Mainstream media loves to talk about the grocery darlings like Trader Joes or Costco, but have you rolled down the aisles of an HMART? As the American palate continues to crave flavors from its diverse restaurant diaspora, regional and cultural retailers play a HUGE ROLE in curating global flavors. And in my opinion, what’s more important than figuring out which snacks are the absolute best?!
We gave some of our favorite Asian-Influencer partners the chance to try and rank some of the most notable and popular products from Hmart. Below are the Top 10 Hmart Snacks based on their feedback and rankings.
#10 Milkita Milkshake Candy
Mouth feel like a caramel. Milky like a latte. Make sure to try the HONEY DEW and Strawberry.
#9 Irvins Salted Egg Chips
Singapore’s most hyped US snack debut continues to pack punches across its Potato, Cassava and Fish Skin Egg Chips. The spicy is truly spicy, the chips are made with premium Duck egg, and it will likely be the most umami chip experience you’re ever going to have.
Singapore’s most hyped US snack debut continues to pack punches across its Potato, Cassava and Fish Skin Egg Chips. The spicy is truly spicy, the chips are made with premium Duck egg, and it will likely be the most umami chip experience you’re ever going to have.
I’m not exactly sure why so many Asian Supermarkets have large sections dedicated to European crispy wafers, BUT I’M HERE FOR IT. The Cappuccino smells and tastes like an Italian Cafe, the Matcha incorporates green tea from Japan. Eat a bite-sized single or what’s more likely -- eat the entire bag.
Check out the full video above for the correct pronunciation.. but the important facts to know are Pocky’s diverse flavor lineup is 2LEGIT2QUIT. Crunchy Strawberry, Choco Mint, Almond Crush are the standouts even though there seem to be countless more to explore.
#6 Nongshim Shrimp Crackers & Onion Rings
Pungent is the word, and I mean it in the best way. If you’re seeking a snack with tons of flavor -- you’ve found it. Why did we put Shrimp Crackers & Onions together with the same ranking? Just felt right.
#5 Nongshim Shin Ramen Black
This Korean company ended up with not 1, not 2, but 3 PRODUCTS on this Top 10 list. Shin Ramen Black is a cult favorite of noodle lovers: combining bone marrow flavor with a scalp-tingling spice. Top that off with a truly differentiating noodle texture and you’ll find instant comfort in your instant bowl.
#4 Ottogi Cheese Ramen
The biggest sleeper on this list was Ottogi Cheese Ramen. Many of our judging influencers had heard of the Cheese Ramen trend, but hadn’t specifically tried it. The mac-n-cheese-esque taste rocketed this product near the top of this list.
The biggest sleeper on this list was Ottogi Cheese Ramen. Many of our judging influencers had heard of the Cheese Ramen trend, but hadn’t specifically tried it. The mac-n-cheese-esque taste rocketed this product near the top of this list.
#3 A-sha Spicy Seaweed Snack
This magical product found a way to neatly pack almonds and puffed black rice into a seaweed sandwich, and the result is an uber-satisfactory crunch, mouth-feel and flavor. If you try the spicy kind, the heat will slowly build adding a nice new dimension.
This magical product found a way to neatly pack almonds and puffed black rice into a seaweed sandwich, and the result is an uber-satisfactory crunch, mouth-feel and flavor. If you try the spicy kind, the heat will slowly build adding a nice new dimension.
#2 Brown Sugar Boba Bars
These ice cream bars were so popular in late 2019 and early 2020 it was practically impossible to track down, UNLESS you happened to be in-store during a re-stock. Turns out, these ice cream bars are the rare unicorn that seem to over-deliver on the hype. These specific bars are the ones to get, even if there are other brands in the case.
#1 Bibigo Spicy Pork Mandu / Dumplings
I’m not sure why the spicy version of Bibigo’s Pork Mandu is missing from the official Bibigo website, but it’s that spicy kick + quality ingredients + ample filling that earned its #1 unanimous feedback. Multiple reviewers mentioned that these dumplings are better than its restaurant counterparts, and that’s really saying something!
