If you’re new in Brisbane and missing your daily dose of Filipino products, you have to visit Best Friends Filipino Store inside McWhirters Centre, Fortitude Valley. I consider Best Friends to be the main Filipino Grocery Shop here in Brisbane. I’ve been shopping here since I was in high school and their old original site use to be located opposite the butcher shop where the fruit and vege shop is situated now. They started small and gradually through the years relocated 2x and expanded the size of the shop. Kainan sa Valley is their other venture that offers ready to eat Filipino food which is located in the Food Court.
What I love about this shop is that it is well lighted, clean and the products are all organised and priced. The shop owners are very down to earth, who actively supports Filipino activities around Brisbane. I go here regularly to replenish my depleted Filipino ingredients and treats.
For the newbies here in Brisbane and locals who are interested in checking this place, here’s my pics guided tour inside Best Friends Filipino Store=)
SAUCES, MARINADES AND CANNED PRODUCTS
SAVOURY CANNED PRODUCTS AND INSTANT DRINKS
ASSORTED FILIPINO SPREADS AND SWEET SNACKS FOR THE KIDS
ASSORTED FILIPINO BREADS FROM MANILA BAKEHOUSE
“LUCKY ME” ASSORTED INSTANT NOODLES IN A BOWL
DIFFERENT FILIPINO NOODLES
DRIED FISH FRIDGE
FROZEN SECTION
In their freezers they stock frozen Asian/Filipino fruits and vegetables, desserts, kakanins, boneless bangus, longganisa and beef tapa to name a few.
BOTTLED SECTION
They have a huge range of different Filipino ketchup, fish sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, bagoong, halo-halo ingredients, Del Monte products and assorted tubs of biscuit/crackers.
ASSORTED FILIPINO PACKETS OF CHIPS/CRISP
MERIENDA NIBBLES
PHILIPPINES LOCAL CHOCOLATES AND SWEETS
US CHOCOLATES
CHICHARON
FILIPINO DVDs/VCDs AND CDs
They also sell beauty products, phone cards/mobile recharge, recipe books, Filipino soft drinks and Ice Cream. You will also find Calamansi, Balut and Salted Eggs (Itlog na maalat) near the counter when it’s available. There’s so much products on offer, you have to personally go there to explore it for yourself=)
Money Transfer and Door to Door Parcel to the Philippines are offered if you have relatives back in the Philippines.
LOCATION: BEST FRIENDS PHILIPPINES/ASIAN FOODS
Shop 20 McWhirters Centre
Brunswick Cnr Wickham Streets
FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006
PH: (07) 3854 1462
FAX: (07) 3854 1418
F.Y.I~ I’m not related or connected to this business. This is one of my favourite shops that I frequently visit and the purpose of this post is to give you a sneak peek. We paid with our own TRIBE money for our foodie purchases. I’ve also asked permission from one of the owners (thanks Mrs de Chavez ) to take pictures inside their store, out of respect=)
15 LEAVE A COMMENT:
This is a super cute shop! I have never known about it. Also Best Friends is a gorgeous name.
Are they only in Australia? Looks like a neat outfit and the name is nice - Best Friends. :)
@Gastronomy Gal~ I think everyone likes the name...I also find it cute=)
@Ray~ Best Friends is only here in Brisbane, Australia. It's a very nice shop the one in Fortitude Valley....clean, tidy, products are always replenished with new stock and the staff are friendly and attentive.
Hi, thank you for this info. I have just returned from fil and miss many things from there and was wondering where I could get this stuff. I hope their other venture sells Bananaque my gf introduced me to it and i am now in love with 2 things from fil.
Jeremy
@Jeremy~ you're in luck, Kainan sa Valley sells Banana Que but it is not the fresh Saba ripe bananas they use...they use packaged ones (defrosted)as fresh ripe Saba bananas are hard to come by here in Brissy. Pls, check my Kainan sa Valley post on the 2nd to the last pic you will see a Banana Que on a stick.
I love all the streets food in Phil. and the Magnolia Ice Creams.. =)
Hello! Thank God for your site! I am relatively new to Brisbane (as my family is based at the Gold Coast) and I had no idea there was a Filipino-Asian shop around the city. I usually had to go back to Southport every weekend to get my fix of pinoy food items. And WOW! They have Magnolia ice creams. Where exactly at the Valley is it located? The joy of such discovery.
@Binshu G~ First of all thank you for visiting Busog! Sarap! If you get off the train, you go up where Brunswick Station Food Court is...there's a passage way on the left side, like a bridge connecting to McWhirters Building if you keep on walking it will lead you to the McWhirters Food Court...first you will see Kainan sa Valley, just keep on walking till you reach the end and bang...there it is=) Call the tel no. first to make sure they have Magnolia because sometimes they go out of stock quickly. There's another filo grocery store in Inala (just been there this afternoon) I saw some Filo Icecream but different brand.
Can anyone tell me if i can find cassava yam or coco yam to buy in any of this Asian shops in Brisbane
@Anonymous~ You can buy frozen cassava grated or cut in big chunks in any asian groceries here in Brisbane....if you are talking about coco jam (pinoy) you'll find it in all Filipino stores here in Brisbane and even in Yuen's.
is this inside mcwhirters?
@Anonymous~ Yes, find the Butcher and Best Friends is alongside it=)
This is by far one of the best filipino grocery store in Brisbane. Its a very nice, inviting place where you can almost buy all the filipino goods youre after. My sweety and I always shop in this place. Its always enjoyable to come here and also eat at their Kainan located near the area.
@cusinera is there a blog on Sampaguita Restaurant at the Gold Coast? I highly recommend this restaurant also!
@Anonymous~ I have to visit Sampaguita soon, looks promising. Craving for some Filipino dishes for a long time now since the Zillmere place closed down a couple months ago=( I love eating other people's food creations=)
Best Friends Groceries will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary this July 2012. So, watch out for the big SALE in store.
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