Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Japanese Grocery Shopping In Brisbane

When you want to make Japanese food and you don't live in Japan, getting the right ingredients can sometimes become an obstacle.  Japanese Ingredients will generally cost more than in Japan, and some ingredients just can't be found in some areas.  So to help everyone's Japanese Cooking around the world, I think it would be great if we could put together an information page listing the best places to shop in each city.  If you have favorite places to shop for Japanese Ingredients, I would love to hear about it!  I'll share the information with everyone in a future post.  
Please email your contribution using this link: Email LittleJapanMama or in a comment to this post.



I live in Brisbane, Australia, and if you live nearby, here are the best and cheapest places I like  to shop for Japanese Ingredients:  (BTW no-one is sponsoring me to share this!)
  • Yuen's: I buy most things (especially Sauces, Dashi, cheap Mirin and Sake, Nori, Hakusai and other vegetables) at Yuen's Asian Supermarket (Market Square, Sunnybank and Chinatown Fortitude Valley)  which I find cheaper than most other Asian grocery stores anywhere else in Brisbane.
  • Fantastic Foods: (Sunny Park, Sunnybank)  A few things I like to get at Fantastic Foods in Sunny Park (Next to Aldi Sunnybank) which has $3/300g bunch fresh Enoki mushrooms, $4/500g bag Chikuwa, and a discount card if you ask for it...  And the best quality Daikon (giant long white radish) I've seen locally.
  • Hanaro Mart Butcher: (Times Square, Sunnybank) Thinly Siced Beef I buy inside the Korean Grocery Store in Town Square (Outside Sunnybank Plaza), $10/kg (This is VERY cheap for Australia!) or $13/kg for even thinner lean and tender shabu-shabu beef. Hanaro Mart is a Korean Grocery store which has a separate Butcher inside.  (Sometimes I buy the chinese hot pot style rolled beef (as you see in the photo above) in Fantastic Foods, $4/300g.)
  • High Fresh: (Market Square, Sunnybank) If you're after Shungiku (Spring Chrisanthemum leaves) for your Sukiyaki, High Fresh (around the back of Market Square) is your best bet, $1.30 for a huge bunch, but only in Spring.  (I sometimes saw it at Yuen's in the Valley, but not anywhere else)
Below are some examples of my favorite Japanese grocery shopping in Brisbane:
Beef Tongue and Heart from Woolworths (after I've prepared them)
Hakusai, Bok Choi, Enoki Mushrooms and Atsuage deep-fried Tofu from Fantastic Foods
$13/kg "Shabu-shabu" beef at Hanaro Mart
$10/kg "Bulgogi" beef at Hanaro Mart

87 comments:

  1. Hi Jane, I live in Brisbane too and love Jap cooking. May I ask you, is Mirin similar to the Sake sold in Yuen? I tried looking for 'Sake' but all I got from a green bottle cooking wine... is it the right sake?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Doris☆ Mirin is sweet rice wine, and Sake is rice wine. The Japanese-made Sake usually has a green label and the Mirin has a red label. In Yuen's Japanese food aisle, there are the Japanese Mirin and Sake, and also the cheaper Mirin and Sake, (made in Taiwan, I think) in large 750ml bottles for around $4. They're not too bad, and we used those as we went through quite a lot. As Mirin is actually quite sweet, sake can't be used as a substitue. In fact, sugar (1/3 of the volume of mirin) is a better substitute for mirin. Make sure you're looking in the Japanese food section, where you'll see Tonkatsu Sauce, Japanese Mayonnaise etc. I hope you have better luck finding them next time!

      Delete
    2. Sake from the bottle shop, not from the supermarket. It is a very drinkable Japanese rice wine. Dan Murphys has a small selection, the cheapest for cooking, and the more expensive in the fridge to drink with your meal.

      Japanese heaven.

      Mirin, a sweet cooking 'wine' from the supermarket. Don't drink that, just cook with it.

      Delete
  2. I dont live with my mummy anymore (she is japanese) and I miss all her beautiful traditional food, now I am much happier that I can cook them in my house too!! :')

    Very happy to have found your blog. I agree with your comments about other recipes, they are missing key ingredients or are just NOT Japanese Style. Hopefully I can follow your recipe easily and I can make my Taste-buds happier again! THANKYOU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chelsea, I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying Japanese cooking!♡

      Delete
  3. Hi, I live in Brisbane and wishes to purchase burdock root (fresh if possible), will you know where I could find them?

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I'm sorry but I've never found burdock root/gobo in Brisbane > <;; I'd love to know if you ever find it!

      Delete
    2. Saw some for sale loose in a big barrel one day in the "Acupunture and Foods Centre" on the corner of Brunswick Street Mall and Wickham St in the Valley a few months ago.

      Delete
  4. Hello! Would you know where I can buy bento box here in Brisbane? I see some online but I prefer a store that I can see & touch what I am buying. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, but I've never bought bento boxes in Brisbane. I tend to buy everything Japanese when I'm in Japan because it's much cheaper. Good luck!

      Delete
  5. Hi there, I've been looking for a regular place to get Edamame around Brisbane. I live in Coorparoo so it isn't hard for me to get anywhere in Brisbane. But I am finding it hard where to start and would love to know where it's regularly in stock frozen? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi sbrjane! At last, an easy question, thanks! I always buy frozen edamame at Fantastic Foods next to Aldi in Sunnybank, unshelled or shelled, about $2/500g. They probably have it at yuen's, too.

      Delete
    2. Thankyou so much! This saves so much time searching around.
      I'm glad it was a nice easy question to answer. :)

      Delete
  6. i just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful site and wish you and your family a happy new year, i have just placed an order for lots of bento accessories and a new box, going shopping on the weekend at sunnybank thanks to your wonderful suggestions:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just stumbled across your site. A Japanese grocery store has just opened in Alderley, called Genki Mart. I bought lots of interesting things - burdock, lotus root, bamboo shoots, Udon, soba, dashi ... at very reasonable prices.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for the excellent information!

      Delete
  8. I love your site! Being a half japanese brisbane-ite who has recently moved out of home, your recipes have saved me from too much home-sickness ( i.e I just miss mum's cooking). Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amara☆ Thank-you for your kind words, I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipes! ^_^

      Delete
  9. Hi
    I live in Brisbane as well - near Sunnybank - but I haven't been able to find soba sauce at any of the Sunnybank Asian food shops.
    Do you know any Japanese marts that sell that that's nearby? :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Fern, Do you mean "Yakisoba Sauce", or "Soba Tsuyu"?

      Delete
  10. Do you know if and where I can buy Lipton Maple Tea bags in Brisbane. I am addicted to them after a recent trip to Japan, staying in Okayama.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, just found your site while looking for a butcher for Yakiniku meats.

    We can confirm Genki Mart is great for supplies as well as if you're willing to make a short drive we found Fuji Mart at Surfers to have the best selection of any of the local markets. I think they are owned by the main importer Jun Pacific so have a great selection of everything.

    Shop 1,
    Southport Park Shopping Centre,
    Cnr Ferry & Benowa Rd,
    Southport, QLD 4215
    Phone: (07) 5591-6211

    For Wagyu meat for our Konro BBQ we have been using Kobe Butcher of Whites Hill
    http://www.kobesbutchery.com/

    They have a good selection of Wagyu for Yakiniku but the specialty pieces like short rib, chuck rib, rib finger are all shipped to Japan as they can get more for them there. We are still looking for a specialty Japanese butcher for these pieces.

    We also picked up a Konro and real binchotan charcoal from Chefs Armory in Sydney who shipped it all up here to Brisbane for about 20 bucks.
    http://www.chefsarmoury.com/

    Hope these help some people, great site thanks for sharing all your info.

    Cheers Q

    ReplyDelete
  12. Can anyone tell me where you can purchase okonomiyaki flour from?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Love your site, wondering where you can buy Natto from & whats best to look for?
    Thanks V.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi was wondering if u are able to let me know where I can buy natto? Thank u ^^

    ReplyDelete
  15. Also try out Genki Mart in Brisbane
    The shopkeeper Yusuke is incredibly helpful

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi, do you know where to buy Natto on the Gold Coast?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, I'm sorry, I don't know. I've only bought Natto in Sunnybank (Brisbane Southside), in the freezer section of an asian grocery store.

      Delete
    2. Try

      Shop 1,
      Southport Park Shopping Centre,
      Cnr Ferry & Benowa Rd,
      Southport, QLD 4215
      Phone: (07) 5591-6211
      Fax: (07) 5591-6212

      Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat 9:00-17:30
      Thu 9:00-21:00
      Sun 10:00-16:00

      Delete
  17. I just returned from my first trip to Japan. I have fallen head over heels in love with everything about it. My most favorite treat over there was Morinaga Jumbo Monaka. Does anyone know where to get it in Brisbane please?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi does anyone know where I can get plain mochi from in brisbane? Thank you Jill

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi. I was just wondering where I can get fresh yuba in Brissy or Gold Coast. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi my name is Craig and I would like to find a distributor of Natto fermented soybeans in brisbane so I can stock them in my supermarket as I have a customer requesting them can you help me

    ReplyDelete
  21. i want to buy bamboo whisk for making my matcha tea, where can i purchase this from

    ReplyDelete
  22. Also when salons add new administrations to their Lucy Liu Aging menus they frequently will beginning selling different products provoking the buy of one more bit of salon hardware, a grandstand or racks to show the products.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mintel, the statistical surveying organization, gauges that UK online dress deals will increment 60% by 2015. online dream catchers

    ReplyDelete
  24. Truly, when there is an alternative of online shopping at that point what's the need of going out for shopping and dish oneself from the consuming warmth. mystery box

    ReplyDelete
  25. Toys are very affordable and can help you as a parent give that encouraging stimulus the newborn baby needs to acquire psychological and intellectual development.Rožu Laciši

    ReplyDelete
  26. I’m going to read this. I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing. and also This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. this is very nice one and gives indepth information. thanks for this nice article... http://www.customworksdaytona.com/facets-that-produce-wholesale-clothing-cheaper/

    ReplyDelete
  27. I should say only that its awesome! The blog is informational and always produce amazing things. photography

    ReplyDelete
  28. Discount on shopping is something that everyone looks forward to specially women. There may be times when the shopping portal may not come with best discounts on its products and at this time you can take help of coupon as well as promo codes to avail fruitful discounts.top 10 online shopping sites in uk

    ReplyDelete
  29. It doesn't appear to be long enough to have seen a surprising movement in social propensities that the Internet has delivered. link

    ReplyDelete
  30. We are truly thankful for your blog entry. You will discover a great deal of methodologies in the wake of going to your post. I was precisely scanning for. A debt of gratitude is in order for such post and please keep it up.  이벤트속옷

    ReplyDelete
  31. How well do I know the brand of the online shop? Another thing to consider is how well you know the brand that runs the online shop?Best online shopping sites in India

    ReplyDelete
  32. เบื่อสล็อตxo แบบเดิมๆต้องสล็อตออนไลน์ slotxo ฟรีเครดิต

    https://www.slot4u.com/slotxo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Regardless of your status in life, you have the full authority to obtain this gift card from various companies out there which are willing to give you a two hundred fifty dollar grocery gift card or more for free.Sona masoori online

    ReplyDelete
  34. Recognizing beneficial to our environment global issues is the consequence of growing awareness of what humanity needs to try and do for the planet's survival. non woven bag supplier

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. There tend to be not many people who can certainly write not so simple posts that artistically. Continue the nice writing
    https://krogerexperiencee.com/kroger-hr-express/

    ReplyDelete
  36. If asked about the favorite part time activity to anybody; the most common answer would be "shopping". Shopping is not only a good 'time-pass' but we also come across many new things while shopping. grocery store in South Africa

    ReplyDelete
  37. Check out the net for online basic food item limits and different offers that are given by the online market. Along these lines you can set aside cash and feel fulfilled that you are accomplishing something reasonable. www.foodelo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  38. grocery delivery service is one of the few online delivery services to offer one-hour time slots, and it also endeavours to make its deliveries as environmentally-friendly as possible. Grocery Delivery Services Near Me

    ReplyDelete
  39. I want to learn how to buy quality products. Can you post video how you do it on tiktok for me? I can buy tiktok likes for your video from this site https://soclikes.com/buy-tiktok-likes

    ReplyDelete
  40. We limited our rundown to the best, and afterward the most elite to present to you this rundown of cafés you need to visit before you bite the dust. top global coffee regions

    ReplyDelete
  41. There is a wide range of templates available to choose from. All the templates from magento are developed by professional developers and are also customizable if needed. Premium products

    ReplyDelete
  42. The biggest shopping center in BC is the Metropolis shopping focus in Vancouver, which is the biggest shopping community also. Europa-Road

    ReplyDelete
  43. To grow a business, having a good digital marketing strategy to outdo potential competitors is necessary. However, “good” is not enough to lift you up to the top especially in the digital world.

    Digital Marketing Agency in Dubai

    ReplyDelete
  44. Welcome to Magic mushrooms center. Here you can buy magic mushrooms and stand the chance of 100% guaranteed delivery. Moreover, you can get the best quality magic mushrooms of different types. Our main motive is to prevent the hazards from buying shrooms from the street. We have the best supply of magic mushrooms in the market like Liberty caps, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe Mexicana,penis envy and many more. Feel free to contact us for more inquiries.Shrooms for sale

    ReplyDelete
  45. Because of this , it truly is superior you can applicable research prior to providing. It will be possible to share larger document that way. Tapal Danedar

    ReplyDelete
  46. I came onto your blog while focusing just slightly submits. Nice strategy for next, I will be bookmarking at once seize your complete rises... Express Smoke Shop

    ReplyDelete
  47. does anyone know where to buy Yozu juice in brisbane

    ReplyDelete
  48. Look for their criticism on the shopping show you arranged and check with them, in the event that you have missed on any of the necessary things.celebrity leather jackets

    ReplyDelete
  49. I like the valuable info in your articles. I'll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I'll learn plenty of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next! Regards Buy molly online

    ReplyDelete
  50. There are opportunities out there for those that want to shop businesses for money. Businesses rely on mystery shopping to make sure their front line employees are meeting their standard of customer service. интернет магазин

    ReplyDelete
  51. Thank you for some other informative website. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such a perfect method? I have a venture that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info. Latest Indian Defense News Analysis

    ReplyDelete
  52. My mate just moved from Melbourne to Brisbane. He is an expert in photography and runs a blog on Instagram. I know there is a way to gain more engagement on IG using these services he shown me. You can find his blog simply by querying "Brisbane camera man".

    ReplyDelete
  53. After a long time, I read a very beautiful and very important article that I enjoyed reading. I have found that this article has many important points, I sincerely thank the admin of this website for sharing it. Best Custom Cycling Jersey Maker service provider.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Shopping being a fundamental one for everybody can be fun and simple for some, while some would think of it as an errand and disturbing. breaking in new work boots
    camping on top of car

    ReplyDelete
  55. Shopping being a fundamental one for everybody can be fun and simple for some, while some would think of it as an errand and disturbing. convert battery to plug
    convert battery to plug in

    ReplyDelete
  56. Thanks a lot for sharing this excellent info! I am looking forward to seeing more posts by you as soon as possible! I have judged that you do not compromise on quality. 레플리카

    ReplyDelete
  57. I was just browsing through the internet looking for some information and came across your blog. I am impressed by the information that you have on this blog. It shows how well you understand this subject. Bookmarked this page, will come back for more. https://frclothing.co

    ReplyDelete
  58. I haven’t any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. Luggage storage London

    ReplyDelete
  59. Fertilizante líquido NPK de ácido fúlvico de aminoácidos de extracto de algas orgánicas solubles 100% de alta pureza a precio de fábrica suministro de fábrica de algas marinas y fertilizantes para peces

    ReplyDelete
  60. This is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very accurate information.
    Thanks for sharing this one.
    A must read article!

    Restaurant Marketing Agency Dubai

    Location

    ReplyDelete
  61. Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I admit, I have not been on this webpage in a long time… however it was one more joy to see It is such an significant topic and also ignored by so many, even professionals. I thank you to support making people more aware of possible issues. Morbius Loxias Crown Coat

    ReplyDelete
  63. Sees for paper an especially obliging piece, I reeled close to your blog other than release up a bound report. I need your improvement for scratching... 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thanks a lot for sharing this excellent info! I am looking forward to seeing more posts by you as soon as possible! I have judged that you do not compromise on quality concentrated bath salt buy etermis 3

    ReplyDelete
  65. Without the secret shopping organizations, organizations would invest much more energy and cash on secret shopping programs.
    Our sheets

    ReplyDelete
  66. Do you wanna grow your friend list on Facebook? Buy Facebook friends from LikesMuji.com, we offer real and nondrop Facebook friends.buy facebok friends

    ReplyDelete
  67. If you live in Australia, then perhaps the best place to buying Japanese groceries all in one place.
    top recruitment agencies in Pakistan for Saudi Arabia

    ReplyDelete