Asian Grocery Shopping at Market Kokoro

Although some Asian cooking items can be found at Checkers and Woolies, you’ll have authentic sauces, instant noodles, and frozen items at Market Kokoro. There are three locations in Joburg. I visited the Rivonia location because it was recommended to me by a friend. Although the shop seems small, there is an incredible variety of goods.

Other locations are in Fourways and Sandton.

Korean, Japanese, and Chinese grocery shopping

I really enjoy making Asian food (or at least my version of it). I’m pretty confident with my curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes. However, I didn’t recognize about 80% of the food at Kokoro— there is so much to learn about Asian cooking by going to Kokoro.

I visited the shop without a grocery list. All I knew was that I wanted to buy miso since I had run out of it at home. I wandered the shop 3 times before picking up ramen, miso, frozen dumplings, oyster mushrooms, fresh kimchi, tofu, veggie gyoza, and glass noodles.

There are tons of different sauces (and brands) here unlike other grocery stores, as well as different varieties of seaweed, rice, frying batters, and a selection of veggies and tofu.

I loved the whole wall full of ramen noodles! I bought three veggie varieties. Ramen noodle prices range from as low as R19 to R130.

Some things stood out to me as I browsed the shelves at Kokoro. You can purchase frozen jellyfish, bonito flakes, several different types of seaweed, and even kelp!

Gimbap at Kokoro

I was happily surprised that gimbap was being served when I visited! I had heard this was just offered on the weekends, but on Thursday afternoon gimbap was available. Gimbap, also known as kimbap, is similar to Japanese sushi. The main difference is that the rice in gimbap is sweet and is seasoned with sesame oil, whereas in sushi the rice is made with vinegar.

We got the veggie gimbap and the kimchi gimbap. Both were excellent and I will definitely return for more. The cheapest gimbap is the Kokoro for only R35.

Gimbap is made fresh—just place your order at the checkout counter then take your receipt to the staff at the food station.

You can also order any ramen to eat and there are also corndogs for sale. There are a few tables by the food station so you can eat after you shop.

Online shopping with Market Kokoro

Market Kokoro also sells online if you’re too lazy to make your way out there.  The online shop is great because the products are very well organized into categories on the website.

Additionally, it looks like there is more variety online than what I saw in-store at Rivonia. But you don’t get the full experience because you gotta go try to the Gimbap.