Where to buy Korean food products in Canada (Toronto)

Canada’s Hmart may not be in the same magnitude as their American equivalent but in Toronto there is more than enough choice to satisfy any Korean food cravings you may have. There are 3 supermarket chains specializing in Korean food: PAT Supermarket, Hmart and Galleria. Ordering groceries online is still a work in progress so may require some effort at first, but retailers are learning quickly and processes are improving by the day.

korean grocery stores

pat korean supermarket (north york, bloor, mississauga)

PAT Supermarket boasts of being the first of its kind in Canada. They are usually smaller and more dated than the other grocery stores listed, but their selection and prices are solid. Also, because they are a smaller franchise, I find their employees to stay the same and it has more of a friendly mom-and-pop feel.

Their website is cluttered and difficult to navigate being modelled after Korean websites; it’s not what we’re used to seeing. Also, there is a lot of Korean words (in addition to English), but if you live near a PAT, it may be worth using some patience to work it out.

Currently offering pickup services only, but the Gocery App does do delivery* for them.

*You will then have to shop through the Gocery App and then you’re on another site which might not have all the choices and the prices may be different. Service and delivery fees will apply separately. Keep a lookout for their $0 delivery fee promotions.

Take advantage of weekly specials and prices.

galleria supermarket

Toronto’s biggest franchise, Galleria has locations 5 locations in Thornhill, York Mills, Oakville, Wellesley and Bloor. The downtown stores (Wellesley and Bloor) are smaller as they are “Express” spots.

You’ll find fresh (hot) foods and restaurants in their bigger stores (Thornhill, York Mills, Oakville) although they’re not available for delivery services. Their delivery fees are the highest I’ve seen starting at $18, and vary depending on your postal code. They also offer pickup service with a $5 handling fee as well as a $50 minimum.

Take advantage of weekly sales and prices.

hmart

Canada’s Hmart is a sad comparison to American Hmart stores, so don’t compare- it’ll break your heart. They have 7 locations in Toronto, but keep in mind some (Sheppard) are the size of glorified convenience stores. The Richmond Hill location is by far the largest, with the largest selection and restaurants.

Offering pickup services only from their website from 10am-7pm. Delivery available through the Gocery App*.

*You will then have to shop through the Gocery App and then you’re on another site which might not have all the choices and the prices may be different. Service and delivery fees will apply separately. Keep a lookout for their $0 delivery fee promotions.

Check out their flyer and shop for sales.

other supermarkets with korean products that deliver

• T & T Supermarket: delivery to Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton.

regular groceries for staples like rice (minimal korean products)

• Loblaws: partnered with Instacart.

• Voila by Sobeys

• Metro Supermarket

• Walmart

online retailers

amazon

You just can’t beat Amazon. You will be surprised at the selection here as Amazon has successfully won over many companies and third-party sellers in posting products on their site. They’ve got most of the pantry staples and lots of snacks.

Watch out Canadian shoppers as some items have incredibly inflated pricing- compare it with local grocery websites so you’re not paying an arm and a leg for something. Korean products are a bit more expensive as they are imported products, but it shouldn’t cost you $20 for TTEOKBOKKI (spicy rice cakes)!

Biggest draw is Prime Shipping. Once you go Prime, you just can’t go back.

haisue

According to their Facebook page, they’ve been around since 2017 but actively posting since 2019. I’d never heard of them but due to the current restrictions, they are top of the search results for home delivery of Asian goods in Canada. Their headquarters are in Markham but do deliver across Canada.

They have many Korean pantry basics and snacks, in addition to Asian products in general. No fresh foods, though.

Currently have found one Redittor who hasn’t had problems ordering from them. Have put on my detective hat to find out if this would be a dependable source for Korean goods online. Check back for an update.

app

gocery

This app was a blessing at the start of lockdowns. It’s much improved and there are more partner stores and products are updated frequently. I won’t say it’s perfect: You won’t find store sales here, they don’t list all products available in-store, current stock levels are inaccurate (you just won’t get the item).

However, delivery is fast, and if there are any errors, they process refunds right back to your credit card. Now that PAT and Hmart are partnered with them, they are a sound option for ordering Korean groceries online.

They do charge service fees and delivery fees separately but keep an eye out for promotion codes that make delivery free.

GOcery App available on iOS and Android.

Grocery delivery still has a long way to go in Canada, but I feel like companies are racing to get there. I think it’s safe to say this type of service is here to stay and look forward to websites and apps improving for a better customer experience.

I’d love to hear your experiences or comments, especially those living in other parts of Canada. Where do you get your Korean groceries online?