These niche foreign grocery stores are free from the chaos and carnage of Coles and Woolies. So now you can finally shop for your ramen without having to crash trolleys with Karen and her toilet paper haul.
With Australia’s borders closed for the first time in our history, an exotic holiday won’t be on the cards just yet. But, if you’re looking for some fun snacks that’ll remind you of the hawkers in Singapore or the funky vending machines of Japan: look no further than your local foreign grocery stores.
Wander down the colourful aisles of Best Friends Grocery, a Filipino institution tucked away in Brunswick St. Mall of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Or maybe check out Shilla Asian Foods in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, fittingly located next to the Vietnamese Consulate.
Although, these stores only represent a cross section of what can be found in your town or suburb! At any one of these international grocer’s you can lift your iso snack game to the envy of all your mates…and their boring potato chips.
Best Friends Grocery is just one example of an expat’s escape home here in Australia. One reviewer on Google notes: “it was like stepping inside my neighbour’s small shop back in the Philippines. It will make Filipinos nostalgic of their Pinoy homes…maybe even the crazy traffic in Metro Manila”.
In recent months where panic buying has been at an all time high and stores couldn’t keep stock on their shelves, independent grocery stores have taken an unexpected hit as many shoppers flock to the grocery giants of Coles and Woolies.
So if you’re looking for a frustrating walk down the scarce shelves where the pasta used to be, go right ahead, but I’m here to tell you there is a better way!
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Many of these international grocer’s are small family businesses acting as the backbone of Australia’s vibrant multicultural communities. But these independent stores are also stocked to the brim with classics you’d normally find on the menu of your favourite takeaway.
New York Times writer, and cookbook author of Indian-ish, Priya Krishna has built her career making foreign foods more approachable for white people like me, one snack hack at a time.
Krishna can be found as a regular host on Bon Appétit’s Youtube channel where she breaks down classic Indian dishes for the culinary novice.
So I encourage you to put some ghee on your popcorn for an indulgent nutty revamp, use some chana dal for a great pub mix snack or grill up some naan stuffed with paneer cheese and spices found in the freezer of any good Indian or Nepalese grocer’s. All while shopping local and supporting small immigrant businesses that you can rely on to keep things spicy.
