I love Asian food. Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese… you name it. But while there are more and more Asian restaurants to choose from here in Østfold, getting hold of ingredients for cooking at home is not as easy. Only one place to go in Fredrikstad: Mekong. Here you’ll find all the basics such as noodles, spices, pickled vegs, pastes and sauces, but also dried seaweed, mushrooms and roots, fresh tofu, a good selection of frozen fish and seafood, and a fresh fruit and vegetable department selling the likes of pak choi and bitter melons among others. The only thing that’s missing is Japanese food, which sadly I’ve found impossible to find in this part of Norway. But for everything else, from bamboo shoots to wonton leaves, head for Mekong.

Mekong Orientalske Matvarer Pham Van Van, Nygaardsgaten 34, Fredrikstad. Tel: 69 30 72 70.