All In One Nepali Grocery: The Complete Guide to Buying Nepali Food in Australia (2026)

If you are searching for "Nepali grocery store near me" in Australia, this is the guide that ties it all together.

Australia has 50 Nepali grocery stores spread across 9 cities. Sydney has the most at 15, followed by Melbourne with 7, Canberra and Hobart with 6 each, and Perth with 6. Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin have fewer, but they exist. There is even one on the Gold Coast.

This guide covers everything you need to know about buying Nepali food in Australia — what to buy, where to find it, how to save money, and what to do when your local store does not stock what you need.

The State of Nepali Grocery Shopping in Australia

Five years ago, finding Nepali groceries in Australia meant driving across the city to a single shop that may or may not have had what you needed. Today, the landscape has changed significantly:

• Sydney — 15 stores, concentrated in Rockdale, Auburn, Hurstville and Granville. Read the Sydney guide.
• Melbourne — 7 stores, spread across Coburg, Sunshine, Werribee and Tarneit. Read the Melbourne guide.
• Canberra — 6 stores, from Mawson to Gungahlin. Read the Canberra guide.
• Hobart — 6 stores, including Launceston. Read the Hobart guide.
• Perth — 6 stores, mostly in Morley and East Cannington. Read the Perth guide.
• Brisbane — 4 stores, in Lutwyche, Nundah and Moreton Bay. Read the Brisbane guide.
• Adelaide — 4 stores, from Glandore to Parafield. Read the Adelaide guide.
• Darwin — 1 store in Darwin City. Read the Darwin guide.
• Gold Coast — 1 store in Southport (Hamro Spices).

What to Buy — The Essential Nepali Grocery List

If you are setting up a Nepali kitchen in Australia for the first time, here is what you need:

The Absolute Essentials

• Dal — yellow lentils (the most common), black lentils (maas ko dal) and green lentils. Buy in 5kg bags for better value.
• Basmati rice — 10kg bag. You will use it every day.
• Chiura — beaten rice. For breakfast, snacks and quick meals.
• Timur — Himalayan Sichuan pepper. Without this, your food will not taste Nepali.
• Jimbu — dried Himalayan herb. A pinch in dal transforms the flavour.
• Wai Wai noodles — Nepal's favourite instant noodle. Buy a box.

Spices and Seasonings

• Turmeric powder (besar)
• Cumin powder and seeds (jeera)
• Coriander powder (dhaniya)
• Gundruk — fermented leafy greens
• Sinki — fermented bamboo shoots
• Achaar — bottled Nepali pickles (tomato, mango, lime)

Frozen and Ready-Made

• Frozen momos — chicken, vegetable or buff. Quick dinner option.
• Frozen parathas — for breakfast.
• Samosas — frozen, ready to fry.

Beverages

• Nepali tea — for chiya (milk tea).
• Gorkha Beer or Nepal Ice — Nepali beers.

Festival Supplies (Seasonal)

• Puja samagri — worship supplies for Dashain, Tihar and other ceremonies.
• Diyas — oil lamps for Tihar.
• Tika materials — vermillion (sindoor) and rice.
• Traditional sweets — for Dashain and Tihar.

How to Save Money on Nepali Groceries

Buy staples in bulk. Dal and rice are significantly cheaper per kilogram when bought in 5kg or 10kg bags. A 10kg bag of basmati rice from a Nepali grocery store will cost less per kilo than a 2kg bag from Coles or Woolworths.

Compare prices between stores. If you live in Sydney, visit two stores in Rockdale or Auburn to compare prices. The difference can be noticeable, especially on spices and frozen foods.

Split bulk purchases with friends. If a 10kg bag of dal is too much for one household, split it with another Nepali family. You both save money.

Shop during festival sales. Some stores offer discounts around Dashain and Tihar. It is not guaranteed, but it is worth asking.

What to Do When You Cannot Find Something

Not every store stocks every product. If you cannot find what you need:

1. Call other stores — check the grocery directory and call stores in your city.
2. Try Indian grocery stores — they stock many overlapping products (dal, rice, most spices). They will not have timur, jimbu or chiura, but they will have the basics.
3. Order online — some Nepali grocery stores in Sydney and Melbourne ship Australia-wide.
4. Ask the community — local Nepali Facebook groups and community chats are good s of information about where to find specific products.
5. Substitute when possible — if you cannot find timur, Sichuan pepper from an Asian grocery store is a close substitute. If you cannot find jimbu, dried oregano can work in a pinch (though it is not the same).

The All In One Grocery Directory

This guide gives you the overview. For store-by-store details in your city, use the Nepali grocery directory on Nepalese Events Australia. The directory lists all 50 stores across 9 cities, with addresses, phone numbers, opening hours and maps.

Browse by city, find the store closest to you, and start cooking.