Irvine is becoming a key hub for Asian food markets, driven by rising demand from the city’s growing and diverse Asian population.
As of 2024, Irvine’s population is approximately 300,000, with about 44% identifying as Asian. The largest group is Chinese (18%), followed by Korean and Indian (each 4.2%), Filipino (1.7%), Japanese (1.3%), and Vietnamese (1.3%). With many residents being high-income and highly educated, Irvine has become a strategic location for the Asian grocery industry.
Major chains including H Mart, Zion Market, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and 99 Ranch Market already operate in the city. New entrants like Tokyo Central and T&T Supermarket are set to join them, intensifying local competition. Many stores are located within a 1–2 mile radius along Culver Drive near the I-5 Freeway, allowing for convenient access by car.
H Mart Sets the Pace in Irvine’s Market
H Mart, the largest Asian grocery chain in the U.S., operates three locations in Irvine: Irvine, Westpark, and Northpark. The Northpark branch, opened in 2023, spans 53,341 square feet and offers a wide range of Asian ingredients, direct-sourced produce, and premium seafood.
Popular items include Jeju flatfish, Japanese sashimi packs, and fish favored by Korean and Chinese customers such as cod, mackerel, hairtail, butterfish, carp, catfish, and lobster. Every Thursday, freshly cut bluefin tuna is sold for $49–50 per pound, about 30–40% cheaper than in Japanese markets. A live seafood section features lobsters, shrimp, and flatfish, with some tanks open for public viewing.
The in-store food hall includes well-known Korean brands such as Hong Kong Banjeom 0410, Changhwadang, Chodang Sundubu, and K-pop Street Bunsik, reinforcing its Korean American appeal.
Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Chains Compete for Market Share
Zion Market focuses on affordable Korean groceries and hosts a variety of restaurants and shops including Paris Baguette, Yuchun, Coco Hodo, CM Chicken, Tteokbo’s Haru, and Cuckoo. It also sells Korean cosmetics and daily goods.
Mitsuwa Marketplace, located in Heritage Plaza Mall, offers sushi, sandwiches, and sashimi, alongside a food court with Santouka Ramen, Misasa, and Mochil. Its J. Sweet bakery sells Japanese desserts like mochi and dorayaki, and self-checkout kiosks serve small-scale shoppers.
99 Ranch Market, based in Culver Plaza, is known for Chinese snacks, dim sum, and items like Mogu Mogu drinks. It also carries Korean items such as Gwangcheon seaweed, Cass beer, and Chamisul soju, with an on-site bakery and Cantonese-style hot meals.
Tokyo Central and T&T Supermarket to Join the Competition
This summer, Japanese premium grocer Tokyo Central will open a store in Heritage Square, near the I-5 Culver Drive exit. Located near popular Korean American destinations like Baekjeong, Gong Cha, and Boiling Point, the store will compete directly with Mitsuwa Marketplace just steps away. It plans to offer high-end groceries, fresh produce, bento boxes, and wellness products.
In 2025, T&T Supermarket, Canada’s largest Asian grocery chain, will open a 34,000-square-foot store in The Canopy at Great Park, marking its third location in California. The store will highlight ready-to-eat items including dim sum, Asian street food, and BBQ, designed as part of an “experiential food culture.”
An industry insider noted, “While competition among Asian markets in Irvine will increase, this will benefit consumers by offering more choices and improving quality.”
BY EUNYOUNG LEE [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
