The Ultimate Guide to Asian Grocery Shopping in Chinatown
From specialist ingredients and regional delicacies to trending snacks and everyday essentials, discover the best Asian supermarkets and grocery stores in Chinatown London.
There's a whole world of flavour waiting beyond Chinatown London's restaurant menus. Step inside the neighbourhood's Asian supermarkets and you'll discover shelves stacked with ingredients, products and culinary traditions from across East and Southeast Asia. Think freshly made noodles, fragrant spices, vibrant produce, hard-to-find condiments and snacks you never knew you needed.
For generations, Chinatown's grocery stores have played an important role in London's food culture, connecting communities with familiar flavours while introducing curious cooks to new ingredients and regional specialities. Today, these stores are as much about discovery as they are about everyday shopping, bringing together traditional pantry essentials and the latest food trends from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and beyond.
THE BEST CHINATOWN SUPERMARKETS
LO'S NOODLE FACTORY - 6 DANSEY PLACE
Hidden along a narrow alley, Lo’s Noodle Factory is the real deal when it comes to lovingly-crafted authentic Chinese fare. The owner Wai’s great uncle (then a restaurateur) opened Lo’s in 1978, essentially to out-do his own noodle supplier who was charging him too much. The rest is history and now Lo’s supply their Ho Fun and Cheung Fun Noodles to 95% of Chinatown’s restaurants, and even some of London’s Michelin-starred restaurants. The public can come and purchase amazing value, smaller quantities of these noodles, plus dim sum, and baked goods.
OSEYO - CHARING CROSS ROAD
Oseyo really brings Seoul to London, giving the city more than just Korean culinary essentials. Alongside kimchee, tteokbokki, and soju, you’ll find talking rice cookers, K-pop merchandise, stationery, accessories and K-beauty products. There are multiple branches of Oseyo in the capital, but this Charing Cross Road outpost is a local favourite as it’s perched alongside other Korean specialist stores, reminiscent of a mini-Seoul alley. Plus, their grab-and-go buns, with pork, red bean or vegetarian fillings, are addictively good.
LOON FUNG - GERRARD STREET
The first of five Loon Fung’s in London, this Chinatown supermarket has been serving London’s Chinese community since 1965. Stock is imported from across the ESEA, including Hong Kong, the Philippines,Vietnam and Japan, and seriously, you’ll find everything along their aisles, from fresh fish to snack packs. Think of it as your local Asian Sainsburys!
SEEWOO - LISLE STREET
The founder of SeeWoo Supermarket, Stanley Tse, opened SeeWoo in 1975 with his two brothers. They were instrumental in shaping the West End into the vibrant cultural hub it is today, bringing Chinese ingredients to restaurants and home tables. Fact: SeeWoo was the first retailer to import the pak choi into the UK. Today, you’ll still find pak choi and much more, including fresh, frozen, and traditional seasonal goods.
C&R DELI - RUPERT COURT
After relocating to London from Penang in the 1980s, owner Rosa was homesick and struggled to find authentic Malaysian cuisine. With her husband, she set up C&R Café in 1998, and it’s since become an alleyway legend. If you want amazing Malaysian food for a great price, this is where to go. Right across from the restaurant, its sister market store has all the ingredients to recreate Rosa’s authentic dishes at home, plus snacks, beverages, and even medicine…so you never feel too far from Penang.
