Deep dive at the H Mart

Last Updated On Jun. 08, 2022

H Mart's grand opening in 2021. Photo courtesy of SFGate.

H Mart, the Korean-American grocery store that was founded 40 years ago in Queens, New York, is now the largest Asian grocery chain in the country. San Francisco residents finally got a location to shop for hard-to-find Korean and Asian brands of snacks, ramen, pantry staples, and ice cream, among other freshly made products. Located on Alemany Blvd. in the Ocean View Village shopping center, H Mart is a quick walk from BART’s Daly City station via St. Charles St. Inside, you’ll find a small food hall with several restaurants serving specialty coffee drinks, Korean fried chicken, bowls of ramen, and galbi-jjim (braised Korean short ribs).

Author Michelle Zauner, whose best-selling memoir, “Crying in H Mart”, introduced the masses to Korea’s culinary repertoire. Since the book’s release last year, thousands of readers and foodies have made the trek to an H Mart to explore the aisles for exotic ingredients that remind them of family members. Don’t let the idea of unknown ingredients deter you from making a trip to this outpost. The options for fresh fish and meats, vegetables and fruits at competitive prices, and an endless array of frozen dumplings are reason enough to shop here. If the allure of shopping for nostalgic items tugs at your emotions like it did for Zauner, lean into it and find your own peace within the aisles.

The fresh produce section at San Francisco's H Mart. Image courtesy of Business Journals.

Though you'll find plenty of specialty chili peppers, Asian greens and roots vegetables, you'll also find a wide range of Western produce found in any other supermarket at very reasonable prices.

Dragonfruit, mangoes, oranges, and yellow kiwi on display. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

The variety of fruit available is staggering. Lots of exotic produce from all over the globe, particularly fruit grown below the equator. A perfect place to sample jackfruit, lychee, passionfruit, and mangosteen.

Banchan, or packaged small sides made in-house and from outside vendors. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

The prepared food section is a dream for those who can't get enough of pickled vegetables like yellow radish and onions, variations of fermented vegetables like kimchi, and cold noodle salads with seaweed and kelp. These accompaniments are a staple at the Korean table.

Rows of Hweh, prepared raw fish, are on view. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

Adventuresome eaters shouldn't miss the raw fish section where items like monkfish liver and octopus reside next to snapper and ahi.

Himego, or dried anchovies, are stacked next to other dried seafood. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

Roasted anchovies and sardines, often seasoned with spices and sesame, are just some of the dried seafood items that can be snacked on or incorporated into dishes by rehydrating them in water of broth.

Fresh catfish at the fish counter. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

You don't have to know how to clean whole fish while shopping at H Mart as there are plenty of cleaned and filleted options, but if you do want to try your hand at de-boning a fish and keeping the head and scraps for broth, this is the place to shop. There's a beautiful assortment of fish, including snapper, tilapia, catfish, mackerel, octopus, squid, head-on prawns, and so much more.

Fresh noodles in various widths and made with various flours are kept fresh in the refrigerated section. Image courtesy of Sophia M.

Korean and Chinese noodles made with whole wheat, white, and buckwheat flours, and enhanced with egg, matcha, mung bean and sweet potatoes are available at H Mart. Knife cut noodles, a comforting favorite used in Kalguksu, a Korean soup, are on the shelf as well.

Where: H Mart

Station: Daly City

Walk Time: 9 minutes

Tell us what you shop for at H Mart!

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by Sophia Markoulakis

Sophia Markoulakis is a Bay Area-based freelance journalist covering lifestyle and human interest topics. Her first memory riding BART was while attending UC Berkeley. It was the fastest way to escape her seven roommates and head to San Francisco. She still rides BART to access the best the bay has to offer.