Grocery stores/supermarkets in Ernakulam/Cochin

bobjohn93

We visited Ernakulam and Cochin for a few days and found we liked it so much we want to spend a couple of months there.

But, we could not seem to find an American style supermarket. Two different drivers took us to a 'supermarket' that would not even qualify for a gas station store in the States. I am guessing that you go to one place to buy fruit, another place to buy meat, another place to buy canned goods, etc. Any help will be appreciated.

customer

This is an experience i really hate to say. i had been to vmart and such an experience i even never had abroad. i was in need of fresh meat as we had a small party in the evening. as i approached the meat counter i could see fresh meat hanging. when i asked for it the sales lady just refused since the the authorised butcher was on leave. i said that is not fair as a customer it is ur duty to fulfil his needs moreover someone could take the step to cut the meat. but she still kept saying sorry sir we are not authorised to do it.i f the meat was not available or kept on display i could have understood.but here the case is different the customer can see the meat but cannot buy. moreover they even dont sell frozen meat as an option. why the hell they have opened a meat counter?

malabar

**Super market not giving meat ********

It could be that city law does not permit to cut /sell meat without proper licensed person ( butcher) .

customer

inthat case they should have made somother arrangements like keeping away the fresh meat from the sight of the customer since the butcher is not there. this was a situation in which the meat is available but cannot be given due to butcher's absence. other supermarkets like varkeys keep frozen meat (alpro,mpi etc) as an option for the customer and this is the way the situation has to be dealt with and not by giving silly excuses.

sirensongs

The best, most American-style supermarket is the 2-storey VARKEY's on MG Road (isn't everything?) just north of Paico, I think. It is a great deal like Nilgiri's. The Abad Plaza Hotel has its own in-house mini mart that is pretty good. The best pharmacy in town is MG Lifestyle farther down on MG Road, near Ravipuram (I think) - an actual drugstore where you can walk around and select items, with a full pharmacy next door, open 7 days till about 9pm. US Style presentation.

For the folks who are complaining about not finding good beef - in India - are you sure you're in the right country?

Sirensongs
The India Diaires

__________________
"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose yourself."
Feringhee: The India Diaries

customer

hey siren thanx for the info very good. but for the case of beef u should understand it is the service offered to the customer being discussed and in todays century shopkeepers should know how important a customer is and thanks to internet where reality is exposed.

mansingh

"Aashish" on Marine Drive is probably better than Varkey's.

CliveG

You can buy beef and fish at the Ernakulam fruit and veg market. It may not look the most hygienic place in the world but I have not had a problem with the meat. This market sells great fruit and veg and I visit it weekly. I can get things there such as lettuce and spinach even if they ar not on display just ask and they will find it.
Depending what we need we use Varkeys for some things (they sell frozen meat) Abad for other things (Next to Abad is Canopy Cafe which sells really yummy chocolate cakes), Best Bakers for pastry items and bread.
Don't expect to find all you want in one shop - it won't happen but then it is fun visiting the different places. I use a little shop called City Stores in Chitoor Road and he seems to have everything (except meat and veg) and when I can't find what I want I ask the shopkeeper and somehow he finds what I want and invite me to sit down and get me a cup of coffee - service you won't get in a supermarket!
We also use the same auto driver (we have been in Ernakulam for 5 months duing the past year) and if there are things I need but don't know where to go I ask him and either he will tell me or he will go and get the items for me.

czibert

Nilgiri's has to be the best store in Kochi. Near the Saraf Hospital Junction on a side street off MG Road, this store has easy parking, and is air conditioned.

Unlike Varkey's, the entire store is enclosed so all of the products don't have a layer of dust/road grime/diesel soot covering them. A variety of western or faux-western products are available. Some produce comes shrink-wrapped so you need not worry about water related issues. Western style cheese is even available, thought somewhat odd (the Mozarella was half-way passable).

Additionally the place is clean. All of this comes at a price--this place is certainly more expensive than Varkey's but well worth the trip.

We thought we'd struck gold when we discovered this store...

drdiamond

Thank you for the info. I am going to be moving there for 2 years. Could you let me know what area is good to stay and which are the better schools in that area. From your post, I assume that Nilgiri's is the best supermarket?
Thanks for your attention.

Nick Diamond

CliveG

There is a better Varkeys than the one in MG Road. This is a new one in Old Railway Staion Road off of Chitoor Road heading towards High court Junction. It is clean well stocked with meat and fish counter, fresh veg. Best thing to do is to try them all and see which one suits your needs.

czibert

Yes, Nilgiri's is the best grocery store.

Re living, there are several nice high-rise apartments along Marine Drive in Ernakulam (where I lived). You can probably find a nice house to rent in Fort Kochi, but this area is far away from everything else and inconvenient if you don't work out there.

There are also some nice gated compounds, I know of a newly constructed place over off of Airport-Seaport Road.

Ernakulam is a nice, central location. However, it is also the very dirty and somewhat depressing downtown of Kochi. Since Kochi is so spread out and since travel times by car are often agonizingly slow I recommend living close to where you work or close enough, but still near restaurants and services. Otherwise you will spend a lot of time in a slow moving car with a lot honking going on.

I no longer live in Kochi I will note, I moved back to the United States May 08.

drdiamond

Thank you czibert & lazynest.
I am excited to move there. Are the schools good? International standards? Like an IB curriculum or ICSE?
Much appreciated
Nick

vineeth009

there is a super market in kadavanthira called Varkey's super market.....i think u ll get all the stuff from there.....

Xennt

Does anyone know where to get whole wheat bread? You know, the large heavy big brown bread that is available all over Europe?

I am also looking for Heinz Salad Cream. I use to purchase that in London, but I cannot find it anywhere. Same for mayonnaise.