Grocery & Food Guide

T&T operates 30 stores across 4 provinces: ON (12), BC (11), AB (6), QC (1). Canada's largest Asian grocery chain - fresh Asian greens, noodles, tofu, seafood, and bakery in one stop. The hot food counter is great for quick meals while settling in.

Adonis is one of the most useful chains for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean groceries, especially if you need halal meats, fresh pita, bulk spices, olives, or imported dairy. Stores also have strong hot-food counters, so it can double as both a grocery run and a quick meal stop.

Oceans is known for strong seafood counters, broad produce selection, and shelves that cover Chinese, Southeast Asian, and other imported grocery staples. It is often a better choice than mainstream chains when you need specific sauces, noodles, mushrooms, or fresh herbs.

H Mart is especially useful for Korean groceries, marinated meats, banchan, frozen dumplings, and prepared foods that are hard to match at regular chains. Newcomers who cook East Asian meals at home often find the produce and freezer selection more practical than mainstream supermarkets.

Arz Fine Foods is a single-location specialty grocer in Scarborough (Toronto) that is especially helpful for halal meat, Arabic breads, cheeses, olives, and pantry staples from the Middle East. It is a better fit than a general supermarket when you need specific regional brands rather than approximate substitutes.

Nations Fresh Foods is a large multicultural market in Ontario with broad coverage across Asian, South Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American ingredients. It is particularly useful for newcomers who cook from multiple food traditions and want one large store instead of several smaller specialty stops.

Persia Foods is a BC-only Persian/Iranian specialty grocery chain in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, West Vancouver, Port Coquitlam). Best source for saffron, dried herbs (sabzi), basmati rice varieties, pomegranate paste, kashk, feta, halal meats, and fresh Persian bread. Also useful for Afghan and broader Middle Eastern communities.

Iqbal Foods is one of the largest South Asian supermarket chains in the GTA (Toronto area). Covers Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean groceries with a strong halal meat section, wide spice selection, and affordable prices on lentils, flours, and rice.

Chalo FreshCo is a FreshCo banner redesigned for South Asian shoppers in Ontario. Carries South Asian produce (karela, tindora, drumsticks, fresh methi), South Asian dairy brands, large-bag atta flour, and South Asian specialty items alongside regular FreshCo inventory. Earns Scene+ points.

Sabzi Mandi is a South Asian supermarket chain with locations in BC (Surrey, Richmond), Alberta, and Manitoba. Excellent selection of South Asian produce, dairy (paneer, yogurt, ghee), spices, and packaged goods. Competitive prices on bulk spices and rice.

Patel Brothers is an Indian grocery chain in Calgary and Edmonton with a strong selection of regional Indian products, frozen South Asian foods, fresh curry leaves, spices, and South Asian snacks and sweets.

Marche Akhavan is a large Middle Eastern and Persian supermarket in Montreal (Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood). Covers halal meats, Persian groceries (barberries, dried limes, kashk, saffron), Arabic breads, and bulk spices. A community anchor for the large Persian and Arab communities in Montreal.