Crazy Things You Should Buy At Austin’s Hmart

The giant Hmart has landed in Austin bringing the wonders of the depths of Asia to the tables of Austinites. Our monthly purchase already includes several must-haves that we can no longer do without. What culinary follies await us on their shelves?

This giant supermarket of Korean origin is the heir of a small grocery store that opened in Queens, in 1982. Its exotic flavors have spread throughout the United States conquering not only the large Asian population, but all ethnic groups. Low prices, exotic products, fresh fish … There are many reasons to visit Hmart, where products from Japan, China, Thailand, Korea and Vietnam coexist. We will take a walk to discover its treasures.

Crazy Snacks

Asian snacks will enchant you with its impressive packaging, its crazy diversity and its flavors. Some of them conjugate unusual flavors and ingredients. Our favorites are the Korean Pepero. They are bread sticks covered with tasty chocolate and a crunchy texture that differentiate them from the classic Pockys and the European Mikado.

Another fascinating snack are the united peas with wasabi or sriracha in a game of flavors and colors worthy of the most daring. Its packaging attracts enough attention to take it home. Worst of all, they are highly addictive. Another exotic wonder is the Asian Beef Jerky with fruity flavors that offer a very curious contrast between sweet and salty. All a discovery and a fusion of cultures.

Fish to create unusual dishes

The most demanded section of Hmart is undoubtedly its fish market with fresh specimens and prices. The huge fish tanks that contain live seafood, giant clams and unique flavors are just part of this journey through the oceans. Freshly cut red tuna, salmon from the northern seas, endless prawns and the most desired crabs are another interesting part of this aquatic tour.

You can also taste shark and more than 20 marine varieties cut to your liking. We rescued an old Asturian recipe creating a fusion between the cuisine of northern Spain and Hmart. It is the fried pixin. The pixin is the Asturian word for the cuttlefish, known in the United States as Monkfish.

Don´t be scared of its appearance, it´s one of the most exquisite fish in the world. Its price in the Korean chain is unbeatable. If you add bread crumbs, egg, parsley and salt, it is a delight. Its best companion is a Cabrales cheese sauce made with cream and blue cheese.  If it is Cabrales Apellation of Origin, it´s much better.

Asia at your table

The aisles of Hmart are full of juicy temptations and traditions. The Kimchi is one of them. This Korean dish, World Heritage according to UNESCO, feeds you without neglecting the scale with vegetables fermented and spices. The textures of the Kimchi and its delicious nuances will make it your favorite dish.

One cannot miss an incredible variety of noodles at Hmart, where Cantonese-inspired flavors stand out for their flavor and texture. They are available in sachets spiced with spices and other ready-to-eat ingredients or solitaire prepared for you to give them your magic touch.

Another of the surprises that await you in the aisles of Hmart is the Hot Chicken Flavor Squid of the Samyang brand. This hidden treasure among its shelves reveals a special and aromatic spice that will make you forget the classic teriyaki.

From the tastiest streets in Asia, fish balls have arrived in Austin. These spherical surimi-based marvels resemble Western meatballs but stand out for their intense flavor produced by a maceration of spices and their color that can be confused with a sweet dessert. A must for universal cuisine.

Pre-cooked foods from Hmart move away from the topic and surprise the palate. The princes of the refrigerator are gyozas or dumplings (veal, vegetables or pork). Its soft texture and delicious taste can be served as an appetizer or as a meal to your family and friends.

But the kings of the indispensable are the buns, especially the Red Bean Buns whose bittersweet mix has fascinated us. Another essential that you throw to your car are the exquisite Shitakii mushrooms that you will find in its most diverse forms.

Sauces For Every Taste

Hmart is the empire of the nascent sauce. It´s surprising to go across their aisles with unique delights, that you did not even know existed. We have reduced our favorites to a few references to the overwhelming amount of proposals. We have fallen in love with the Morn Pineapple Rice Papper Roll, not only for being infallible with any roll but for its versatility and freshness to flavor white meats and fish.

For those fish that we do not know how to set, a reccomendation is to have Viet Huong, a Vietnamese fish sauce that is capable of turning a common fish into a gourmet one. For the most daring vegetarians, we have found the Bull Head sauce. It is a spectacular barbecue sauce created without any type of animal seasoning. Its intensity is a surprise. As surprising as the Miso Sauce Sesame and Thai Peanut Sauces, achieving an effect on dishes are similar to those found in posh Asian restaurants.

Another sauce that suits the Skiyaki is the Sikimi sauce from Kikkoman. To add a touch of exoticism to your kitchen, we recommend Pon Shabu and Mizkan Shabu Gum.  Hmart has an ocean of sauces where you can sail blindly without fear of losing yourself.

Poetry Desserts

The desserts are the poetry of a good meal and in Hmart there are dozens of temptations. We have not been able to escape from their mochis. That tenderness is unique and the great variety of its flavors allows us to try its heart green, strawberry, blackberry or vanilla. Also, in the frozen section, there are some Korean ice creams of different flavors that are also on our wish list.

Hmart Is Infinite

Apart from these delights, its market for fruits and fruits, teguments and tubers are sometimes difficult to find in Texas. The orchard is also important in this immense place.

Getting lost at Hmart is pure fun. Between the fruit section and the fish section, where you will find tea sets, cooking gadgets, stone or steam, frying pans, toys and items worthy of the Japanese home shopping network. A look at its refreshment section is a visual pleasure for the imaginative flavors, the striking labels and the curious shapes of the bottles you contemplate. There is something for everyone.

On the otherside of Hmart we find a gourmet market where you can sit down to taste different Asian traditions.  Korea, Vietnam, Japan and China have a spot in the gourmet market that we will talk about in a future article. At the moment, our fridge has never been so happy to receive the culinary jewels from the edge of Asia.