Of the three Korean supermarkets occupying the northwest, southwest, and southeast corners around…read moreBeach Boulevard and La Mirada Boulevard/Malvern Avenue, H Mart, Zion Market, and Super 1 Mart (formerly Hannam Chain) have a clear pricing hierarchy. (H Mart is generally the most expensive, Zion Market occupies a comfortable middle ground with frequent aggressive sales, and Super 1 Mart tends to be the most budget-friendly for general and imported goods.)
I particularly like Zion Market because it strikes a great balance between price, selection, and quality. The store carries a tremendous variety of fresh Korean produce that I simply cannot find in the Central Valley, along with snacks, frozen foods, prepared foods, and an excellent selection of banchan. Many items are frequently discounted, and the weekly produce specials--including seasonal fruits--make it especially worthwhile. This location also stands out for its convenient parking and clean, well-organized layout.
High-quality Korean produce and an extensive selection of Korean groceries are sorely lacking in Fresno County, where I have called home for the past five years. You appreciate these Korean supermarkets even more after moving away from one. Zion Market carries a vast selection of Korean staple vegetables and fruits, often at very reasonable prices, along with competitive pricing on packaged goods. The produce selection is particularly impressive, with fruits and vegetables often available at peak ripeness.
The selection extends well beyond produce. They have a massive variety of fresh meats and seafood, Korean cooking staples, traditional snacks, trendy items, and hard-to-find Korean specialty products. Whenever I shop for meat, I always have to pick up my Korean staples: samgyeopsal (unmarinated pork belly), galbi (beef short ribs), and bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated beef).
Of course, no Korean grocery trip would be complete without a huge jar of kimchi. Zion offers plenty of varieties, as well as a convenient selection of pre-packaged banchan. Some of my usual choices include myulchi bokkeum (stir-fried anchovies), seasoned squid or baby octopus (ojingeo-chae/nakji-jeot), crispy kimchi pancakes (kimchi buchimgae), soondae (Korean blood sausage), dotorimuk muchim (seasoned Korean acorn jelly), pyeonyuk (pressed meat), and dububuchim (pan-fried tofu with spicy sauce).
If I am shopping specifically for bargains, I tend to come here for the cheaper fruits, vegetables, and packaged goods compared with the Korean grocery alternative just up the corner. The seasonal fruit selection is especially appealing from mid-August through mid-October, when Korean concord grapes and Korean pears give way to persimmons, pomegranates, and other autumn favorites as the season progresses.
I appreciate these Korean supermarkets so much more now that I live away from the Central Valley's limited Korean grocery options. Zion Market remains one of my favorites because it combines affordable, high-quality produce, extensive Korean grocery selection, ready-to-eat foods, an excellent variety of meats and seafood, numerous kimchi options, and a clean, organized shopping environment. For me, it offers the ideal middle ground between H Mart's higher prices and Super 1 Mart's bargain-oriented approach.