Get that authentic taste of your favourite cuisine by finding the right grocery store. We’ve tracked down the specialist Thai, Indonesian and Filipino grocery stores to help you source your spices and hard-to-find ingredients.
Here we bring you a round-up of some specialist ethnic grocery stores to keep handy for when you are on the hunt for your local ingredients. Maybe you just want to try out a new cuisine or recreate your favourite restaurant meal at home.
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 to. 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.
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.
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Cheong Thai Supermarket — Fresh Thai ingredients
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
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Ruamjai Thai Grocery — Authentic Thai grocery store
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
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AbouThai — Modern Thai grocery and department store
Since stumbling upon AbouThai we’ve quickly become obsessed. Sourcing everything from snacks, staples (like noodles and fragrant rice), health food, baby products to Thai beauty and skincare, there are even imported Thai fashions and furniture!
AbouThai, various locations in Hong Kong, www.abouthai.com (the website is in Chinese so you’ll need to use Google Translate)
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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]
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Tree Thai Grocery — Wan Chai Thai grocery store
A popular spot for Wan Chai locals to call in and pick up their favourite Thai curry pastes as well as other Thai supermarket items.
Tree Thai Grocery, G/F, 3 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
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Indo Market — Indonesian supermarket
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.
Indo Market, various locations in Hong Kong, 2115 6216, www.indomarket.com.hk (the website is in Chinese so you’ll need to use Google Translate)
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Quezon Pinoy Xpress Mart — Filipino food and household products
With locations around Hong Kong (including three in Central), this is a safe bet to find Filipino food and 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 in Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/Quezon-Pinoy-Xpress-Mart
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Free Market — Filipino food wholesaler
This Filipino food wholesaler mostly caters to Hong Kong businesses. You can, however order your favourite Filipino brands and groceries from Pandamart!
Free Market, G/F, 50 Praya, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, 3162 3931, www.freemarkethk.com
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Victory Mini Mart — Filipino grocery store in World Wide House
This popular spot in World Wide House stocks everything from rice and sauces to snacks, drinks and even personal care items. Don’t want to face the Central crowds? Its products are available for delivery on Pandamart.
Victory Mini Mart, G/F, World Wide House, 19 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, 2772 2282, www.facebook.com/victoryminimart
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Your Local Wet Market – Full of local ingredients and more exotic finds from further afield
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!
Just like Thai products, you can usually find at least one store dedicated to Filipino and Indonesian ingredients and products around any local wet market.
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Editor’s Note: “Where To Find Thai, Indonesian And Filipino Food And Groceries In Hong Kong” was originally published in 2015 as part of a larger roundup and updated most recently in September 2022 by Jess Mizzi.