Hmart, a Korean supermarket chain, opened just a few days ago in Tigard, on the 99W a couple miles south of the 217.
I made it there for opening day, and it was swamped with swaths of overzealous consumers engaged simultaneously in a mad power grab. Here’s what I had to say at Portlandfood.org:
“I showed up at noon. Absolutely insane. Wall-to-wall bodies. I would say a good portion of the entire Portland metro area Korean community was here. The checkout lines were 30 carts deep. After 40 minutes I felt a panic attack coming on and needed a dozen Xanax and a defibrillator.
The store? Amazing. Larger than Uwajimaya, and outside of, say, pre-packaged sashimi and sashimi grade seafood, a better selection of most everything. About the size of Fubonn, and their produce section is twice as large. There’s a fair amount of traditional American supermarket goods, as well, so it’s a one-stop shopping option. Bulk banchan by the pound – about a dozen varieties, and much more in pre-packaged containers by the Korean food counter.
A Chinese food counter, a bakery, a sushi counter, a Korean food counter (bi bimi bap for $5.50). There’s a very large language barrier happening here, and after attempting to order some spicy tofu stew for a couple minutes (the Korean food counter is very confusing) I figured I’d come back in a couple weeks once things die down.”
Took a drive down to Tigard to check out the new HMart. Certainly a more modern market than the run down ones I used to frequent in KTown.
The banchan all looked great. Nice baked goods also. But I was kind of wary of “supermarket” food so I just drove up the 217 and had lunch at HoSoonYi.
My wife is korean, me German, we have been shopping there since it opened and we are delighted, it is so much head and shoulders above the small local Korean stores. It is a little bit out of the way for us as we live near Gresham, but we really don’t mind the drive. One thing though, they need to start stocking and selling OB Beer, it is the best, if Paldo (which is much smaller) can get OB, what is the problem here? Best of luck.