The H Mart supermarket chain has opened its largest store in Westminster, California, providing a much-anticipated addition to the local shopping landscape.
Located at 16450 Beach Blvd., the new H Mart spans 72,916 square feet and marks the company’s 19th location in California and its sixth in Orange County.
Despite the sweltering 90-degree heat, a large crowd gathered for the grand opening on August 7, with customers waiting in line that stretched beyond the neighboring Daiso Japanese Household Goods store.
To kick off the opening, traditional cultural festivities included a lion dance, honoring the cultural significance of the day while local officials celebrated the occasion.
Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen expressed excitement about the new store, noting, “Westminster is a culturally diverse community, and we are excited to welcome H Mart into our city. H Mart’s products will resonate well with our residents and visitors alike.”
Founded in 1982 in Woodside, Queens, New York, H Mart has grown into a national chain, boasting over 100 locations across 18 states.
The company specializes in a wide range of Asian groceries, including fresh produce, meats, seafood, pantry staples, frozen foods, health and beauty products, and cooking appliances, catering primarily to the needs of Korean American households.
On opening day, shoppers flocked to the store for unique items such as viral fruit-shaped ice cream, RNR Korean chestnut bread, and promotional offers, including a 15-pound bag of Haru Haru rice for just $1 with a $200 purchase.
An attractive feature of the new location is its expansive section dedicated to cooking appliances and home goods, showcasing merchandise like Sanrio products, dishes, rice cookers, and electric griddles.
Additionally, the store houses a vibrant food hall comprising 11 dining options to enhance the shopping experience. Brian Kwon, H Mart’s president, remarked that the food hall aims to be a community destination for those seeking both culturally specific ingredients and engaging experiences.
“H Mart is excited to bring an authentic taste of Asia to your neighborhood and we hope our customers share in our enthusiasm,” Kwon stated.
Among the highlighted food establishments is Moobongri Soondae Express, which specializes in authentic Korean blood sausage, soups, and stews, alongside Paik’s Noodle, known for its Korean-style Chinese fare, and Chang Hwa Dang with its Korean dumplings.
Other offerings include KZ Mori’s Japanese fusion cuisine, Yoo’s Place and Goobne Chicken presenting Korean street food, and Eggcellent serving egg sandwiches and coffee.
The food hall also features two popular Korean concepts from mukbang videos: Jaws Topokki, serving tteokbokki or spicy braised rice cake soup, and Myungrang Hot Dog, known for Korean-style corn dogs. These brands used to cater to customers at local venues but are now available at H Mart.
Renowned names like the French Asian bakery chain, Tous Les Jours, and the Taiwanese bubble tea brand, Gong Cha, further enhance the store’s food offerings, creating an exciting food hub for shoppers.
With three of the other five H Marts located in Irvine, the new addition near Huntington Beach strategically places it close to Little Saigon and vibrant Asian American communities in Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Buena Park.
The anticipation for Asian grocery stores in Orange County is evident, as the county also welcomed its third Toyko Central store in Irvine recently. Additionally, the area looks forward to the upcoming debut of SoCal T&T Supermarket, a major grocery chain from Canada, expected to arrive in Irvine in 2026.
Arthur Nguyen, a local resident from Fountain Valley, expressed his delight at the new store, saying, “It is nice to have an H Mart closer to where we are so we don’t have to go all the way to Garden Grove or Irvine.”
The grand opening of H Mart Westminster not only highlights the supermarket’s significant growth but also underscores the demand for authentic Asian grocery shopping in the area.
image source from：latimes
