In terms of variety of global cuisine, UK is pretty stacked with options. But, regularly cooking at home should be something you should definitely consider both as a life-skill and to save on costs of eating outside. As a South Asian, some of my favourite brands of regional food are available from the nearby chains such as Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Sainsbury and Waitrose, but recently I have discovered a little gem of a store in the heart of Guildford: Sadia Grocery, located in Woodbridge Hill. If you want to catch the bus here, the no. 1 bus by Stagecoach which goes to Stoughton stops close by.
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One of my favourite things about this little store is that everything in it is super fresh and halal. There are so many options for authentic South Asian ingredients, including a whole aisle just for spices as shown below! There is also a special corner for freshly butchered meat all of which are halal. The sheer amount of options can even be a little bit overwhelming, but plan ahead and assume you will spend a considerable amount of time here!
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In addition to the South Asian groceries, there are also some Middle Eastern and Turkish options available as well. In this store, I stocked up on many spices and seasonings, some really good chilli, and a little baklava treat for myself.
As Ramadan is also less than a week away, I find myself missing home just a bit more. Having the option to buy familiar ingredients to make some comfort meals for myself is something I am quite grateful for. As this blog is dedicated to South Asians, I hope that this little article on familiar food options is helpful to you in the future as well!
Cheers and Ramadan Mubaarik!
Shaulan