Bored of mince and tatties? Then get your groceries from our selection of some of the best world food shops
If the same-old lockdown dinners are getting you down, Gaby Soutar discovers fine foods from all corners of the planet in Edinburgh
We may not be able to travel anywhere, but we can still experience global grub
In no particular geographical order, we list the capital’s best world supermarkets and delis.
If you’re bored of your beige lockdown dinners, visit one of these places and you’ll be whipping up egusi soup, gyoza and pierogi in no time.
Mexican
Lupe Pintos, 24 Leven Street, Edinburgh (0131 228 6241, www.lupepintos. com)
This much-loved Edinburgh deli, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, sells Mexican, Spanish and US groceries. As the only stockist in the capital, the tins of chipotles in adobo are their bestseller, but they also offer dried chillies like ancho, chipotle, pasilla and guajillo and Aleppo chilli flakes. Oh, and hot sauces that are fiery enough to blow your wig off.
Chinese
Pat’s Chung Ying, 199-201 Leith Walk, Edinburgh (0131 554 0358)
This much loved supermarket, which also offers Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Thai ingredients, seems to have been around since time immemorial. As well as fresh ingredients at the back, there’s every cooking sauce or pickle you could need, fridges full of baozi and gyoza, lots of cute cartoon-emblazoned snacks, chopsticks and crockery.
African
Uwagboe Foods, 194 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh (www. uwagboefoods.com)
As well as this shop, which sells the sweet, soft and chewy Nigerian agege bread and halal meat, this place has opened a restaurant - Uwagboe’s Kitchen & Grill (266 Leith Walk), with Nigerian party jollof and chicken sausage shawarma. Shop online for groceries and contact free delivery.
Polish
Kamiko Deli, 80 Restalrig Road South, Edinburgh (en. kamikodeli.shop)
Do an online shop at this friendly deli, which is offering daily two hour delivery slots. We’re a bit scared of the sauerkraut juice, which is described as immunity boosting, but we’re definitely up for the selection of nonimmunity-boosting kielbasa sausage.
Spanish
The Black Hoof, 171 Dalry Road, Edinburgh (www. theblackhoof.co.uk)
Get your jamon Iberico here. Shop on this deli’s website for a whole ham shoulder at £189 (or £489 for the belloto version) and you’ll be fed through lockdown and onwards until armageddon. Once they’re open again, they offer Spanish groceries and tapas to sit in.
Mediterranean
Akdeniz, 82-90 Leith Walk, Edinburgh (0131 467 3980) Leither’s love this supermarket, which sells olives, meat, sweets, bread (including pide) has its own butcher at the back, and some great Turkish baklava.
Bulgarian
Balkan, Bulgarian Foods & Drinks, 7 Bowhill Terrace This is one of only three Bulgarian shops in Edinburgh. It features a fridge full of sausages and cheeses (including sirene) and jars of goodies like lyutenitsa. You’ll be making your own kebapche in no time. Find them on Facebook.
Thai
THAI@HAYMARKET, 39 Dalry Road, Edinburgh (0131 313 4888)
It’s pretty tricky to find Thai basil in Edinburgh but, apparently, this family business stocks it. You might also bag dok kae (an edible flower, used in a sour spicy curry called gang som dok kae) as well as young green peppercorns and margosa.
Greek
Greek Artisan Pastries, 23 Bread Street and 32 Portobello High Street (www. aristonfoodsltd.co.uk) This is more of a cafe than a shop, but it does sell a selection of Greek products, some available in the shop and others on their website. You can also order their fresh pastries, including the baklava and bougatsa with spinach and feta, through Uber Eats.