Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern Groceries in Perth: Where to Find Them

Perth’s ethnic grocery scene is smaller than Sydney’s or Melbourne’s, but it is genuinely well established once you know where to look – and almost everything worth finding sits in one of four suburbs. Here is exactly where, with real stores rather than a vague “explore your area” shrug.

Asian groceries: Northbridge, Victoria Park and Cannington

Northbridge is the obvious starting point, since it sits right beside the CBD and is easy to reach without a car. William Street has carried Perth’s main cluster of Asian grocers for decades – VHT Perth, trading since 1983, is a genuine one-stop shop for Asian foods and drinks from across the region, and Shop 88 Asian Groceries, a little further along the same street, covers everything from sauces and noodles to rice and dried vegetables. The Chinatown Mall on Roe Street, marked by its lion statues and pagoda archway, sits just around the corner.

If you want a bigger shop in one visit, Victoria Park and Cannington have larger-format Asian supermarkets, including Kong’s Oriental Supermarket in Victoria Park – genuinely useful if you are stocking a pantry rather than picking up a few ingredients.

Indian and South Asian groceries: Mirrabooka, Girrawheen and Osborne Park

Perth’s Indian and South Asian grocery scene centres on Mirrabooka and neighbouring Girrawheen, with Maharajah Stores on Chesterfield Road a long-running example stocking rice, dhal, spices, frozen parathas and snack brands like Haldiram’s. Osborne Park is the other major hub, and smaller options are scattered through Cannington, Willetton, Morley and Bentley as well – genuinely handy if you live near Curtin. As with any suburb-based precinct, individual shops open and close, but these areas have been the reliable centres for years, so you will generally find more than one option within a short walk of each other.

Middle Eastern and halal groceries: Mirrabooka and Thornlie

Mirrabooka does double duty here too – alongside its Indian grocers, Mirrabooka Shopping Centre and Mirrabooka Village host halal butchers such as Meat Giants, a halal-certified supplier selling beef, lamb, goat, chicken and sausages, plus general Middle Eastern grocers selling flatbreads, spices and imported deli items. Thornlie, in Perth’s south-east, is the other main hub – Thornlie Continental Food stocks a broad Middle Eastern and Mediterranean range alongside dry fruits, spices and snacks. If halal certification matters to you, look for it displayed in the shop, and ask directly if it is not obvious – most butchers are used to the question and happy to explain. For where to eat rather than shop, see our separate guide to halal restaurants and food in Perth.

Getting the most out of any of these precincts

Go to the precinct rather than hunting for one specific shop – these suburbs have been established hubs for years, and arriving at the right one usually puts several options within walking distance. Buy rice, spices, lentils and dried goods in bulk, since they keep well and are consistently cheaper than small supermarket packaging; buy fresh herbs and vegetables in smaller amounts more often. Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends if you want an easier shop and better parking. For the national picture, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane’s equivalents, see our suburb-by-suburb guide to ethnic grocery stores across Australia.

Stretching your grocery budget further

Buying rice, lentils, spices and other dry goods in bulk from these precincts is usually the single biggest saving available, since per-kilogram prices drop sharply at larger pack sizes compared to the small jars and packets sold in mainstream supermarkets. If getting to these suburbs in person is difficult around exam periods, see our guide to online grocery shopping costs in Australia for how delivery options compare on price.

Bottom line

Northbridge for Asian groceries close to the city, Victoria Park or Cannington for a bigger Asian supermarket shop, Mirrabooka, Girrawheen and Osborne Park for Indian and South Asian, and Mirrabooka or Thornlie for Middle Eastern and halal. Go to the precinct, buy dry goods in bulk, and you will generally pay less than the big supermarkets, not more.