H-Mart has long been a Central Square staple. After the company’s establishment in 1982, the chain has been expanding rapidly to now boast the 98 stores they have today. Now, we finally have another location opening soon in Davis Square!
H-Mart’s marketing team is GENIUS. Nothing has more allure than the cute, colorful, and unique Asian products H-Mart stocks its shelves with. With colors ranging from neon orange to hot pink, you will often leave the store with more than you planned on buying. So when I approached the bright red sign in Central Square, I was already mentally setting my spending cap as low as possible to protect my rapidly dwindling bank account. Regrettably, there is no saying no to strawberry cream-filled Hello Kitty cookies.
This is where I suspect H-Mart beats its competitors: impulse purchases. Let’s be honest, few people go to the store to buy chili-flavored squid jerky, so why would any store stock itself with such a niche product? Because you shop with your eyes, not your wallet, something that I learned the hard way. However, maybe it’s just because weirdos like me try to find the most bizarre and unfamiliar snacks to force their friends to eat. Either way, it’s safe to assume that with this model, H-Mart is thriving in Cambridge— considering they’re opening a second store. I tried to sample a varied selection of goods, mostly just the wackiest stuff I could find. Enough antics, let’s get into the products:
WARNING: The following reviews are my own and reflect my tastes. Furthermore, some of the labels were written in languages I am unfamiliar with, so certain names I may have come up with myself.
Squid Snacks
Once you open the bag containing small crunchy balls, the “squid” instantly makes itself known to your nose. The snack wasn’t too bad, with a mild flavor of squid followed by hints of brine and peanut butter, and a very satisfying crunch. 3.5/5 Falcons
Mango Sticky Rice Popsicles
The name tells you all you need to know: sticks of frozen mango and sticky rice with an interesting but not unpleasant grainy texture. These are a perfect dessert. 4.5/5 Falcons
Chili Cuttlefish Jerky
Very interesting to say the least. A chewy texture along with strong fishy and chili flavors leave your mouth holding on to the taste. An acquired flavor for sure. 3/5 Falcons
Hello Kitty Strawberry Cream Cookies
So yummy. Every bite is an explosion of strawberry and light cream that just fills you with joy. 5/5 Falcons
Glutinous Rice Balls
I had no idea what these were when I bought them, but after a short prep time that involved boiling water, you are left with eight steaming hot chewy, sweet rice balls with a gooey, sugary filling. 4/5 Falcons
Don’t trust these ratings? Go and try them yourself, just make sure your bank account can handle it!
This article also appeared in our September 2024 edition.
