Where to Shop for Groceries in Markham — From Luxury Independents to World-Class Asian Markets

Markham, Ontario is one of the most culinarily diverse cities in all of Canada,  and its grocery stores reflect that beautifully. Walk into the right supermarket in Markham and you can find A5 Wagyu beef from Japan, freshly steamed dim sum, handmade baklava, hand-cut prime rib, imported Greek olive oils, rare Asian snacks shipped directly from factories in Asia, organic heirloom produce, and a rotisserie chicken that rivals anything you will find in the GTA. Markham's grocery scene is genuinely world-class.

Whether you are a long-time Markham resident, a newcomer to the city, or a buyer or seller considering a move to one of Markham's communities, knowing where to shop is part of understanding what makes daily life here so good. Michael John Lau is a REALTOR®️ and top Markham real estate specialist at Kaizen Real Estate, and this is the definitive guide to the best supermarkets in Markham, Ontario.

1. The Village Grocer — The Crown Jewel of Markham Grocery Shopping

Location: 16th Avenue at Kennedy Road, Unionville, Markham
Best for: Premium quality, local community feel, exceptional prepared foods, bakery

If you ask longtime Markham residents where they shop, The Village Grocer comes up again and again. The Village Grocer is a local family store that has been in operation for over 30 years, having moved to a new and enlarged premises on 16th Avenue at Kennedy Road. When they say family, they mean it in three ways, it is a store where families are welcomed with open arms, family refers to the staff who have been with the store since inception, and the store is owned and run by their family. They carry only the freshest and highest quality products available.

The Village Grocer was originally founded by a husband and wife in 1986 as a butcher shop, and later relocated to its current location as a grocery store. All around the store you will find homemade delicious items, and the quality across every department, from the meats to the florals, is what makes this grocery store so popular.

The Village Grocer is the grocery store that Markham residents drive across the city for. The prepared foods counter, featuring ready-made meals, roasted meats, and daily specials, is legendary. The bakery section produces breads, pastries, and specialty cakes that stand out even in a city full of excellent baking. The floral department brings a boutique florist energy that you simply do not expect from a supermarket. And the meat counter, where this store has its roots, remains one of the finest in the GTA.

If you are buying a home in the Unionville, Angus Glen, Cachet, or Berczy Village communities of Markham, The Village Grocer at 16th and Kennedy is one of the most consistently mentioned lifestyle amenities by buyers who choose those neighbourhoods. It is not just a grocery store,  it is a community institution.

2. T&T Supermarket — The King of Asian Grocery in Markham

 

Locations: 7070 Warden Avenue | 4300 Steeles Avenue East | 8339 Kennedy Road | 9255 Woodbine Avenue
Best for: Pan-Asian grocery, fresh seafood, hot food counters, Asian specialty products, late-night shopping

T&T Supermarket is the undisputed king of Asian grocery retail in the Greater Toronto Area,  and Markham, with its extraordinary multicultural population, is home to multiple T&T locations. The Warden Avenue location at 7070 Warden Avenue is open from 8:00 AM to midnight, Monday through Sunday, making it one of the best late-night grocery options in the city.

T&T is the full-service Asian supermarket experience done at an exceptional scale. The fresh seafood section, where live fish, shellfish, and crabs are kept in tanks for selection,  is one of the most extensive in the GTA. The hot food counters serve freshly made dim sum, roasted meats, sushi, rice bowls, and Chinese bakery items throughout the day. The produce section is packed with both familiar Western staples and an extraordinary range of Asian vegetables, fruits, and specialty items. The dry goods aisles span Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and South Asian products in a breadth that no mainstream grocery chain can match.

Reviewers consistently note that T&T's fresh fish and meat section is impressively odour-free, a remarkable achievement for the scale of live seafood they carry, and that it embodies a fresh market experience that sets it apart from other Asian supermarkets. With four locations distributed across Markham's major retail corridors, T&T is the go-to weekly shop for a significant portion of Markham's population.

3. Whole Foods Market — Markham's Premier Organic and Natural Grocer

Location: Downtown Markham, Highway 7 corridor
Best for: Organic produce, natural and health foods, premium prepared foods, specialty dietary items, sustainability

Whole Foods Market brought something genuinely new to Markham when it opened in the Downtown Markham master-planned community,  a full-format, premium organic and natural grocery store steps from the city's emerging urban core. For health-conscious buyers, organic eaters, and residents of the Downtown Markham condos, the Unionville GO Station corridor, and the surrounding communities, Whole Foods is a game-changer.

This Whole Foods is bright and clean, products are well-stocked, staff are very helpful in locating products, and cashiers are friendly and courteous. The quality of the fresh produce is outstanding. Though some items are pricey, you will still find deals here and there, and you get introduced to so many amazing organic products and healthy eats that you do not normally find at regular supermarkets.

Whole Foods in Markham stocks an exceptional range of non-GMO verified products, organic produce sourced from responsible growers, plant-based and specialty dietary products for vegan, keto, gluten-free, and paleo shoppers, and a prepared foods section that functions as a legitimate restaurant-quality grab-and-go destination.

4. Longo's — Premium Grocery with Outstanding Fresh Departments

Location: Boxgrove Centre, 70 Copper Creek Drive
Best for: High-quality fresh meats, seafood, produce, bakery, and personalized service

Longo's at Boxgrove Centre on Copper Creek Drive in the Box Grove community is a beloved anchor for residents of Markham's eastern communities,  including Box Grove, Cornell, and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Located in Markham's Boxgrove area, this grocery destination is known for its superior standard of fresh meats and seafood,  with many customers noting the exceptional quality of cuts available. The produce section receives frequent recognition for its freshness and variety, with customers mentioning the ability to sample items before purchasing. Staff members are regularly described as professional and courteous, with commendation for their willingness to assist shoppers.

Longo's is the grocery store for buyers who want a premium shopping experience without paying Whole Foods prices on every item. The Italian-Canadian family heritage of Longo's shows in their focus on fresh food quality, in-store prepared meals, and a warm, community-oriented approach to grocery retail.

5. FreshWay Foodmart — Markham's Most Surprising Grocery Discovery

Location: First Markham Place
Best for: Premium Asian imports, exotic produce, A5 Wagyu, specialty snacks

FreshWay Foodmart at First Markham Place is the grocery store that Markham residents tell their friends about. It consistently ranks at the top of local grocery rankings and for good reason, it offers a shopping experience unlike anything else in the city.

FreshWay Foodmart is a popular Asian grocery store known for its wide selection of food from Asia. The supermarket offers a spacious and clean environment with plenty of parking. In addition to A5 Wagyu from Japan and Australian Wagyu, the store also sells caviar and high-end smoked meat. Unique offerings include high-end Japanese mangos, authentic frozen wontons, and a bakery section with buns, breads, cookies, cakes, and fresh onigiri.

Customers appreciate the reasonable prices for globally sourced items and the diverse vegetarian options available. The store is well-organized with efficiently trained staff who provide excellent customer service. There is a huge selection of Asian snacks with flavours hard to find anywhere else, prices are reasonable given that many items are shipped directly from Asia.

6. Foody Mart — Markham's Largest Chinese Supermarket

Location: 5221 Hwy 7, Markham, ON L3R 1N3, Canada
Best for: Chinese grocery staples, live seafood, late-night shopping

Foody Mart on Highway 7 is one of Markham's most expansive Chinese supermarkets, and for residents of the Highway 7 corridor, it is the reliable, high-volume, great-value Asian grocery option that serves the community day in and day out.

Foody Mart is a supermarket on Highway 7 that stays open quite late into the night, stocking food items including fruits, fish and seafood, meat, fast food, bread, and junk food. They also have a section on gardening and plants as well as a milkshake and ice cream area. Being a Chinese enterprise, many Chinese goods can be found here, including a sushi section and festive products during Chinese New Year.

7. Heisei Mart — Markham's Authentic Japanese Grocery Destination

Location: J-Town South building, 3160 Steeles Ave E #118, Markham, ON L3R 3Y2, Canada
Best for: Authentic Japanese imports, snacks, pantry items

If you are looking for authentic Japanese groceries in the GTA, Heisei Mart inside Markham's legendary J-Town complex is the answer. Heisei Mart is a Japanese grocery store located in J-Town with a large selection of products as well as cooked meals to go. It is filled with produce that you cannot find anywhere else in other supermarkets,  unique flavours of Kit Kats from Japan like melon and milk tea, imported Japanese beverages, frozen mochi ice cream, fish cakes, sliced beef, Japanese rice in multiple grades, miso soup mix, tempura batter, and a full range of Japanese dry goods and sweets.

Heisei Mart is a hidden gem for authentic Japanese goods including kitchenware, snacks, prepared food, groceries, and more. J-Town itself is a destination in its own right, blending Japanese grocery retail with restaurants, a bakery, and a café into one seamless Japanese cultural experience.

8. The Garden Basket — A Markham Landmark Since 1972

Location: Markham (multiple locations along the Markham retail corridor)
Best for: Local produce, old-school grocery charm, community legacy shopping

The Garden Basket has been a landmark grocery store since 1972. Their commitment to quality and personal service is what drives their success, and they have grown considerably since they first opened. When you walk around, you will see nods to the 1970s with their retro neon signs for each department. CommunitySearch The Garden Basket is Markham grocery nostalgia done well — a store that has earned its place in the community through decades of consistency, quality produce, and the kind of personal service that larger chains have long since abandoned. For long-time Markham residents, The Garden Basket carries genuine sentimental value alongside its practical grocery offering.

9. Loblaws — Full-Service Grocery for Everyday Markham Needs

Locations: Multiple across Markham including Unionville, Markham Village area 
Best for: Everyday grocery, convenience, PC brand

Loblaws is Markham's most widely distributed mainstream grocery chain, with locations distributed across multiple communities to serve everyday grocery needs. The PC (President's Choice) brand gives Loblaws a strong quality-to-price advantage on packaged goods. The in-store pharmacy, floral department, and online ordering with curbside pickup make it a practical choice.

10. No Frills — Markham's Best Value Grocery Option 

Locations: Multiple across Markham
Best for: Budget grocery shopping, weekly deals, staples at lowest prices

For Markham shoppers who are budget-conscious without compromising on the essentials, No Frills delivers. The stripped-back format, no frills is quite literally the brand promise, keeps prices low on everyday staples, produce, and packaged goods. No Frills is particularly strong on weekly flyer deals, and Markham residents who know how to shop the flyers can save significantly compared to any other full-format grocery option in the city.

Specialty Grocery Stores Worth Exploring

• The Low Carb Grocery – Canada’s top destination for keto, gluten-free, and specialty diets

• The Greek Table – Authentic Greek imports and fresh baklava

• Asia Food Mart & Winco Food Mart – Strong Asian grocery alternatives

• FreshCo – Budget-friendly with strong produce and meat pricing

• Main Street Markham Farmers’ Market – Seasonal local produce and community atmosphere

What Markham’s Grocery Scene Says About Lifestyle

Markham’s grocery landscape reflects its diversity, affluence, and food culture. Few cities offer this level of access,  from boutique grocers and global imports to organic markets and budget-friendly options,  all within minutes of each other.

This is exactly why Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani help buyers evaluate more than just homes, they evaluate lifestyle. Grocery access, walkability, and everyday convenience all play a role in choosing the right neighbourhood.

Why Work with Michael John Lau & Neeraj Moolchandani — Kaizen Real Estate

Whether you are upgrading to your dream home or streamlining your lifestyle with a strategic downsize, having the right real estate team makes all the difference.

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Recognized as trusted Markham & Unionville real estate experts, they bring:

• In-depth neighborhood knowledge
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