GMTmin8

I am looking to do grocery shopping during our trip to Shanghai and was directed to Fields-China.

I am told this store is similar to Whole Foods and the website does show food my family eats. There is also gluten free--which is much desired.

Anyone have any experience with this store, or have suggestions were else to shop?

Thanks

MSPeconomist

There are western chain convenience stores everywhere, such as Lawson's. They work fine for basics like water, snack foods, etc. Fruit can be found at street venders and small stall type shops. In Pudong there's a big shopping mall that I think is called Fashion Mall. It's near some major hotels and well known. It has a bunch of places that sell prepared food, including foreign fast food but IIRC there's a big grocery store down in the basement as well as a large western drugstore. Asian department stores tend to have food halls in their basements with counters selling a large variety of local and imported food. For example, there's one of these across the street from Le Royal Meridian Hotel, on the corner of People's Park. Finally, some top hotels have gift stores, bakeries, etc. that sell fancy take-home food that has been prepared in the hotel restaurants.

Scifience

FIELDS is overpriced.

I like the Mahota, which is also overpriced, but is built on a farm-to-store concept.

But for the most part, I'm perfectly happy to buy western food from Carrefour or Walmart... most of the big ones sell a decent selection of western staples. For fresh fruits/veggies/meat, I just shop the local markets like anyone else.

Can't speak to gluten free.

moondog

I also can't speak for "gluten free", but Gl Japan plaza is my go to grocery store.

anacapamalibu

http://www.epermarket.com/product/SearchList.aspx
search: gluten free

HowieG

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Try City Shop

Taiwaned

Carrefour and Walmart would be the biggest selection of regular food.

I felt that City Shop was expensive but they did have a different selection of items. Mahota's IS expensive.

The question we always had was how much pesticides were on the fresh vegetables. When they said "organic" - how much organic waste did they use. We ended up going to the big supermarkets because we felt we couldn't trust the organic was truly organic so why pay so much more.

Once you get here, you will quickly notice what store carries what brands and you can adjust accordingly.

GMTmin8

Thank you for all the helpful information.

mnredfox

I too second the Walmart and Carrefour as suggestions - the latter being the better one.

OP are you looking for western foods or more specifically organic type foods found at Whole foods?

moondog

My problem with those enormous stores is that going to them can suck up half of a weekend day (though IKEA is even more time consuming). My Japan plaza place isn't that much more expensive and never has any lines (lots of checkout staff). City super is also fast (but there isn't one near me).

GMTmin8

I am interested in stores with western foods that also carries some gluten free products. Organic is less of an concern.

Again, I really appreciate all the good advice I have gotten. Thank you

travelinmanS

"Ole" stores scattered around town attached to the nicer shopping malls should have what you're looking for with both gluten free selection and getting to avoid the masses at Carrefour and Wal Mart type places. They are well laid out and usually better priced than city shop or city super.

Either way you're going to be paying more than where you're from (unless you live in Switzerland now).

moondog

I've yet to see an ole in Shanghai, but that was my go to store in Nanning, and it was crazy expensive (e.g. 118 for a pint of ice cream). I guess they probably don't try to pull off the same in tier one cities because we have lots of options.

mosburger

Generally, food shops targeting Japanese and Korean customers tend to have the best fish/seafood and meat produce and are rather good value for money. Normally, many "Western" foods are also available through them.

roverkt

There's an Ole in the basement of Jingan Kerry Center.

Price wise I've done some comparisons with City Super and Ole comes out as always being more expensive.