10+ Expat Supermarkets & Online Shops For That Essential Taste of Home

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Written by: | Last updated on February 29, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 6 minutes

No matter how much you try to deny it, and no matter how much you love Portuguese food, there are always things that you miss from home. It could be strong tea bags (British), Vegemite (Australians), Tayto crisps (Irish), sausages (Germans), or BBQ (Americans).

Although you can find some of these things in the Portuguese supermarkets, particularly the larger supermarkets, you probably won’t be able to find the majority of things that you’re looking for. Thankfully, there are an ever-increasing number of online and offline expats shops that can help you out.

The following are a few of the most popular, all of which deliver to Portugal.

British Shops

A lot of people move from the UK to Portugal and the Brits make up one of the largest expat groups in Portugal, so it’s no surprise that there are so many British shops and services here.

British Cornershop

The most popular online shop for British expats, British Cornershop stocks more than 12,000 products — everything from baked beans and Cadbury’s chocolate to baking products, Waitrose products, supplements, and even pet care products.

And, not content to just be popular with the Brits, they now also stock American and Irish products as well as food from Wales and Scotland.

Website: BritishCornershop.co.uk.

Other online shops include British Essentials, British Online Supermarket, Box from UK, and Britstore.

Overseas

The Algarve has such a large expat British popular that it actually has its own British supermarkets. Overseas stocks a wide range of products, primarily from Iceland and Waitrose, including Ginsters Pasties, Irn Bru, and Bisto gravy flakes. It even has its own butchers where you can order British cuts of meat.

Overseas has several locations in the Algarve, including one at Albufeira Retail Park (Algarve Shopping) near Guia and Albufeira and one in Portimão.

The Food Co.

Based in Almancil in the Eastern Algarve, The Food Co. supplies British and Tesco own-brand products to the Algarve. As well as the store in Almancil, The Food Co. also has several stores in Spain and in Gibraltar.

According to the Food Co.’s website, the store stocks more than 7,500 products, including much-missed products like marmite, British-strength tea bags, and Robinsons Squash.

Currently, The Food Co. has one location in Portugal (Almancil) but it expects to expand and open new stores over time.

American

Although there are a much smaller number of American expats in Portugal, because American food is so popular, it’s relatively easy to get your hands on some of your favourite treats and snacks.

My American Market

Based in France, My American Market is one of Europe’s largest shops for American expats. It stocks all of those American wonders that you struggle to find abroad, things like Twinkies, hostess cakes, Jelly Belly candy, spray cheese, and poptarts. Express delivery is available to anywhere in Europe, including to Portugal.

Website: https://www.myamericanmarket.com/

Glood

Glood is a growing chain of American and international food shops that are popping up across Portuguese cities. There you can buy all kinds of American snacks like Mountain Dew and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as well as snacks from around the world like Irn Bru (Scotland), Simbra crisps (South Africa), Chang Beer (Thailand), and Cocada (Brazil). You can even buy products from other part of Portugal, like Brisa Maracujá and Coral beer.

Glood has several stores across Portugal, including stores in Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra (see a full list here). As well as Glood, shoppers wanting a taste of ‘Merica can also head to Liberty Store which has stores in Lisbon and one several of the islands in the Azores, including São Miguel and Terceira.

Brazilian

Brazilians make up the largest expat or non-Portuguese group living in Portugal, and so it’s no surprise that there are quite a few Brazilian food shops stocking cocada, paçoca, guaraná syrup, and other goodies.

Mercado Brasil Tropical

Mercado Brasil Tropical is a chain of Brazilian shops that has several stores located across Portugal, both in Lisbon and Porto.

Mercado Brasil Tropical has stores in Lisboa, Odivelas, Cascais, VF Xira, Porto, and Almada.

Sabor Brasil

If you don’t have a Brazilian supermarket near you, you can buy most products online at Mercado Sabor Brasil. Based in Lisbon, Sabor Brasil delivers throughout Portugal as well as to other European countries including Germany, France, and Spain.

Website: https://saborbrasil.pt

German

Deutsche Metzgerei

Located at Vila Vita Parc, a luxury 5-star hotel and resort near Porches, Deutsche Metzgerei offers German sausage and other cuts of meat to German residents living on the Algarve. And, if you’d prefer someone else to cook them for you, there’s also a Biergarten within the Vila Vita Parc resort as well.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/oxenkopf/

Dutch

Go Dutch

Situated in Lagos, on the Western side of the Algarve, Go Dutch is the place to go for your rollmops, smoked mackerel, frikandellen, and stroopwafels.

As well as Dutch products, Go Dutch also stocks some Asian products including sake, coconut milk, and a range of soy sauces.

Website: https://www.godutchfoodstore.com/

Dutch Expat Shop

If you aren’t based in the Algarve, there’s always Dutch Expat Shop. This Dutch superstore stocks thousands of essential Dutch (and Belgian) products including cheeses, snacks, and health and beauty products.

Website: https://www.dutchexpatshop.com/

Chinese & Asian

Although you can find some Asian products at the supermarket, often you have to go to an Asian supermarket to really find what you’re looking for. Most large cities have at least one, if not several in a neighbourhood. In Lisbon, for example, there are several different Asian supermarkets near Martim Moniz.

Failing that, there are one or two online shops. And, if you really struggle, you can find some products at other expat supermarkets, particularly the British and Dutch ones.

Ayur

Based in Lisbon, Ayur stocks products from China, Japan, Thailand, and the Middle East.

Website: http://www.ayur.com.pt/

Mexican

Casa México

Finding Mexican ingredients can sometimes be a challenge in Portugal but, thankfully, Casa México delivers throughout mainland Portugal and the islands. It stocks all of the essentials – everything from tortillas to the pans to fry them in.

Website: https://www.casamexicana.shop/

Read more about getting Mexican ingredients in Portugal.

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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