If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Walking aisles of supermarkets can be super…read morefun. Think of all the different packaging design to devour. No, just me? Okay then. Awkward. This super chic grocer is up there for me. Head straight to the aisles of jams, chutneys, and other such condiments. Packaging branding heaven. I used to live across the road from James Street Market (and still visit frequently) and yes, it is as dangerous on your back pocket as you might imagine but let's break it down. For a slightly higher price you're selecting top quality produce, specialty cheeses, sweets and other accoutrements. You've got access to a patisserie (French Twist), a florist, a butcher, a fishery and sushi bar. The produce is always fresh and the ability to walk out empty handed? Extremely difficult. Case in point: a friend and I were recently on the hunt for salted caramel for a cheesecake. Sure, we could have made it from scratch (and normally we might have) but to put it bluntly "Ain't no body got time for that!". We'd hunted a few different specialty stores we thought would be on the money but it was James Street Markets that came through with the goods. The staff member that looked after us found it on the shelf with such air and grace. There was no trouble for her to point us in the direction of the jar that held our salted caramel dreams.

Despite its namesake, the drawing card for Fine Fruit On James is actually its cheeses. Yes, yes…read morethey also have fresh fruit and vegetables but in general, I find Brisbane has such an excellent range of fresh fruit and vegies anyway, especially if you shop for seasonal produce. You can usually pick up a few unusual mushroom types at Fine Fruit On James - enokis, King Oysters, wood-ear mushrooms but Asian supermarkets usually cover the same range. I repeat, it is their cheeses which stand out against their competitors. They have everything from camembert in the Adelaide Hills to Spanish manchengo. I became a goats' cheese convert after sampling their 'Lingot Chevre De Pelussin'. They also stock a decent range of gourmet deli products such as ice creams, pates, dips, oils, sauces and vinaigrettes. For an indulgent grocery shopping experience, Fine Fruit On James is the place to go.

This is my preferred grocer, primarily because their costs are lower than Coles or Woolworths. They…read morealso offer organic items at reasonable prices, and although it can be nervous purchasing from unfamiliar brands you can rest assure their items are quality as all items are picked and branded under Aldi. They have regular sales, and you can pickup non grocery items for good prices. This Aldi is quite, particularly in the afternoon- if you're going take a Green Bag and if you're shopping big then be sure to have the trolley when you get to checkout. It'd be great if they had self checkout.

This is a reasonably new Coles so it benefits from a modern fit-out. Very handy for local office…read moreworkers as well as residents. Has a good selection across all ranges and varieties, including bakery, deli, f&v and meat section.

Coles is handly place to shop at open .7 day and price are good u earn flybuys points there tooread more

Get Fresh Deli in Toombul shopping centre is our favourite place for tasty deli meats. They have a…read morehuge range of meats which you get sliced off and you pay by the weight. It beats anything you can get from Coles or Woolies deli! New York Rare Roast Beef is our personal favourite, and the Novegia cheese (which I think is kind of like a Jarlsberg or Gouda) is absolutely delicious! They also sell fresh made sandwiches, Mary's fresh home-made pies (and Mary actually works there, so I think they are genuinely home-made) and other warm meals like Lasagna from the hot box. They also stock a range of international grocery items, so it really is a one stop place for all your food needs. Come here instead of Coles, you won't regret it!

Located in Orion Springfield Town Centre, this modern Coles supermarket is busy but huge with a lot…read moreof open space so you don't feel like you will numb into people in aisles. There is a coffee cart near the entrance as well as fresh plants and flowers available to purchase. The fruit and vegetable selection is massive and I love the freshly made and packaged sandwiches, salads and wraps. There is a clothing section and a lot of registers (including self serve) available so I haven't had to wait in line yet. The staff are very friendly and there is competitive pricing with a Woolworths supermarket at the opposite end of the Town Centre.

Great little Japanese store in Alderley…read more There isn't a huge variety of food to buy but what is there is pretty decent. I would definitely suggest buying one of the special $2 curry paste block things. They are AMAZING! It's a shame they put an English nutrition tag over the instructions on how to use but you can peel it away. But yes best way to make incredible home made Japanese Katsu style curries! They do some great organic products and have some decent prices on Japanese frozen and chilled products (like various tofu). They intermittently have fresh vegetables but if you are a rice eater then the bulk quantity bags are definitely worth the money! The couple of staff I've seen there are fantastically friendly.

The store is small but the shelves are packed more accurately and neatly than any other specialty…read moregrocer I've walked into. It reminds me of Xu Zhen's art installation ShanghART Supermarket. And this, my friends, is a good thing. It makes everything easy to find, there's no ambiguity as to what's what and you can be in and out in a lickety-split. Due to the size of the store, their range is not as vast as your Burlington's or similar. They do focus primarily on Japanese goods and again, this is a plus. It's takes away decision overload. A great and handy spot for Northsiders!

If you are a cheapie at heart there is no better place than…read moreAldi. This is one of my FAVOURITE supermarkets of all time, cheap delicious European goods and generic brands? YES PLEASE. These guys have got your back with more products than you can poke a stick at. Anything from fresh produce, german gummy bears, french chocolates, baby goods, canned meats, tasty olives, turkish breads, mens work-boots, digital cameras and quilt cover sets. (Be sure to bring your own bags/boxes as Aldi phased out plastic bags.) Cheaper than their brand brothers at Coles and found in numerous handy locations, Aldi is your best bet for cheap and tasty groceries.

Love Aldi. Be prepared with a box (find in the shelves) at…read morethe checkout. I love that there is only two choices for most things Either a tin of crushed tomato, or, a tin of organic crushed tomato. The SPECIALS are also ver special. I have bought a Acoustic Guitar, Grinder, Freezer, Audio player, Blueray player, paint spray system, Always happy

The reason I look forward to Wednesdays and Saturdays. The new range of stuff comes out at Aldi…read more The one at Mt Ommaney is really clean, well organised and well staffed. They do what Aldi want them to do best, be courteous and efficient. Get those people through that long line of check out. Get those crates moved pronto. I love this Aldi because the staff there are friendly and whilst they don't chit chat will tell you and ask you how your day has been. They are pretty good at hunting down things for you, and let me tell you when the new stuff comes out on Wednesdays and Saturdays there is like a swamp of desperate people waiting to pick up the latest bargain. I'm one of them. You can get a Jack n Jill branded Train Table set (almost an exact replica of the Fisher Price one) made with quality wood for $60. The other brands go for over $100 easily. You can get really cool stuff for yourself, the kids, there is always something well-priced here. The Mamia branded nappies are cheaper and even better than Huggies. They don't leak through, just form a heavy gel that sits in the nappy until it sags so much you realise you have to change it. 9-14kg Toddler ones go for $13/pack... that's cheap! And when you're done crowding around the middle section where the bargains are, you can get some damn fine salmon to grill for dinner.