Korean mini-mart dining for under a fiver

This classic Korean rice dish 'bi-beem-bahp' is served at Hanna Supermarket. Photo Credit: Soo Kim

Sometimes the best things in life make the most sense and are right under our own noses, such as a supermarket that is also a restaurant—the logical marriage of two basic food functions. Hanna Supermarket is the perfect ‘one-stop shop’ for the busy Londoner who needs groceries plus the occasional Korean fix—all for under a fiver.

This mini-market, buried on a side street off the overcrowded Tottenham Court Road, has been selling Korean fare for eight years. It shows all the right signs of a great food joint—well, except that there isn’t actually a sign that names the restaurant bit of the store.

The only indication of its existence is a short menu on a thin sheet of A4 taped to the wall behind the register. It may seem a bit dodgy, but you know you’re in good hands when you see Korean dishes served by Korean owners to frequent Korean customers—all the qualities that make an authentic spot.

The very limited menu is actually a benefit because too many choices can be blessing or a curse. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with two options available. Customers choose between either bi-beem-bahp (mixed vegetables, scrambled egg and ground beef over steamed white rice) or jae-yook-bahp (spicy sautéed pork strips and onions over steamed white rice). Both dishes come with a cup of bean paste soup (the Korean equivalent of the Japanese miso soup) and a dish of the classic traditional side kim-chee (cabbage pickled in spicy, red pepper powder).

The other beauty of the menu is its affordable pricing at £4 for the bi-beem-bahp or £4.50 for the pork dish. You order and pay for the meal at the register first and proceed downstairs where a server will seat you and take your receipt to bring out your order.

I say ‘restaurant’ but I really mean a tiny café of sorts in the basement of a store. Seating is also limited to four tables with one large communal table—the rest are meant for singles or pairs. The minimalist furniture scheme adds to the unpretentious, no-frills vibe of the place and suits the needs of those who simply want to eat in peace and quiet—though it could get a bit too quiet, even awkward, if you happen to be seated with a quiet stranger also dining at the one communal table.

You also can’t ignore the shelves of countless VHS tapes lining the walls of the basement. They are all recordings of different Korean television shows and the latest soap operas.

The mere two- to three-minute wait time for your order is incredible considering the homemade savoury taste. The pork dish is a touch spicier than the other as the meat has been sautéed in red pepper sauce. But both dishes can be made spicy according to taste with red pepper paste or soy sauce, and there’s always water. All that’s left to do is to mix well and dig in to a healthy burst of traditional Korean flavours.

So if you’re eager for some Korean groceries or an affordable Korean meal or just Koreans in general, Hanna Supermarket will have it all.

Hanna Supermarket
Phone: 0207 636 4118
41 Store Street
London, WC1E 7DB