Korean dining table — Grocery shopping in India, from Korean marts to 15-minute delivery apps

In the Korean-populated areas of Delhi-NCR, there are several grocery stores specializing in Korean food ingredients. Most stores are located on the lower ground floor of large shopping malls, so it is best to check the floor number on the mall information board when visiting for the first time. If you follow each store's Instagram account, you can quickly receive news about new products.

Take advantage of Japanese grocery stores as well.

Japanese grocery stores have many ingredients that are compatible with Korean food, such as soy sauce, miso, and udon noodles, making them a great complement to Korean grocery stores.

• Sekai Ichiba— Gurgaon 1st branch South Point Mall LG floor, 2nd branch AIPL Joy Central 1st floor (@ichiba_india)
• Yama to-Ya— 2nd floor, Boom Plaza, Gurgaon

You can't fill your dinner table with only Korean food ingredients. For fresh vegetables, meat, dairy products, and imported ingredients, local premium supermarkets are often superior in terms of quality and price. The following four stores are popular among Koreans in Delhi NCR.

• Le Marche— A high-quality grocery store that pursues a sophisticated lifestyle. The meat corner is well maintained, and the lineup of organic vegetables and various imported spices is a strength. (@lemarcheretail)
• Modern Bazaar— A ‘premium general store’ covering local and imported products. The quality of bread, nuts, and dried fruits from the in-store bakery is excellent. (@modernbazaar.in)
• Nature's Basket— A gourmet curation shop affiliated with the Indian conglomerate Tata Group. We specialize in Western-style ingredients such as European cheese, wine, and cold cuts (salami and ham). (@naturesbasket)
• Foodstories— High-end grocery that reflects the latest trends. We handle ultra-luxurious food ingredients such as rare imported fruits, high-quality caviar, and truffle products that are difficult to find in regular supermarkets. (@foodstories_in)

To summarize,Le Marche for meat and organic vegetables, Bakery and nuts at Modern Bazaar, Cheese and wine from Nature’s Basket, Ingredients for special days are Food StoriesIt is a common combination among Koreans living in the area to use them for different purposes.

If you want to go one step further into local life than the supermarket, I recommend the local market. In particular, the two places below are easily accessible to foreigners, and even provide items that are hard to find in supermarkets.

INA Market — Delhi

It is a comprehensive local market that handles not only food ingredients, but also disposable products, clothing, and home appliances. especiallyThe freshness of seafood and meat is high., it is known as a 'gourmet hub', a favorite place for foreigners and diplomats living near Delhi, as it has many imported ingredients that are difficult to find in regular supermarkets. Across from the market is the traditional Indian craft market.Dilli HaatThis allows you to do grocery shopping and sightseeing all at once.

Vyapar Kendra Market — Gurgaon

It is closer to a ‘lifestyle-oriented’ market rather than grand shopping. Almost all services needed in daily life, from food supplies to clothing repair shops, stationery shops, and electronics repairs, can be found in one place, making it ideal for handling minor household issues that arise while living here. Points you should not miss are‘Hasora’ store inside the first floor— We have many Korean regulars because we serve both organic vegetables and Japanese ingredients.

India's online grocery delivery infrastructure is as developed as Korea's. 특히 델리 NCR에서는 '퀵커머스'라 불리는 초고속 배달이 일상화되어, 라면 물을 올리기 전에 주문한 계란이 도착하는 수준입니다. The representative apps by purpose are summarized as follows.

Zomato isDelivery fee exemption and restaurant discount benefits when signing up for 'Zomato Gold'This cursor is very popular among users. For items you purchase repeatedly every day, such as milk and eggs, you can automate them with Milk Basket's regular subscription function, eliminating the hassle of adding them to the cart every time.

If you have difficulty getting to a brick-and-mortar store or live outside Delhi NCR, use Korean online ordering sites. You can receive delivery of items where freshness is important, such as kimchi, side dishes, rice cakes, and tofu, and some companies also handle household goods such as Cuckoo pressure rice cookers.

Delhi NCR has Eggrum and Korean Food, the West (Mumbai and Pune) has Korea Food, and Bengaluru has Silamat Bengaluru Mall and Seoul Store.A platform tailored to your locationThe key is to choose.

Since the channels introduced so far each have different strengths, the correct answer is to use them in combination in real life. The routine that Koreans living in India naturally settle into is generally as follows.

1. Buy large groceries 1-2 times a month— I purchase basic ingredients such as red pepper paste, soybean paste, ramen, and frozen foods all at once from Korean grocery stores such as Silamat, Kim’s Mart, and Cape Lens. They are often located on the basement floor of the mall, so check the floor number before visiting.
2. Supplement with fresh food once a week— We use places with verified quality, such as Le Marche for meat and organic vegetables, and Deli INA Market for seafood. If you're in Gurgaon, you can get a mix of organic vegetables and Japanese ingredients at Hasora in Vijayapar Kendra.
3. Automation of items needed every day— Milk, eggs, and yogurt are delivered early in the morning with a regular Milk Basket subscription, and items that suddenly run out are immediately replenished through Blinkit (15-minute delivery).
4. Online shopping mall for kimchi, rice cakes, and side dishes— For kimchi or holiday rice cakes that are difficult to make yourself, you can order them from the Eggrum and Silamat online mall.

Once this routine is established, there aren't as many things you can't eat because it's India as you might think. In fact, there are some things that are more convenient than in Korea, such as direct delivery from the farm early in the morning (handpicked) or 15-minute quick commerce, so try various channels for the first few weeks to find your own unique combination.