Inala Civic Shopping Centre. Photo courtesy Cusinera.
Inala is 14km from Brisbane’s CBD and is renowned as a neighbourhood that brings together a vibrant mix of communities: Aboriginal; Torres Straight Islander; Vietnamese; Chinese; Thai and Indonesian to name just a few.
Situated in Brisbane’s south west, this is a suburb with a colourful past – most notably the quirky fact that, after World War Two, it was converted from an ammunition dump into housing estates.
But this colourful past is nothing compared to the multicultural community that now calls Inala home. And it’s thanks to these diverse cultural influences that you can find some of Brisbane’s best Asian produce in the local shopping centre. See the photo gallery.
A local’s opinion
Local blogger Cusinera takes us on a guided tour and gives us her top tips for shopping for Asian ingredients in Inala.
Where: Inala Civic Centre: 1/156 Inala Ave, Inala QLD 4077
(Asian shops are located outside the enclosed Shopping Centre, near the exit where Crazy Clarks is located.)
Cusinera says…
Inala Civic Centre is one of my favourite places to buy my Asian ingredients. From boiled peanuts, jackfruit (langka) to calamansi, you will find it here. They offer a vast array of oriental produce that you will not normally encounter in your average Brisbane grocery store.
Shopping survival tips
Weekends are the busiest time to shop, especially in the mornings. And, be warned, it will be challenging to find a car park. But it is worth it once you see all the goodies the shops have to offer.
If you prefer a leisurely browsing experience, it’s recommended that you pick a weekday to visit the stores.
Most of the shops have very narrow aisles and they are pretty clogged up with merchandise. I usually leave the rest of the TRIBE outside the shops while I dive inside to buy what I need.
Where Cusinera shops
- Van Phat Asian Groceries is where I can buy calamansi when it is in season.
- I buy my seafood at the Fish Market which is next to Duong Dong Groceries. They clean your fish for free and I prefer this shop as there’s a little bit of room to walk around.
- Saigon Butchery is where I buy my meat and poultry. They offer the different parts of chicken, pig and cow that Asian recipes often require and which you won’t normally see in your standard butcher store. Service is very friendly, but during peak hours you have to be patient. They have a loyalty card, where they punch a square once you reach a certain amount and by completing the card, you’ll get a bonus. Some days they will ask you if you want soup bones (either pork or beef) for free. Those bones are really good for soup or stock.
- I buy my taro milk with pearls at Healthy Cup. They make good bubble tea drinks and also offer loyalty cards. Once you complete the card with stamps, you’ll get a free drink.
BUSOG! SARAP! tips
- If the vegetables are not packaged, pick the freshest.
- Go inside the shops even if it’s a tight squeeze; you never know what bargain awaits you.
- Look at the prices, some shops are much cheaper than others. Woolworths Inala offers cheap fruits and vegetables too.
- Smile and talk slowly if you think the shop attendant doesn’t understand you. They are a very friendly bunch of people, just busy most of the time but willing to help.
- Don’t hesitate to ask somebody next to you if you’re not familiar with certain vegetables or other ingredients. I’ve encountered this situation a couple of times and I don’t mind explaining.
- It’s better to bring the cookbook or pictures of the ingredients to show what you want. I’ve seen some people do this and it’s easier to locate the items. But do this during the off peak hours.
- VERY IMPORTANT- CHECK THE EXPIRY DATE!!!!!
- If an item is meant to be frozen, refrigerated or at room temperature, buy it that way. Use your common sense, if you see frozen poultry out in the sun - don't buy it (if you still value your life).
Goes to show I lead a sheltered life. I have to admit I’ve never been to Inala and didn’t realise you could find these kinds of stores out there. It sounds like an interesting shopping adventure, so I’ve put it down as one of my 2010 weekend must-do trips.