An H Mart is now open in Dallas’ burgeoning Koreatown neighborhood.<\/p>\n
The popular Korean supermarket held a grand opening Thursday for its first location in the city.<\/p>\n
Many feel the store represents the beginning of a new era for what was once the unofficial Koreatown in Northwest Dallas along Harry Hines Boulevard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a lot more interest in the area, and I think it feels like the beginning, right?\u201d Brian Kwon, president of H Mart, told KERA News. \u201cIt feels like there’s a lot of development, it feels like there are a lot more people coming in, so I think it\u2019s a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kwon said he\u2019s focused on providing an authentic experience to customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re trying to bring in what you would find as if you were in Korea, as if you’re in Japan, as if you’re in China,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I think as long as you’re focused on that, as long as you’re focused on giving those kinds of experiences, people will recognize that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minyoung Kim, a vendor for H Mart, said the supermarket is not only for the Korean community, but also carries goods from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and every Asian culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cH Mart is a whole other level,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n
The line to get in wrapped around the building on Royal Lane before doors opened at 10 a.m. Second in line was Maria Salinas, who said she got there at 7:50 a.m. and was interested in cooking Asian food.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have great stores here but there’s Asian ingredients that we don’t find (in) some other places,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
When the doors officially opened, customers were led in by traditional Korean drummers as dozens of smiling H Mart employees welcomed them.<\/p>\n
The grocery section of the store was lined with fresh fruits and vegetables, dozens of Korean canned goods, live crabs, squid and a dozen different types of Korean barbeque.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a food court with vendors serving Korean fried chicken, tofu, avocado egg toast, cheddar hot dogs and topokki \u2014 rice cake noodles covered with sauce. Overlooking the food court was a live music stage playing Korean pop music, known as K-Pop.<\/p>\n
Japanese toy and arcade machines lined a walking path to the retail section that had a salon, beauty store, photo studio and even a curtain store.<\/p>\n
\n 1 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
The line to get in H Mart during the grand opening wrapped around the building. The Korean supermarket has developed a fanbase similar to H-E-B.<\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA<\/p>\n
\n 2 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
Traditional Korean drummers led in customers as H Mart employees clapped and welcomed them in. <\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA<\/p>\n
\n 3 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
H Mart customers were officially let into the store at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23. Most customers went straight to the grocery section and began packing their carts with imported foods. <\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA<\/p>\n
\n 4 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
Some H Mart customers waited hours for the store to officially open at 10 a.m. They were led into the store by traditional Korean drummers as H Mart employees welcomed them. <\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA<\/p>\n
\n 5 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
The Northwest Dallas H Mart sells live crab, squid, imported Asian canned goods and a dozen different types of Korean barbeque. <\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA <\/p>\n
\n 6 of 6
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a010232025HMARTOPENINGKERA\n <\/p>\n
Overlooking the food court is a live music stage, which was playing Korean pop music during the grand opening. Korean culture has become increasingly popular in the U.S., giving H Mart a whole new customer base. <\/p>\n
Dylan Duke \/ KERA<\/p>\n
The H Mart comes to Dallas amid the increasing popularity of Korean culture in the U.S. With K-Pop bands like BTS going viral, the Korean film \u201cParasite\u201d winning Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020 and this year\u2019s \u201cK-Pop Demon Hunters\u201d movie becoming a hit among kids, introducing Korean culture to a whole new generation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in the right place at the right time,\u201d Kwon told KERA. \u201cIt’s like people are interested in the culture, they’re interested in the food, so they want to see the real thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Koreatown, a 1.6 mile stretch on Royal Lane between Luna Road and Harry Hines Boulevard, was officially recognized by the Texas Legislature in 2023.<\/p>\n