Asian Stores
There are two Asian stores I frequent, and that’s more than enough for me. The one I shop at the most is called Peter Hu, and you can find all your traditional Asian ingredients here. All your spices, all your different sauces, all your Eastern vegetables – when I first came here, I felt like a kid in a candyshop. The reason why I shop here more often is because this store also sells cheap homemade tofu, and I’m a huge fan of that.
The other Asian store I shop at is called Toko Het Oosten, which is conveniently located in the city centre. They also have a pretty full inventory, with all your essential sauces and dry ingredients. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either, and I’d recommend Toko Het Oosten purely because it’s in the city centre and within walking distance of most things in the city. However, that homemade tofu in Peter Hu just can’t be beaten, so for now, I’ll go out of my way and bike those extra two minutes to get there.
Regarding restaurants, I would say that Fusion Wok is the best Chinese place in town, with student-friendly prices for special occasions. Try their roast duck and chicken, and you’ll never want to go anywhere else. If you specifically want Indonesian food, then Nyonya Meneer is really good, although a bit pricey. And if you’re craving Indian, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve nabbed my friend’s Spice King butter chicken whenever they order takeaway.
Although not in Enschede, Amazing Oriental is extremely popular among international students. All their locations are pretty far from Enschede, though, so you’d have to make a trip by train to get there. What I usually do, is go on a day trip to the Randstad, and if we happen to see an Amazing Oriental as we’re walking, we make a beeline for it.
Turkish Stores
With Turkish cuisine being as delectable as it is, it’s no wonder that Turkish stores are popular in Enschede. There are a couple, and prices are comparable across all of them, so there’s no bad option for Turkish shops. Since I used to live in Enschede-Zuid (Southern Enschede), I would go to the nearest one from me: Selam Market Boswinkel, which was enough to sate my cravings for Turkish delights. Now that I live on campus, I also shop at the nearby Ana Market whenever I do my weekly shopping in Twekkelerveld. If you’ve just made a trip to Peter Hu, then you can visit Supermarket ADA a bit further along the road from the city centre. ADA also has a dedicated stand for Baklava, with a variety of flavours and shapes priced by kilogram, so make sure you don’t go too overboard with the shopping.
There are also several Turkish restaurants in Enschede. The one I frequent the most is Eethuis Zeytin, close to the hospital, and if you ever go, do try their Beyti kebab. The other restaurants are scattered around the city, although the big ones you see near the restaurant area in the city centre are a bit pricier than Zeytin, so I’ve never been.
Also of note: I also do my shopping for protein in Turkish shops. Things like chicken and beef are usually cheaper here than in your typical supermarket chains, and taste better (in my opinion). I’d recommend you to do the same if you’re a student ;)
South American and African Stores
Located near Toko Het Oosten in the city centre is a Surinamese shop called Toko Switi. It’s pretty ordinary of your typical Toko, with an assortment of sauces, frozen vegetables, and breads. We’ve made hallacas and arepas with ingredients from this store, so I’d say it has its fair share of South American ingredients. If you’re looking for something new, then swing by on Fridays or Saturdays – Toko Switi makes Surinamese snacks and sandwiches to take away, and they’re really good!
More a department store than a grocery shop or Toko, Majenis Tropical Centre sells everything from wigs and cosmetics to art pieces. This store also sells a variety of ingredients and food, and not just African – Caribbean food is sold here as well. They have this really good bag of plantain chips tastes amazing, so make sure to swing by if you’re nearby in the city centre!
In addition, Enschede has several South American restaurants. A friend and I have a tradition of going to Los Ponchos to celebrate something, and their food is all right – not super expensive, but a bit lacking in authenticity. There’s also an Argentine steakhouse in the city centre called Steakhouse El Gaucho, which looks and smells amazing, but I’ve been too afraid to go in after looking at their prices. Maybe once I graduate I’ll treat myself to some delicious Patagonian steak, but until then, I’ll just look on in longing.
