Overview
As one of Sydney's go-tos for speciality Asian ingredients, Thai Kee IGA already boasts a hefty reputation. Located above Paddy's Markets, it's where you'll find everything from dumplings, aloe vera juice and koala biscuits to Japanese curry, hot barbecue pork buns and chrysanthemum tea. And, thanks to the supermarket's new range, it's where you can now also pick up DIY frozen meal kits from some top local eateries. Here, you'll shop for groceries, then end up with Chaco Ramen's chilli coriander ramen and Mr Hotdog's mozzarella cheese hotdogs — all ready for you to make at home.
They're both available as part of Thai Kee IGA's new restaurant line, which complements the store's existing selection of Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean and Filipino food. The DIY kits can be stored in your freezer for up to three months, letting you feast on restaurant-quality cuisine whenever you feel like it.
Also on the shelves, waiting for you to heat up: Ho Jiak's curry chicken, satay chicken skewers, Hainan chicken rice, nasi lemak chicken, beef rendang and chilli prawns, plus Arisun's Korean fried chicken, boneless spicy chicken and boneless soy chicken. You can nab 678 Korean BBQ's tteokbokki, opt for Chaco Ramen and Chaco Bar's fat soy ramen and dumplings, too, or slurp your way through Ippudo Ramen's eponymous dish. Plus, you can grab Seoulfoods packs with wagyu meats and soy-marinated scotch fillets.
Unsurprisingly, the new line has been popular, selling out every couple of days. Accordingly, what you'll find on the shelf when you drop by is likely to be a surprise.
Thai Kee IGA plans to add more eateries and dishes to its restaurant range, too — so once you've whipped up the above meals at home, you can look forward to more to come. And, even though Sydney's hospitality industry is starting to reopen, the supermarket is also planning to keep selling the kits for as long as possible.
Find Thai Kee IGA at 9–13 Hay Street, Haymarket.
Top image: Chaco Ramen by Alana Dimou