The Asian Supermarket Scene Supporting Self-Catering in Barcelona
When you start a medium to long-term stay in Barcelona for study abroad, a working holiday, or work, you inevitably start to miss the ‘taste of Japan’ or the ‘comforting flavors of Asia’. While delicious Spanish dishes like paella and tapas are appealing, daily consumption often leaves you craving rice or the savory taste of soy sauce broth.
In fact, Barcelona has a diverse array of Asian supermarkets scattered throughout the city. However, each store varies significantly in its ‘specialty in product selection,’ ‘price range,’ and ‘availability of fresh produce.’ For those with pressing concerns like ‘Where can I buy Japanese seasonings cheaply?’ or ‘Where can I find delicious, non-dry rice?’, we’ve carefully selected and introduced recommended Asian supermarkets in Barcelona. Learn each store’s strengths to enrich your self-catering life here!
Dong Fang
📍 Address: Carrer de Balmes, 6, 8, Eixample, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Conveniently located near Plaça de Catalunya, Dong Fang is a long-established Asian supermarket cherished by Japanese and other Asian residents in Barcelona. It boasts a very wide ‘international’ selection, including Japanese ingredients and essential spices and herbs for Thai and Vietnamese cuisine.
The biggest highlight of this store is undoubtedly its ‘rice by weight’ service. Rice sold in general supermarkets in Barcelona tends to be dry, but the original rice available here is well-suited to Japanese palates, and many long-term residents are repeat customers. Another pleasant surprise is the availability of fresh vegetables like ‘shiso’ (perilla leaves), taro, and ginger, which are hard to find in Spain.
While Japanese seasonings like soy sauce and mirin are plentiful, specific items such as mentsuyu (noodle soup base) and shiro-dashi (white dashi) are somewhat limited. However, you can find a good range of cooking essentials like tofu, natto, nori seaweed, and okonomiyaki flour. Popular Korean instant noodles like ‘Shin Ramyun’ are also available at reasonable prices, making this the most valuable store when you want to quickly finish your grocery shopping in the city center.
Tokyo-ya Tienda Japonesa Alimentación
📍 Address: Carrer de Balmes, 197, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08006 Barcelona, Spain
This is the Barcelona branch of ‘Tokyo-ya’, a pioneering presence that wholesales Japanese ingredients throughout Spain. As its name suggests, it specializes in Japanese food, and it’s no exaggeration to say it has the widest selection of Japanese ingredients in Barcelona. A major advantage is that all staff members are Japanese, so exchange students who are anxious about the local language can feel at ease asking questions in Japanese.
The store’s shelves are lined with such a diverse array of seasonings, instant foods, dried goods, and fresh vegetables like shiso, that you might mistake it for a supermarket in Japan. As for prices, since these are imported from Japan, they are inevitably higher (they might feel expensive if you know Japanese market prices), but it’s a very reassuring ‘last resort’ when you desperately miss Japanese flavors or need special seasonings not found elsewhere.
Additionally, instant bag noodles with Spanish packaging can be purchased for less than 1 euro, making them great for small souvenirs or daily stock. The store is closed on Sundays and public holidays, so if you’re planning weekend shopping, be sure to check the operating days.
Oriental Market Barcelona
📍 Address: C. de Sicília, 212, Local bajos, Eixample, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
‘Oriental Market’ is an Asian supermarket characterized by its spacious and clean interior. It carries a large number of Japanese products and boasts an excellent selection of alcoholic beverages. What’s particularly noteworthy is that not only food but also tableware and cooking utensils for restaurants are lined up near the entrance. They even have products for those who want to try making authentic sushi, so you can buy ingredients and tools here and immediately host a Japanese food party at home.
Prices are not cheap, roughly three times those in Japan, but considering shipping costs and intermediary fees, it’s a reasonable range. It’s a blessing to enjoy authentic Japanese flavors abroad. For essential daily seasonings like soy sauce, mirin, and cooking sake, smaller sizes can be more expensive, so buying the largest bottles in bulk is a smart move for long-term residents.
Furthermore, their online mail order service is highly rated, with reviews like ‘ordered items arrived quickly and in perfect condition, even with a bonus gift.’ When you want to buy heavy items like rice or liquid seasonings in bulk, combining your shopping with their online store is also recommended.
DayDay Go – Asian supermarket
📍 Address: Rda. de Sant Pere, 47, Eixample, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
Located near the Arc de Triomf, ‘Tiantiangou (DayDay Go)’ is a large Chinese supermarket that has garnered attention on social media since its recent opening. The biggest appeal of this store is undoubtedly its spaciousness and product diversity. You can enjoy a comfortable shopping experience in a relaxed layout, without struggling to pass others in narrow aisles like in other specialized stores.
It offers ingredients from across Asia, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai cuisines. From fresh vegetables, tofu, frozen meats, fish, and dumplings to authentic spices, the lineup is almost endless. Furthermore, it boasts a rich selection of hot pot bases that can be easily enjoyed at home, as well as unfamiliar Asian snacks and drinks, earning immense support from curious young people and students eager to explore new flavors.
The pricing is also very reasonable and competitive. While some reviews point out service issues such as ‘cashiers chatting while roughly handling products’ or ‘some items not being well-organized,’ even taking these into account, its overwhelming product variety and affordability make it well worth frequent visits.
Asian Origins
📍 Address: C/ de Muntaner, 367, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08021 Barcelona, Spain
Located on Muntaner Street in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district, ‘Asian Origins’ is a clean, small to medium-sized Asian supermarket specializing in Korean and Japanese food ingredients. Unlike large supermarkets, it doesn’t feel cluttered, and products are neatly displayed, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
It offers an irresistible variety of products for those wanting to try exotic dishes, all at reasonable and fair prices. It’s a highly-rated store, receiving enthusiastic reviews from locals like ‘the balance between selection and price is perfect’ and ’10 out of 10!’
The staff service is also excellent, and the store is always kept clean. Although it’s located in a more residential area, a bit further from the center of Barcelona, for those staying nearby or primarily looking for Korean seasonings and frozen foods, it will undoubtedly become a favorite spot to frequent.
[Column] Tips and Precautions for Buying Asian Ingredients in Barcelona
Finally, here are some ‘shopping tips’ for enjoying a self-catering life in Barcelona.
1. Fresh Produce from ‘Mercado’, Seasonings from ‘Asian Supermarkets’
The basic style for local residents is to procure fresh meat, fish, and local vegetables cheaply from local markets (mercados) or general supermarkets, and only buy essential dry goods like soy sauce, miso, and noodles from Asian supermarkets. Trying to get everything from Asian supermarkets will significantly increase your food expenses.
2. Be Careful with Storing Asian Rice
Rice is the essence of Japanese food, but due to its imported and long-stored nature, there is a tendency for purchased rice (even brand-name rice like Koshihikari) to attract insects. When purchasing, carefully check the contents through the transparent part of the package. Once home, immediately transfer it to an airtight container or Ziploc bag, and during summer, ensure it’s stored in the refrigerator’s vegetable drawer.
3. Be Aware of ‘Soy Sauce’ Differences
In supermarkets abroad, not just Asian ones, ‘Soy Sauce’ is sold, but some may be cheap substitutes made without wheat, or Southeast Asian-style soy sauces that are sweeter and thicker. If you want to create pure Japanese flavors (Washoku), it’s recommended to carefully check the label or specifically buy ‘Japanese brand soy sauce’ at stores like Tokyo-ya or Dong Fang.
