A Quick Guide to H Mart Snacks
Yes, I see you wandering around lost.
Thanks to the shiny new H Mart under Alumni Hall, NYU students now have convenient access to all the Korean food our hearts desire.
As a Korean American, I grew up making one grocery run to Walmart or Trader Joe’s and another to H Mart for harder-to-find items like tofu, kimchi, and, of course, Korean snacks.
If you don’t have years of experience exploring the H Mart snack aisle like me, finding something you like can be pretty intimidating. The shelves are filled with shrimp-flavored things and squid-flavored things, lots of matcha, and LOTS of MSG. Not to mention that many of the snacks have Korean or Japanese names.
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For everyone who’s new to Korean grocery stores, here’s a little guide to help you navigate the H Mart snack aisle. But first, two disclaimers: The Alumni Hall H Mart doesn’t carry most of the more traditional snacks like red bean jelly and yakgwa (my favorite), so I’m leaving them out. And I know a lot of these snacks are technically from Japan, but that’s what you get for colonizing Korea.
Shrimp Crackers
I know they sound weird, but do not pass by these shrimp crackers. They will change your life for the better.
Spicy Shrimp Crackers
Shrimp crackers again, but spicy, if you’re into that.
Classic Pocky
Pocky has blown up in the past few years and for a good reason. These chocolate-dipped biscuits are unbeatable.
Matcha Pocky
If you like classic Pocky, these will blow your mind.
Pepero
The Korean knockoff of Pocky. Just as good and cheaper.
Peanut Squid Crackers
These are squid-flavored crackers encasing a peanut. They’re weird as hell and slap beyond belief.
Onion Flavored Rings
They’re like Funyuns but with a lighter texture, so they don’t destroy the roof of your mouth.
Matdongsan
Matdongsan are fried, honey-flavored crackers covered with crushed peanuts. They’re sweet, addicting, and my dad will eat an entire bag in one sitting.
Pretz
These are like Pocky, but if you dipped them in straight MSG instead of chocolate. They also come in flavors like “Tomato” and “Salad” so you feel healthy while eating them.
Binch
Lol.
Gosomi Cookies
Gosomi cookies are stacks on stacks of thin, sugar-coated, sesame-flavored crackers. This is the snack that will give you the most bang for your buck.
Koala Cookies
Koala cookies are sweet crackers filled with banana-flavored chocolate and stamped with adorable designs. These come in personal packets, so they’re great for sharing with friends.
Choco Pie
These are the Korean version of Moon Pies, but better. They’re slices of marshmallow sandwiched between two cakes and coated in chocolate. If you buy this, you’re legally obligated to give me one.
Hi-Chew
I have no idea when Hi-Chews broke into the American market, but you’ve probably seen them at a gas station or your local CVS. They have a unique texture that’s a bit like Laffy Taffy, but with flavors that you’ll actually enjoy.
Milkita
These milk-flavored candies kind of taste like chewy vanilla ice cream. They’re also available in flavors like melon and strawberry.
Muscat (and other fruit-flavored) Gummies
Beautiful! The star of the show! 10/10! These gummies have the most amazingly soft texture. Every flavor is perfect. It is one of the only grape candies that’s good and actually tastes like grapes.
