Grocery shopping shouldn’t be daunting.
If you’re feeling the sting of the cost-of-living crisis in Toronto, and keep wondering, “where do I find affordable fresh produce and pantry staples?” — this series is for you.
In “The Checkout,” we track down the city’s most affordable grocery stores — all locally owned, in each and every neighbourhood.
We’re kicking things off with a visit to Hua Sheng Supermarket at 299 Spadina Ave. in the heart of Chinatown. It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and located just steps away from the 505 and 510 streetcars.
The store offers a wide variety of groceries and Asian food products. You can find different types of Asian sauces and spices, instant ramen, noodles of every format, fresh herbs, fruits and veggies, frozen seafood and so much more. You’ll often find seasonal items too like moon cakes and lunar new year treats.
On our grocery shopping trip last week, we found honey pineapple for $2 each, large bok choy and zucchini for 99 cents a pound, a tray of peeled garlic for $1.59 and 12 ounces of seafood medley for $5.
If Hua Sheng’s too far for you or if you’d like to explore other options, check out our Neighbourhood Food Map. It’s a great resource for those looking for local spots to get groceries at prices that are lower than your typical chain supermarket. You’ll also find recommendations for meal programs, food banks, discounted and pay-what-you-can markets — all vetted and shared by people like you. This map is growing and expanding by the day, providing a varied and trusted list of food offerings across the city.
If you have a favourite mom-and-pop food store that you’d like to share, you can fill out a form to let your fellow Torontonians in on the best places to shop affordably.
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