In need of a Korean market? Northern Virginia residents are fortunate to have multiple H Mart and Lotte Plaza locations in the area.
But how do you choose between the two?
H Mart was founded in Queens, New York, in 1982 and first appeared in NoVA with a Falls Church location in 1997. Lotte Plaza Market, a Maryland company, opened its Fairfax store in 1991.
What you can get at each store varies by location. For example, the Herndon H Mart excels at stocking Salvadoran and other Central American products, while the Ashburn Lotte Plaza has more South Asian foods than it does Korean ones.
The needs of local consumers determine what you’ll find at both chains, so keep the community in mind when you decide to shop.
Our favorites? The huge Chantilly Lotte Plaza has the greatest diversity of options. The store’s exceptional prepared food offerings include Filipino, Indian, and Japanese delicacies.
But if we’re looking specifically for Korean fare — both from vendors inside the store and ingredients to make our own — there’s nothing better than Centreville’s H Mart.
Want to learn more about the area’s grocery store options? Check out our Insider’s Guide to Grocery Stores in Northern Virginia.
Feature image by Mike Ramm
This story originally ran in our January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
