by Heidi Olivier
When it comes to food diversity, Joburg has truly hit the jackpot. This is a city where you can travel the world through flavour, from fragrant spices and handmade pasta to small-batch sauces and imported treats you won't find at your average supermarket. Our cultural mix shows up beautifully on our plates. The best part is that you don't need a plane ticket to experience it. With the right speciality shops and standout products, you can turn your own kitchen into a global tasting table. Discover the international supermarkets and delis in Joburg that'll fuel your next culinary escapade.
Azteca
Azteca, a beloved Mexican store established by a first-generation Mexican couple (saludos, Hector and Gaby Agraz!), manufactures authentic Mexican foods. Corn and wheat products, such as nachos, taco shells, tortillas, and wraps, are manufactured using traditional recipes right here in Joburg. They also stock dried chillies, condiments, salsas, moles, cooking sauces, and canned produce straight from Mexico. You'll even find popular Mexican candy. Be warned, however: they're delicious, but also pretty spicy! Most products are certified Kosher by the Beth Din of South Africa and Halaal by the South African National Halaal Authority.
Details: 709 Richards Drive, Midrand | Tel: 011 312 1795 | WhatsApp: 084 258 9433 | [email protected] | https://www.azteca.co.za/
Kokoro Korean Supermarket
At Kokoro, you’ll find all the flavours of South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and beyond. From essential sauces and spices to noodles, rice, and seaweed snacks, the shelves are packed with everything you need to recreate your favourites from scratch. You'll also find fresh fruit and veg alongside freezers full of ready-to-heat dumplings and hotpot staples. With stores across Joburg, easy access to quality Asian ingredients means there's no reason not to show off your culinary skills. Whether you are tossing together an authentic stir-fry or rolling your own gimbap, Kokoro makes it simple to get it right. You'll find them in Rivonia, Linden, Fourways, Sandton, and Brooklyn in Pretoria.
Details: Head office 066 193 3689 | [email protected] | Market Kokoro
Super Sconto
South Africa’s largest Italian deli, Super Sconto, offers a wide variety of Italian products from food to cleaning supplies. You can either shop in-store or online, making this shopping experience super convenient. The deli offers cold cuts, artisanal cheeses, and a variety of pickled and roasted vegetables. Of course, no Italian dish is truly Italian unless there's tomato, homemade pasta, and good olive oil. Fill that trolley!
Details: House 169, Corner 5th Street Tirren, 171 Louis Botha Ave, Orange Grove | 011 728 7561| [email protected] | Super Sconto - Italian Food Centre
Aldoukan
Lebanese cuisine is growing in popularity in South Africa, and it's easy to understand the appeal. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean diets focus on fresh ingredients, generous spreads, and dishes that are both wholesome and full of flavour. For the health-conscious foodie, Aldoukan is well worth a visit. As the sole distributor of many Lebanese brands in South Africa, they stock a wide range of authentic pantry essentials, from olive oils and grains to sweet treats and hard-to-find ingredients. You can also place your order online, making it simple to bring these flavours home. Be sure to add coffee to your basket. The Lebanese are known for their rich, aromatic brews, and once you've had a proper cup, you'll see why their coffee is so highly regarded around the world.
Details: 39 La Rochelle Road, Johannesburg | 0 71 422 1835 / 072 476 2824 | [email protected] | Aldoukan
MEZE/The Cheese Place
Ah, the Greeks. If there’s a nation that truly understands the art of good food, it’s Greece. Ask most people what they would struggle to give up, and cheese is almost always at the top of the list. Thankfully, there is no need for dramatic farewells. While you can find the Mezé range at Spar, Checkers, and Pick n Pay, a visit to their deli in Linden is a treat in itself. This neighbourhood gem stocks imported Greek products, briny olives in every shade of green and purple, and a selection of seasonal dishes that celebrate traditional flavours. Their haloumi, feta, parmesan, and mozzarella are firm favourites, but you'll also find chévre goat's cheese, provolone, and ricotta to round out your next Mediterranean-inspired spread. Don’t forget to add some Caprice wafers to your basket. Dessert is part of a balanced diet, after all.
Details: 14 1st Ave, Linden, Randburg, 2195 | 016 365 9000 | [email protected] | Home - Mezé Foods
PS: Their website has some amazing recipes for you to check out.
Thrupps
If you're looking for an international deli in Joburg that truly covers all bases, Thrupps & Co is the place to start. The shelves are lined with global finds, from premium cooking ingredients and artisanal soap imported from Florence to iconic Yankee Candles from the United States. The bakery bakes fresh bread daily, and that unmistakable aroma alone is worth the visit. Their “Best of Joburg” award-winning delicatessen is a standout, offering a curated selection of cheeses and cured meats ideal for entertaining or building the perfect grazing board. Add farm-fresh fruit and veg, plus an impressive international wine selection, and you've got everything you need to create a dinner spread that feels both effortless and worldly.
Details: Lower Ground Floor, Thrupps Illovo Centre, Corner Oxford and Rudd Roads, Illovo | 011 268 0298 | [email protected] | Thrupps | Home
Beyers Chocolates
If it’s a taste bud adventure you're looking for, then look no further than Beyers Chocolates. We all know that the chocolatiers of Belgium make some of the best chocolate in the world. Using handcrafted techniques and fresh ingredients, Beyers Chocolates offers classic flavours and new tastebud adventures. This is a fabulous starting point for a sweet treat when you're on the hunt for a gift, or as they say in Afrikaans when there's no justifiable reason, want something tasty net sommer vir die lekkerheid.
Details: 28 Derrick Road, Spartan, Kempton Park | 011 394 6892 | [email protected]
72 North Reef Road, Wilbart, Germiston | 011 057 7674 | [email protected] | https://www.beyerschocolates.com/
We’re a country rich in flavour, from the food on our plates to the languages we speak and the traditions we celebrate. In Joburg especially, the world feels closer than ever, waiting to be discovered in neighbourhood delis, bustling markets, and tucked-away speciality stores. Hopefully, this guide inspires you to explore beyond your usual trolley list and bring new colours, aromas, and tastes into your kitchen. After all, sometimes the best way to travel is one delicious bite at a time.
