The 7 Things I Always Buy at H Mart, According to a Chef

Greetings from your resident displaced mixed Asian kid who is perpetually homesick and needs to feed her homesickness by shopping at H Mart! While I constantly remind people that there are significant differences among East Asian cultures and cuisines, my palate loves it all. Though my blood may be Chinese, my stomach craves Japanese snacks, Korean rice, seaweed and more. Thankfully, for culturally blended people like me, H Mart exists.

While each location has its own distinct character, from cramped shelves in New York City to sprawling, shiny aisles in Philadelphia, it's guaranteed that you'll find something delicious. Part of the fun of shopping at H Mart is discovery—you're always going to be tempted by a brand of seaweed or dried noodles you've never tried before. To help you find the best items, here are the seven pantry staples that appear in my shopping cart week after week.

7 Items to Buy From H Mart

1. KwangCheon Green Tea Seaweed Snack Packs

While I occasionally switch up the brand I buy, KwangCheon's Green Tea Seaweed Snack Packs are one I often purchase. I love wrapping the seaweed around a tablespoon of sticky rice to jazz up a weeknight meal or a rushed lunch alone at the kitchen counter, paired with a tin of smoked mussels. I'm more likely to reach for a pack of seaweed than a bag of chips, and the saltiness of seaweed satisfies the same way. Plus, seaweed is nutrient-packed and sustainable. There are 16 packs in one bag, and the individual packs keep your seaweed crisp and crunchy. As a bonus, I save and reuse the flimsy boxes, as they're perfect for holding my acrylic paints.

2. Organic Farm 100% Organic Brown Sweet Rice

H Mart has an enormous selection of rice, and it is the only place where I can reliably purchase my favorite: organic brown sweet rice, also known as sticky rice. I was raised on white rice at home, but sticky brown rice will make you forget you ever liked white rice. Brown rice is a whole grain, so it has more fiber and protein than white rice. Brown sticky rice has a nutty flavor, and you can use it in a variety of dishes. Roll it into the perfect musubi with the green tea seaweed, or fry it up in a pan coated with coconut oil for a delicious snack.

3. Hawaiian Sun

To get Hawaiian Sun canned drinks on the mainland for under $2 per can was almost unheard of until H Mart started carrying the essential beverages from Hawaii. This drink is the taste of my childhood, where every single plate lunch was washed down with gulps of Guava Nectar or Pass-O-Guava juice. I love to pick up a case as a treat, and one sip instantly transports me home.

4. Yakult Nonfat Probiotic Drink

Another beverage that I like to buy is Yakult Nonfat Probiotic Drink. To me, Yakult is the perfect little dessert at the end of the meal. I opt for the original flavor, which has a slight citrus taste with a creamy mouthfeel. The drink features probiotics, which may help with your gut health. I drank this beverage constantly growing up, and it's remained a staple into adulthood.

5. Tips Fish Sauce

This fish sauce is the perfect nuoc mam for pancit or stir-fried rice noodles. It's funky without being too funky, sweet without being too sweet, and it makes such a great dip with some fresh lime juice and vinegar for spring rolls. I've rarely met a fish sauce I didn't like or couldn't find any use for, and Tips is reliable and always in my pantry.

6. Ottogi Perilla Oil

Perilla oil, which comes from perilla seeds, is an excellent oil to have on hand. It's super versatile, and its savory, earthy nuttiness can be added to practically anything. Drizzle some onto fresh cubed fish with a pinch of sea salt and soy sauce, serve with steamed rice and you'll have a poke bowl that will impress guests. Or toss fresh soba noodles with the oil for the base of a quick, nutritious meal.

7. Asian Pears

Typically, a glorious pyramid of Asian pears will greet you when you swoosh through H Mart's automatic doors. You should buy them. Dice up the pears and add to your salads for crunch, or slice them thin and dust with togarashi or li hing mui for a midday snack. You could also blend them up to add natural sweetness to your stews and curries.