H MART in Austin, TX (Korean Food)

When I'm missing my 할머니's (Korean Grandma's) cooking my go to for anything related to Korean Food is H MART. They are about to celebrate their 1 year anniversary since opening last February. Now H MART isn't just a grocery store, it's like a one stop mini-marketplace with a food court, bakery, hair salon, K-Beauty shop, and a home essential section. You're immediately immersed in Korean culture and branch out from the typical perception of K-POP and Korean Dramas.

If it's your first time trying Korean food make your way to the food court to SOGUNGDONG TOFU & BBQ. These are the top three I recommend you try out there:

1. Hot Bowl Bibimpap (rice with assorted toppings)

2. Dubu Jigae (Soft Tofu Stew - what you see above is served in traditional hot pot)

3. Beef Bulgogi (Korean BBQ)

This is one of their K-Beauty sections, the other section is dedicated to a Korean beauty brand called The Face Shop. They offer make-up, skin-care, and nail polish products from major Korean Brands. I am always obsessed with their face mask collection.

Their bakery, Tous Les Jours Bakery, mainly serves pastries and bread. As you make your way closer to the register they have desserts and cakes. It's a perfect stop for a snack and coffee after you make your way the entire place.

Once you enter the main grocery aisles you have the traditional seafood and meat sections of the store. A unique aspect of Korean meats is they offer pre-seasoned meats already marinated in Korean sauces/seasonings for you to have a DIY Korean BBQ at home.

My favorite aisle to go to is the "Kimchi" aisle. Filled with every Korean side dishes pre-made for you to take home as well as all the Kimchi you can have dreamed of. It truly makes me feel right at home.

You're going to end up probably spending half the day here. It's a nice way to experience a new culture and try authentically Korean food. Final stop to make is the snack section, if you're overwhelmed with the variety of choices I recommend "Choco Pie" it's a chocolate covered snack with marshmallow sandwiched in the middle.