Sydney has a decently large Korean population - but less in CBD and more in strathfield - so you…read morewon't get any huge Korean groceries here. But there are still quite a few, and many of them are similar and a little overpriced, but not this one! This one has honest prices, great frozen meat, and some seasonal side dishes in takeaway containers! It also somewhat sometimes seems like a garage sale vibe with their nonfood items, since it is a random bunch, but it feels down to earth and homey, and yet not dirty or cheap. They took cash only during the months I lived in Sydney (~mid 2020)

One of Koreatown's hidden secrets, hidden down a dark, dingy alleyway (called Central Street, it…read moreruns between Pitt and George Streets in Koreatown), is this little Korean grocery store. It's small, it's cramped and it's cluttered, but it sells containers of bulgolgi, kimchi, Korean instant noodles, Korean soft drinks, Korean ice creams and other Korean items at some of the lowest prices in the area. Can't complain at that! While it's a secret to most in Sydney, it's no secret to the Korean immigrants living in nearby apartments, there's usually a number of them in the store stocking up on goodies from home.

Ok so this store is probably a-dime-a-dozen in Chatswood or Cabramatta, but I probably wouldn't…read moredrive that far to stock up on frozen prata and tinned bean shoots, but they are cupboard (or fridge) staples in our house and I'm glad to have this Asian version of a corner store a bit closer to home. Think I'd pass on the fresh vegetable section, which sits out on Military Road and looks like it has worn the exhaust fumes just a little too long, but inside it's like being back in Chinatown ... a wealth of Asian ingredients and flavours that you can't find in Coles. I'm not a fan of Asian sweets, but there are plenty of those on the checkout counter, and some of those odd sweet/savoury mixes that seem to be so popular there. Plus rice in large quantities and a choice of ice cream flavours from durian to red bean.

This was one of those gems I found using Yelp. Let me set the scene for you: I'm in Woolies…read morefrantically looking for vegan oyster sauce, mirin and these salty PKU,s I don't remember the name of. Do you think I can find any of the above ingredients? No! So I open Yelp, I type 'Asian grocer' and this place is only 200m away. So I hop skip it out of Woolies and end up here, Passing the "fresh" selection of veggies out the front, I made my way in and as a very white male, had no idea where to start. My deer-in-headlights look must've been obvious because the shop keeper came out from behind the counter and asked if he cold help. I rattled off my list of ingredients while he scoured the store and came back with everything I needed - some with multiple options! I also walked out with a solid collection of tea, enough rice to feed a small nation and some vegan ice cream. Since then, I've been back a number of times and always have a brilliant experience.

Compromising almost 27 percent of the Australian grocery market, Coles Supermarket has 252 stores…read morein the New South Wales area, where 2/3 of the population resides in the greater Sydney area. This instance is located in the Broadway Sydney shopping mall, and provides all the necessary produce and food items. It's always fun to wander around and look at items that might not exist in the states, but also admit that there are international items that you would not find in a standard US grocery store, but here would exist because of the large Far East Asian population. Some examples were Buldak hot chicken flavor ramen, salmanco frozen desserts. Also found frozen pelmeni (Russian dumplings), Went to the pet supply area, and saw a variety of dog treats, including one probably found only in Australia: Kangaroo tail disks. Supposedly, they are sourced from wild kangaroos that are culled to maintain their population.

This is definitely one of the better Coles around Sydney. Fruits and vegetables are definitely more…read morefresh than some other Coles. This store is also being featured on Channel 7's My Kitchen Rules a few times. I usually shop at this Coles during late hours since it closes at midnight. The disadvantage of shopping late is that many staffs are replenishing shelves. Which means it could be a bit difficult to get around. And some items might be sold out. Shop assistants are generally very helpful.

Don't be put off by the exterior, Tan Hong Phat Asian Groceries is packed full of interesting…read morethings to stock your pantry with and shove down your gullet on the way home. If there's an unusual ingredient you need for an Asian recipe, chances are you'll fine it here. From curry powder to tinned jelly to plates to shoes to unusual lollies, you'll have fun browsing the random goods on the shelves. Of course, there's also all the usuals like rice, coconut milk, bamboo shoots and fresh fruit and vegies. There's also a really good selection of refrigerated rice noodles and rice paper sheets of all sizes.

Very helpful. I was looking for pandan paste to make waffles and called to check if the shop…read morestocked it. The shop assistant explained how to use fresh pandan.

Service is slow here,slow to be seated,slow for the good to come out…read more Food wise I found it nothing special. I do like the ambience here and how they converted the old theatre to what it is now. There is also a grocery section here I doubt I will be back

Majestic received a lot of hype when it first opened. The media touted it as a specialty food…read morestore with cafe converted from a historic cinema and photos of its entrance looked grand. Upon seeing the real thing, the floorspace is quite small, perhaps the size of a small cinema room. Imagine a cinema room with all its seats taken out and the surface turned flat. There weren't as many products as I had hoped for but I'm sure the residents of Petersham will be pleased they have a local specialty store close by. The cafe section was also small and is between the cold cuts and the dry goods - ambience suited to those who enjoy the space between the deli section and the aisles at supermarkets.

By the Knights of Columbus these Asian grocers are intimidating for noobs. Lucky I haven't been a…read morenoob for a good half-decade, then. I still get that schoolboy tingle - the one in the spine, you sickos - when I wander the aisles stuffed with colourful mysteries, wall to wall interestings and colourful sometings. Freezers full of exotic dumplings. Shelves and shelves of sauces I don't have names for. I love experimenting here: every time I walk in I buy 3 items that confuse and astound me. Yes, it can be hit and miss, but the hits when I stumble upon them far outweight the misses. Some discoveries so far: some sort of thick green tea cake, an epic aloe vero drink (with chunks), and a packet of something I'm going to go ahead and call wasabi crackle. So. Much. Fun.

No doubt you've often wondered what a takoyaki plate is. I myself discovered the answer to this…read morecommon query when working at a catering company and my head chef requested I hunt one down. Turns out it's an unusual panhandled griddle fitted with twelve semi-circular recesses in which to cook off, specifically, little balls of batter laden with chunks of octopus meat. It also turns out Tokyo Mart is the only place the sells them retail in Sydney. In the heart of the Anglo-Saxon dense lower North Shore, this specialty grocer is like stepping straight into a Japanese supermarket. Stocked with all manner of imported goods, you'd be hard pressed not to find exactly what your authentic recipe demands - there's everything from "saisho" sauce (a condiment especially for roasted eel) to various flavours of instant miso paste, frozen crab croquettes, dried salted sardines, cooked sweet chestnuts in a jar, and pre-sliced seaweed strips for soups and salads. On the left hand side of the store, they also have a range of cheap Japanese porcelain available - including soy sauce containers and tea pots - as well as ingredients for Thai and Vietnamese cooking, like dried shrimps and rice paper sheets.

Bondi Wholefoods has tapped into the market well, it has a courtyard with tables and toys for kids,…read moregreat coffee and reasonably priced sandwiches etc. Make sure you Like them on Facebook first for a discount off your coffee!

Bondi Wholefoods is one of my top places to brunch at while in Sydney - and this girls loves to…read morebrunch. I always always always get their brownie from the to-go section. It's vegan, gluten free and pretty much made of goodness. I'm such a fan. Anyway, I ordered the avo toast with salmon and button mushrooms with a house-made booch which came topped with fresh fruit. Their food is always killer and today did not disappoint. My friend always gets the eggs with bacon on toast and she was in good heaven following her meal. It's ALWAYS packed here so be prepared to stand in line. I will say though that the staff here is always on top of their stuff and are willing to work with you to create modifications. There's two locations of Bondi Wholefoods, one in Surry and one in Bondi. The Surry Hills one is the second location and I much rather go to Bondi Wholefoods in Bondi, lol. If you're in the Bondi area and don't want to eat like a tourist, check this place out. My rule of thumb is usually the more people there means better word of mouth and better food. Be prepared for some beautiful brunch!

Although I almost habitually manage to get to Norton Street Grocer as it's closing, the days when I…read moremanage to get there on time mean that for a week (or at least a couple of days) I'll be eating like a king. Nortons has a great selection of olives (my picks: the manchego stuffed, anchovy stuffed, Sicilian and chilli stuffed) and cheeses, plus I'm sure they've got a good range of deli meats as well - I should say that as a non-meateater I didn't really pay this much attention. Aside from the antipasto ingredients, Nortons has fantastic selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, which is fantastic when the Coles upstairs disappoints. Not only is everything stacked and presented immaculately, but the grocers are more than willing to help you choose the right produce, selecting the one that's just ripe enough for whenever you may need it. They have a great selection of fresh and dry pastas, passatas and various other Italian ingredients, and come Christmas and Easter times their shelves are loaded with dozens of panettone varieties - my boyfriend's Italian mum (not a Sydney-sider) has us source on from Nortons every holidays. Given all it's good points, and the fact that Norton Street Grocer is open 'til 7pm almost every night, I have no excuse for missing it. Perhaps its just to ensure I don't eat that well all the time.

The fresh produce here is so fresh! They also stock some of the more exotic fruits like Tamarillo…read moreand achacha. They also had mirabelle plums which you don't see often. Slightly more expensive but the fruit lasts longer due to freshness.