Photo credit: vegas.eater.com
After nearly three years of planning and anticipation, the first H-Mart in Las Vegas officially opened its doors on Thursday, April 24. The event generated excitement, drawing over 400 eager customers who began forming a line well before the 10 a.m. opening. Among the earliest arrivals were Mel and Alex Laureno, who camped out since 4 a.m. to be first in line. “We want to get first dibs on the freshest produce, like the cases of Champagne mangoes,” Mel stated, also expressing excitement for unique items like Hello Kitty toilet paper and Lotte melon ice cream.
Shoppers came prepared, equipped with detailed lists curated from visits to other H-Mart locations and social media recommendations. They were eager to explore the store’s extensive inventory of Asian snacks, unique produce, and popular ice cream varieties highlighted on platforms like TikTok. The grand opening included traditional Chinese lion dance performances accompanied by drums and cymbals, alongside showgirls in feather headdresses dancing to “Viva Las Vegas.” By 9:45 a.m., the line for H-Mart, located at 2620 South Decatur Boulevard near Sahara Avenue, stretched significantly around the parking lot and onto the sidewalk.
Local fans had anticipated this moment far longer than a matter of hours, as rumors about the store’s opening had circulated for years. “I’ve been waiting five years for it to open,” Erin Koch shared while holding a store-brand hot pot kit. “While there are other Asian grocers in Las Vegas, they lack the comprehensive selection that H-Mart offers. Here, you can find a wider variety of foods from multiple regions.”
The store boasts a vast footprint of 54,552 square feet, and upon its opening, shoppers found the aisles impeccably organized, with neatly arranged snacks, a diverse selection of fresh produce, and well-stocked refrigerated sections featuring items like pork belly and brisket. “There’s more of everything than I expected,” Alex Laureno mentioned after entering the store. “And it’s so orderly; there are no boxes lying around like at other grocery stores.”
H-Mart has cultivated a dedicated following, in part due to its robust online presence and its mention in Michelle Zauner’s memoir, “Crying in H Mart.” Many attendees are familiar with the brand through other locations, with Mel and Alex Laureno regularly visiting the Torrance store while traveling back from California. The long line at H-Mart was indicative of the store’s popularity, especially considering it opened on the same day as two Aldi locations with considerably shorter lines and no festive performances.
As locals embarked on their shopping experience, they were eager to share their must-have products.
Fruity Ice Cream Bars
Tiffany Castro highlighted her goal of finding the TikTok-famous peach ice cream bars. “We saw them on TikTok, and they don’t sell them anywhere else,” she said. The TaoQi Peach Ice Cream Bars are designed as upside-down peaches with a vibrant orange-pink color, while the Propitious Mango Ice Cream Bars mimic mangos with mildly sweet ice cream coated in white chocolate.
“They make such a satisfying crunch when you bite into them,” added her friend Jessenia Montenegro.
Perilla Leaves
Yong Kwon-Peterson, 73, was pleasantly surprised by the turnout at the opening. A store manager allowed her to bypass the line shortly after the doors opened. In the produce section, she recommended the fragrant perilla leaves (ggaenip), which she enjoys pairing with ground miso, rice, cilantro, and green onions.
Soon Kimchi Noodles
Carreen Chau purchased two boxes of Soon Kimchi noodles, stating, “It’s rare to find good vegan ramen, and kimchi is my favorite flavor — it’s spicy and hard to come by.”
All the Snacks
Aaliyah Judkins showcased a cart overflowing with snacks. “These are amazing,” she said, holding up a bag of Orion Choco Churros Turtle Chips. “And these Honey Butter Chips are delicious; just a little sweet and buttery.” She noted that she used to order a bag of roasted seaweed flakes spiced with butter and soy sauce online. “You can use them on everything — tteokbokki, ramen, hot pot, rice, you name it.”
Binggrae Banana Milk Drink
Marlette Bernabe expressed her excitement over finding a six-pack of Binggrae Banana milk drink boxes. “This is what I came for, along with the steamed sweet potatoes. Back in Korea, everyone lined up at the street vendors for them.” The sliced purple potatoes are steamed in-house and served warm.
Hello Kitty Toilet Paper
Maddie Saxby pointed out that Hello Kitty toilet paper, usually priced at $25, was available for just $11.99. Additionally, she highlighted how a family pack of pre-marinated LA short ribs was only $30, making it a great bargain.
Wagyu Beef
Marco Diaz focused his shopping on the meat section, purchasing two boxes of delicately sliced, rolled Wagyu beef. “I cook it hot pot-style with broth and serve it with sesame sauce,” he explained.
Exiting the grocery area leads directly to a food hall featuring popular fare from South Korea and the U.S., including restaurants like Paik’s Noodle, tteokbokki venue Jopok Topokki, Moobongri Soondae, Bb.q Chicken, Tiger Sugar, and Oh-K Dog & Egg Toast. Marketing manager Douglas Kim noted that he expected a line of about 200 people throughout the opening day, with hopes that the crowds would stabilize by April 25. While the wait for H-Mart has been lengthy for many Las Vegas locals, that wait is finally over.
H-Mart is now open daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. at 2620 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
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vegas.eater.com