when living far from home. In addition, cooking with familiar ingredients can help Asian students maintain a balanced and nutritious diet, which is essential for their health and well-being.
Asian-based grocery shops also offer a wide range of unique spices, sauces, and speciality items that might not be available in mainstream supermarkets. These grocery stores are located all over the UK and play a vital role in preserving cultural identity and offering a taste of home, which can be invaluable for Asian students adapting to their student life in a foreign country. More details relating to grocery shops are discussed further below.
Asian Grocery Shops classified by regions
South Asian Shops
The rise of multiculturalism in the UK has led to the establishment of numerous specialised grocery stores, supermarkets, and online retailers that cater to South Asian culinary needs. Both domestic & foreign students are increasingly drawn to the rich spices and diverse cuisine of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan & Iran.
Many cities boast vibrant South Asian grocery shops that offer a variety of ingredients, including spices, lentils, rice, imported tropical vegetables, and snacks. These stores often feature products that are hard to find in mainstream supermarkets, providing students with access to authentic items for their traditional cooking.
Large supermarket chains like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, and Asda have acknowledged the increasing demand for South Asian products. They frequently offer a "World Foods" section stocked with popular items like curry paste, naan bread, and ready-to-eat meals, providing students with convenient access to familiar ingredients.
Popular Indian-based department stores such as Falcon Cash & Curry, Taj Stores, Spice Shop, Patel Brothers, Al-Falah, Lakshmi Stores , Nandini’s and Chaudhry’s are some of the most popular shops that have branches in greater London and all over the UK, offering numerous discounts on food and products on special events like Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Easter Sunday, and other national festivals.
Manchester Superstore, a popular franchise shop, has stores in various locations across the north west of England (Manchester, Liverpool, Wakefield, Bradford, Oldham, and Bolton) selling 100% halal products, ethnic items, exotic spices, fruits and vegetables in reasonable prices. The supershop not only sells Indian products but also has a wide collection of Bangladeshi and Pakistani products. These kinds of supermarkets also provide many deals and discounts on daily groceries. Students can easily commute to these stores as they are mostly located at convenient places throughout the UK with ample parking spaces (including disabled parking facilities). If you find physical shopping to be difficult, then you can also purchase through the shop's online portal and get student discounts on products & delivery.
South-East Asian Shops
Every year, around 220,000 East Asian students enrol for higher education in the UK. If you're looking for some authentic East Asian foods, there are many famous grocery shopping destinations that offer diverse culinary options.
Renowned chain shop Loon Fung Supermarket located around multiple locations in London, offers a wide range of Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, Filippino, Malaysia and Burmese products. It is a pit stop for fresh produce noodles, sauces, sausages and snacks from various Asian countries. New Loon Moon Supermarket is another lucrative shopping option inside London City that offers various frozen items, organic vegetables and processed foreign foods.
Super shops like Oriental Mart and Matthews Foods online have warehouses in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Kirkcaldy, offering an extensive collection of Southeast Asian grocery products and providing free delivery on orders over £55, which is really helpful for students who prefer to shop online.
If you are looking for some authentic Indonesian cooking ingredients and snacks, supermarkets like Toko Indonesia and Starry Mart can be your best option, as they provide same-day delivery for online purchases within a specified area. Filipino students can also find their desired grocery ingredients from physical / online stores such as FilFoods, Kuyas Tindahan, Filipino & Oriental Grocery Store etc, offering a comprehensive selection of Philippine groceries and household products.
East Asian Shops
Almost all UK cities have Asian grocery markets, where all kinds of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean groceries are sold. Franchise/chain shops like SeeWoo, Wing Yip and Hoo Hing have multiple shops in big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester that sell a large selection of Eastern Asian grocery items.
There are Chinatown areas in major cities in the UK where you could find shops selling unique and traditional vegetables, exported fish, meat, canned foods and many types of processed foods like instant noodles and chow mein. There are also many weekly Asian grocery markets that sit once or twice a week and are very popular among the Chinese people.
Super shops and departmental stores such as Japan Centre, Mitsukoshi, Hing Yip Oriental Supermarket, Tian Tian Market, Hang Won Hong and Atariya situated in multiple parts of the UK, are groups of popular chain shops reputed for selling exclusive ranges of Japanese snacks, drinks, groceries, fresh sushi, canned food and cooking ingredients. “Miyako” is another popular Japanese-based shop selling a variety of Japanese authentic cuisine items at competitive prices.
Students craving Korean food can visit “Korean Foods Centre” which is a dedicated Korean food store offering a wide selection of Korean snacks and cooking essentials. H Mart, Seoul Plaza, Oseyo have multiple large supermarket chains with a solid selection of Korean products, including freshly exported meat, sauces, snacks and ready-to-eat meals. Students can also use online platforms to order their desired authentic regional groceries through online shops like ‘Amazon UK’, Japan Centre Online and Asian Food Grocer.
Central Asian Shops
Students from Central Asian countries (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan) looking to revive their homely taste buds can find their desired authentic foods from multiple grocery shops situated within the UK. You can check on Uzbek Corner & Ulfatlar, located in London, are popular for offering unique Uzbek dishes like Plov, Manti, Lagman and Somsa.
If you are intending to buy grocery products and create your own Uzbek dish then Central Oriental Superstores should be your top choice as their superstore stocks many kinds of unique ingredients from Central Asian Countries.
There are other small to medium shops like Samarkand in London, Bukhara in Northampton, Mushtaq Sweet Centre in Birmingham, Osh in Manchester, Dastan in Leicester and Silk Road (London & various locations in the Midlands) offering to sell a wide selection of Central Asian products such as exotic cuisine, halal meat, river fish, beverages, sweets, snacks, spices, condiments, teas, canned food, processed food, grains, tea, and a range of freshly produced dairy products.
An online-based shop named Eastern European Foods has the highest varieties of Kazakh, Tajik, Turkmen and Kyrgyz food items in its online inventory and contributes a big taste of Central Asia to the students and community people living in the UK.
West Asian Shops
MEIZ Oriental Supermarket located in Preston, is the most popular shop for offering a variety of Middle Eastern delicacies along with freshly imported fruits and frozen items. Students coming to the UK from western Asian countries like Iraq, the UAE, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, Georgia, Armenia, Cyprus and neighbouring countries can find their desired local grocery items from supermarkets like Shorjah Food Ltd, Lil Watan, Kashmir Watan Foodstores & Sing Kee Supermarket.
Among all the West Asian countries, Turkish food holds the top spot and is in high demand from all students studying in the UK, regardless of their nationality. For some, Turkish food gives ultimate appetite pleasure as the foods are uniquely prepared and are different from other countries cuisine, with a mix of all multi-cultural cuisines but being similar to none.
Super shops such as Turkish Porter and Aytac Foods sell numerous authentic Turkish groceries, including bakery items like simit, lahmacun, and gozleme, as well as turkey meats, fresh produce salami-sausages, nuts, dry foods, yoghourts and traditional Turkish desserts like baklava (Turkish delight). Bonvilla (the first Turkish online supermarket), MyJam Food and Bakkalim are the most popular online based stores selling thousands of unique Turkish food products (including other West Asian country products) providing convenience to online customers and assurance of delivery within the next day.
Students can also check on Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets for continental and middle eastern sections which sell region specific items at a competitive pricing and free same/next day delivery for shopping more than a specific. These supermarkets provide huge discounts on festivals like Eid, Christmas and special occasions. You can also find weekly local shops which generally sit once or twice a week in many parts of big metropolitan cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle etc. They offer authentic seasonal groceries which you can sometimes bargain for a good pricing that may not be available in other regular stores.
Things to keep in mind while grocery shopping in the UK
- Bring your own carry/shopping bag. You will not be provided any free plastic bags for carrying your items in UK supermarkets. It is always encouraged among students to develop the habit of reusing shopping bags as you will be charged extra or need to purchase plastic carry bags (price ranging from 0.30 cents to 5 pounds). You are recommended to purchase a good shopping bag that you can reuse multiple times to carry your groceries.
- Try to acquire benefits from online ordering and delivery, if the grocery shop is not in a convenient location or hard to reach. Many shops offer free same day or next day delivery on purchase over a specific amount. This could help a student to shop hassle free and save valuable time on travelling.
- Obtain student card or loyalty programs on the first day of visiting a supermarket so that you can start earning reward points and save money early. Many shops provide membership cards which can be used to earn points based on your purchase. These points can then be used to gain special discounts and buy items at a reduced rate.
- Students should carry a spare pound coin (£1 coin), to swiftly unlock a shopping cart and use it while shopping. Almost all supermarkets have shopping carts available which have a built-in locker that can be unlocked and used with a £1 coin. After finishing your shopping, you can retrieve your coin by locking it with other empty carts.
- Use cash to pay at off-licence & small shops. It is always best not to use debit/credit cards at small shops. They can charge you extra when paying with a card and also have a high chance of card data leak. You can always cash out from ATM booths found near superstores and pay with cash.
- Buying items in bulk can save a lot at the grocery store. Many stores offer a buy two get one, buy four get one and many selling schemes. For example, buying a 10 kilo rice bag can save you almost 20-30% more than buying a 2 kilo rice pack.
- Keep your student ID or a proof of ID with you all the time. It is recommended (not mandatory) to keep your student ID (photo ID containing your date of birth) with you while you go shopping, eat food at a restaurant or obtain any paid services. Being a student has many benefits as you get discounts from almost all platforms.
Sometimes the seller or the cashier can ask for your proof of ID inorder to verify your age and validity. Many shops offer 5-10 percent student discounts on products & services. For buying alcoholic liquor, cigarettes or electronic vape, the seller can ask you for your proof of ID showing that you are 18 years or older in the UK.
Asian grocery shops in the UK do more than just sell groceries; they function as cultural hubs for Central Asian communities. Often, they host events and provide resources that honour and celebrate their rich heritage. If you find yourself in the UK, taking the time to visit one of these stores can be a delightful way to immerse yourself in the diverse flavours and traditions of Asia.
From sampling authentic foods to participating in cultural events, these shops offer a unique glimpse into the vibrant life and customs of the community, contributing a major part in the UK's economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Asian grocery products available online?
Yes, you can purchase more Asian products online than in an offline physical store. Online stores can list more products through websites and make your shopping much easier and hassle-free through on-time delivery options.
- Are Asian grocery products imported in the UK?
Yes, almost all the products that do not originate from Uk are imported into the country. They are sold at a higher price compared to their producing country and maintain a high export standard.
- Do supermarkets have contactless payment options?
Some supermarket chains such as Asda, Morrissons, Tesco, Sainsbury, Lidl, Aldi etc have contactless payment options where you can just tap your card to pay (upto a specific amount allowed by the bank) for your items.
- How do I find an Asian grocery store in the UK?
In order to find your desired Asian grocery store, firstly, you can search the store online or you can search by the name of the product following the location you are situated. Checking online is the best option and is more accurate, as almost all grocery shops update their location online.
- What is Chinatown? Which cities in the UK have Chinatowns?
Chinatown is a Chinese based majority district / neighbourhood situated inside a city or town with mostly Chinese-owned businesses. There are Chinatowns in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.