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The Best Affordable Grocery Stores In Toronto 2024

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Noah
June 5, 2024
4:51 pm

As we try and adapt to rising food costs, and inflation, here is a list of the best affordable grocery stores in Toronto 2024 to help you save money.

Sunny Food Market

With 4 locations serving the Greater Toronto Area, Sunny Food Market is amongst the most consistently affordable grocery stores in Toronto. Offering everyday grocery items, and authentic Chinese products at affordable prices, Sunny is noted for being very clean, and for their impressive variety of fresh produce, and seafood.

You can expect to find ample parking at locations. You’ll likely find everything you need at very reasonable prices here, but keep in mind that some patrons have noted that regular items, like packaged snacks, are slightly more expensive here than the average grocery store in Toronto. Check out their website for weekly deals, and coupons.

PAT Central

This popular Korean grocery store in downtown Toronto is noted for its friendly, and helpful staff, clean interior, and wide-range of Korean speciality items. In particular, in addition to being one of the best affordable grocery stores in Toronto, patrons praise PAT Central for the sheer variety of ramen, artisanal fresh-frozen noodles, and unique snacks at very affordable prices.

Additionally, customers love Kevin’s Fresh Taiyaki (in custard and red bean flavours) made in-store at this location. Whether you’re looking for fresh meat, or counter prepared food, you can expect to pay reasonable prices for great food. Keep in mind, however, that parking is very limited at this location.

Grocery Outlet

This outlet grocery store has 13 locations across Ontario all with decent parking space. Grocery Outlet is known for having much lower prices than regular grocery stores for frozen food, and non-perishables in particular. Though the variety is moderate, the offered selection is noted to be great amongst vegan options at the most affordable prices.

Note that most of the items are frozen, and packaged foods, and that they do not offer any fresh fruit or vegetables. Also note that while being a liquidation food shop makes Outlet Grocery an automatic pick amongst the most affordable grocery stores in Toronto, you’d be well advised to check the expiry dates on items you’re interested in.

Giant Tiger

With 131 locations serving Ontario, this department store is a very popular discount chain. Offering a wide selection of products, and produce like groceries, clothing, and electronics, Giant Tiger is noted for its budget-friendly prices across the board. While their variety is not equal to other big department stores, like Walmart for instance, they are known to have more frequent, and more enticing deals which definitely qualifies them as one of the top affordable grocery stores in Toronto.

More to this point, they offer price matching. In their own words “We will beat the advertised price of any competitor.” While you’re likely to find your everyday food, and home essentials are discounted prices, patrons note that the customer service from staff members will vary from location to location.

Walmart Supercentre

Like Giant Tiger, but on a much bigger scale obviously, Walmart is a global department store noted for its vast variety of fresh, and frozen groceries, produce as well as clothing, home essential items, and in-store services like pharmacy, and passport photo services. Though the reason it makes our list as an affordable grocery store is due to its same-day grocery store delivery service.

In particular, customers note the delivery service is much cheaper when compared to other local options, as well as having a very accommodating customer service team. So if you’re a busy individual who relies on your groceries being delivered to them, then Walmart is likely your best bet amongst affordable grocery stores in Toronto who deliver.

Lucky Moose Food Mart

Located close to the Art Gallery of Ontario, this Asian grocery store is a long-time favourite amongst Torontonians as one of the staple affordable grocery stores in Toronto. Noted for very affordable prices, impressive variety of produce and products, and being open until 10PM every night, Lucky Moose Food Mart is a wonderful budget-friendly option for your grocery needs.

In particular, customers praise the freshness, and quality of produce, meat, and fish, as well as the cleanliness of the store in general. At the same time, some have noted that customer-service can be hit or miss.

Al Barakat Supermarket

Located in Scarborough this popular family-run grocery store offers a diverse range of middle eastern, Greek, and Mediterranean food at affordable prices. Although the store isn’t the biggest, customers praise Al Barakat Supermarket its cleanliness, friendly staff, and in particular, for their fresh, and delicious bakery items, as well as their lavashak which sells out very quickly.

They also offer fresh produce, as well as fresh halal meat at reasonable prices compared to their competitors in the area. You can expect to find ample parking here.

Kai Wei Supermarket

Are you looking for affordable grocery stores in Toronto near Chinatown? Then look no further than Kai Wei. Located in the heart of Chinatown in Toronto, Kai Wei Supermarket is a long-time favourite amongst locals seeking quality budget-friendly grocery options in the city–so it obviously makes our list as one of the best TorontoniansThis Asian supermarket boasts a diverse selection of fresh products, including meat and fish.

Customers note that while the store front is very minimal in its appearance, the quality is there when it matters. In particular, customers praise the price, quality, and freshness of fruit, and vegetables sold at this location. That said, given the location, you can expect to find limited parking.

Ambal Trading

Located in St. James Town in Toronto, this popular Indian grocery store offers a variety of south Asian packaged foods, and snacks. While not the biggest location, Ambal Trading is noted for its fresh vegetables, and herbs which are amongst the most reasonably priced in the area. Customers note the availability of hard to come by south Asian spices, and snacks.

While the prices are generally affordable, you can expect to pay a little more for said spices, and snacks. Patrons also advise that you regularly check the expiry dates on products before purchase. You can expect to find limited street parking.

Saffron Halal Meat & Grocery

Located on the Danforth in Toronto this relatively new south Asian meat and grocery shop is fast becoming a favourite amongst locals in the area. Customers praise the cleanliness of Saffron Halal Meat & Grocery as well as the attentive, friendly, and helpful staff.

While you can find a variety of frozen, and packaged foods, customer in particular note the quality, and selection of fresh meat, and fish offered at the most affordable prices in the area. Given the location, you can expect to find limited parking.

Mandala Foodstore

Located on Queen Street west between Parkdale, and Little Tibet, this family-owned Tibetan supermarket prides itself in being the first ever Tibetan Convenience Store in the vicinity of Parkdale Neighbourhood.

Customers praise Mandala Foodstore for having a great collection of Himalayan food, spices, and snacks at very affordable prices. Customers also praise the friendly, and helpful staff members. While the produce is limited you can find delightful sweet treats on offer. You can expect to find limited parking.

Food Basics

With 142 stores throughout Ontario, Food Basics is a popular discount supermarket chain owned by Metro Inc. Unlike Metro grocery stores, however, Food Basics is reliably one of the better affordable grocery stores in Toronto. A popular grocery options for budget-friendly shoppers, you can expect to find affordable produce, meat, and packaged foods at reasonable prices especially when compared with direct competitors.

With weekly deals that cover a variety of products, Food Basics has frequent sales some of which are very worthwhile. With that said, customers note that you can expect the service and quality of products to be slightly different from store to store. You can view weekly flyers on their website.

No Frills

Much like Food Basics, No Frills is a popular discount supermarket chain owned by Loblaw Companies Limited with over 250 franchise locations across Canada. Fortunately, you won’t be paying Loblaws prices here–it wouldn’t be amongst the affordable grocery stores in Toronto if you did! No Frills is noted by customers for its price match. In their own words: “Find a cheaper price and we’ll match it.”

While the quality of products, and customer service will vary slightly from location to location, customers note that you can expect to find affordable produce, meat, and packaged foods at affordable prices. You can view weekly flyers on their website.

Galaxy Fresh Foods

Located near East Chinatown in Toronto this Asian grocery store offers a wide selection of authentic Chinese foods, and products. Customers praise the cleanliness of Galaxy Fresh Foods, as well as the friendly, and helpful staff.

In particular, customers also note the availability, and selection of fresh produce, meat, and fish at very affordable prices. You can also expect to find unique variety of fruit, vegetables, and snacks. Given in its location, parking is limited.

Kien Hung Supermarket

Located in North York in Toronto, this Asian supermarket is famous amongst the Vietnamese community, and prides itself in having specialty in providing fresh vegetables, meat, and fish at affordable prices.

Customers note the impressive selection of Vietnamese food including seasonings and snacks, as well as exotic fruit from different countries. Customers also note that fruit, and vegetables are generally cheaper than other markets in the area. You can expect to find adequate parking.

Costco Wholesale

As the third-largest trailer in the world Costco is a household name. It makes our list because when it comes to bulk buying groceries, and personal essential items, especially packaged foods, non-perishable, and hygiene products: you’re likely not going to find better value than Costco–a shoo-in for one of the best affordable grocery stores in Toronto. In addition to grocery, personal, and household items, customers enjoy buying clothing items at steeply discounted prices.

Customers also praise Costco for its generous refund, and exchange policy. So if you have a large family, and/or have the space to store lots of food, and product, then you’re likely to save a significant amount of money by buying in bulk.

Flipp App & Red Flag Deals

As a bonus consideration to our list of the best affordable grocery stores in Toronto: we think you might find the Flipp app, and Red Flag Deals useful in budgeting your grocery costs. Flipp provides the latest flyers, promotions, sales, discounts and deals from retailers throughout Canada, including grocery stores.

Red Flag Deals is similar in providing the latest flyers, and deals in addition to their forum where people share deals that they’ve found. The unfortunate reality in our city is that there is no single grocery store that always has affordable prices for all the items we need all of the time. So you might find it helpful to be able to compare real-time prices weekly, and act accordingly.

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