(April 17, 2011: Here is an updated post on Chinese Grocery Stores here)
Although I’m quite keen on learning how to cook Indian and Middle Eastern food while here in Dubai due to the wide-spread availability of key ingredients and spices, I still crave some of my mom’s Chinese and Vietnamese homecooking as well as other Asian foods that I am used to eating in New York.
Since my mom’s not here with me and Dubai isn’t New York, it’s up to me to re-create my mom’s most scrumptious recipes as well as those dishes that I can’t get in Dubai’s restaurants.
Thus my foray a couple months ago to Karama which is about a 20 minute drive North from my apartment (on a good day). I had heard that in Karama there is a Korean supermarket and that it was “behind the post office,” and that there is a Thai grocery “next to Venus restaurant.” Yes, all great and wonderfully precise directions…uh, NOT. Again, I lament on the lack of a real postal system here!
Anyway, I did drive around in circles…not just on one occasion but maybe two or three separate ones. Eventually, through the help of google and a few phone calls, I found both markets as well as the Chinese groceries in Deira (photo above) and even another Thai (possibly Singaporean) grocery in the Karama fish market.
To help future shoppers out, I have pinned the locations to these markets on a google map. Please click here for the map and if you know of any other places where one can get Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai products, please let me know!
PS – Still no luck in the search for bubble tea even after wandering all around Al Attar center in Karama.
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Hi Sue,
You can buy gyoza wrappers in our store 1004 Mart.
We are located close to Mall of Emirates in Al Barsha 1.
Please e-mail us at dxbcshin@gmail.com and I will send you a map.
Thanks.
please can any body tell where i can get daun pandan plant? tanks
plase answer urgently
I was able to buy pandan leaves in Choithram.
niall thnx so how much does shin ramyun cost in dubai??
hi nerissa
in which choitram in dubai?
does somebody knows where i could buy this thai sweet chili paste? for tom yum soup..
hi mum, i was able to get it in choithram in al wasl.
Hi,
I am looking for a Thai Supermarket to buy baby eggplant, thai peas and lime leaves to make thai chicken curry. Where can I find a thai supermarket?
hi sonia, on this blog post that you commented on there is a link to a google map with all the Asian groceries including a few Thai ones in Karama.
Hi everyone does any of you know if these supermarkets carry culantro or thai parsely. Not cilantro but culantro.
Thanks.
Does any one know the location of a Korean supermaket in Abu Dhabi ,( it called hanareum supermarket), I heard it is in Musaffah but Im not sure about it ,, please ??? I want to know
Not mussafa dear, Defence Road Just pass by the bus station then first street on the right it's in that area near the Kalispera cafe u will see a korean grocery & restaurant
hey every one,
in grand hyatt hotel DUBAI at WOX restraurent . They have vietnamese beef noodles.. 35dhs a bowl and super yummy. Can check it out…
maryam there is smal lkorean store in musaffah behind Safeer shopping center. if you are Korean contact me at this email address or post again, Grace
Hi,
I want to know where is the Korean Super Market in Dubai for my Korean friend living in UAE.
I am interested to learn Korean language. I am living in Discovery Garden.
Regards
Thanks you so much grace , I will go and find it out ,, if I didnt I will contact you ,, but your email is not shown ,,
Grace, could you give me directions to the Safeer shopping center from abu dhabi, as well as the name of the korean store. BTW, I am korean.
Nellie,
Here is the direction to Korean store behind safer center(mall) in musaffash. It is near the cambrige high school. The store name is k-mart and phone number is 02-553-4842 or mobile 050-6818 698.
I've been trying to find fish sauce and banh pho in Oman, but no luck yet! Does anybody know where I can get some fish sauce and banh pho in Dubai?
Thanks a bunch
Banh pho is hidden on the bottom shelf of carfour in qurum city center. Unless it got shifted, it should be behind the Japanese isle. There's also a very tiny Chinese grocery in ruwi at times can find banh pho. Ruwi store is harder to explain. I can show you one day. Good luck.
MLR,
Is it dry banh pho or fresh banh pho? OMG, I'm so excited. I've just got here for a couple of months, I'm still trying to find my ways around town. I know the airport side of town pretty good, I haven't had the courage to explore Ruwi or Muttrah yet. I'm going to the Carefour in the City Center to see if they have banh pho.
Thanks a bunch MLR!
Thanks MLR, I am currently having some issues with my visa, I can't drive for now. When the visa issues have been resolved, I will message you.
hi
i m health cook expert
looking for panadn leaf and mung bean starch (green bean starch) to make some asian dishs for my family (i love them 1st time tast them in my malysian friends party)
can i find any in diso
and (i am arab mom)
hi there
there is a new asian supermarket (Wow Pinoy) in Al Nahda 1 – Amman street
- Dera – Dubai near to Sahara Center area
they have dried mushrooms – fresh panadn leaf and extract and too many things
hope that help the others
Thanks for the great map of asian grocery stores: wish we had found it three years ago. not sure if you ever ever found Kim's in the Lamcy area. Sadly, it seems that Kim's closed about two years ago. there is still a sign up, but it seems to serve more as a warehouse for Pakistani foodstuffs and is not open to the public. At the same time, on the other side of the block, Dean's Fujiya has a good variety of japanese foods, cookware and other restaurant/kitchen supplies. we were sorry to see kim's leave our neighborhood, but to be honest, it was never close to what can be found in Korean stores like that above Safestway and Hararum.
Hi ~ I am looking for garlic chives urgently and can only seem to find spring onions and leeks in Lulu / Choithram etc. I have not been able to get to Satwa or Deira. Is there anywhere Jumeirah side that might sell them?
thanks
hey im looking for gochujang… any ideas ?? =) Much appreciated !! Have a hankering to make korean fried chicken !
You can buy gochujang from Korean store. The Korean store in Abu Dhabi name is K-Mart. Here is there phone # 02-553-4842.
Hey everybody
1004 Mart is a Korean / Japanese supermarket in Al Barsha.
We specialize in Asian food, fruits & vegetables and if we don't have it, we will try our best to bring it in!
It is located in Al Barsha 1, in Coral Al Khoory Hotel Apts.
We are less than 4 minutes from the Sharaf DG Metro Stn by foot!
Please call us @ 04-3234536 or check out our website:
http://www.my1004mart.com
Thanks guys and hope to see you soon!
Hi Everybody,
Does anyone know where i can find OH! Ricey Beef Pho noodles or Koka Beef Pho noodle packs, I used to be able to get them in Baku, AZ and found them only once here in Dubai and never again. with a few additional items and some good beef i can usually turn it into something tasty till a better solution for my Pho addiction comes along. Also if any of the local Asian markets still keeping an eye on this forum is willing to import these i would be willing to purchase 100 packs or so if the price is right.
Thanks
PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND CULANTRO ALSO KNOWN AS NGO GAI IN VIETNAMESE ALSO KNOWN AS THAI PARSLEY!!!! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME FIND THIS HERB IT IS LONG AND THE LEAFS ARE A LITTLE JAGGED.
THANKS
Hi Jade – You can find culantro at the Sunflower Thai supermarket in Karama. They have always stocked it each time I have been there.
Just go to the blog post and click on the link for the google map.
PS – the culantro is labeled as "Stinking Parsley" – just ask the shop associate for it and s/he will help you.
For Got Pho?
Fish sauce is available at Lulu or Carrefour in Oman…but they don't always have it in stock and it is not always in the section near the sauces…sometimes it is in the Specialtie food aisle near the vegetable stalls (Lulu Bausher). Look for the made in Thailand brands rather than the Phillipine ones as it is more like the Vietnamese flavours. Banh Pho is harder to find, you will sometimes find Chinese rice noodles but perhaps you have to substitute.
Hi! Where can I buy TIKOY in Dubai? Thanks…
Thanks Min. I've found fish sauce but I couldn't find any fish sauce made in Thailand YET! I'm glad I've found pad thai noodle at Al Fair in Azaiba, but it is not the same as banh pho.
Min, do you live in Muscat?
Bought a bottle of Thai fish sauce from Sultan center in qurum: Oyster brand. All the best.
MLR,
I've found the Oyster brand Thai fish sauce at LuLu too. I have to agree with you, it's the best fish sauce. I think I bought 10 bottles
, I've learned my lesson being oversea, that is "buy them and buy them in builk". By the way, if you're looking for wonton wrappers, LuLu has them too 
.
G'day
Read all the posts here, my question to Ginger..is … do yoy if the Thai or Asian supermarkets you have pointed out have an extensive range of Thai Curry Pastes and Herbs ( Kafir Lime Leaves, Lemon Grass and Chili Jam ). I will be stopping in Dubai for few days on my way to the Lebanon from Australia. Do you recommend I stock up from here or Dubai. Not sure if they have that stuff in Lebanon !!!!!!
Hi Roy,
Most of the regular markets sell the ingredients you listed (Thai curry pastes, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, chile sauces) – such as Spinneys, Carrefour, Geant, Choithrams – so no need to go to a specialty market.
I have never been to Lebanon but from what I hear about Beirut it is quite a culinary mecca in its own right so I don't think you will have a problem with finding Thai ingredients. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
Does anyone know about Korean grocery delivery to Oman from Dubai?
Any grocery/ supermarket selling items from Hong Kong??? i am craving for those snacks/chips/ instant noddles!!!!!
I wanna know if any korean foodstuffs are available in oman. If yes, where and what is the price, Thanks
Does anyone knows where i can buy some Nissin cupnoodles seafood flavor (original Japanese cupnoodles here in dubai?
do any of you guys know where i could buy me some valrhona cocoa powder in dubai? I dont mind buying in bulk either !
Much appreciated !
Hey Ginger! I heard that bubble tea at SinoChai is really good though we haven't tried it the last time we ate there.
abigail recently posted..Searching for Pandan
Yes! I have been and had both the hot and the cold version – very very good bubble tea! I keep meaning to post pictures.
Bubble tea makes me think of you now. hehehe
I have to go back and try it myself.
abigail recently posted..Searching for Pandan
Always looking for good Oriental grocery stores in Dubai, here is my latest find, think your readers will like it, thanks Monica http://www.doindubai.com
http://doindubai.com/2011/09/26/oriental-supermar…
Hi guys, fantastic website. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any luck with buying 'Wonton Wraps'? Any good recipes for a Wonton Noodle Soup, please email me directly. Thanks!
Please can i get any information or where i can get the cooking chopsticks bamboo hand and stainless steel from the middle till the bottom
if you're looking for bubble tea, Quickly UAE has just been launched here in UAE few months ago. they have store in International City and Sharjah Airport.
Hello mum, how are you ???
please can you send me a map about the store that i can buy from it cooking chopsticks or if anyone can help me to find the place in dubai to get them please i am waiting for a reply
Ralph recently posted..Trick or Treat!
@ice could you provide details regarding quickly in dubai? Thanks
Hello,
Wondering if anyone knows of a particular grocery that sells wheat starch to make har gao dumpling skins?
Also does anyone know where to buy the yellow sui mai dumpling wrappers (I only found regular gyoza/momo wrappers).
TIA.
- Nami
Hi Nami,
I think your best luck for the wheat starch will be either Al Maya supermarkets or the Chinese grocery stores in International City.
As for the siu mai dumpling wrappers, I use the wonton wrappers that can often be found in Carrefour (in the aisle where they place the bean sprouts and tofu). I almost always go to the one in Mall of the Emirates so don't know if the other Carrefours stocks it.
Hope this helps.
hi..i'm craving for Tikoy,can anyone tell me where can i find it here in Dubai?
i tried looking in Satwa and Karma(but not that much) and find nothing?anyone??
thanks for helping me in advance..:D
Happy Chinese New Year!
Hi RiAn – I've checked with a few Filipino friends in Dubai but none have seen Tikoy here. Sorry. But do let me know if you ever find any – good luck!
Hello!
I wanted to know if anyone knows any shops here in Sharjah or Ajman that sell wonton wrappers? I have craving this afghan dish that is easily made from them… hope someone can help me asap
thanks…
Hey guys,
Does anyone know where you can get shirataki noodles in Dubai?
I would like to know if there is any store selling korean products in OMAN?
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