Authentic Asian Supermarkets Hidden in Koenji’s Backstreets
Koenji is a vibrant district teeming with subculture, vintage clothing stores, and a diverse array of ethnic restaurants. While it’s delightful to savor exotic flavors for weekend lunches or dinners, the true depth of this town lies hidden in the realm of ‘home cooking’.
Tucked away in Koenji’s back alleys and multi-tenant buildings are a number of ‘deep’ Asian supermarkets and ingredient stores, routinely frequented by long-term residents, international students living in Japan, and locals who passionately cherish the tastes of their home countries. These aren’t your average Japanese supermarkets; they’re treasure troves of cross-border cuisine, offering niche spices you’d never find elsewhere, snacks in their original foreign packaging, and even handmade local foods.
This time, we’ve carefully selected some truly ‘authentic’ Asian supermarkets in the Koenji area that you absolutely must check out. They’re perfect for a casual visit to get a taste of international travel, and a must-see for anyone wanting to prepare genuine Asian cuisine at home.
NAMASTE INTERNATIONAL HALAL FOODS
📍 Address: 3-2-17 Koenji Kita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002, Japan
Located within walking distance from Koenji North Exit, ‘NAMASTE INTERNATIONAL HALAL FOODS’ is a halal food store richly stocked with South Asian ingredients and spices. Inside, you’ll find stacks of basmati and jasmine rice, known for their fluffy texture, and walls lined with a vast variety of lentils and spices. Even expensive spices like cardamom are available in small, affordable packets, making this an essential stop for serious home cooks who want to create authentic curries from scratch without using pre-made roux.
Beyond the impressive selection of ingredients, a hidden gem of this store is the handmade ‘samosas’ sold at the front. The plain samosa, generously filled with potatoes and peas, is ¥150, while the chicken samosa, with its savory blend of chicken, peas, and spices, is ¥250 – truly local prices. The thick dough makes them hearty and satisfying. If you take them home and reheat them, the rich aroma of the spices becomes even more pronounced.
The mix of staff, some fluent in Japanese and others less so, adds to the laid-back, authentic local atmosphere. While in Koenji, you can experience the vibrancy and daily life as if you’ve stumbled into a local South Asian market.
greenmart
📍 Address: Port Bonheur 102, 2-2-15 Koenji Kita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002, Japan
If you’re captivated by Vietnamese cuisine and eager to recreate those flavors at home, we highly recommend ‘greenmart,’ a specialty Vietnamese grocery store. Inside its cozy space, you’ll find a packed assortment of various nuoc mam (fish sauce), other sauces, and spices—all fundamental to Vietnamese cooking.
The charm of this store lies in its comprehensive range of niche ingredients. It’s brimming with items deeply rooted in daily Vietnamese life, such as mix powder for Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese savory pancakes), Vietnamese-style condensed milk, and even ‘vacuum-packed corn’ with a delightful chewy texture similar to sticky rice. The freezer section doesn’t just hold meat; you’ll also find Vietnamese sweets like ‘Chè’ and even durian.
With a very high number of Vietnamese regular customers, it’s not uncommon to hear the local language spoken throughout the store. As Vietnamese cuisine varies significantly in seasoning and preferred condiments across its northern, central, and southern regions, choosing ingredients while receiving advice from the Japanese-speaking owner or even friendly regulars is a warm, unique communication experience offered by this shop.
Chugoku Bussan
📍 Address: 4F, 3-22-18 Koenji Kita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002, Japan
It’s no exaggeration to say that ‘Chugoku Bussan,’ quietly nestled on the 4th floor of a multi-tenant building without an elevator, is ‘the closest place to China in Koenji.’ After climbing the narrow, steep stairs and opening the door, you’ll be greeted by a staff member’s ‘Ni hao!’
The interior is truly like a private Chinese convenience store. It’s packed with essential items for Chinese food lovers, such as hotpot bases, Sichuan peppercorns (huājiāo), chaotian chili (super-spicy chili peppers), and the classic ‘Laoganma’ chili oil. What’s particularly noteworthy is the well-stocked freezer and chilled sections. Beyond deep ingredients like dumpling wrappers and chicken feet, you’ll also find items indispensable for a local Chinese breakfast, such as steamed buns (mantou) with mildly sweet corn kernels inside.
A recommended way to enjoy it, according to locals, is to dip a plain mantou (steamed bun) into a bit of ‘fǔrǔ’ (fermented tofu). Fǔrǔ, with its rich umami akin to sea urchin and distinct flavor, possesses a magical allure that’s hard to escape once you’re hooked. The friendly service, where you’re bid ‘Xièxiè, zàijiàn’ (Thank you, goodbye) on your way out, is also pleasant, making it a place you’ll want to visit regularly.
[Column] Don’t Miss ‘Zakka! Mikansei’: Kitsch Asian Goods While Shopping!
After stocking up on ingredients at an Asian supermarket, why not step into the world of Asian general goods with the same enthusiasm? ‘Zakka! Mikansei,’ located along the railway tracks at Koenji North Exit, is a uniquely distinctive general store offering mysterious items sourced from various countries around the world, primarily Taiwan and Thailand.
Inside, a chaotic space unfolds, reminiscent of an Asian night market, packed with mysterious character goods that seem to defy copyright laws and kitsch, brightly colored items. From Thai stickers available for ¥80 each, to giant dragon decals, and everyday goods that are cheap but somehow ’emo’ (evoking nostalgia/emotion), simply browsing them is guaranteed to give you a culture shock.
Have a chuckle at these ‘nearly black but still grey’ amusing goods, and experience Koenji’s unique new wave of Asian culture.
Savoring Koenji’s Local Asian Flavors to the Fullest
Every store we’ve introduced is a truly authentic space, as if the local atmosphere and scents of Asia have been packaged and brought to Koenji. While you might encounter varying levels of Japanese fluency or stores tucked away on upper floors of buildings that seem hard to enter, taking that step promises a delicious culinary experience you haven’t yet discovered.
Whenever you want to boost your cooking motivation or simply enjoy a travel-like experience, make sure to visit Koenji’s local Asian supermarkets. Additionally, before or after your shopping, it’s highly recommended to stop by Vietnamese restaurant ‘Chopsticks’ inside Daiichi Market or ‘Sabaidee’ for Lao cuisine, to let your taste buds savor authentic flavors prepared by professionals first.
