Supermarkets with European Products in Phuket
Europeans have firmly settled in Phuket, and the island’s infrastructure is gradually adapting to the needs of its residents. Today, finding food familiar to a European is an everyday matter – even though not so long ago, buying prosciutto or pasta in Phuket was simply impossible.
Missing imported cheese, cured meats, or grains other than rice? Here’s where to find familiar flavors on the island.
1. Villa Market
(Chalong)
You could say that Villa Market is synonymous with imported products in Phuket. It’s a supermarket chain tailored to a European audience. The largest one is located in the Market Village shopping mall. This is the go-to place for a wide variety of foods from different countries: Australian beef, German sausages, Italian pasta, Russian buckwheat, French cheeses, as well as baby food.
Dairy products aren’t popular in Thailand: the hot climate isn’t suitable for large-scale livestock farming, and traditional Thai cuisine historically gets by without milk, using coconut milk instead. The same goes for bread – it’s usually replaced with rice here.
If you’re missing cottage cheese, kefir, or yogurt, Villa Market is the place to go – it has a large section dedicated to dairy and fermented milk products. Bread is available too – and in a good variety.
On the downside: be prepared for higher prices compared to other supermarkets. The products are imported, and logistics from the CIS countries and Europe clearly don’t come cheap.
2. Big C
(Phuket Town)
(Patong)
(Kamala)
A chain of stores represented by the Big C Supercenter hypermarket in Phuket Town (the largest in the chain), the Big C Extra supermarket in the Jungceylon shopping mall and in the Kamala area, as well as smaller 24-hour convenience stores. For European products, it’s best to head to the larger locations. True, the selection of familiar items is still smaller than at Villa Market, but the prices are more wallet-friendly.
Nevertheless, on the shelves you’ll definitely find bread and other baked goods, grains (buckwheat, pearl barley, corn grits, couscous, lentils), dairy products and cheeses (though keep in mind that prices start at 500 baht per kg). There are also nuts and dried fruits, various sauces and seasonings.
Another plus – you can buy chilled meat here (chicken, pork, and beef, and sometimes even lamb and duck), seafood, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables (you can even find zucchini!).
3. Tops
(Phuket Town)
(Bang Tao)
Another large chain of supermarkets and convenience stores, but not all locations have sections with imported goods – look for them in the Central Phuket Floresta and Porto de Phuket shopping malls.
By the way, prices here are lower than at Villa Market.
Here you can buy grains, including buckwheat, various sausages and other smoked meats (jamón, prosciutto), cheeses (a wide range of European ones – just try not to faint at the prices!), frozen foods (pelmeni, vareniki), bread, and dairy products. There’s also a wide selection of baby formulas and other specialized products for little ones.
4. Macro
(Phuket Town)
A chain of hypermarkets with a wide variety of products, including those for expats (the largest is located in Phuket Town). Ideal for those who like to shop for the month ahead – many items are sold in large, American-style packages.
On the shelves, you’ll find original pelmeni and vareniki, grains, canned goods (from pickles to condensed milk), frozen berries (even lingonberries and cranberries), chilled meat and seafood, sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese… in short, all the basics are covered 100%.
Also, at Macro you can take a mini-journey through products from different countries: Japanese sauces, Indian curry, Mexican tortillas, and European ready-made meals. It’s no wonder that Phuket’s restaurateurs come here to shop.
If you’re interested in trying different world cuisines, Phuket has everything you need for that.
Check out the “By Cuisine” selection and choose.
5. Lotus’s
(Phuket Town)
A supermarket chain with a “buy everything in one place” format (the largest is located in Phuket Town).
The assortment is huge: from fresh fruits to inflatable boats. When it comes to food, you can find bread and baked goods, cheeses, eggs, dairy and fermented dairy products, grains, meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits.
A huge plus – you can order delivery here. The store’s assortment with up-to-date prices is available on the website: the interface is clear and accessible in English.
And although prices in these supermarkets aren’t the lowest, there are often various promotions. For example, in the evenings, discounts of 50% or more are offered on ready-made food and baked goods.
In general, there’s no shortage of European products in Phuket. And if you’re specifically looking for Russian products (kefir, vareniki, sauerkraut, “Fruto Nyanya” puree, or “Alenka” chocolate), check out our article “Where to Buy Russian Products in Phuket” – all the insider tips are there.
