Indian Grocery items in Seoul, Korea
A common query we receive from Indians moving to Korea for the first time is about the Indian Grocery items available in Korea. Specially vegetarians who have to cook their own food. Vegetables are commonly available in any Korean market or vegetable mart. But for other Indian grocery you will have to visit Foreign Mart and Marhaba in Seoul.
For online shopping you can visit – Indian Shop in Korea and Expat Mart Korea (contributed by Shyam P). They provide Home Delivery Anywhere in Korea for 3000 Won and Free delivery on orders over 80,000 Won. For more information you can call them on 010 2333 7090.
So here is the rundown of the common grocery items available. Most of them are from Indian subcontinent but some are from other Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia etc.
Foreign Food Mart Map – Click image to zoom
Most of the grocery items available here in Seoul are:
- Rice – Thai rice, Jasmine rice, Basmati rice are easily available. For daily cooking people use Thai rice.
- Wheat – Pillsburry and various branded atta is available. Some shops also provide loose atta which works out cheaper.
- Spices – Garam masala powder as well as saboot (whole) are available. Apart from that you can also get ready made spices for sambar, chhole, chat, rajma, chicken, vegetable etc.
- Daal – pulses like udad daal, masoor daal, tuver daal, moong, masoor daal, rajma, chhole channa, brown channa etc.
- Ready to cook – lot of ready to cook sabji, parathas, rotis are available. Ready made Idli mix, Dosa Mix, Gulab Jamun mix are available.
- Oil – ground nut oil, soya bean oil, olive oil, sun flower oil
- Ghee – pure from Amul and other brands.
- Snacks – from Haldiraam.
- Sweets – jalebi, gulab jamun, son papdi.
- Other times like paneer, poha, rava, maida, condensed milk, curd, ginger garlic paste, sour cream, different types of sauces, maggi, dhania, jeera, mustard seeds, haldi (turmeric powder), chilli powder, imli, kokam, grated coconut, sabudana and many other items.
The availability of all the above items are subject to change as per the items stocked in the shop.
njan
Nice info. Thanks for this useful one mate!! I am following you regularly. I am here in South Korea for the past 5 years.
Anjali
Where can I find Absmati/Thai rice in Seoul ??
Brijesh Bolar
Dear Anjali,
You can find Basmati / Thai rice and other grocery items mentioned above at the Foreign Mart in Itaewon. 5 more mins ahead of Foreign Mart close to the Itaewon Mosque is one more shop named – Marhabba. You can find it over there too..
Rajnikant Patel
I am a Hindu Gujerati from UK planning to work in Seoul from April 2011. Am looking to meet up with other Gujeratis or Indians. I am 55 years old and married, and my wife will be coming with me.
Hardik
Hello Uncle,
Are you still in Korea ? I am coming to Suwon, Korea next month. Would love to catch one day. Let me know.
Hardik
Tanuja
Please tell if all Vegetarian stuff is available in Ulsan as well. specially Atta and Rice (basmati). Thanks in advance
Vishal
Pls tell me also if u find that place as i m new to this place.
pardhu
can I get a safety engineer job in south korea?
if so which job site is most suitable for applying for engineering jobs?
Shyam
Now you can Buy Indian Groceries online in Korea. Just Visit http://www.indianshopkorea.com This should save you the hassle of going to Itaewon..
TheKoreaGuide
Thanks a lot Shyam for providing this link. I have updated the post accordingly.
AMIT KUMAR
Please let me know If such Indian Grocery items are available in SUWON City.
Please also let me know about their prices.
Thanks in advance
TheKoreaGuide
Dear Amit,
From what I know a lot of Indians either come to Seoul for grocery shopping. Or I had heard of some Indian restaurant close to Suwon station where they sell Indian grocery.
There is also some Indian Grocery store near Samsung. You need to post this query in the IIK group in yahoo or facebook.
natt
Hi is any one willing to teach me to cook some basic Indian dishes? Please contact me by email. Tality@hot mail.com
lenin
Hello
Guys there one more exciting thing happening here we have one more great online store opened here in KOREA for Indians powered by CHAKRAA GROUP the oldest Indian restaurant chain in Korea. We get almost all the Indian items at excellent prices and they have offered all your shopping at your door step…amazing
Visit http://www.expatmart.co.kr and have a great shopping experience.
SHYAM
Hi guys
goods news id real good!!!really exciting. I visited the expatmart.co.kr web site amazing they have everything as like in India. Great job by CHAKRAA group. I think they are existing in the food business in korea for the past 12 years..their web site says. Tehy have started home made rotis and parathas, I was getting sick of eating the frozen paratha and rotis most of the time it is expired product.
WOW!!! GOL GAPPAS………NO WORDS
Disha
Hi Friends,
We are planning to shift to South Korea . My husband has got a job with a shipbuilding company. We would be based in one of the places okpo/geoje island. We are pure vegetarians i am worried if we would get indian grocery items & vegetables there. Can some one please guide me.
TheKoreaGuide
Okpo/Geoje island is a foreigner dominated area.
I believe there are a few Indian restaurants at Okpo (some restaurants in Korea sell grocery, so you can check with them).
Other option (and the best) would be to order it onlines.. There are two websites from where you can order and they deliver all across Korea.
Expat Mart Korea and Indian Shop Korea.
Read this post on Grocery Shopping in Korea
Milk and vegetables are easily available at various shops and Korean Markets in Korea.
Since you are a vegetarian, I would recommend that you also read this post about vegetarians in Korea.
Anusha
Hi Disha,
Have you to Okpo?? My hubby and I will be moving to Okpo, Geoje Island in November and looking to meet indians there. How do you find the place so far?
navneet
currently i m in seoul, south korea. but, here its difficult to find vegetarian food.
amit patel
hi navneet
there are some indian restaurant is available in seoul.
DVaidya
Hi, Please let me know if thai rice is available in any department stores like emart , lotte or some other local stores ?
Deepak
Hi
As far as I know thai rice is not available in emart or lotte. But apart from foreign stores, you can find thai rice in some local stores in foreigner dominated area. Ready-to-eat Naan & Curry is often available in emart, lotte or homeplus.
Dr.Manish
Hi.I am Dr.manish kela .i am planning to come to seoul,konkuk medical center for one year fellowship.Wana know if thr r any indians?would like to b in touch …
TheKoreaGuide
There are many Indians in Korea and a huge Indian community in Korea. Search for Indians in Korea on facebook and google. Will you find a group on facebook as well as a yahoogroup.