Fun fact, I lived in Korea for a month. When the Hubs and I first moved to Dallas, he had a consulting assignment in Seoul and I was still job hunting, so I joined him for a month. It was a great experience, being immersed in a whole new culture. I learned how to say common words and phrases, took the subway to all the markets and museums, and grew a love for Korean bbq and Kas beer. I still can't get down with kimchi though.
When I discovered that my neighborhood had a great Korean market, I was shook. If you live near a Korean or any type of Asian market for that matter, you need to check it out.
Korean Beauty Products
Korean beauty and skin care products are all the rage now. My local Korean market had a stall with face masks and beauty products. I purchased a bunch of face masks to try at home for much cheaper than you would find in your big name beauty store. There were so many options too, I wanted all of them.
The Bakery
You can find lots of fresh baked breads, pastries, and cakes in the bakery section. One of my favorites are these fish shaped cakes that are like a hybrid between a pancake and a waffle. They're delicious for breakfast or as a snack.
The Produce
I'm obsessed with Korean pears, and I find the best ones at my local Korean market. They are fresh and crisp. If you've never had one, you must try them. The texture and flavor is like a cross between an apple and a pear. In addition to the pears, I find other fruits and vegetables that are generally cheaper than my neighborhood grocery store.
Bubble/Boba tea
I've mentioned here that I'm a big tea drinker. I really enjoy tea in any form, iced or cold. My local Korean grocery store has a tea stand that offers all types of iced and milk teas. My favorites are the green teas infused with fruit flavors like mango or pineapple and I have to add bubbles. The bubbles are basically little tapioca balls.
The Food Court
You know how sometimes you get to the grocery store and you're starving, and make all sorts of reckless purchases (maybe it's just me)?! Well that's not a problem at the local Korean market because there is a whole food court inside. There are stalls that offer different types of Asian cuisine. I went for a bibimbap. It's a rice bowl that includes vegetables and a protein topped with a fried egg. It sounds random but it's actually really good.
Don't sleep on your local Asian market, I'm telling you there are lots of gems to be found there.
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