Otto’s Market Precinct opens new Asian food section Little Lantern Market

Foodies are excited about a new ‘store within a store’ that offers a diverse range of taste bud tantalising Asian food products. See where it is.

Otto’ss Market Precinct has joined forces with Jay Le, owner of Lantern Mart Cairns and Lantern Mart Stockland Townsville to incorporate an Asian grocer within the store. Soren Pryor with some of the noodles on offer. Picture: Evan Morgan

A world of culinary possibilities has opened up for Townsville’s adventurous eaters after Otto’s teamed up with the Little Lantern Market to offer a new Asia-centric product range.

Keen to build on his success running Lantern Mart Asian Supermarkets in North Queensland, and Cairn’s first Asian Food Laneway, Lantern Lane, business owner Jay Le had been discussing a collaboration with Otto’s owner Don Peel.

Drawn to Otto’s “good name” in the community, Mr Le had looked at opening a store before launching an in-store collaboration in early November at Otto’s Market Precinct in Idalia.

“We combined together (and) people come for the good food, good service, and the variation of the product – Western and Asian products,” Mr Le said.

Little Lantern Market offers a diverse range of Asian grocery items including staples, spices, condiments, and beverages, sourced from countries like Korea, Thailand, China, Japan, and Malaysia.

Otto's Market Precinct in Idalia has teamed up with the Little Lantern Mart to broaden its Asian food range. Picture: Ottos.

Describing the joint venture as a “store within a store” Mr Peel said the collaboration added a new dynamic to the business, with customers loving the “wall of noods” to get their noodle fix, and the range of dumplings.

“It’s a great offering for Townsville. We’ve had a good uptick in customer numbers … and it’s just good to see our traditional customers getting another offering as well,” Mr Peel said.

Otto's Market Precinct in Idalia has teamed up with the Little Lantern Mart to broaden its Asian food range. Picture: Ottos.

“All of our chefs have gone in to have a bit of a sticky beak, but I have seen some other local chefs getting around in there filling up a basket as well.”

Mr Le hoped to continue his local expansion by securing a place at Warrina Shopping Centre and collaborating with Otto’s to bring Lantern Lane’s Asian street food to Townsville.

Originally published as Otto’s Market Precinct opens new Asian food section Little Lantern Market