Bismillah Food Store is a great little Asian food store in the centre of Edinburgh, just off of…read morebusy Nicolson Street and around the corner from the University. It is an Asian, Arabic and African food store and is a great place to pop into to buy foreign ingredients. There is always an impressive and very tempting selection of fruit and veg sitting outside the shop, but sometimes some of the fruits look a bit withered such as the bananas. Bismillah specialises in halal meats such as lamb, chicken and beef which are always very fresh. They sell lots of fresh herbs and spices, as well as other ingredients which would be difficult to find in a supermarket such as lime leaves. I like to cook a lot of Asian style meals so Bismillah is a great place to buy the ingredients for the dishes. The staff in the Bismillah Food Store aren't always the chattiest, but they are very knowledgeable about what they sell and are helpful in assisting you with what you are looking for.

Bismillah Food Store is a great place to find Halal meat, a whole range of herbs and spice and many…read moreother Asian ingredients. I came in for a can of Coke on a roasting hot day about a month ago and it cost about 70p! This obviously isn't the place to find your standard daily supplies, but if you need special ingredients then it's excellent. The service isn't exactly lively, yet it feels like they have a communal atmosphere made up of regular customers. The staff know just about everything about all their produce, including where it's all sourced and how it's made. Bismillah is a great place to find unique ingredients with decent service.

This is a great shop to get "real" traditional Asian ingredients. The thing I love most about this…read moreshop is the smell when you walk in, the mixture of all the aromas from the herbs and spices is great. I came here when me and a few other guys were doing a mini come dine with me competition and I am not a good loser so though I would go all out with my attempt at a chicken curry. I sourced most of the ingredients from here, apart from the chicken- herbs, naans, papadums and rice- and the results were incredible, the curry tasted delicious and I ended up winning the mini competition! The prices are, as you would expect a bit higher than you would expect to pay in the supermarket, but if you buy in bulk, such as the huge rice sacks they have, you could save quite a bit.

On the days that you choose to cook your Indian cuisine why not treat yourself to the proper…read moreingredients. Whether you are cooking your traditional food or trying something new, Super Asian Foods will keep you well stocked, with its wide variety and competitive prices. Take a walk down London Road to tantalise your taste buds.

It's a little comical calling this place a supermarket; I'm not saying it's ridiculously small, on…read morethe contrary, but it's NOT a supermarket! I went in there looking for pure coconut oil (purely cosmetic reasons) and whilst they didn't have what I was looking for, the man who worked there was so friendly and even directed me to other shops I could find what I needed. To the contents of the store itself, this seems like a place for people who actually know what they're doing with the ingredients. So to all those curry paste, coconut milk, and ramen people like me, be warned! A lot of the food labels and prices are primarily in Chinese, and the English prices, which I had to squint to see sometimes seem a little bit like an after thought... as though "we ARE in the UK, I guess we should make it decipherable for the natives as well". I can only give this store full marks for at least the appearance of authenticity, as I'm far from an expert on Asian cuisine of any kind!

So many people I know have lived in this part of Newington for ages and still don't know that this…read moreplace exists. Which is, in my opinion, one of the best things about it. Usually when I go in I'm the only non-chinese person in there, which is always a reassuring nod towards the authenticity of the place. They quite literally stock everything from instant pot noodle-type things to raw ingredients like spices and flavourings, as well as all those ingredients that you can't find in British supermarkets, no matter how big. They sell things in bulk (check out the enormous sacks in the rice aisle) as well as in smaller day-to-day quantities for people who aren't cooking for 30+. Although the prices are higher than you might expect - I paid almost £3 for a pack of dry noodles that I could have bought for £1 for the same quantity in Tesco - the quality is so much better. Also, you'll suffer in here if you're claustrophobic, as everything is packed extremely high and the aisles are about 2 feet wide maximum. But these two disadvantages are the only disadvantages. If you're cooking a meal that requires even one chinese ingredient, you should look here for it first.

Having just got back from my first trip to Poland, I am a little bit obsessed with the cuisine…read more Okay, so preparing it at home when the scottish rain is pelting down doesn't even come close to comparing to sitting outside one of the cafés lining the main square in Krakow's old town, it's as close as I'm going to get and Bona Deli stocks pretty much every Polish foodstuff there is. Unlike most delis, they don't feel the need to ridiculously overprice things just because they're "independent". And the value is matched not only by the authenticity but also by the friendly service, you'll always get a smile and a hello when you go in.

Bona Deli is a fantastic delicatessen, selling predominately Polish food in the centre of busy…read moreNicolson Street. I go into this store quite a lot in the mornings for my breakfast on my way to classes to buy their pastries which are simply gorgeous. They have a good selection of different Polish foods such as gherkins, sausages and, of course, vodka! They also sell herbs and spices such as dill and caraway seeds which can sometimes be difficult to find in the larger food stores. Bona Deli sell the traditional deli food, with an excellent selection of meats, fish, cheese and fresh bread. However, with this wide range of food also come the usual expensive deli prices so I tend to think that many of their goods are overpriced. The staff are always smiling, polite and willing to help you find what you are looking for.

This was my first experience in a Chinese supermarket, and I was not disappointed. I'm surprised…read morethat people are saying it's little, because I thought it was actually quite large on the inside. Maybe it's been extended since the first review. Anyway, wondering round the aisles at this place was very much like a voyage of discovery. There were so many packets that had Chinese writing on, and so I was reduced to looking at the pictures to see what they were! One of the things I enjoyed the most was the aroma of this shop. Supermarkets rarely have an aroma, but this one smelt like a beautiful combination of different spices. The source of this was the sizeable spice range - I could have bought a massive bag of chilli, or many other spices. Apart from food, there was also a range of cooking equipment, with a good choice of different woks amongst many other things. I have to say, I didn't find that this place was overwhelmed with Amoy products - there was a good range of their sauces on show, but on the whole the shelf space this took up was not significant. I was impressed with what this supermarket had to offer. I do love a good Chinese meal, though I haven't had one in ages. Maybe this will give me the push I need to branch out.

Massive supermarket style shop compared to the other Asian food shops around Edinburgh. They have…read moreall sorts in here from well known product lines to really obscure items. If you want items in bulk then this is the place to come as they sell catering quanities for certain items. Gallon of tomatoe sauce for £2.00ish anyone? A more useful bulk buy would be the butchery section as they take orders for collection. If you were having a BBQ or similiar then this would be the place to come and get massive ammount of chicken or similair. Items of note: - Frozen rotis - giant bottles of soy sauce - Frozen edamame beans - bulk buy shin soup noodle deals - Biryani spice mix - All the cooking implements you would ever need for pennies - Frozen prawns - fresh vegetables from the usual pak choi through to galangal root

Jan De Vries specialises in herbal medicines and aims to give people the choice of natural remedies…read moreto cure their ailments rather than plying them with pills that will just make you drugged up to your eyeballs. I used to get plagued by tonsillitis and tried everything to try and rid myself from it including a two year on and off dose of penicillin that I became immune to, a truck load of Manuka honey, crystal healing and I even paid a visit to Jan De Vries in his Troon clinic to see what advice he could offer me as my own GP is as useful as a chocolate teapot, who flinches at the sight of people and has pound signs constantly in her eyes. After my visit to the Troon clinic I was given an assortment of natural remedies that definitely helped me before I got my tonsils taken out, more so than the penicillin the doctor kept plying me with even though it was quite clear it no longer had any effect on me. Since then, I have popped back to Jan de Vries now and again if I'm feeling a little under the weather. I much prefer using natural remedies and for me, they definitely work. The staff in this Edinburgh branch are very knowledgeable about the medicines and easy to talk to. They also stock skincare products and have a weight loss program too. Jan De Vries also caters for animal medicines so if you have a stressed out moggy or a bed wetting dog you can get calming remedies for your furry friends too.

I love this JDV just as much as I love the larger store on Queensferry Road. The selection of stock…read moreis less expansive here simply due to the fact that it's smaller but it's worth bearing in mind that if you're looking for something in particular, the staff can order it in for you. What I love most about the staff at Jan de Vries is that they're always happy to help and they all seem to use many of the products available. Above all, they really believe in JDV's ethics. Most recently, I popped in here and was really pleased that the lady had some experience on the kind of symptoms and problem I was looking to treat, and she recommend a product which had worked well for her. We talked for a while about what we've both learnt and exchanged a few alleviators too. I really felt like she went the extra mile to engage with me and make sure I left happy. There's always some free samples at the till and offers on within the store which is fantastic. Health foods and supplements is an expensive business so it's really nice to get a little extra on your visit. Jan de Vries is most definitely my health shop of choice in Edinburgh and I'm never disappointed in the service I receive.

Quite happy with my visit here! I'm quite curious about the story of the two Mosque Kitchens in the…read moresame vicinity... seems to be a bit of a duel gong on. There is some seating outside but plenty more within. Food came quickly, service was friendly. Prices, as noted in other reviews, are very low... something on the order of £5 for a heaping bowl of rice and chicken. The food was delicious- I was quite hungry and it was gone in minutes. It filled me up completely and I was very satisfied. Embarrassing moment when we found out they are cash only... but they let us duck out to a very near cash machine and come back. Thanks! I'll be back for sure to try some of the other items on the menu.

Taken by my University of Edinburgh student son to this, his favourite place to eat in Edinburgh…read more He compares all other food options to The Mosque Kitchen, and they all fall short. The food was wonderful, and such great value! He told me that I should choose what I thought was best, and by the time I got to the front of the line they would be out of it, and they would apologize, and they would suggest something else wonderful. He was right, that is exactly what happened, I and got a fabulous meal. Friendly staff, great food. A bit hard to find (behind the Mosque on Potterrow, and then around the back of the Aroma Cafe), but well worth the search. Do not expect starched white table cloths, but the staff is super friendly and we loved it. We will certainly be back the next time we are in Edinburgh.

I've been back maybe 30 times (yes that is not an exaggeration) since the first review and the…read moreservice, food and overall experience has never been less than 5 stars. There are about only 3 places I eat in Edinburgh. Scran and Scallie (they allow dogs), Imperial Palace (dim sum cravings) and here at Ola Kala. My standard order now is maybe the feta cheese dip, a pita, the potatoes with kefalortiri, main course of gyros and a green greek coke. Oh also you have to try the square baklava. Is made with walnuts and cinnamon. Some of the best I have ever tried. Also they have tables outside for summer. TLDR - Still the best kebab (gyros) in Edinburgh if not Scotland.

Ola Kala was a nice find. We had the chicken wrap and a salad. Service was provided by the owner…read more(most likely). He helped answer questions about the menu. Good prices for a decent gyro. The salad was amazing.

Even stepping foot into this place makes me feel healthy enough to justify cake for supper…read more I'm not going to lie - i'm not a healthy eater. But hailing from the city of all things organic (Vancouver), I like to play the part that I am. Somehow, having an open bag of chia seeds in the house, that I occasionally remember to throw into smoothies when I occasionally remember to MAKE smoothies, makes me feel less guilty about eating Corn Flakes for dinner while I'm slogging through emails. This makes me an adult right? That doesn't mean that the act of buying a meal that doesn't look like it was constructed by a five year old, doesn't tickle my fancy - I love nothing more then following up a Corn Flakeian dinner with a good ol' fashioned organic almond yogurt. Life is about the balance. I also have a deep seeded belief in only using biodegradable and clean house hold products. So when i'm not doing the best in my personal well being - at least i'm looking after the planet as a whole. This place ticks off a few major factors in my strange collaborative idea of "healthy living". First off, it stocks an impressive array of house hold items and is one of the first places i've found that carries multiple lines of personal care items - from Burts Bees to good for ya toothpaste - it was a one stop shop for both my washroom & under the sink. Secondly - it stocks pretty much everything you need to justify future unhealthy meals. From organic quinoa to virgin, cold pressed coconut oil, it's simply screaming: look how healthy you are?! Why yes, you can eat ice cream for dinner! But as many a person as said - living healthy (or in my case, buying excuses) can be pricey. What I will note, is as a newly landed expat, this place IS cheaper than the haunts back home and for that i'm thankful, but compared to the digs you can pick up elsewhere - yes, it's going to cost you an extra dollar. My tip if you fear the price tag? This funky little blue and green ball we're living on needs all the help it can get. If you can't stomach the whole nine yards of good food organic, pare it down. Spend the extra £1 for your dish soap, laundry & shampoo and keep the nasty stuff out of the drains. Then stock up on the hard to find items, or the ones you use frequently and leave the bits & bobs for a cheaper place. Nothing is better than proper, virgin, organic, cold pressed olive oil. Nothing. Will definitely be popping in here time to time to stock up on the must haves. If I could track down a spot to buy E3Live in town, i'd have all my cake justifying staples back in place.

Real Foods is a fab store to shop at if you want to eat natural and ethically sourced products…read more They sell everything under the one roof - absolutely amazing! Situated just off from the busy Lothian Road, Real Foods is just a short walk from the city centre so it is a convenient place to reach. The quality of the food is always top notch and the fruit and veg are always fresh - there is no out of date food sold here. Real Foods sell lots of health foods such as a huge range of different dried fruits and pulses. There is also a vitamin area in the shop which sells every vitamin and mineral required to cure any ailment , as well as a range of herbal remedies. The staff are incredibly friendly and are knowledgeable about the stores products so you feel quite at ease with them over asking which remedy does what. Real foods also has a section in its shop selling natural beauty products, soaps, shampoos etc. I love the mascara which they sell here as it is nice and cheap at around four pounds and makes my eyelashes look super long. Real Foods is a fantastic shop which sells a vast range of amazing tasting food, and best of all the food is healthy! What more could you want?!!