Ethnic Grocery Stores In Hong Kong: Where To Find Your Favourite Ingredients

Let these amazing products and flavours transport you to a different place.

As a new arrival to Hong Kong, one of the first things you miss about home is food, especially when moving with fussy eaters. Here we bring you a round-up of some ethnic grocery stores to help you out in case you are on the hunt for your local ingredients. Maybe you just want to try out a new cuisine, or recreate your favourite dish from your last vacation. Whatever the reason, these are the places to start looking for Indian, Thai, Japanese, Korean or Indonesian ingredients. Happy grocery shopping!

Jump to:
Indian Stores
Thai Ingredients
Korean Groceries
Indonesian And Filipino Products
Japanese Groceries

Read more: Where To Buy: Fresh, Green And Organic Stores In Hong Kong

Indian Stores In Hong Kong

Regency Spices

This is the place to go for all your spices, dried fruits, nuts, seeds and even flower teas! Regency Spices have been in business for almost 70 years and four generations so you can trust it knows a thing or two. It has very reasonable prices and offers free delivery all over Hong Kong with online purchases over $100.

Regency Spices, 8A, Ming Wah Industrial Building, 17-33 Wang Lung Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong, 3525 0060, www.regencyspices.hk

DESI Bazaar

Mid-levels Mamas no longer need to trek across Hong Kong or the harbour to get their favourite Indian groceries. Since DESI Bazaar opened on Caine Road it’s become a firm favourite amongst the Indian community (and other expats too!) for both its range of products and excellent customer service.

DESI Bazaar, G/F, Sussex Court, 120 Caine Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong, 2987 4555, [email protected], www.facebook.com/DESI-bazaar

StarMart

This popular Indian store has convenient locations in Hung Hom, Aberdeen, Discovery Bay, Sai Ying Pun and two in Tsim Sha Tsui (also one in Macau!) so you are never too far away. It also has an extensive online store with delivery all over Hong Kong with a minimum spend. It stocks everything from grocery items, personal care, ready-to-eat and spices, and even has a special range of festival goods for you to stock up on.

StarMart, various locations, 2366 6534, WhatsApp: 9815 1392, [email protected], www.starmart.com.hk

Maharaja Mart

India is a large country with a large appetite. Food makes up a huge part of Indian culture and every region boasts a different fare. If you’re a fan of South Indian delicacies — the famous idlis and dosas — then this is your store. Selling everything from grocery items to spices and even health and baby products this is a one-stop-shop. Like the others, they offer delivery to most parts of the city.

Maharaja Indian Emporium, A1, 1/F, Friends House, 6 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2756 5611,  [email protected], www.maharajamart.com

Shop Easy Superstore

You’ll find everything you need for your next Indian meal at this store in Tsim Sha Tsui. It’s got all your standard Indian groceries and cooking ingredients and plenty of discounted other products too. Be sure to check out what’s in store in the lead up to special holidays and festivals. There is also a branch in Tung Chung.

Shop Easy Superstore, Basement, Golden Crown Court, 66-70 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Shop Easy Superstore, Shop 3, 1/F, Coastal Skyline Centre, 12 Tung Chung Waterfront Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2488 8402, WhatsApp: 5205 2800, [email protected], www.facebook.com/shopeasyss

Read more: Indian Curry Recipes From One Wholesome Meal

Indian Provision Store

This is your best bet on the island, closer to Central than the rest. This store is well stocked with everything from rare spices to herbs and condiments, basmati rice, chutneys, snacks and a whole lot more. All their supplies are freshly stocked and imported directly from India. The staff is knowledgeable and can help you pick the best off the rack.

Indian Provision Store, 18 – 20 Bowrington Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2891 8324

Kiran’s Provision Store

Kiran’s Provision Store has been around for over two decades. Find them in Tsim Sha Tsui’s famous Mirador Mansion. They have everything here including the usual spices, pulses and vegetables and they even stock freshly made hot samosas and other treats! If you can’t make the trip out to Tsim Sha Tsui, there is also a handy online store.

Kiran’s Provision Store, Shop 51, 1/F, Mirador Mansion, 54-64 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2723 6781, WhatsApp: 9348 3151, [email protected], www.kiranstore.com

Spice Store

This online Indian grocery store is one of the most convenient options when it comes to shopping for all your Indian staples. On the site, you can see a great variety of food items and choose what you want as you compare prices to get the best deals.

Spice Store, 2944 2336, WhatsApp: 9888 3559, www.spicestore.hk

Localitree

You’ll find a good selection of Indian ingredients and groceries at very reasonable prices in this Kennedy Town warehouse. For easy browsing, check out the online store (which offers free delivery with a minimum spend depending on your location).

Localitree, Unit H, 22/F, Hong Kong Industrial Building, 444-452 Des Voeux Road West, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, 3611 1030, [email protected], www.localitree.com

Read more: The Best (Kid-Approved) Indian Restaurants In Hong Kong

Where To Buy Thai Ingredients

South Wall Road in Kowloon City and the surrounding streets are the centre of Hong Kong’s “Little Thailand”. For the most authentic Thai groceries and food, this is the area to head. Cheong Thai Supermarket and Ruamjai Thai Grocery come recommended, but don’t be afraid to go for a browse and see what you find.

Sassy Mama tip: For a tasty street snack grab some freshly cooked satay sticks from the little Thailand Snacks store on the corner with Nga Tsin Wai Road.

Cheong Thai Supermarket

This supermarket has been around since the 1970s and is a leading supplier of Thai groceries in Hong Kong. Many popular Thai restaurants get their supplies here. When cooking Thai, the freshness of the ingredients is integral. Cheong Thai Supermarket gets stocked with a fresh supply of goods straight from Thailand several times a week!

Cheong Thai Supermarket, G/F, 25 Kai Tak Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2382 1988

Ruamjai Thai Grocery

Again located in Kowloon City, Rumajai Thai Market is fully stocked with some of the best Thai ingredients around. Thai food is rich in taste and aroma because of the beautiful combination of ingredients such as special Thai basil, lemongrass and fiery birds-eye chillies. You will get everything here.  

Ruamjai Thai Grocery, 21 South Wall Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2718 4808, [email protected], www.facebook.com/ruamjaithaigrocery

Shing Fat Coconut And Spices

While this isn’t strictly a Thai grocery store, you will find many Thai spices and ingredients especially, as the name suggests, all things coconut! Be sure to try the homemade curry pastes and the freshly-ground powders (these include those used for Thai, Indonesian and Indian cooking and one Sassy Mama insists it has the freshest garam masala in Hong Kong!)

Shing Fat Coconut And Spices, Shop 18, G/F, 48-49 Praya, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, 2572 7725, [email protected], www.shingfatcoconutspiceslimited.com (the website is currently under construction)

Your Local Wet Market

Thai food is a favourite here in Hong Kong and where there is demand, there will be supply. This is proved by the fact that every major wet market in the city has a little Thai ingredients store. Keep a sharp eye out for these obscure, hole-in-the-wall shops and roadside stalls for they are easy to miss. We can vouch for the stall at the top of the escalator in the Smithfield Wet Market, as well as the little shop on Centre Street across from the Sai Ying Pun Wet Market.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of the ingredients used for Thai cooking can also find their home in Vietnamese cuisine. If you’re looking to make some vermicelli or spring rolls, head to the Thai stores for some key ingredients!

Read more: Frugal Foodies: How To Save Money When Feeding The Family

Korean Food In Hong Kong

For Korean delicacies, Kimberly Street in TST (not to be mistaken with Kimberley Road!) is where you should head as it’s synonymous with all things Korean. Go wild with the choices available and finish your shopping experience with a meal at one of the quaint Korean restaurants in the neighbourhood where you can feast on some authentic fresh kimchi washed down with some soju – true Korean style!

New World Mart

Located on Kimberly Street, this speciality store has been around since 1995. You will find everything here from sesame oil and soybean paste to brown rice. Even Korean cosmetics and other personals are available here. Be sure to check out the online store for the full range of products and free delivery for purchases over $500.

The Korean Food Mart, 5 Kimberly Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2369 5074, www.coreanmart.com

Korea Mart

Also located on Kimberly Street, this is another famous Korean store. Similar to the other Korean stores in the vicinity, this little supermarket has anything and everything you will need to cook up a veritable Korean feast.

Korea Mart, 2 Kimberly Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Busan Food Supplies Co.

Just around the corner from Kimberly Street, Busan Food supplies is a little higher-end and perfect if you are looking for great Korean wine to go with your fine spread. Busan Food Supplies is a big name in the Korean food and drink market and in fact, they are one of the largest distributors of Korean food and wine here in HK.

Busan Food Supplies Co., 6/F, Flat C, Hankow Building, 45 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

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Where To Find Indonesian And Filipino Products In Hong Kong

World Wide House in Central is the centre of all things Filipino in Hong Kong. Similarly, for Indonesian speciality stores, head to the East Point Center in Causeway Bay. On Sundays, both are (understandably!) packed with people picking up their favourite snacks and groceries, as well as practical items like international SIM cards and money remittance outlets.

Like Thai products, you can usually find at least one store dedicated to Filipino and Indonesian ingredients and products around any local wet market.

Indo Market

For Indonesian groceries, there’s no need to look further than the Indo Market. It’s counted as one of the largest Southeast Asian supermarket chains in Hong Kong. You will get everything here from Indonesian fried noodles and coconut milk to spices and sauces. The flagship and largest store is in Causeway Bay, but you’ll find many more branches in other parts of the city.

Indo Market, various locations, 2115 6216, www.indomarket.com.hk (the website is in Chinese so you’ll need to use Google Translate)

Quezon Pinoy Xpress Mart

With eight locations around Hong Kong (including three in Central), this is a safe bet to find Filipino speciality items. There are typical pre-packaged snack foods along with seasonal delicacies that you’re sure to enjoy.

Quezon Pinoy Xpress Mart, various locations, www.facebook.com/Quezon-Pinoy-Xpress-Mart

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Where To Buy Japanese Groceries In Hong Kong

If it is sushi and sashimi that you crave, then here in HK you will feel pretty much at home. It is easy to find the basic Japanese food essentials in your neighbourhood Wellcome or Parknshop and for a richer selection of produce, you can visit any large supermarket such as city’super or Great Food Hall.

If you are really fussy and particular about your Japanese food brands, check out the following online shopping options. These are speciality online Japanese grocery stores that deliver straight from the land of the rising sun to your doorstep.

Marche

At Marche, you will easily find your everyday Japanese groceries at the click of your mouse. All products are sourced from Japan and delivered directly to your home (with free delivery with purchases over $800).

Marche, 9075 2155, www.marche.hk

Tasting Table Japan Premium

This Japanese grocery store in Causeway Bay stocks a range of popular cooking ingredients along with ready-made snacks and meals. Stop by the store and indulge in some samples, or buy online with free delivery to most of Hong Kong with purchases over $700.

Tasting Table Japan Premium, Flat A, 1/F Cleveland Mansion, 5 & 7 Cleveland Street, Causeway Bay, 2562 2560, www.tastingtable-japanpremium.hk

Read more: Introduce Your Kids To Sushi At These Hong Kong Restaurants

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2015 and updated in August 2020 by Jess Mizzi.