Whether you do one big trip once a month with a few isolated visits to replenish the expendables, or quick, daily trips to purchase whatever you might be craving at that point, shopping for groceries is an obligation which has been loathed by adults for years. Trips to the grocer becomes infinitely worse when you don't know the local supermarkets or how they compare to one another and when living in a city like Jakarta who is famed for having arguably the worst traffic in the world then the last thing you want is to drive from store to store to compare products and prices. Hopefully then this guide can assist in giving you the necessary overview to choose the stores relevant to your needs so you can save time and money.

If you prefer going to one store for all your needs then the obvious choice would be the hypermarket superstores. These are enormous warehouse like stores that stock anything from fresh produce, to office equipment, to sporting goods, anything you may want and countless items you never knew you needed. Since these stores buy and generally sell in bulk they do tend to be cheaper but because of the high number of items they need to stock you may struggle to find specialty items here.

There are several well known hyperstore chains to choose from. French retailer Carrefour is one of the most popular due to the fact that they can easily be located in Jakarta's main streets and because they use local products they tend to be cheaper. You'll just need to plan your trip here well as they can be flooded with shoppers after salaries have been paid.
Hypermart is another smart choice. These stores are generally found in shopping malls making it convenient should you need to visit other stores as well. They have the added benefit of allowing online purchases through their website so you never have to get off the couch.

If you are new to Jakarta and feel a bit homesick then you may want to seek out Grand Lucky who is famous for stocking a wide variety of imported products. Just be ready to pay your share of the import costs.

Premium supermarkets also offer a wide variety of products although not as impressive a selection as hyperstores. Their prices are slightly higher but you might find some items here that the hyperstores don't stock.

Foodhall has stores in several convenient spots for quick and easy shopping trips while Ranch Market is famed for their selection of imported goods as well as a variety of organic products, generally not stocked by other food stores. Ranch Market also utilizes the mobile application Happy Fresh to further increase convenience.

Finding your favourite liquor is somewhat more complicated as most supermarkets don't stock alcoholic drinks. Should this be a problem then be sure to seek out KemChicks.
Should your budget be of concern then Hero is probably the place for you. These markets might not be as well stocked due to their smaller stores but their prices are close to unbeatable. Here you'll find most local and imported products offered elsewhere and although hard liquor isn't available, beer can be seen on their shelves.