Are you looking to make a dish from the Ivory Coast or Uganda, but don’t know where to buy ingredients in your neighbourhood?
The Green Line curated a list of African grocers across the city in the West End, central downtown and East End to make your life easier when you are on the hunt for African ingredients.
So, here are nine shops to save for when shawarma and burgers just aren’t cutting it.
WEST END TORONTO
Starfish Market Jane
Starfish Market Jane has two locations, one at 1721 Jane St. in Toronto’s Rustic neighbourhood and one at 415 The Westway in Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview. They’ve been serving African, Caribbean and tropical groceries to Torontonians for over 30 years.
Can’t make it to either location? You can have your shopping cart delivered to you through their website.
Their website has a whole page dedicated to African products, where you can find spices like banga (for palm fruit soup) or ground egusi (West African melon seeds), spreads, drinks and more.
NOIAFRICAN Supermarket
NOIAFRICAN supermarket is located at 1662 Weston Rd. in Weston.
Inside NOIAFRICAN, you’ll find indigenous Nigerian foods, Ghanaian and Senegalese items, as well as other West African delicacies.
The store’s mission is “to provide Canadians with a taste of home, wherever that may be.”
Zula Market
Zula Market is located at 1654 Jane St. in Weston. It’s a convenience store that specializes in Eritrean and Ethiopian items.
The store carries injera (fermented pancake), berbere (spice blend), shiro (stew), a variety of teff (grain) and traditional items such as jebena (coffee pot), finjal (coffee cup) and more. They also carry imported haircare products.
DOWNTOWN TORONTO
Ticana African Supermarket
Ticana African Supermarket is located at 440 Dundas St. E in Moss Park. You’ll find chin chin (Nigerian fried snack), attiéké from the Ivory Coast (a dish with a couscous-like texture), matooke (bananas), iru from Nigeria (locust beans), pounded yam powder and more.
The store owner was interviewed by Regent Park TV last year. She spoke about starting her store with Congolese food and then bringing in more African countries, such as Rwanda and Burundi, as interest in African food grew in the city.
Chakula Tamu
Chakula Tamu is located at 1690 Eglinton Ave. W. in Briar Hill-Belgravia, also known as the Little Jamaica neighbourhood. The Ugandan-owned store opened its doors in 2009 after seeing a need in the community for organic East African food.
“We understand that food from every part of the world carries a uniqueness about it and there are some days…when pizza or burgers just don’t cut it,” Chakula Tamu writes on its website.
The name is a Swahili phrase meaning “delicious food,” so you know it’s going to be good right away.
The store serves edible clay ebumba, Kazire drinks, Gorillos snacks and more.
Caribbean Corner
Caribbean Corner is located at 171 Baldwin St. in Kensington-Chinatown.
It’s a notable mention in downtown Toronto as it’s one of the city’s oldest Caribbean stores. The shop also sells a small variety of African products. You’ll find kuli kuli, a crunchy Nigerian snack, as well as fresh produce from various origins, such as breadfruit and julie mangoes.
EAST END TORONTO
Ebeano Store
Ebeano Store is located at 2873 Kingston Rd. in Cliffcrest. It’s known for its competitive prices and wide variety of African products.
Inside, you’ll be able to find items like fura (fermented milk snack or drink), cooked meals, Golden Morn (cereal) and more.
📸: Lucas Bustinski/The Green Line.
Coral Afro-Mart Customers have reviewed Coral Afro-Mart as a true gem for all African products. You can find Coral Afro-Mart at 1375 Danforth Rd, unit 9, in Eglinton East. Inside, you’ll see Nigerian agege bread, Ayoola Poundo yam and more.
African Freshness Superstore
African Freshness Superstore is located at 2500 Lawrence Ave. E. in Dorset Park. The store always has fresh produce like pears, oha leaves and peppers. You’ll also be able to find products like white garri (made from cassava), Mirinda drinks, fufu flour and more.
Do you have another store you’d like The Green Line to add to our list? Send us an email at hello@thegreenline.to or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll get back to you!
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