🍛 Food & Grocery in the UK

The UK offers a wide variety of international food options. Moreover, students can easily find South Asian, Southeast Asian, and African food across major cities. As a result, adapting to food culture becomes easier.

➡️ Explore more:
Student Life & Visa in the UK

1️⃣ South Asian & Southeast Asian Restaurants (Popular Chains & Local Favorites)

Indian & Pakistani
• Dishoom – Irani café-style chain with outlets in London, Edinburgh, Manchester
• Karahi Express – Budget-friendly Pakistani chain (London, Birmingham)
• Chaiiwala – Indian street food & tea (over 80 locations across the UK)
• Tayyabs (London) – Iconic Punjabi restaurant in Whitechapel
• Lahore Kebab House (London) – Famous for grills and curries
• Indigo Restaurant (Leicester) – South Indian + North Indian menu

Bangladeshi & Nepali
• Kolapata (London) – Authentic Bangladeshi cuisine in East London
• Royal Bengal (Manchester) – Halal Bangladeshi dining
• Gurkha Kitchen (Surrey) – Homestyle Nepali food

Sri Lankan & South Indian
• Jaffna House (Tooting, London) – Tamil cuisine
• Apollo Banana Leaf – South Indian & Sri Lankan dishes
• Sankalp Restaurant – South Indian vegetarian chain

Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai
• Romulo Café (London) – Authentic Filipino fine dining
• Pho – Vietnamese street food chain with nationwide presence
• Rasa Sayang (Chinatown, London) – Singaporean/Malay/Indonesian
• Rosa’s Thai Café – Thai chain with halal options in most locations

African
• 805 Restaurants (London, Reading, Manchester) – Nigerian cuisine
• Enish Restaurant – Nigerian fine dining (London)
• Mosob – Eritrean family-run restaurant (London)
• Zeret Kitchen – Popular Ethiopian restaurant in Camberwell

2️⃣ South Asian, Southeast Asian & African Grocery Stores (Online & Local)

Online Grocery Stores
• DesiGrocer – Indian & Pakistani groceries, UK-wide delivery
• Spices of India – Huge selection of Indian groceries
• Wing Yip – Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai groceries
• Sri Lankan Supermarket – Sinhala and Tamil groceries
• African Sun Foods – Nigerian and Ghanaian food products
• Tropical Sun – Caribbean & African grocery staples

Large Local Ethnic Supermarkets
• Southall Broadway (London) – Indian/Pakistani/Nepali shops and fresh produce
• Tooting Market (London) – Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi ingredients
• Green Street (London) – Pakistani and Bangladeshi shops
• Hyson Green (Nottingham) – African, Indian, and Caribbean food markets
• Manchester Rusholme (Curry Mile) – Arabic, South Asian, and African groceries

3️⃣ UK Food Ordering Websites with South Asian & African Options

• Just Eat – Filter by Indian, Bangladeshi, African, Caribbean, Thai
• Deliveroo – Fast delivery from chain and local restaurants
• Uber Eats – Includes high-street and ethnic restaurants
• Foodhub – Often lower fees than competitors
• All Eat – Smaller platform focused on independent local restaurants

4️⃣ UK Food Delivery Services for Groceries (Ethnic & Mainstream)

• Tesco – Mainstream groceries, some international items
• Asda – Budget items with decent South Asian range
• Morrisons – Good halal meat and spices
• Ocado – Premium online grocery with world food range
• Amazon Fresh – Includes lentils, rice, oils, spices, and snacks
• Wing Yip – Specialist for Southeast Asian groceries
• Istanbul Supermarket – African and Middle Eastern grocery items

➡️ Related:
Accommodation in the UK for Students

5️⃣ Cooking Support for Students (South Asian / African / Asian)

• Tarladalal.com – Vegetarian Indian cooking
• Hebbars Kitchen – Quick Indian meals for students
• Yummly – Custom recipe feed based on ingredients
• AfroVitalityEats – West African meal plans
• BudgetBytes – Low-cost recipes using UK-available ingredients

❓ FAQs – Food & Grocery in the UK

Is Indian food available in the UK?

Yes, Indian food is widely available in all major cities. Moreover, many restaurants serve authentic dishes.

Where can students buy Indian groceries in the UK?

Students can shop from stores like DesiGrocer and Wing Yip. Additionally, local markets offer fresh items.

Are groceries expensive in the UK?

Groceries can be affordable if you shop smart. For example, Tesco and Asda offer budget-friendly options.

Which apps are best for food delivery in the UK?

Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats are the most popular apps. Therefore, food delivery is very easy.

Can international students cook their own food?

Yes, most student accommodations have kitchen facilities. As a result, cooking is a great way to save money.