Han Ah Reum Asian Supermarket

Elite '08

36

76

Angela M.

Silver Spring, MD

Holy stinking flesh rot!  The store smelled DISGUSTING yesterday!!  As I walked in, the smell nearly knocked me onto my rear.  You know, we could say that the weather is heating up, but what does that say about their preparedness?  In the back, it smelled like a shark stomach all hot and gorged with seafood - yick!

I actually like coming here because it's close and it's Asian, but never again will I go on a weekday during the evening rush.  Really, it's the smell, but it's also the guy outside the store talking to himself and yelling, "Why do you think I got money?  I don't have any money!  THEY TOOK MY MONEY!! THEY TOOK MY MONEY!!"  This area is a tad rough around the edges.  Sketchy is also a good descriptive word.

When I came here before, I was a Saturday night around 9pm.  It was clean, it was quiet and it smelled like a Korean grocery store should.  It's ok for Korean grocery stores to stink a little - you gotta cut them some slack because of all the odoriferous food they sell: kimchi, fresh fish, squid, garlic, etc.  I like that they carry the best gourmet ramen here, Shin Ramen (Shin Ra Myun, really). What I didn't like was the pre-prepared ban chan....no self-respecting Korean food connoisseur would say that the Jinga brand ban chan is yummy - 'cause it is teh suxor.  Never again.

I would have considered getting some quick food at their Korean bar; they had a lot of good looking menu items (kalbi tang) but I couldn't bear to be in there much longer than I had to be.

The bonuses of this store is their Asian food variety and everyday staples for the rest of the population that doesn't do Asian.  Their prices aren't too bad either. BUT, I promise I won't go back there until they take care of their smelly business.

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1

6

D D.

Silver Spring, MD

I give this place 5 stars because although it isn't perfect, in my opinion it beats Giant, Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Shopper's.  If you like to eat healthy and are on a budget, you can't beat H Mart for their freshness, variety and price of fruits, veggies and seafood.

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47

94

Vivian K.

Silver Spring, MD

So, as a representative of the ABC ( american born chinese) career women with lots of student loans and still making car payments on a car that someone "BUMPed" the trunk of and who's living in Silver Spring, I will go ahead and comment on H-Mart in comparison to the other asian marts in the area....  what's the 3 stars for?? ( if anyone has been to an asian supermarket, you would see that it's definitely not the trader joe's or giant's you're used to..)  well, i give it one star for each of the 3 categories of shoppers below..  which ever you fall in, you will most likely give the 'star rating' next to it..

CHEAPSKATES: (will give H mart 4 stars)

cheapskates are like me... who don't care what the supermarket looks like, but as long as it has mostly everything you need for cheap, and of decent quality you will just ignore the fact that you haveta watch out for squished grapes in the produce section, ignore the smell from the fish section, don't mind that there are live eels in a tank somewhere, and spend the time browsing for your needed product (because you can't read korean, and you dunno how to distinguish from the million types of sushi seaweed they have) ...

cheapskates, this place sells most, if not all, of their produce for half the price of giant and traders.. you will find all things asian, latin, and a great assortment of meat including things you never thought you could eat.. but that's the beauty of it, if you ever wanted to see what it looks like, you get first hand experience here..  they still carry the regular condiments you may need like ketchup and mustard, and carry toilet paper and maxipads, but you just get one brand to choose from.. so take it or leave, and go to CVS.

the cooked food section is great, and cheap  ( futomaki rolls for 2.99.. and they have stir fry noodles, jap chae, for 2.99 as well) .. and if you're a kimchi fan , there's a million different kinds for you to eat.. not to mention they have this lil' bakery section too with some decent goodies nice on your wallet.  

THE GOURMET SHOPPER: ( 2 stars)

the reason why the gourmet shopper will only give it two stars, is because 1) this place isn't the 'gourmet' type you might be used to, (you won't find the 50 different kinds of cheeses or crackers or spreads here..) 2) you will prolli find the untidiness of the store disturbing to your shopping experience ( yes.. that is a broken pineapple on the floor.. and whoops! careful, there are squished starwberries right next to it), and 3) you can't believe that some people eat some of the things that are in this store (don't ask.. just keep walking).

... however, if you're a gourmet shopper, and you're making a 5 course meal that has an asian or latin spin to it, you will find some of the more unusual spices and condiments that you can't find at a local supermarket.. not to mention that there are 5 or 6 different soy sauces, pastes, curry spices, and oyster sauces for you to choose from. Also, the selection of noodles and rice is endless.. you will find that specific brand of sushi rice that you need for your 'cocktail'  hor' dourves...

THE ONE STOP WALK IN AND GRAB WHAT YOU NEED :(3 stars)

the one stop walk in and grab what you need shopper is just the ones that usually know what they want, and don't care for prices.. they just need it then and now and will not drop off at CVS later for something they couldn't find..  well, you'll prolli be indifferent about this place. I've noticed they prolli carry almost everything a regular supermarket does minus a pharmacy section ( unless you're looking for chinese herbal things)... but the selection is low...  granted you will probably find all the produce you were expecting, and definitely all kinds of cuts for meat and more.. but when it comes to condiments, paper and plastic necessities, reynolds wrap and foil .. it's only one brand, and prolli only one size..  

another thing is is that lots of things are in the same area, but it's hard to find..   you will be spending some time looking for what you want, especially if you have the right aisle but can't tell what price is for what...

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11

43

CJ M.

Washington, DC

After visiting the H Mart (aka Han Ah Reum) in Fairfax and LOVING IT, I decided to try their location in Wheaton since it is a little bit closer to my upper NE DC location.  It is not nearly as shiny, clean and new as the Super H Mart.  The store is not as large so the variety of dry goods and frozen foods is not as wide and they do not have the cool peanut buttered squid treats that are available out in Fairfax.

Having said that they do have much better and much nicer produce than they have at my local Safeway, Giant and perhaps Whole Foods.  And not only is the quality better, the prices are significantly lower also.    I also love the small bakery at the front of the store.

So this location gets five stars for quality and pricing but loses a star due to the comparison to the Fairfax store.  I find that if I do not make it to this store about every other week I get a bit grumpy because I do not have beautiful, and inexpensive, fruit in the house!

Big Hint -- Be ready for some extreme shopping from parking lot to checkout!  This ain't your local Giant!

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