New Malden: London’s Korean grocery capital
This is where Korean home cooking in London actually happens. The supermarkets here aren’t token “world food” aisles — they’re full-service Korean groceries where the community shops, stocking ingredients that restaurants use. If a recipe calls for something specific, you’ll find it.
The big two are H Mart and Korea Foods, each with distinct personalities. We’ve added Kourosh for Middle Eastern ingredients, because good grocery shopping is about more than one cuisine.
Quick picks: find your shop
The 3 best Asian grocery shops
1. H Mart — New Malden
Best for: Complete Korean shopping, fresh produce, first-time visitors
H Mart is the supermarket that makes New Malden feel like a genuine K-town. This isn’t a corner shop with a Korean section — it’s a full-service operation where Korean is the default.
The fresh produce section stocks vegetables you won’t find at Sainsbury’s. The seafood counter has live tanks and staff who know their fish. The aisles cover every sauce, paste, and dried ingredient Korean recipes demand: gochujang in multiple grades, doenjang, sesame oils, dried anchovies.
The fresh banchan (side dishes) counter is excellent for quick dinners without the prep. For serious home cooks, H Mart solves the problem of recipe shopping — no more substitutions.
What to buy: Fresh vegetables, banchan, multiple gochujang brands, frozen dumplings
Unit 1, Leigh Close, New Malden KT3 4JZ
2. Korea Foods — New Malden
Best for: Bulk buying, widest range, pantry restocking
Korea Foods’ New Malden branch has that wholesale-warehouse energy. Industrial estate location, big trolleys, aisles that go on forever. It’s not pretty, but if you’re stocking up for serious cooking, nowhere has more range.
Reddit’s r/london calls it “a no brainer” for Korean grocery shopping. The shelves are loaded with every noodle, sauce, and snack imaginable — multiple brands of each staple, so you can experiment. Prices lean budget-friendly, especially for bulk.
The location requires a car or determined walk (Wyvern Industrial Estate off Beverley Way). But you’re shopping where restaurants source ingredients.
What to buy: Rice in bulk, soy sauce in economy sizes, instant noodle selection, pantry staples
Unit 5, Wyvern Industrial Estate, Beverley Way KT3 4PH
3. Kourosh Supermarket — Surbiton/Tolworth
Best for: Persian and Middle Eastern cooking, spices, flatbreads
Kourosh is the grocery shop that reminds you Kingston’s food scene isn’t only about Korean. Tucked into Tolworth Broadway, it stocks ingredients that Persian, Afghan, Turkish, and Arab recipes demand.
Saffron in proper quantities. Pomegranate molasses. Sumac. The specific rice varieties Persian cooking requires. For anyone cooking from Middle Eastern recipes, this is where you stop making substitutions.
Staff know their stock and can help with less obvious items. Prices are fair, especially compared to supermarket “world food” premiums.
What to buy: Saffron, flatbreads (ask about delivery days), dried fruits and nuts, spices
106 Tolworth Broadway, Surbiton KT6 7HT
What to buy where
| Ingredient | Best shop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gochujang | H Mart | Multiple grades to choose from |
| Bulk rice | Korea Foods | Best prices for large bags |
| Fresh banchan | H Mart | Ready-made side dishes |
| Instant noodles | Korea Foods | Widest selection |
| Saffron | Kourosh | Proper Persian quality |
| Fresh Korean vegetables | H Mart | Best produce section |
| Doenjang | Both H Mart & Korea Foods | Similar range |
| Pomegranate molasses | Kourosh | Middle Eastern staple |
Getting there
H Mart: Short walk from New Malden station, off Burlington Road. Easy on foot.
Korea Foods: Industrial estate location on Beverley Way. Best with a car, or a 15-minute walk from New Malden station. Worth the trip for big shops.
Kourosh: Tolworth Broadway, well-served by buses along the A3 corridor.
FAQs
Where is H Mart in New Malden?
H Mart is at Unit 1, Leigh Close, New Malden KT3 4JZ — a short walk from New Malden station. It’s the most accessible Korean supermarket in the area.
What’s the difference between H Mart and Korea Foods?
H Mart is a full-service supermarket with fresh produce, seafood, and a more accessible location. Korea Foods is larger with more range and better bulk prices, but has an industrial estate location that suits car shopping.
Can I buy Korean ingredients without going to New Malden?
The nearest options outside New Malden are limited. For the real range — especially fresh items, specific brands, and proper banchan — New Malden is worth the trip.
Is there a Korean supermarket near Kingston town centre?
Not directly in town centre. New Malden is a 10-minute train ride from Kingston and has the best selection by far.
What are the essential Korean pantry items?
Start with: gochujang (red pepper paste), gochugaru (red pepper flakes), doenjang (soybean paste), soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and short-grain rice. Both H Mart and Korea Foods stock all of these.
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This guide is part of Kingston Compass, covering Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. We focus on practical local recommendations and regularly checked information. All venues are researched and verified by our local team.