They say the fastest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. True, isn’t it? It’s amazing how certain tastes can transport you to a different place and time. 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 or want to try out new cuisines.

Indian Ingredients
Thai Ingredients
Korean Ingredients
Indonesian Ingredients
Japanese Ingredients

Indian Ingredients

The Indian Provision Store, Causeway Bay
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 friendly and can help you pick the best off the rack.

Indian Provision Store, 24 Bowrington Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2891-8324

Kiran’s Provision Store, Tsim Sha Tsui
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!

Kiran’s Provision Store, Shop 52, 1/F, Mirador Mansion, 58 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2723-6781; order online at www.kiranstore.com

Maharaja Indian Emporium
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. 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

Order online from Spice Store
This is by far the most convenient option when it comes to shopping for Indian groceries. 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.

Visit them at www.spicestore.hk

Read more: The Best Indian Restaurants in Hong Kong

Thai Ingredients

If it is Thai you are looking for, head down to the Walled City in Kowloon. It is amazing to walk around here and experience a little Thailand right here in Hong Kong. You’ll find all you need to cook up your favourite Thai dishes here. Check out a few of our favourites below:

Cheong Thai Supermarket, Kowloon City
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, 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, 25-29 Kai Tak Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong, 2382 1977

Ruamjai Thai Market, Kowloon City
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 chilies. You will get everything here.  

Ruamjai Thai Market, G/F, 11-13 Tak Ku Ling Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong, 2716 4808

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.

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!

Korean Ingredients

For Korean delicacies, Kimberly Street in TST is where you should be headed. In Hong Kong, Kimberly Street is 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!

The Korean Food Mart, Kimberly Street
Located on Kimberly Street, this specialty 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.

The Korean Food Mart, 5 Kimberly Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong; shop their online store at www.korean.com.hk and enjoy free delivery for orders over $200.

The Korea Super-Market, Kimberly Street
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.

The Korea Super-Market, No. 1D Kimberly Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2555 1106 

Busan Food Supplies Co., Tsim Sha Tsui
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, 2376 0533

Indonesian Ingredients

The 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. Their flagship and largest store is in Causeway Bay, but you’ll find many more branches in other parts of the city.

Visit their website at www.indomarket.com.hk to see their entire range of products and store locations.

Japanese Ingredients

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 chain such as Fusion by Parknshop, city’super or the supermarket at Sogo mall.

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

Marche
Try www.marche.hk where 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.

Find JP Food
For finer foods check out www.finejpfood.com.hk. All their ingredients are of the best quality, wholesome and healthy. Since it is fine food you may find the prices a bit expensive, but totally worth it. Their ingredients are air-freighted direct from Japan and guarantee freshness.

Oisix
These days everyone is going organic. For the freshest and safest food from Japan visit www.hk.oisix.com. Oisix is the largest web-based food retailer in Japan and is extremely popular here in HK. Log on for some healthy and natural Japanese food choices.