Home from Home (The Expat Shop) in Strassen;

Luxembourg is well-known for its multicultural population; almost half (47.2%) of its 634,730 residents were non-Luxembourg nationals as of 1 January 2021 (according to STATEC).

It should come as no surprise then that the Grand Duchy is home to an array of international food shops which cater to the country’s many diaspora communities, as well as locals who may wish to try something a bit different.

In this article, Chronicle.lu has compiled a list of several such speciality shops, with a focus on those located in Luxembourg City – where foreigners make up over 70% of the population (as of 31 December 2020, according to the City of Luxembourg).

Home from Home (148 Route d’Arlon, L-8010 Strassen)

A favourite among many English-speaking expats and immigrants, Home from Home, also known as “The Expat Shop”, serves a wide range of imported products from the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, North America (Canada and the United States), Australia and New Zealand. Shelves are regularly stocked with tinned goods, sauces, meat products, tea, breakfast cereals, baking products and chocolate, among other items which expats may miss from their respective home countries whilst living in Luxembourg.

Set up by Marc Hollis and John Heffernan, the shop opened its doors in late 2017 and filled a gap in the market left by the permanent closure of the Capellen-based Little Britain Shop (which sold British, Irish and American produce) in June 2016.

As of 1 January 2021, there were 4,561 British nationals, 2,261 Irish nationals, 2,176 US nationals, 574 Canadians, 366 South Africans, 165 Australians and 55 South African nationals residing in Luxembourg.

Irish Pub & Restaurant ÉireLux (40 Rue des Bruyères, L-1274 Luxembourg)

Another popular speciality store among Luxembourg residents with an Irish connection is ÉireLux, which is a pub, shop and restaurant all in one. Customers can choose from a selection of Irish whiskeys (and Scottish whiskys), craft beers, ciders and other spirits in The Snug drinks shop.

The ÉireLux pub also screens relevant sports matches such as the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship.

ScanShop Luxembourg (615 Rue de Neudorf, L-2220 Luxembourg)

Established in Luxembourg in 1994, ScanShop offers a wide range of Scandinavian and Nordic specialities and delicatessen. Products include groceries, alcohol, gift items, magazines and health products from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Swededn. A second ScanShop branch opened its doors in Brussels (Belgium) in 2009.

Over the years, ScanShop Luxembourg has also become a popular meeting place for its customers, particularly at its NORDBO Café & Bakery where clients can chat with one another over a cinnamon bun and a cup of coffee.

As of 1 January 2021, Luxembourg was home to 1,666 Swedish, 1,542 Danish, 1,256 Finnish, 321 Icelandic and 246 Norwegian nationals.

Epicerie Fine Osada (30 Rue Laurent Ménager, L-2344 Luxembourg)

This Polish grocery shop, opened in 2017, sells a range of products from Poland and serves as a meeting place for customers – there is a restaurant at the front of the shop where clients can enjoy coffee and a biscuit together.

Products, which are delivered three times a week, include various homemade and imported cakes, dumplings, Polish white sausage, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, as well as health and beauty products.

According to STATEC, there were 4,941 Polish nationals residing in Luxembourg as of 1 January 2021.

La Bacanie (147 Route d’Esch, L-1471 Luxembourg)

This Romanian delicatessen shop sells a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs, meat and dairy products, sweets and pastries from Romania, as well as traditional handmade gifts, such as bracelets and little dolls.

There were 6,096 Romanian nationals living in the Grand Duchy as of 1 January 2021.

Au Gourmet Grec (87 Rue de Bonnevoie, L-1260 Luxembourg)

Founded in 2005 by Georgios Gryllus and family, this Greek deli-grocery store offers a variety of cheeses, olive oil, “meze” (small dishes), honey and wine, among other specialties from this Mediterranean country.

At the start of January 2021, Luxembourg was home to a total of 3,811 Greek nationals.

Vicente & Fils (70 Rue de l’École, L-8353 Garnich)

This family business, founded in 1985 by Virginio Vicente, offers more than 500 Spanish wine references and other delicacies, both in person and online.

As of 1 January 2021, Luxembourg counted 7,651 Spanish nationals among its residents.

Asia Market (5 Rue du Fort Elisabeth, L-1463 Luxembourg)

There are several Asian supermarkets and speciality shops in the Grand Duchy, particularly in the Luxembourg-Gare district. One popular choice among those wishing to (re)discover the tastes of Asia is Asia Market, which offers a selection of fresh produce and herbs, frozen food and condiments from various Asian countries.

A total of 17,519 people from the Asian continent were living in Luxembourg as of 1 January 2021. Chinese nationals (3,999) made up the largest group, followed by Indian (3,125) and Syrian (2,535) nationals.

Dafa Supermarket (6-8 Rue de Strasbourg, L-2560 Luxembourg)

Another popular Asian grocery shop is Dafa Supermarket, which serves products from China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and India, among others. The shelves are stocked with ramen, kimchi, rice, fresh ginger and a range of spices, to name but a few products.

As of 1 January 2021, there were 547 Japanese, 467 Thai, 206 Korean (North and South Korea) and 181 Vietnamese nationals living in Luxembourg.

Tandoori Market (219 Rue de Beggen, L-1221 Luxembourg)

This Asian speciality shop opened its doors in Luxembourg-Beggen in 2015. It offers more than 350 products online and over 5,000 in-store products, including spices, curry pastes, rice, beans, flour, ghee (clarified butter) and coconut oil, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. In addition to imported products from across Asia, Tandoori market sells specialities from African and South American cuisines, among others.

Epicerie Neudorf (421 Rue de Neudorf, L-2220 Luxembourg)

The only Filipino grocery shop in Luxembourg, Epicerie Neudorf keeps its shelves well-stocked with typical food products such Uraro cookies, tinned and dried fish, noodles and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a range of spices, sauces and other speciality products.

As of 1 January 2021, 721 Filipinos were living in the Grand Duchy.

Sabor do Brasil (Galerie Mercure, 41 Avenue de la Gare, L-1611 Luxembourg)

This Brazilian shop offers a range of imported cosmetics, frozen fish and seafood, spices and condiments, drinks and desserts, among other products.

At the start of January 2021, a total of 2,604 Brazilian nationals were residing in Luxembourg; the two countries share deep historic ties, particularly due to Luxembourgish families emigrating to Brazil in the 19th century. Today, Brazilians are among the largest groups of people to reclaim the Luxembourgish nationality as a result of their heritage.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list and with Luxembourg’s foreign population continuing to grow, the number of international food shops are sure to multiply in the coming years.