Asian and Arabic UK supermarkets

[RumNotRun]

I'm planning on going to some semi local foreign supermarkets soon as their fruit and veg always look amazing, and wondered what your top things are to buy in them. There's a Chinese supermarket on one side of the road and then a few Middle Eastern, Indian, and African supermarkets in the same stretch.

I want to try to go with a rough list rather than just being tempted by random things (which will almost certainly happen anyway) so any suggestions would be great.

Massive bunches of fresh coriander and parsley. Bloody love both and supermarket quantities are derisory if you like to really eat parsley like it's an actual vegetable, not just a herb for flavouring. Incredibly good for you too!

Middle Eastern:
Tahini, burghul, dried chickpeas, lentils, olives, EVOO, 7-spice mix, rosewater, molasses, tinned stuffed vineleaves, date-stuffed cookies, tinned hummus and baba ganouche for when I'm lazy...

Chinese
Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, blackbean sauce, Chinese chilli sauce, coconut cream, tofu, rice noodles, lemongrass

And on the other hand try and resist buying a box of Indian sweets. Halwa and ladoo and barfi.

Burghul with tiny pieces of dried toasted vermicelli in, absolutely lovely and very easy to cook. Brand name Aytag.
Chillies of all varieties, much cheaper than the tiny supermarket packets.

Fresh methi.

Just back from the Asian supermarket. I have methi, drumsticks, okra, five-spice, Ras-el-hanoute, garlic pickle, oyster sauce, some little white beans and blocks of coconut cream.
Write a rough list, set a generous budget and have fun.

Middle Eastern za'atar. It's really good mixed with olive oil and put on toasted pita bread served with olives, tomato and labneh.

Dates, olives, baklava, halva, labneh.

Falafel too.

Buy the random things! Explore!
If there is a butcher check them out. Always something interesting.
Agree with zaatar. Also dukkah. Fucking amazing on fried eggs

Chinese supermarkets have all the sauces etc that you might buy in Sainsbo at much cheaper prices - including Japanese, Malaysian, & some Indian.

I love dim sum, & buy a lot. They're in bigger packs at a fraction of the price.
I've bought soft-shell crabs that I've never seen for sale anywhere else.
I was not tempted by the pigs' uteri.

Every one I've been to will only accept cash.

Oooh and custard apple

Fava beans (tinned) from Middle Eastern, also jars of sun dried tomatoes and pickles
deep fried tofu from Chinese (frozen)

Do check your prices before going. 'Generally' though, Asian/India etc supermarkets are cheaper though and often have larger sizes/bottles than in regular supermarkets. It also depends what you like to cook? I always try a veg or dish I've never made before.
I agree with large bunches of coriander, lemons, limes and the various shapes of aubergines.

Sth East Asia:
Chinese five spice powder
Sesame oil
Soy and fish sauce
Noodles- egg, udon and vermicelli
Vietnamese rice paper (for making Summer rolls)
Frozen char sui pork buns (much cheaper than the itsu version)
Hoisin sauce

Asian:
Packets of the spices to make up your own garam masala at home and store in a jar
Cinnamon curls/sticks
Turmeric
Pickles and mango chutney

Middle Eastern:
Rose water
Rose petals
Harissa paste
Za'atar
Sumac

Definitely worth buying dim sum and pork buns from the Chinese supermarket

I buy the instant chai sachets, usually cardamom spiced. My Indian parents would have a fit if they found out but they are so convenient!

I go to my local international supermarket every week, I love it! I get all my halal meat, fresh herbs and spices there. I also buy garlic pickle, jars of smoked aubergine purée for making Baba ganoush, olives, slabs of tinned chickpeas, dried pulses, harissa etc etc. I also love all the random things, such a culinary expedition. Enjoy!

Different fruit molasses - the carob one is especially lovely on porridge.

Rose water, big tins of feta/white cheese, herbs and spices, stuffed vine leaves, things I've usually bought when overseas (doesn't help you though I know), random 'interesting' things, matcha, hoi sin sauce (Amoy) if I can get it, sweet chilli sauce, plantains, coconut milk/cream, endamame beans, tofu..

Just managed to find my fave cheese. Very salty. Rinse before eating with some nice ftuit or veg

Soz. Didn't attach

Some baklava and Turkish delight is always a winner in my local. So, so nice compared to normal supermarkets

Excellent idea for a thread! I’ve been craving dim sum but my steamer got lost in the move so I have to venture into the utensils aisle and then I might as well just sign over my house to the store.

now I can take heed at that actually it’s a sensible move to get better quality at better prices.

From the Chinese supermarket, we get a large container of rice wine, dim sum, dried shrimp, hoisin sauce, fish sauces, soy sauces
We have weirdly diverse international one where we get spices, chickpeas, okra, chilli peppers and baklava.

Frozen samosas, they look like little triangle pastries, just deep fry or put in the oven.

This thread is delicious

Frozen falafel! Also frozen burek or other delicious pastries. Kilo quantities of hummus. Fresh bread with sesame seeds. Stuffed vinegar leaves. Big packets of Lebanese Flatbread to keep in the freezer. Big packs of pulses, nuts and herbs. Pomegranate molasses.