Asian cuisine has entered our refrigerators, but to get some flavors you have to use some products that can only be purchased in Asian supermarkets that are scattered throughout Madrid.
It is likely that in your purchase you will include things that you do not understand very well how they are made, because many of the products come in their original packaging of China korea or Taiwan, but you can always ask -physically or virtually to Google- and take your culinary skills to a new level.
1. Wenzhou Supermarkets
The Wenzhou Supermarkets chain opened its first store in 1998 in Tetuán – where there is also a large Chinese community – and grew in line with the Asian population in Madrid. At Usera have two establishments specializing in the sale of asian food countries such as China, Japan or Korea.
They also sell household products and kitchen appliances typical of Chinese kitchens (such as rice cookers).
calle de Dolores Barranco, 70 y calle Nicolás Sánchez, 17 y calle del Gral. Margallo, 9 (Tetuán)
2. Hualian Market
Hualian Market has been in Leganitos for 10 years – the area around Plaza de España is one of the largest Asian population centers in Madrid. Here you’ll find such fantasies as Japanese cheesecake KitKat, super spicy Lays Hot Pot fries, kimchi parlors, and an extensive variety of frozen gyozas.
They also have Sugoi Station, an adjoining store (Leganitos Street, 35), dedicated exclusively to all kinds of objects related to anime and manga culture.
📍 Leganitos Street, 9 and 33 (downtown)
3. Ibero China Madrid
At Tetuan is Ibero China Madrid, an Asian supermarket that, in addition to Japan and China, also imports typical products from Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, India, Burma, Laos and the Philippines. Not only do they sell fresh produce and all kinds of sauces, but there are also kitchen utensils, tableware and cutlery imported from China.
📍 Calle del Gral. Margallo, 23 (Tetuán)
4. Lucheng Supermarkets
Lucheng Supermarkets are located in Usera, Madrid’s Chinatown par excellence, and claim to be the first Asian supermarket in the area, having opened in 1994. They sell everything from fresh seafood to Asian fruit, drinks and typical oriental pastries. They also have a section of Chinese porcelain to complete the tableware.
📍 Calle de Nicolás Sánchez, 58 (Usera)
5. Ecoasia and Nanyea
Ecoasia is a family-run supermarket that has been offering, in addition to Asian and organic products, oriental vegan takeout, food from Latin American countries and craft beers since 2015. They have had an online store since last year.
The original store is Nanyea Market, which opened in 2005 in La Latina with the same concept and products, but have been expanding to other areas of Madrid such as the Lista and San Sebastián de los Reyes neighborhoods under the name of Ecoasia.
📍 Calle de los Estudios, 7 (La Latina); calle de Juan Bravo, 71 (Lista) and calle Lanzarote, 14 (San Sebastián de los Reyes).
6. Be K-Ndy
B-Kndy opened in 2022 in Conde Duque and focuses on food koreans. For Pilar Martín and Rocío de Castro, the owners, Stalls/Stands was first their Final Degree Project in Advertising and Marketing. From idea to reality, it is now one of the most viral Asian supers on social networks.
Many of the customers come thanks to their viral TikTok videos, and attracted by the ramen, drinks, gyozas, mochis, fruit ice cream, flavored almonds – honey or banana, for example – or candies of almost unsuspected varieties – salt or black sesame are proof of this.
📍 Acuerdo Street, 36 (Conde Duque)