This isn't the closest fruit and veg shop to my house so I don't come here unless I happen to be on…read moreSydney Road and it happens to be a convenient time to do some vegetable shopping. The first few times I came here I thought they were rather pricey compared to my local fresh produce shop, but a recent visit has led me to change my mind. La Manna had lots of good deals going, and I managed to find tarragon there, which I hadn't found in other stores in the neighbourhood. I don't know if I just never get the nice, smiley staff member at the cash register, or if none of them smile or make an attempt to be friendly, but that's just how it goes in La Manna. It would be nice if they were nicer to me, but if it were that easy for everyone to be nicer to each other, there would probably be less fighting in the world. How on earth did I go from fruit and veg to more peace and love in the world please? I think it's time for afternoon tea break.

Last Sunday my partner and I did something we've never done before... we awoke before 9am. But more…read moreimportantly, we got our butts out of the house and decided to stock up our fridge for the week (and stock it healthy.) La Manna is just a short walk away and is an absolutely gem of a local grocer. Piles of fresh fruits, veggies, flowers and all that other healthy stuff that you look at in the supermarket but always walk right past. You know the ones - quinoa, freekah, sunflower seeds and anything green... We stocked our basket sky high with enough veggies to feed a small family and smugly strutted out on to Sydney Road - proud smile on our face for all that we had achieved before 10am on a Sunday - and all for just a few clams! A highly recommended destination when you want the best and freshest veggies without the hefty price that can often come along with them.

The Woolworths in Australia is not closely the same as former Woolworths in the US. Those days are…read moregone and Woolworths was more of a 5 and dime type of variety store back in the 1960's and 1970's. The Woolworths in Australia is a full service grocery store where I usually find the Aussie style licorice that is more chewy than licorice you would purchase in the US. Prices are very good, the bakery is the first stop where I look at fresh baked goods and determine if I will be able to consume what I purchase before leaving the country. Your own carry-out bags are needed to transport your items if you are unable to pick them up by yourself. The store hours are usually 7 am to 11 pm daily.

Woolworths is Australia's biggest supermarket chain. We bought some Australian chips. Liquor is…read morealso sold here- adjacent BWS. The location is convenient and the place is pretty big.

Bargain Depot is certainly an aptly named clearance outlet. Set up in the manner of Aldi stores,…read morethe wares are displayed in the boxes in which they were brought in, and left out in open topped isles. However, unlike Aldi, most of the brands are clearly recognisable as the same stocked at any other supermarket. For the most part everything is priced significantly lower than your standard supermarket, or about the same as if all the goods were on special all the time. For example, a solitary can of Red Bull will only set you back $1.50 and a big bag of chips comes in around the $2 mark. However, I'd recommend a close inspection of expiry and use by dates, as it has a whiff of NQR about it, given the whole "clearance" element. The stock extends beyond food goods, with most of the stuff you'd find at your local supermarket and/or discount centre covered in the various sections. Among the more exciting discoveries was a huge range of piñatas for $18 a pop at the back of the store, including one that's a mermaid. Pretty cool, hey?

A great place to pick up party supplies. A lot of confectionery including some harder to find…read moreAmerican products. Also, it's great for brand name cleaning products. The bargain depot has relatively easy parking in this part of Sydney Rd.

Pretty stoked to have found this terrific Asian grocer int eh heart of the city. With a huge sake…read morecollection, snacks from Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia and lots of other places, it's a great way to stock up on interesting bits and pieces and recreate dishes from your favourite restaurants in town. I was really happy to see that the veggies were super fresh, and will be heading here next time I miss a market day up the road at Queen Vic.

Craving some instant noodles at 11pm on a Sunday night? This is your place!…read more Couldn't believe the range of Asian groceries they had in this store! Everything from Fresh Vegetables and Soy Milk to Instant anything and Beer and Spirits as well! The shop is well lit and one of the cleanest on the street! Pop in and see what you find!

Part of the Sparkly Bear (read: Barkly Square) complex, this is a large Coles stocking pretty much…read moreeverything you could want to find. It's tempting to use it as a one-stop shop but there's a superior bakery next door and beyond that is somewhere with a greater range of cheese, so do explore elsewhere for those. This Coles has a good international section which takes up an entire aisle, although each country feels a bit token. Checking out is usually pretty swift with a good number of self-serve checkouts available.

Quality/Quantity - Got a liter of OJ, which was actually…read morecheaper than soda... Decent beer and wine section, see pictures. Atmosphere - One of their small formats "corner store." Almost like a large convenience store format. Cut and pasted from their website, "It's like a regular ALDI. Only a bit smaller. And a bit closer. It's super convenient. With fancy bread, meals to go, sushi, and so on. Ok so maybe it's not exactly like a regular ALDI. But it's still good. And it's still different. And the prices are still low." Parking garage is available, but we walked. Free 1 hour parking after spending $30. Open 7 days a week from 8:30am to 8pm. Service - Good refund and return policy, see picture. Cut and pasted from their website, "If you're not completely satisfied with one of our everyday grocery items or Special Buys, you can return it for a refund or replacement within 60 days. Simply bring the product back to any ALDI store with proof of purchase (eg. receipt, bank statement, warranty card, credit card statement), ideally with the product packaging. Our friendly staff will then assist you with a refund or replacement." Price - Sorry, I can't remember, but it was inexpensive. Well at least less expensive and healthier than soda. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1946 with your 11,235+ worldwide locations. And since 2001 with 580 locations in Australia. We shopped your brand in Spain often.

Now lets be honest, a supermarket is a supermarket but unlike your local and woolies, ALDI achieves…read moreprices that those store could not beat. I frequent ALDI when i need large quantities of the necessities. I stock up on long life milk (1L for $1), Flour (1kg for 89c) and even their (sometimes hilarious) European branded items taste similar if not exactly the same as their relatively more expense brother and sisters. European branded Nutri-Grain will only set you back a couple bucks instead of $7 or $8 (What are they actually thinking? It's cereal god-dammit!), so invest a visit to ALDI. You actually collect your items from the very crates and boxes they are delivered in. Only downside is they dont sell tofu and vegan products, but hey, I'm happy to walk out of their with whatever i can. Saves me a fortune every week!

Not exactly a supermarket and not quite a convenience store either, Lygon Fresh is somewhere in…read morebetween. The double shop fronted grocery store sells your usual, run-of-the-mill staple foods and fresh fruit and vegetables, plus a few Asian goodies like sauces and noodles. The last time I popped in, such was my good timing, that I scored a huge, fresh saucer-shaped Turkish bread for only $2.50 - half price. So sizeable was the wheaty treat that it took my man and I a good few days and several homemade dips to finish it off. Hard work, but someone has to do it. Time your visit well and you too can be a breadwinner like me.

Quirky IGA in the back streets of Hotham Hill (North Melbourne). It has all the basic grocery…read moreneeds and old style grocery store charm.

Great asian shopping experience can't tell you the amount of product they have Matter of fact I'm…read moreheading there in 5 mins

This behemoth of supermarkets is a must for anyone who is interested in Asian cuisine or just…read morewanting to explore Victoria Street. It stands majestically just back from the street and you may be a little overwhelmed by its size, trust me, that feeling will become pretty intense when you get inside. There are aisles devoted to sauces, dried fungi and seafood, woks and steamers and dumplings - this supermarket really does have everything. I personally love the fresh section towards the front. There are always lots of vegetables and herbs that you can buy in bulk for a ridiculously small price (several clumps of baby pak choi were less than $2), and you'll also find some exotic ingredients like abalone and winter melon. If you aren't really looking to buy then I recommend you at least have a look around. Head to the dried fungi and seafood aisle - it is actually incredible. There are exotic mushrooms that resemble coral with really bizarre names (pigs ear mushrooms are a prime example) and there is also dried octopus and squid that hang in plastic bags. While you may or may not choose to buy anything to cook with any of the food inside, this supermarket is truly extraordinary and very fun to explore.