September 6, 2023 – With more and more people from all over Europe and the world really, moving to the Croatian capital, along with Croatian people discovering the joys of global cuisine, they have been popping up all over the place, and now international shops in Zagreb are a regular sight.
Offering Chinese, Nepali, Turkish, American, Russian, Italian, and other international food, they are simply flourishing. This trend started some ten years ago, but they don’t always make it a long way. While some die out, others spring up, but the fact is that for years, people of Zagreb have had a rather large selection, especially of Asian and Italian shops. The good news for the rest of Croatia is that more and more of them are opening their web shops and delivering nationwide. Journal put together a great list of all the international food shops in Zagreb along with a detailed guide… Which one is your favorite?
American Food Store and more
Palinovečka St. 19a
One of the most colorful food stores in the metropolis is located in Vrbani and is an absolute mecca for fans of American products, especially sweets, snacks, drinks, and cereals. The offer in this small shop changes often, so be open to new things every time you visit! You can find Pringles in flavors usually unavailable in Croatia, such as pickles and kebabs. You can buy Prime drinks, the famous Moon Pie, Oreo donuts, and even Cheetos varieties such as mac’n’cheese. Their Facebook page regularly announces what new products they have introduced. If you are a fan of American products, follow them so you don’t miss anything.
Asia Store
Ilica 52 and Arena center
Asia Stores featuring Asian cuisine are available in two locations in Zagreb. The one in the Arena center is more ‘colorful,’ i.e., more focused on sweets, snacks, and juices, but also offers everything you might need for cooking at home, such as noodles and rice paper for spring rolls. Their store in Ilica, on the other hand, is a natural (and more extensive) gastronomic oasis with a large selection of foods, ingredients, and additions for dishes from the Far East. Indeed, in both stores, you will find everything you need for a salty, sweet, sour, and spicy Asian meal, from rice and soy to spice paste. In addition to the stores, you can also see the offer on their website. If you’re lacking inspiration for Asian food, here you will find recipes and tips, and tricks for better-tasting dishes.
Pekinška Patka (Peking Duck)
Vlaška 78
The small store in the city center is named after one of the most famous dishes in Chinese cuisine, but it does not only offer Chinese food. You can find items from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America here. There is okra from India, black-eyed beans from Madagascar, shito hot sauce from Ghana, rose water from Lebanon, corn flour from Mexico, and many ready and semi-ready meals from China, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan. The colorful display window full of stickers hides a lot of sweets and snacks, such as dried mango from the Philippines and the famous Japanese mandarin mochi. You will often find interesting tropical fruits in the store, for example, durian, which has a very unpleasant smell but is also an ingredient in many Asian delicacies. Peking duck also has a webshop where you can order your favorite products.
Kathmandu Mart
Kneza Branimira 45
The first Nepali-Indian store in Croatia was opened this July. Their most popular items are basmati rice (which you can also buy in a 5-kilogram package), lentils, and various snacks. All are much spicier than those from standard Croatian supermarkets, of course. There are also ready-made dishes, such as the famous biryani (rice with meat or seafood) and the crispy dessert soan papdi, which is highly demanded to be made at home. Some of the products they offer are also published on the website, but for an authentic Nepali gastronomy experience, look at the store, which will not disappoint.
Asian Cash & Carry Megastore
Trg Senjskih Uskoka 7
Discover the real flavors of the East in a store not far from Avenue Mall with a truly impressive offer. There is a variety of groceries but also kitchen tools, such as knives and wok pans. Here, you can buy huge packages of rice, and it also stands out for its affordable soy sauce price. Their working hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturdays until 2 p.m. Due to their busy business schedule, most of their fellow citizens visit on weekends.
Asian Cash & Carry
Ivanićgradska 33
A slightly smaller store of the same name is located in Peščenica. You will also find a large selection of Asian food products – rice noodles, gyoza, spice mixes, marinades for meat… They are open until 4 p.m., but they also offer home delivery. It is best to check out the offer and prices on their Facebook page, which is regularly updated.
Little Manila
Importanne Center, Trg Ante Starčevića 7
As its name suggests, Little Manila is a small shop mainly selling Filipino products (Manila is the capital of the Philippines) at affordable prices. In addition to products from the Philippines, you will also find Chinese, Thai, and other Asian food products there. Various types of rice, canned fish, sauces, compotes, and snacks are often on offer, and you can check the offer on their webshop.
Habibi Orient
Kralja Zvonimira 5
A specialized store for traditional Middle Eastern products, which recently moved from Savska Street to a new space where it continues to offer Arab-Turkish specialties. If you have visited Istanbul, this store might remind you of its small markets. Habibi Orient also has a webshop. Their dates, dessert Hana Halawa chocolate chips, fresh lokum, and falafel mixes are magnificent. Alternatively, try the pickled vine leaves for sarmice (japrak) and the pickled cheese that comes from Armenia, which is an ideal addition to salads!
Ruske Delicije (Russian Delicacies)
Vlaška 19/1
The retail store in the center of Zagreb offers many Russian products, from gifts and souvenirs to cosmetics and food. If you want different types of caviar, they have a wide range. The same applies to canned vegetables and soups. They also have Russian candy in bulk, in bags and candy boxes. The oldest Russian drink, kvass, is available here in several varieties – ready-made in a bottle or powdered (kvass from dry bread) that you can prepare yourself at home. It is a non-alcoholic drink obtained by fermentation of rye flour and sugar. Russian delicacies also offer delivery for Croatia, and you can order through the webshop.
La turka
This specialized Turkish shop and pastry shop in five Croatian cities (Zagreb, Varaždin, Split, Zadar, and Pula), in several locations, offers traditional Turkish specialties. Their colorful windows are full of various types of baklava, their most popular product, but also rahat lokum, chocolate cubes, dried fruits, and nuts. They also have a webshop where you can find teas, tahini paste, pomegranate sauce, carob extract, coffee pots, and cups.
Mangia
Medulićeva 14 and Tomašićeva 1
Salumeria Mangia is an established address for lovers of mortadella, Grana Padano cheese, burrata, original pasta, and other Italian specialties. Not long after their first store in Medulićeva opened, due to its great popularity, a second one was opened in Tomašićeva. You will find everything you need to prepare a delicious Italian lunch at both locations – spices, olive oil, tomatoes, sauces, premium wines, and grappa. Not only can you taste boar mortadella and delicious focaccia here, but they also have great gift ideas, such as a gift delicacies box that comes in two sizes, is full of Italian products, and is ideal for gatherings at home!
Delicatesse O La La
Masarykova 21
You can get excellent mortadella with pistachios and truffles or pork cheek bacon at a cute Italian shop that opened in the middle of the pandemic. As soon as you enter it, you will feel the spirit of Italy and want to buy everything from pasta to bresaola (beef prosciutto). The store is also on popular delivery services, so you can order delicious cheeses and other Italian products.
Gastronomica
Bartola Kašića 10
If you are in love with Italy, don’t miss the recently opened small shop near the Kvatrić market. There, you can find Italian products that you can use as pizza toppings, ingredients for a delicious sandwich, or a classic pesto pasta. Check out the famous cantuccis that go well with coffee, maybe their spicy pates, De Padova olive oil from Puglia (at a very reasonable price), Manitoba flour from Caputo, or the specially recommended pistachio paste! They plan on having a tasting room and selling dried meat delicacies by the piece. They publish all the latest info on their Facebook page.
Rice Kakis
webshop only
A diverse range of Asian delicacies – traditional delicacies such as kimchi, famous Japanese mochi, panko crumbs, and noodles – can be ordered through the Rice Kakis webshop. For lovers of refreshing drinks, they offer bubble tea or boba tea in four flavors, as well as the carbonated ramune drink. Buldak noodles are the most popular TikTok dish right now, and you can find those here as well. Rice Kakis is delivered to all of Croatia within three working days.
