Grocery delivery and pick-up has been a major help these days ever since COVID-19 became a reality. However, if you’re in search of your fave Asian grocery store essentials like Pocky sticks, noodles, sauces, and more, then there’s a new app that you should check out.
GOcery can be downloaded on the iTunes and Google Play store and there are thousands of items available to order from partners like H Mart, Lucky Moose Food Mart, Pacific Fresh Food Mart, and more.
If the app doesn’t service your area, don’t fret because GOcery is continuing to expand its delivery zone, plus you can sign up to get updates.
The app is super easy to use — all you have to do is sign up and browse all of the products available for delivery, then just choose a delivery time and payment method.
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One of the best things about living in a metropolitan area like the GTA? The wealth of international foods and cultures that you can explore. International and Asian grocery stores are the unsung cultural heroes of city living. More often than not, they feature a wealth of spices, sauces, and snacks that you would be hard-pressed to find at your local Loblaws or CityMarket.
Whether you’re looking to get more into cooking this year, or you want to shake up your routine, here are 10 of the best Asian grocery stores to shop in the GTA.
T&T Supermarket
Canada’s biggest Asian grocery retailer and a veritable juggernaut when it comes to Asian grocery stores is T&T and this store has it all. From a bakery and hot foods, to fresh meat, seafood, household goods, and even hard-to-come-by Japanese and Korean skincare products, the store has been a one-stop shop for Asian Canadians. Since being acquired by Loblaws in 2009, the retailer since expanded its offerings to be more accessible to non-Chinese speakers interested in Asian goods.
Sanko Trading Co.
Open since 1968, Sanko is an iconic Japanese store in Toronto with its wide range of imported items. Not only limited to goods of the edible variety, however, the store also carries crockery and knives — both of which the Japanese are known for. Shelves and racks are crowded with Japanese snacks, ceramics, varieties of matcha green tea, miso, and more, and the staff are friendly and more than willing to help you hunt down whichever spice or sauce you need for the perfect Japanese culinary experience.
Heisei Mart
The perfect place to go if you’re hoping to get your Japan fix. Located in Markham’s J-town, Heisei Mart stocks a huge range of dry goods, snacks, sauces, mixes — you name it. Come here to stock up on dry ramen noodles, Pocky, ramune sodas or the kind of canned coffee you’d find in a Tokyo vending machine or convenience store! The store is also accompanied by cafeteria-style eatery Cafe Green Tea and pastry bakery Nakamura.
Galleria Supermarket
Not to be confused with the mall, this Korean grocery store chain has four more locations in the GTA. Special offerings include fresh rice cakes and kimchi (which often go on sale) and a wide range of Korean goods which you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Recreate your favourite Korean dishes—DIY K-BBQ at home, anyone?—from the comfort of your own kitchen with imported ingredients straight from the source.
H Mart
An easy hangout spot for students (it is right across from Ryerson, after all) — H Mart is a compact grocery store, not unlike a New York bodega with a compact produce section with a wealth of snacks and quick takeout meals to choose from. We recommend trying the oden from the food-stand in the front — a skewer of chewy fish cakes with a cup of hot broth is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter’s day. The store’s Korean fried chicken and chicken katsu is also excellent! In case you can’t make it downtown, H Mart has 6 more locations to visit all within the GTA.
Seafood City
This Pinoy supermarket is located in Mississauga, but don’t let that deter you. Seafood City is a haven of Filipino foods, from lechon and sisig, to chicken adobo. Featuring produce, seafood, and a food court, this grocery store is the perfect stop for a day’s outing. Plus, the store is located right next door to Jollibee, the super popular and delicious Filipino fast food chain!
Trupti
Offering manufactured spice blends, stone ground flour, as well as snacks and roasted nuts, Trupti has earned a reputation as the city’s most intriguing spice shop. While the store isn’t exactly known for its Asian offerings, the smells wafting out of this Indian spice shop are as tempting as they are intriguing. Depending on when you arrive, you’ll understand — especially if it’s right when the owners have just roasted a fresh batch of coriander seeds, or prepared a fragrant batch of cumin.
Iqbal Halal Foods
Located in the same plaza as Trupti, Iqbal’s sign proclaims a “wide variety of Asian groceries.” The store has been serving the Pakistani and Indian communities for over 20 years and are known for quality and convenience. Stop in for a wide selection of Halal meats, dry foods, pantry staples, snacks, bulk goods, and of course, fresh produce.
Nations Fresh Food
Head over to Nations Fresh Food for a grocery shopping experience unlike any other. Nations offers not only ready made Asian and Western foods, but also an impressive selection of fresh produce, snacks, bubble tea, sushi, K-beauty, and much more all under one roof.
PAT Central
Situated right on Bloor West is PAT Central and it’s known for being a Korean grocery store that also carries Chinese and Japanese items. The shelves are filled with delectable treats, fresh produce, and affordable meats and folks say that it’s the spot to visit for that those hard-to-find Asian ingredients. In the mood for a snack? Don’t miss out on the Bungeoppang which is delicious fish shaped pastry that’s stuffed with your choice of red bean paste, custard, and black sesame.
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Time to say goodbye. It’s been announced today that T&T Supermarket is closing its only location in downtown Toronto.
The grocer will be vacating its current location that’s situated in the Portlands neighbourhood at 222 Cherry Street by January 30, 2020.
“Despite the upcoming closure, we are happy we can serve our downtown Toronto customers through one last Chinese New Year, which falls on January 25th this year,” said Samuel Lee, Store Manager, in a release. “We are committed to providing the same level service and quality products our customers have come to expect from T&T until our last day so our customers can celebrate Chinese New Year 2020 with all their favourite Asian foods.”
While this news is devastating for T&T’s downtown fans, at least the chain isn’t going under.
The B.C-based grocery store still has seven locations in the GTA that folks can visit to grab all of their Asian grocery essentials.
“I want to sincerely thank our Cherry Street customers and colleagues for their loyal patronage and support over the past 12 years,” said T&T Supermarkets CEO Tina Lee in a release announcing the news on Tuesday. “We are truly saddened to leave this location, but are committed to serving our downtown customers despite the closure.”
BlogTO reports that T&T plans to still serve its downtown customer base by launching an online shopping platform
This online shopping experience is expected to launch in January, so it’s not live on its site just yet but stay tuned.
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The popular and authentic Asian food and beauty retailer, T&T, is opened its eighth store in the GTA yesterday in Aurora, one hour north of Toronto.
The 30,000 square ft. store, located at the corner of Bayview and St. John’s in Aurora, is having deals on everything from produce to household appliances. Pay only $1.99 for a bag of avocados, and $100 for a high-tech rice cooker. As with their other stores, they will feature more than 30 kinds of produce, numerous fish tanks, a self-serve hot table for take-out, and hundreds of other products.
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According to CEO Tina Lee, she’s been getting direct emails from residents desperate to open up a store in the area. She expects the new T&T to attract both Chinese Canadians in the area as well as all Asian food lovers.
T&T now has 25 locations across Canada, with most in BC, though its popularity is strongly increasing in Ontario. The supermarket chain will additionally be opening another new store in the Kitchener/Waterloo area.
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Source: Narcity.com