Find | Asian Ingredients

“H-Mart is like a Costco for Asians” marvels chef Ming Tsai, of Blue Ginger Restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts and host of the TV show Simply Ming, when talking about the varied selection at the multicultural megamart. “It’s a gigantic supermarket with everything from 70 different types of kimchee to a whole row of ramen noodles to diamond rings and mink coats.”

H-Mart (H for Han Ah Reum, which is Korean for “one arm full of groceries”) first opened as a small Korean grocer in 1982 in Queens, New York and now has expanded to 47 football field-sized locations in North America, plus an online store. “I love going there” says chef Ken Oringer of this Disneyland of ingredients, “it’s like a Koreatown Los Angeles market.”

All Asian cuisines are represented, but Korean products dominate the shelves. Chef Chris Shepherd, from Underbelly in Houston, shops at H-Mart for the “Kimchi section and Bahn Chan section. Also, for picking out different types of pickles.”

If you go to the store, Ming Tsai says “check out the display of meat, seafood and live fish that they butcher right there.” You can also shop for most products online, like packaged Asian ingredients, rice cookers and teas.