For those living or staying long-term in Dubai, ‘the taste of Asia’ is something you’re bound to miss.
Are you craving Japanese seasonings for home cooking? Do you want to try local Asian snacks? Or are you looking for easy-to-grab ready-made meals?
To meet these desires, we’ve carefully selected five highly recommended Asian supermarkets in Dubai (featuring Japanese, Chinese, Korean ingredients, and more).
We’ll provide insights based on real reviews from local residents and students, along with price expectations and shopping tips, so be sure to check them out!
Fujiya (Deans Fujiya)
📍 Address: Saleh Bin Lahej Building – Street 6A – Oud Metha – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This long-established Japanese supermarket enjoys immense support from Japanese and Asian residents in Dubai. While it doesn’t carry fresh produce, its selection of frozen and preserved foods is outstanding. You’ll find a wide array of essential items for daily home cooking, such as frozen grilled rice balls (yakionigiri), fish, natto, as well as furikake, dashi, and miso, which are perfect for bento box preparation.
Another significant feature is that about half of the store is dedicated to tableware and cooking utensils. It’s so well-stocked that professional chefs come here to source Japanese knives and beautiful dishes. Recently, a new Korean food section has been added, offering a rich variety of snacks.
A key shopping tip is that ‘the stock can vary greatly between being abundant and completely empty,’ depending on import timings. Therefore, it’s a golden rule for residents to stock up without hesitation when you find a desired seasoning. This warm store also responds to customer feedback, for instance, by starting to carry ‘Bell no Tare,’ a famous Hokkaido specialty requested through reviews.
Hippo Box Supermarket
📍 Address: close to Big Panda, The Dubai Mall – Financial Ctr St – in front of Food court (Cinema Parking P5 – Burj Khalifa – China Town – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This Asian supermarket is located inside Chinatown at ‘The Dubai Mall,’ one of the world’s largest shopping malls, and is easily recognizable by its giant blue hippo mascot. The spacious interior and beautifully arranged displays make even window shopping a delightful experience.
It covers ingredients from all over Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea, stocking everything from fruits and bread to health foods like enzyme drinks. Additionally, non-Muslim food items such as pork and ham are sold in a dedicated section. Beyond food, it also offers a wide range of detergents, unique household goods, and Asian cosmetics, which is a major draw.
Due to its mall location, prices are a bit higher, but it’s a hidden gem where you can find niche products that are hard to come by elsewhere. You can register for membership instantly by providing your phone number at the checkout, which allows you to purchase some items at ‘member prices,’ so be sure to take advantage of it.
QKO Asian Market, Dubai
📍 Address: Boxpark by Meraas – Al Wasl – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This small Asian market is located within ‘Boxpark,’ a stylish container-style complex. It’s less a place to find serious cooking essentials and more convenient for quickly picking up ‘Japanese and Korean snacks, ice cream, and instant foods.’
Inside, you’ll find classic Japanese potato chips, chocolates, matcha ice cream, as well as daily necessities like ochazuke and furikake. Reviews praise items like ‘chocolate roll cakes and meat-based snacks’ as delicious. Many products are screened for halal ingredients to cater to local Muslim residents, making it a safe choice when buying Asian sweets as gifts for local friends.
Since all items are imported, overall prices are not cheap, but some Korean seaweed snacks, for instance, are priced more affordably than at major chain stores. It’s a fun place to check out for frequent sales and occasional new arrivals.
Gourmet-ya
📍 Address: 1 – Shop 5, E-block Al Kawakeb Bldg – 1 Sheikh Zayed Rd – behind Lebanese Roaster shop – Trade Centre Second – DIFC – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This is a specialty food store run by ‘Bento-ya,’ a long-established Japanese restaurant, located within walking distance of Dubai Metro’s Financial Centre Station. Though compact, its selection is spot-on, featuring rare refrigerated items in Dubai like yam (yamaimo) and mentaiko (spicy pollack roe), alongside Japanese ice cream.
Another major highlight is that you can buy ‘handmade onigiri’ (rice balls) and deli items, which are rare locally. While convenience store onigiri abroad often have hard rice, the onigiri here are highly praised by Japanese residents for their ‘perfectly cooked and delicious rice.’
Prices are somewhat steep, being 2 to 3 times higher than in Japan, but they reliably satisfy cravings for ‘that specific Japanese taste’ like mayonnaise or konnyaku jelly. The local staff do not speak Japanese but are very kind and helpful. Please use the street-side parking.
Lucky Duck Supermarket
📍 Address: Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Similar to Hippo Box Supermarket, this charming Asian supermarket is also located within Chinatown in Dubai Mall. It particularly stands out for its rich variety of ‘ready-to-eat snacks’ and ‘breads’ from China and East Asia.
You can find fresh Chinese snacks and bread at reasonable prices, and sales are frequently held. It’s highly praised in reviews, with comments like ‘you don’t need to travel all over Asia if you want to try Asian-style products,’ highlighting its characteristic of being packed with everything you need.
While the store is on the smaller side, its size makes it easier to browse products, making it perfect for a quick snack break during mall shopping or when you’re looking for unique treats. It’s very popular among Dubai’s local community and is bustling with Asian culture enthusiasts daily.
Tips for Smart Shopping at Asian Supermarkets in Dubai
When sourcing Asian ingredients and Japanese food in Dubai, the most important things to note are ‘fluctuations in stock’ and ‘the presence of pork or alcohol ingredients.’ In the UAE, an Islamic country, non-halal foods (such as seasonings containing pork extract or alcohol) are sold in segregated ‘non-Muslim sections’ rather than on general shelves. If you cook at home, be sure to ask staff about the location of this dedicated section.
For those stocking up on authentic seasonings and frozen foods for home cooking, ‘Fujiya’ and ‘Gourmet-ya’ are classic choices known for their extensive selections. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for the latest Asian snacks and goods while enjoying Dubai Mall, ‘Hippo Box’ and ‘Lucky Duck’ are great options. For a quick grab of just snacks nearby, ‘QKO Asian Market’ is ideal. It’s standard practice for mid- to long-term residents to use different stores based on their specific needs.
As these are imported goods, prices tend to be higher, but items nearing their expiration date are often available at sale prices. Make sure to regularly check store membership programs and local community information to fully enjoy your shopping experience in a foreign land.
