There’s a particular kind of frustration that anyone who cooks Asian food in a Western city knows well, the one where you need five ingredients and they’re spread across four different shops across town. Leaf Market on Rue Béchevelin exists to fix that problem entirely.
Lyon’s largest Asian supermarket, Leaf Market stocks ingredients from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India, and beyond, all under one roof, all at prices that make you wonder why you ever bothered with the big supermarkets. It’s the kind of shop that expats build their weekly routine around and curious home cooks discover once and immediately claim as their own. If you want to cook something authentic, really authentic, this is where you start.
The Experience
The shop sits in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement, a short walk from Jean Macé metro station, and from the moment you walk in, it feels noticeably different from the cramped, dimly lit Asian grocery stores that tend to populate city centres. Leaf Market is large, well-organised, and bright. The kind of place where you can actually read the labels and find what you’re looking for without having to ask three times.
The aisles are colourful and densely stocked, with fresh produce on one side and row after row of sauces, noodles, spices, and packaged goods stretching back through the store. The smells shift as you move through: fresh vegetables and herbs near the entrance, then the deeper, more complex scents of dried spices and fermented goods further in. There’s a lively, neighbourhood energy to the place, with a genuinely diverse crowd shopping in multiple languages and staff who are both helpful and, reassuringly, speak English too.
It feels, as one regular put it, like a slice of Asia dropped into the 7th arrondissement. That’s not far off.
What Not to Miss
The Thai and Vietnamese ready-food section
If you’re not in full cooking mode, this section has you covered. Instant nems, banh bao, and pre-made curries from Thailand-inspired displays make for a quick and genuinely satisfying meal. Grab something warm, find a bench in one of the nearby Gerland parks, and call it lunch.
The Indian and Southeast Asian spice aisle
This is one of the most well-stocked spice sections in Lyon. Kaffir lime leaves, garam masala, Thai cinnamon, and a long list of hard-to-find ingredients that simply don’t exist in standard French supermarkets. Staff are knowledgeable and happy to suggest pairings or point you toward what you need for a specific dish.
Bulk noodles, snacks, and pantry staples
Korean ramyeon, Japanese matcha treats, coconut milk in large formats, and a rotating selection of Asian snacks that make stocking the pantry genuinely fun. The value here is hard to beat, especially if you cook regularly and go through staples quickly.
Come on a weekday around midday
Shelves are typically restocked in the morning, so arriving around noon on a weekday gives you the best of both worlds: fresh produce and fully stocked aisles, without the weekend crowds. It’s also when the shop is at its most relaxed and browseable.
What Locals and Regulars are Saying
Leaf Market doesn’t have the century of history that some of the other shops on this list can boast, but it’s built a devoted following quickly and the reviews are telling.
The best store in Lyon to find Asian and Indian cooking ingredients. You can find everything and very reasonable price. The only clean Asian store.
Lupin Shayeka, a Local Guide on Google
Excellent Asian grocery store with multiple options for all types of Asian cuisine: noodles, kimchi, ramen, soups, seafood etc. It was a bit surprising to see even the Indian readymade food packets such as Dal Makhani, Paneer, Pav Bhaji etc. which are unfortunately unavailable at even Indian stores in Lyon. The cashier spoke English too so I could even put in a request for a certain food packet.
Shalabh Mathur, a Local Guide on Google
That last detail matters more than it might seem. A shop where you can actually communicate a specific request and have it taken seriously is a shop that genuinely cares about its customers.
Few social media posts
Know Before You Go
Address and opening hours
Leaf Market is at 68 Rue Béchevelin, 69007 Lyon. You can reach them at +33 4 26 00 65 11 and find more at leaf-market.fr. Unlike many specialty grocery stores, Leaf Market is open seven days a week, Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, including Sundays, which is genuinely useful.
Website: Lead Market
Direction: Google Maps
Getting there
Metro Line B to Jean Macé is a two-minute walk away. Trams also serve the area. Street parking in this residential zone is tight, so public transit or arriving by bike is the more practical choice. The neighbourhood is pleasant and very walkable once you’re there.
Nearby landmarks
You’re in the 7th arrondissement, close to the Marché de la Turcie and the green spaces of the Gerland area, both worth a wander before or after your shop. Jean Macé metro hub connects you quickly to the rest of the city, making Leaf Market an easy add-on to a wider day out in Lyon.
Leaf Market is the store that solves the problem. One trip, one roof, every cuisine. Whether you’re an expat craving something from home, a home cook working through a new recipe, or just someone who wants to eat well without hunting across the city, this is your answer. Open every day, well-stocked, well-priced, and genuinely easy to shop in, it’s hard to ask for more than that.
