International Food
WHERE TO FIND A TASTE OF HOME
The International Food Scene is thriving in Belfast. There are plenty of places to stock up on your favourite ingredients. From specialist shops and supermarkets to restaurants and takeaways, with prices to suit every budget.
The first place many International Students start is Botanic Avenue, a thriving street packed with food shops, and restaurants serving a wide variety of international food.
FOOD SHOPPING TIPS
Watch Malaysian student Darshana's guide to buying all her favourite home comforts including all the spices you need to make your favourite curry and where to get delicious discounted desserts.
Both Lee Foods on Donegal Pass and Asia Supermarket on Ormeau Embankment are nearby the main Queen’s campus.
They are the perfect place to go for your favourite Asian ingredients. Both stock a wide variety of foods from spices and sauces, to noodles and rice, as well as fresh vegetables, meat and fish.
Sometimes you just want to cook a nice dish that reminds you of home, but can you get the specific ingredients you need in Belfast? Of course!
If the Asian Supermarkets don’t stock what you’re looking for, we also have a wide range of specialist food shops. From Polish Delicatessens to shops like Bangla Bazaar and Istanbul Market which cater to South Asian, African and Middle Eastern cuisines and even an American Candy Store - you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here.
VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN
Finding good vegetarian and vegan food in Belfast has never been easier.
Why not take a quick walk around campus for a vegan breakfast burrito from Maggie Mays, a tofu bao from Bao Bun Botanic, or perhaps some Falafel at Umi? If you’re looking for vegan ingredients to cook with, most supermarkets now stock a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan alternatives too.
Blog: My Favourite Vegan and Gluten-Free Cafes in Belfast
Blog: Belfast’s Best Bites: Vegan and Vegetarian Edition
Blog: The Best Vegan Spots in Belfast
Belfast is ranked among the seven best UK cities for food and drink (Which?, 2023)
We’re a city that loves food, and it’s possible to find restaurants that make food from all over the world. This is makes it easy for international students to find a taste of home.
Blog: Top Indian Restaurants in Belfast
If you’re looking for shops that stock Halal food in Belfast, then Istanbul Market on Botanic Avenue is the closest to Queen’s Main Campus.
However, there is also a number of other shops further afield too. When it comes to take away food and restaurants, you have a lot of choice from Frango Fried Chicken on Bradbury Place to The Raj on Lisburn Road and many more.