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"I have a confession: I lived in K-town for three years and probably drove past this place a gazillion times, but only found out about it…" read more »
Upon returning to Kim's recently since being nine years old, I was deathly afraid of this place because even as a child I remembered what a nightmare it was to park let alone maneuver through this cramped store. The bf practically dragged me here after being immersed into Korean culture via Channels 18 and 44 and watching their cheesy commercial ads promoting a FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE. Much to our disappointment, we dropped some big dough on a new rice cooker and some knick knacks and GOT NOTHING. Maybe because they were closing the store by the time we'd left and they didn't want to bother, or they ran out of free stuff, but one of the employees threw me a BS-riddled response that they don't offer freebies until Thanksgiving. Since when???
Therefore, don't come here if you are an eager Asian/non-Asian looking to procure freebies. My mom has procured many a free bath basin, slippers, step stools, and shoe horns from this store over the years but it seems they have scaled back recently, probably another victim to the slumping economy.
Do, however, pay a visit if you are a fan of knick-knack stores along the same vein of Marukai, 99 Cents Only stores, Big Lots, etc. I think what sets Kim's apart is their upper floor has a decent selection of good quality appliances and electronics, including kimchi refrigerators, swamp coolers, massage chairs, and of course, rice cookers. Prices are decent as well, especially if you look out for sales on TV. Our rice cooker retails for $200 but we found it here for almost half off. I will need to go back for those stone pots one of the fellow reviewers mentioned.
On the upside, parking has improved dramatically since the 90's. They've expanded lots and these next-gen security guards are much nicer and less scary. Even the sales associates were helpful and available to answer questions. I'm impressed. Just bring back the damn free gifts and I just might bump this rating to 5 stars! ;)
after reading all the reviews and seeing the ads on tv... i quite frankly expected more out of this place. bleh. overhyped.. idk what i was expecting though, but from all the 5 star reviews, i really wanted it to be fantastic.
i suppose it's the way the store is merchandised.. aka, costco-like with things shoved in every corner, and the only people that can fit through the aisles are if you're skinny.
oh, and if there's a fire in there.. everyone's doomed. no way to escape, and if the fire marshall came in, he'd shut it down the minute he stepped foot into the place.
we did find what we were looking for, but not sure if we'd go back though.
Can you have a bigger Lock N Lock selection? It's basically Lock N Lock heaven here. Amazing selection of stuff in general, two floors of homewares mania. I was impressed by the number of staff who go around guiding people -- and you do need guides in this bazaar! The prices are great, and where else are you going to go to gape at $600 toilet seats and funky Korean kimchee refrigerators? You need half a day here.
It wasn't until AFTER I had bought my Korean groceries, from the Galleria Market, (and put them away in my kitchen) that I realized I needed an earthenware pot.
Matthew K. recommended Kim's and it was back to K-town for me!
From my previous challenge at the Galleria Market (see review), once again I came prepared with my notepad! This time it had written in BOLD:
DDUK BAE KIE (Earthenware pot)
Deon Jang JJigae (Soybean Paste Vegetable Stew)
I showed this to an associate and she took me directly to the pots!
While there, I also picked up a cool large mesh infuser (think... huge tea ball or bouquet garni) for making anchovy stock for my mandu soup or any soup for that matter!
This place has every Korean cooking gadget; pots; pans; tea sets; dishes; rice stone pots; tea kettles BBQ grill pans; ... and very helpful sales associates!
I went on the net, to learn a word or two in Korean, before going to Kim's:
Excuse me - Shille-hamnida
Thank You - Kamsa-hamnida
Yes - Ye
No - Aniyo
Good-bye - Annyonghi gaseyo
Whether or not, I pronounced them correctly, is unknown. And did they mind that my best Korean accent sounds more like Japanese (Arigatou !!!!)... probably not.
I was born with the "must buy lots of useless things" gene. My mother passed this horrible gene on to me, and I've been afflicted all of my life. If some people are born with genetic predispositions to alcoholism, I was born with a genetic predisposition for shopaholicism. Yes, I just made up a new word (take that, Webster!).
What's a shopping junkie to do when she runs out of closet room for clothes? Dude, think outside the box. There are plenty of other things to spend your money on besides clothes!
Like super cheesy, frilly bedding. And kitchen knick-knacks in the likes of Marukai's stuff. And ceramic tea sets. And animal print dishes. And weird ginseng stuff in expensive looking boxes. And lacy aprons with colorful patches. And coffee mug sets in the shape of flowers. And back massagers that look like insects. And house slippers with giant kitties on the toes. And toilet wands with hippo heads.
A whole unexplored world of useless (but really cool) stuff is there for the taking, and I, for one, will not be narrow-minded. No, no. I will be generous and throw money away without prejudice. So what if I could've gotten the newest R&R jeans for the same price as this pressure cooker? I have enough clothes, and this pressure cooker is so cool! It makes cool beeping noises and everything! And oh, look! This matching Mommy and Me set of aprons with giraffe decals! I must have it! So what if I don't have any kids?! I'm sure I'll have some in the future! Oh, over there! Look at that sake set decorated with all the pretty flowers! So what if I don't drink?! I might someday!
And so it goes, as I pore through every nook and cranny at my beloved Kim's Jungi. Oh my, this place is a treasure trove of... STUFF.
I've spent many a days here. Sleeping on their beds and sofas. Cooking my rice on their brand new rice cookers (did you know rice cookers are really expensive?). Using their feet massagers. Having them gift wrap my lunch. Using their kimchi refrigerator to store my kimchi...
It was so idyllic until they realized I was squatting and kicked me out with my pet iguana Harry.
Oh well.
Thumbs up to "Kim's Jun-Gi's" renovation! Before, parking was iffy and the aisles were crowded. Now there's plenty of parking, and the store is spacious. And they have more stuff, too!
They have an expanded beauty section that is awesome, especially the tools. They have tweezers by Mehaz and Seki Edge (top quality), and OPI nail color. Love it.
Kim's jeon gi is a permanent fixture in my life. I purchase my silverware [can't live without my long korean spoons], dishware [because you all know that corelle is the $#*%], tupperware [LOCK and LOCK!], and other necessities like my humidifier [don't ever buy an American one unless you want crap], my hair iron [it's small and perfect for short hair], my rice cooker [because 3 cups is no longer enough for three hungry MEN - - I stepped up my game and got up on that 5-cup action, yup], small tables, pillows, umbrellas, and other kitchen/home thingamabobs.
I went in and found the store changed up recently. The ajuhmas there started to giggle at my bewilderment. Kim's Home Center expanded to the right and now they have two spacious floors of STUFF. There's no other way to put it.
For the aspiring housewife, this is definitely where you need to be.
The service is top-notch. Everyone is friendly and helpful... the only thought I have is that they might not speak English very well. I don't know, I've never tried. Regardless of any language barrier, the store is laid-out nicely and neatly and you can find anything you need easily.
Go in, come out broke. That's the business.
im not korean but my bf is. you know on channel 18, Kim's Home Center advertises like crazy in evening and weekends. after watching 3 months of Kim Home Center tv ads.. the anticipation grew and what i really wanted was the cutesy apron w/ two lil kitties playing around. it was advertised for $5.95 when i saw the same apron at a korean gift shop for $20. So I was like.. hunnie.. i want that apron like now. when he came home from work today at 4:30pm, i dragged him to drive to k town w/ me.
The building was not hard to fine but like K.B. said the parking was not all great but we were lucky and found a parking space right away. i expected this home center to be super huge but it wasn't as large as i expected. I guess apart of me wanted it to be as huge as a target or ikea. when i walked in, the sales didn't jump out on my like the commercials. I was a lil disappointed but it was like. the i found the stew clay pots, the body pillows, cute head bands, floor mats but i couldn;t find the cutesy apron like on tv. I WAS SO SAD. i really wanted that apron. my bf spoke in korean w/ one of the ladies that worked there and they were a lil rude but i guess we expected that.
overall, we spent $47 on stuff we needed. I wouldn;t say super cheap but good enough prices. would i come here again? i guess to only try to find those cutesy aprons. I apart of me would pick Marukai 98 cents+ over Kim Home Center.
Kim's Home Center is referred to as "Kimsuh jungi" in Korean. This large mecca is the mini-IKEA of Korean housewares, domestic products, electronics and appliances that are useful and convenient. Their cream and multi-rainbow colored store is mammoth and a visible landmark in Koreatown. It's "fame" apparently has spread to Northern California, since the first time I heard of it at school was "Kimsuh jungi?" What the heck is that?
Kim's Home Center does so well that it is a regular corporate advertiser on Korean media, print and tv and they're always running promotions. A positive thing is that for example, if you purchase $50, they would give you a head massager and if you purchased $100 of merchandise, they would give you a warm Korean-style blanket. Cool! They have these varied promotions on a seasonal basis all year round. You'll have to ask them, look at their commercials on Korean programming (radio and television) to see what they would be though.
Kim's Home Center just underwent an expansion, which opened their floor space up on the first and second levels for more merchandise. I think that this gave them 50% more room.
The first level stocks uniquely Korean domestic goods to stock the kitchen and domestic world. These may include designer chopsticks, plates and gourmet cooking utensils, bathroom accessories and thousands of products which originate from Korea or Asia to make your domestic life a breeze or convenient!
The second level divided into sections, as a typical department store, contains bedding stocking the latest in Korean blankets, duvets and the sort. The new floor expansion stocks ricecookers, dehumidifiers, air conditioning units, fans and all sorts of electronic equipment to make your bedroom and your living room happy. Unique to Kim's, they also have Korean antiques or traditional Korean-heritage inspired decor items to accent your home.
The second level also has a dedicated kimchi refrigerator section, which stocks all the latest technological advancements by LG, Samsung and other companies, to electronically cool your kimchi containers at the right temperature. The computer displays on them are touch-screen and very awesome.
The second level also carries plasma TVs and has a separate bathroom accessories department. Kim's Home Center carries most Korean domestic and international labels for all their accessories.
The pricing for most of the items are competitive and this is usually the only domestic emporium where you can find Korean products targeted towards domestic life in a huge variety. The assortment of products here will make you want to look around for hours, picking up this or that. During the holidays like now, they offer complimentary giftwrapping.
Customer services here are very helpful, particularly if you are able to speak Korean. There are always willing to please employees in blue uniforms who specialize in each department. Some of them actually make jokes and make you laugh, since they do their best to sell their specialty.
The selection of products roll through very frequently and there is constant stocking throughout each day. Merchandising is not their paramount forte, but everything is always organized in a clean manner and signage always is accurate to the customer. Prior to the renovations, the aisles were very narrow and customers often had to squeeze past others to get by. With the recent expansion completed, this isn't a problem as much and the Center is well-lit.
Parking is somewhat difficult, since it's located in Koreatown. There is subterranean parking underneath the recently expanded wing, but there are three satellite parking lots adjacent to the Center. There is constant security and they can direct you to open spaces, should one open up. Weekends often make this a madhouse and the lines for parking can get a little harried, but you'll find a space in time.
For variety, value and finding just the one thing (or many) that makes your bedroom, kitchen or living room happy, organized, useful or just efficient--Kim's Home Center is a must-see in Koreatown Los Angeles.
Highly recommended, even if you don't need anything. Browsing in itself will make you get even one thing, just because it's something you won't find at your everyday IKEA, Target or Costco (though I do love Costco)!
They're also just down the street from Koreatown Galleria and Koreatown Plaza, pluses in my Yelp book and also a must-see!
It's a relief after I found this place. I can find most of my household or kitchen stuffs here. What's best is they are so cheap and interesting too!! I got my home bbq grill which is way cheaper than Korean markets or Chinese markets.
One of my earliest and most horrific incident happened at this very place. It was holiday season, and I was relieving myself in the bathrooms. Now during the holidays it gets super crowded at Kim's Jungee (don't know if it still does now?), and I hadn't bothered to read the sign on the door that said the lock wasn't quite working. Needless to say, the door swings open and I'm exposed to all of my Korean fellows. I remember feeling that I wanted to sink into the bowl and flush myself away. Ugh, talk about scarring of the mind at 10 years old.
don't let that stop you from shopping here, though. I definitely recommend stopping by this place, since the items it sells ranges from everyday appliances to random, fun trinkets (I was always awed by the phones there). Amaazzzingg place. It's like.. a flea market without the.. fleas.
er.
Very poor parking, crowded inside, and rude, rude security. I shop regularly for the daily little things and big Korean appliance items, like electric rice cooker, Kimchi fridge etc. I try to avoid parking in the parking in the front of the store, because I KNOW there will rude parking security guards, but then I thought it is raining and there were at least two empty spots. I parked in one, then this security is screaming at me, then I back up and go to the other spot and the same guy follows me and screams. I said I am not spending my hard earned money here and went to Chung's Appliances on 7th and Vermont and bought the same items I needed in a more relaxed atmospher. So, next time I will go few blocks norht and not be screamed at !!!!!!
Come on! This place is the BEST!
When I get married I'm registering here so my house will look exactly like my mom's house.
Every Korean house has the same things from this place. For example, the large kitchen scissors you use to cut up your kimchi or noodles (some restaurants have these) Large plastic handles and a walnut cracker in the middle, comes in blue and red. Then there's the ear pickers, little fruit forks, Disney fake rotary novelty telephones, Sanyo Hello Kitty vacuum cleaner with or without the Hello Kitty. I'm sure I'm leaving out half the store but every Korean house has the rice cooker from this place. I think 70% of our house is from here. The other 30% is IKEA.
They've made it even bigger!! It's like a Sears in there now!
Kim's Home Center is just another place to buy your regular home needs. They have cooking utensils, toothbrushes, shampoos, lotions, and other household needs such as vacuums. People are friendly, and the place is a typical Korean place with items being held in baskets. Parking here is horrible at the wrong time. I love how they give you a couple free things for buying a lot of stuff. They always do that. They also do complimentary gift wrapping.
Best place for all home furnishings Korean! I got my vacuum cleaner, bowl/plate/chopsticks set here for super cheap. I recently came here (Christmas '07) to find that they did a complete makeover. It's way more spacious, brighter, and brought in more stuff. Wahoo!
It's a relief after I found this place. I can find most of my household or kitchen stuffs here. What's best is they are so cheap and interesting too!! I got my home bbq grill which is way cheaper than Korean markets or Chinese markets.
going to koreatown has been like downtown for me growing up, b/c korean town looks like a whole bunch of shops got caught in a tornado and then got spit back out. totally ghetto neighborhood, and more koreans i've ever seen in my life in once place (i've never been to korea, but i think this place gives me a good idea, HAHA)
everytime my family hits up k-town, my mom will want, no, wait... DEMAND that we stop by kim's jungee. my dad will have his feeble attempts to resist, only because we spend like $400 on korean household doo-dads when we're there, like once a year, or whenever we're in LA.
my mom totally gets excited when she's there. she pretty much looks at their entire inventory of stuff, nothing goes unnoticed... i think she feels like she's back in the motherland or something.
but we never leave this place emtpy handed. if there is a household need, this place has something that will rectify it.
this place hasn't changed much from my memories as a kid, but JC K pretty much painted a very descriptive picture of this place, need i say more?
well this place has the most random stuff. but my personal great finds, they have good pumice stones, fabulously fobby aprons, seat cushions of all kinds (b/c koreans have an affinity towards taking care of their bums), make up, skin care products, plastic storage containers in ALL sizes and purposes, driving gloves that protect your skin from UV damage, cellphone charms, alarm clocks, land line phones, hair dryers, hello kitty stuff, house slippers of all sorts, and separate cookers for everything. rice? they have a cooker for that, fish? there is a separate cooker for that, food dehydrator? they got a separate one for that.... seriously, everything you can think of... which brings me to how undeniably crammed and hard to navigate this place is. there is some kind of system of organization, but not really. theres tons of stuff outside the store too since they don't have enough space in the store itself, its like an outdoor market in the front.
its nice b/c its korean stuff, so its still pretty cheap, but they still carry the random and sometimes strange array, as well as the exhaustive inventory of goods that would be at some kind of random japanese household store.
this place has great sales too, with freebee's. and koreans love their freebees!
but i heard that kim's jungee has recently remodeled..... i fear my next visit to LA, i may have a breakdown from knowing that everything i knew and loved as a child has been completely flipped upside down into a walmart esque shopping experience.
oh yeah which reminds me, the old school kim's jungee had nasty bathrooms. but thats common of a lot of korean establishments.
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