Affordable Asian Food at UK Supermarkets: Your Budget-Friendly Guide for 2026

I'll confess something: my weekly food shop used to be embarrassingly predictable. Pasta. Chicken. More pasta. The world food aisle might as well have had "do not enter" tape across it. Then one particularly bleak January—we're talking grey skies, post-Christmas bank balance, the works—I wandered into the Asian section at Tesco out of sheer desperation for something different.

That was three years ago. This week alone, I've made Vietnamese-style pho, Korean-inspired fried rice, and stir-fried vegetables with a sauce that cost less than a quid. My grocery bills haven't gone up. If anything, they've gone down.

Here's the thing: Asian food has this reputation for being expensive or complicated. Neither is true. In fact, once you know where to look and what to grab, it's one of the most budget-friendly ways to eat well. Let me show you exactly how.

Why Asian Food Is Actually Brilliant for Budget Shopping

Before we get into the specifics, let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the assumption in the room.

Many shoppers assume that cooking Asian food at home requires specialist ingredients that cost a fortune and go off before you use them. I thought the same thing. But here's what my spreadsheet tracking phase revealed (yes, I went through a phase of tracking every penny spent on food—my housemates thought I'd lost the plot): Asian staples are genuinely some of the best value items in any supermarket.

Consider this:

• A pack of rice noodles costs around 80p and serves 4
• Soy sauce lasts for months and adds flavour to dozens of meals
• Instant noodles start from as little as 29p per pack
• Vegetables like pak choi and beansprouts are often cheaper than broccoli

The maths doesn't lie. Once you've got your basics sorted, you're looking at meals that cost £1-2 per serving. And they're not boring. That matters more than people admit.

Best Instant Noodles in the UK: Your First Stop for Affordable Asian Meals

Let's start with the obvious gateway: instant noodles. They're cheap, they're quick, and—this is the bit that surprised me—they're actually good when you know which ones to buy.

The Budget Champions

Koka Noodles – You can find these for as little as 29p at Home Bargains. Are they gourmet? No. Are they a guilty pleasure that hits the spot on a Wednesday night when you can't be bothered? Absolutely. The spicy flavour has a proper kick to it.

Vifon – This Vietnamese brand deserves more attention than it gets. Tesco stocks their Golden Chicken variety at 70p (55p with Clubcard), and honestly, one reviewer called them "the best bowl of noodle soup you can get in a packet." I'm inclined to agree. They've got options for vegetarians, too—the tomato flavour is surprisingly moreish.

Ko-Lee Go Noodles – Under a quid for a 65g pot, ready in two minutes. Perfect for desk lunches when you've forgotten to bring anything else. Again.

Worth the Slight Premium

Kabuto Noodles – At around £2.50 per pot, these aren't budget in the strictest sense, but they punch well above their weight. The broth tastes like it took hours rather than minutes. Sometimes treating yourself is the most frugal move—keeps you from ordering a £15 delivery.

Mi GorengIndomie Mi Goreng** – The dry noodles everyone raves about. Word of warning: they're essentially crack noodles. Once you start, you won't want to go back. At about 50p per pack from Asian supermarkets (more like 70p at Tesco), they're proper value.

Soba PotsNissin Soba Pots** – The teriyaki flavour is my go-to when I want something that feels slightly more grown-up. You tip the water out after cooking, so they're not soggy like some pot noodles. Around £1.50 in most supermarkets.

Finding Asian Food in Major Supermarkets

Right, let's talk about where to actually find this stuff. Because the world food aisle can feel a bit overwhelming if you don't know what you're looking for.

Tesco

Tesco has one of the better Asian food selections among the major supermarkets. Their world foods range includes over 3,000 products, and they've recently expanded their pan-Asian offerings.

Best budget finds:

• Tesco own-brand soy sauce (around 60p)
• Blue Dragon rice noodles (about £1)
• Vifon instant noodles (55p with Clubcard)
• Stir-fry vegetable packs (usually on offer at 2 for £3)

The trick with Tesco is checking the Clubcard prices. The difference between regular and Clubcard price on Asian items is often 20-30%. My mum would call that a no-brainer.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's recently launched a new pan-Asian ready meal range with dishes like beef bibimbap and gochujang chicken. But for budget cooking, focus on their basics:

Best budget finds:

• Sainsbury's own-brand rice (often cheaper than branded)
• Fresh vegetables in the chilled section (beansprouts, pak choi)
• Cooking sauces starting around £1.50

I was very pleased to discover Vifon noodles at Sainsbury's too—they're becoming more widely available, which makes my life easier.

ASDA

ASDA deserves credit for their World Food section. In some stores, up to 20% of shelf space goes to ethnic lines, which means more choice at better prices due to volume.

Best budget finds:

• ASDA own-brand rice noodles
• Larger bags of jasmine rice (better price per kilo)
• Cooking pastes from various Asian cuisines

Aldi and Lidl

Now here's where it gets interesting. The middle aisle of mystery occasionally throws up absolute gems. I've found authentic Korean gochujang paste at Lidl for half the price of the branded version. The catch? You never know when it'll be there.

Their permanent ranges are also worth checking:

• Asia Specialities noodle pots
• Own-brand stir-fry sauces
• Frozen dim sum and gyoza

Online Asian Supermarkets: Where the Real Savings Live

I know what you're thinking: "Emma, who has time to research online Asian supermarkets?" Fair point. But hear me out, because this is where the game changes.

Regular supermarkets mark up Asian products significantly. That authentic ramen you're paying £1.50 for at Tesco? Probably 80p from a specialist store. And the quality is often better.

Top UK Asian Supermarket Options

HIYOU (Newcastle-based)

Good for: Korean products, competitive pricing

Delivery: UK-wide, free over £55

The vibe: Modern, well-organised, decent website

Wai Yee Hong (Bristol)

Good for: Chinese ingredients, huge range (over 3,000 products)

Delivery: UK and Europe

The vibe: Family-run, been going for years, knows their stuff

Starry Mart

Good for: Japanese, Korean, and Chinese products

Delivery: Free over £55 to mainland UK

The vibe: Great for frozen and chilled items

Oriental Mart

Good for: Southeast Asian cuisine specifically

Delivery: UK-wide

The vibe: Excellent for Thai and Vietnamese ingredients

Here's my strategy: do your regular shop at Tesco or wherever, but do a quarterly stock-up from an online Asian supermarket. Buy the things that last—soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, dried noodles, rice. You'll save 20-30% compared to supermarket prices, and you'll have ingredients for dozens of meals.

How to Make Instant Noodles Healthier (Without Spending More)

Let me address the health question, because my mum brings it up every time I mention instant noodles. "Those things are full of salt, Emma." She's not wrong. But here's how to have your cheap noodles and eat them too.

The Flavour Packet Problem

Most of the concerning stuff in instant noodles lives in that little seasoning packet. One packet contains about half your daily sodium needs. Not ideal.

The fix: Use half the packet, or skip it entirely and make your own quick broth with:

• A splash of soy sauce
• Dash of sesame oil
• Squeeze of lime
• Pinch of sugar

This actually tastes better than the packet seasoning, costs virtually nothing extra, and you're in control of the salt.

Add Vegetables and Protein

This is where your 30p noodle soup becomes a proper meal:

Quick-cooking additions:

• Spinach or pak choi (wilts in the hot broth)
• Beansprouts (add raw for crunch)
• Frozen peas or sweetcorn
• A soft-boiled egg (4 minutes in boiling water, slightly runny)
• Leftover chicken or tofu

My favourite upgrade: crack an egg directly into the hot broth and stir. It creates silky strands of cooked egg throughout. Looks fancy. Costs about 15p extra.

Budget Asian Cooking: Building Your Storecupboard

Actually, let me share what I consider the essential starter kit for Asian cooking on a budget. Get these, and you can make dozens of different meals.

The Must-Haves (Total: Around £15)

1. Soy sauce – Own-brand is fine to start, about 60p
2. Sesame oil – Small bottle, around £2
3. Rice vinegar – About £1.50
4. Fish sauce (or vegetarian alternative) – Around £2
5. Dried noodles (rice or egg) – £1 for multiple servings
6. Jasmine rice – Large bag, around £4
7. Ginger paste – Tube, about £1.50
8. Garlic paste – Tube, about £1.50

With these basics plus fresh vegetables and protein, you can make:

• Stir-fries (obviously)
• Noodle soups
• Fried rice
• Quick curries with a jar of paste
• Cold noodle salads

The downside? You'll need to find space for it all. If you're in a flat share with a kitchen the size of a shoebox, storage gets creative. But these ingredients last for months, so you're not wasting anything.

Where to Find Specific Asian Cuisines

Different Asian cuisines are available in different places. Here's my quick guide:

Vietnamese

Vifon noodles are your best bet in supermarkets—Tesco and Sainsbury's stock them. For pho ingredients, you might need to go online or find a Vietnamese grocery shop. The good news is that Vifon has expanded their UK range significantly, so you can find everything from Golden Chicken to Tom Yum flavours.

Korean

Korean food has exploded in popularity, so availability has improved. Sainsbury's now stocks gochujang paste and kimchi. For instant noodles, look for Nongshim Shin Ramyun—spicy, flavourful, and widely available.

Japanese

Itsu rice noodle pots are everywhere and genuinely good (the katsu flavour is brilliant). For more authentic options, try Yo! Sushi branded products in supermarkets or order from Starry Mart online.

Thai

Thai cooking is probably the most accessible in UK supermarkets. Blue Dragon and Thai Taste ranges are widely available. MAMA noodles, a Thai brand, are excellent and cheap.

Chinese

The most established category in UK supermarkets. Amoy, Blue Dragon, and various own-brand options cover most bases. For authentic sauces beyond the basics, check the specialist online stores.

Seasonal Shopping Tips for Asian Ingredients

Here's something I learned from tracking my grocery spending (the spreadsheet phase strikes again): Asian vegetable prices fluctuate less than you'd think.

January: Good time to stock up on dried goods as shops rotate stock

Chinese New Year (usually Feb): Supermarkets often run promotions on Asian products

Summer: Fresh herbs like coriander and Thai basil are cheaper

Autumn: Good deals on rice as new harvest comes in

The bigger money saver is shopping at the right places consistently rather than timing purchases perfectly.

My Honest Take on Budget Asian Cooking

I know some of you are thinking this all sounds like a lot of effort. And look, I get it. Some nights you just want to microwave something and be done with it.

But here's my actual experience: once you've done a couple of Asian meals, they become as easy as anything else you cook. Stir-fry takes literally 10 minutes. Instant noodle soup with add-ins takes 5. These aren't complicated recipes requiring special skills.

The money savings are real—I tracked them. Switching two pasta dinners a week to Asian-style meals saved me roughly £8-10 weekly. That's over £400 a year. Enough to notice.

And honestly? The food is just more interesting. My mum finally admitted the Vietnamese noodle soup I made her was "quite nice, actually." From her, that's essentially a Michelin star.

Getting Started: Your First Budget Asian Shop

If you're convinced, here's exactly what to buy on your first shop:

From Tesco, Sainsbury's, or ASDA:

• 1 pack Vifon Golden Chicken noodles (55-70p)
• 1 bottle own-brand soy sauce (60p)
• 1 bag stir-fry vegetables (£1.50)
• 1 pack rice noodles (80p)
• 1 jar stir-fry sauce (£1.50)
• 6 eggs (£1.80)

Total: Around £6.50

That's at least 4-5 meals sorted. Try it for a week and see how you get on.

Wrapping Up

Finding affordable Asian food in UK supermarkets isn't difficult once you know where to look. The world foods aisle of your local Tesco or Sainsbury's has more to offer than you might expect, and online Asian supermarkets can stretch your budget even further.

Start with instant noodles—they're cheap, forgiving, and surprisingly good. Build your storecupboard gradually. And don't be afraid to experiment. Some of my best budget meals came from just throwing things together and hoping for the best.

Tools like Grocefully can help you compare prices across supermarkets, so you're always getting the best deal on your Asian grocery staples. Because the only thing better than delicious food is delicious food that doesn't empty your wallet.

Happy cooking. And if you find a deal I haven't mentioned, my inbox is always open. Spreadsheet obsessives unite.