On Korean Markets in San Diego

On Korean Markets in San Diego. San Diego has a pretty solid part of town where you can find Korean food, saunas (사우나), stores selling various goods that you would find in Korea, as well as Korean grocery stores. There are two main ones. One of Convoy proper and the other one, the big one, down the road a bit called Zion Market. I’ve been a couple times since I’ve been home, mostly to buy makgeolli (막걸리), as I have been so very happy to have access to the health food stores that I love back home and most of my shopping is done there, however it’s kind of fun how easily the things I got used to buying in Korea can be found at home.

Market

Cabbage and Radishes

무

배추

고구마

Kimchi

Cute

Shin Ramyeon

라면

Sauce

More Sauce

Gochu

Drinks

Canned Drinks

Soju

Makgeolli

Hite

Lotte Coffee

Korean Instant Coffee

Tea

Zion Market is an impressively large grocery store with everything you could possible need/want as far as Korean food and supplies go. There is a catering service that makes kimbap (김밥) as well a small cafe where you can get bibimbap (비빔밥) and Tteokbokki (떡볶이).

Zion Marketplace

The Entrance

Signage

Korean and Japanese Beer

Liquor

자장면/짜장면

참치

Gim

Ketchup and Mayonnaise

Daikon

번대기

Soap and Shampoo

Kimchi Pots

Kettle

My Favorite Korean Snack!

Kancho

Choco Pies

Yogurt Drink

Noodles

Oils and Vinegars

Pancake Mix

Chili Pasta

Health Tonic

Ginseng Drink

Radishes

Fern Bracket

On 7-Eleven in Japan

On 7-Eleven in Japan. When I was in Japan on vacation I often ate at 7-Eleven. I wouldn’t normally do that, but based on the prices in Japan and how different the convenience stores are to anything I had seen before, I was fine with it. Below are some pictures I took in the Seven & I Holdings Co. (as it is called in Japan).

7-Eleven

Juice and Milk Drinks

More Juice and Milk Drinks

Sides

Sake and Such

More Alcohol

Beer

Magazines

Comic Books

Prepared Food

Pressed Rice

Samgak Kimbap (삼각김밥)

Oshizushi (押し寿司

Snacks

Misc.

Cleaning Supplies

Beauty Products

On Farmer’s Markets in San Diego

On Farmer’s Markets in San Diego. One of the great things about my hometown is the abundance of really great farmer’s markets and produce available on any given day of the week.

Lettuce

When I am home trips to the market are as important to me as going to work. My favorites being the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market on Sundays, OB Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays, the North Park Farmer’s Market on Thursdays and the Little Italy Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Here is a collection of photos I’ve taken since being back stateside.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Bruschetta

Oranges

Cactus

Dandelion Greens

Carrots, Cabbage and Broccoli

Roots

OB in Full Force

Potatoes 'n Such

Squash

Seeds and Micro Greens

Kale and Chard

Hillcrest

Little Dancers

Strawberries

Brussel Sprouts

Vegetables

Mushrooms

More Root Vegetables

On the Nishiki Market (錦市場)

On the Nishiki Market (錦市場). On my recent trip to Kyoto, I made a point to visit the Nishiki Market. Being that Kyoto is known as a place of traditional in Japan visiting a traditional market there seem àpropos. Although it is a tourist attraction on Kyoto, there were quite a few locals doing their produce shopping. The mood of the market seemed very tame and low energy, yet was still really alive and functioning. It was fascinating as it all was new to me; new vegetables, new language, new fish and new side dishes. It was also near impossible for me to identity everything.

Inside the Market

Shoppers

Dried Berries

Dried Fruit?

Shavings (beans?)

Dried Goods

Beans

Nuts

Winter Ready Vegetables

Japanese Kimci

Radishes

Vegetables

More Vegetables

Peppers and Others

Red Carrots!

Packages Goods

Lunch

Prepared Fish

Prepared Side Dishes

Seafood

A Man Selling Seafood

Raw Fish on a Stick

Rice Cakes

On Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장)

On Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장). It’s the season for winter gear and my boss needed a new winter coat so we went to Namdaemun Market and to see what he could find. This market was really fun, busy and had everything. I found it better than Dongdaemun.

I decided to revisit on Christmas day to people watch and to have some kalguksu (칼국수). To get there go to Hoehyeon Station, line 4. Take exit 5, walk straight ahead and you’ll be there. There may or may not be a woman trying to persuade you to go to the first shop right outside the row of shops. She will most likely be standing right in front of the door to the “street”.

Busy Market

Carts

Jewelry

Fur Coats

More Fur Coats

"Designer" Underpants

Ladies Undergarments

Legs

Jerseys

Wallets

Mushrooms

Gim

Kalguksu Street

칼국수 and "service" sides for 4.500w

The noodles were delicious and the adjumma kept pouring more warm broth into the soup for me as she watched me eat. She was really friendly!

Donuts

Food Tent

Hotdogs and Fishcakes

Pajeon and Seafood

So Many Choices

Ramyeon, Makgeolli and more Seafood

Stuff

Store

More Stuff

KPop Stuff

Socks

Still Busy

On the Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치시장)

On the Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치시장). The Jagalchi Market is an hour away by subway from Haeundae (해운대) Beach. Although, it’s a much shorter cab ride, the difference is about 10,000w vs. 900w. The super busy market is filled with people selling recently caught fish and restaurants that will prepare the food for you.

A Vendor

Baskets With Live Fish

More Baskets With Live Fish

Halmoni and Clams

Clams

Another Vendor

Various Shell Fish

Another Vendor

More Shellfish

A Very Attractive Displace of Shellfish

If You Dare

Running Amuck

Loads of Dried Fish

More Dried Fish

Dried Squid

Cooked Fish

More Cooked Fish

Even More Cooked Fish

In the end I didn’t end up eating here as I had to rush back to catch the sunset at Haeundae and my appetite just wasn’t on my side. However, it was a really great market to explore.

On the Sinwon Market (신원시장)

On the Sinwon Market (신원시장). This is the biggest traditional market in Sillim-dong. What I find slightly different about this market then say a farmer’s market is that venders actually have store fronts that they work from everyday. However, it is still a different experience from shopping in a super market and supports mostly local agriculture.

The Front Entrance

Shoppers

Store Fronts

Coffee

Traditional Side Dishes:

Banchan

Kimchi

Prepared Food:

Jumok Bap

Odeng

Various Fried Things

Dried Goods:

Ginger and Dried Gogi

Rice and Beans

Rice and Beans and Chili Powder

Dried Pink Shrimp

Cinnamon

More Rice and Beans

Gochu (Hot Pepper, often used for paste)

Produce:

Korean Radish

Garlic Scapes

Various Vegetables

Mushrooms

More Mushrooms and Others

Persimmons

Apricots, Peaches, Melons, Oranges and Apples

Seafood:

Fish

Crabs

Snacks:

Anju

Convience Food

Candy

Non-food Items:

Slippers

Kids Clothes

Pants

Household Goods

Kimchi Pots

Bedding

Bakery Items:

Breads

*Things pictures were taken over 3 different seasons and much of the produce is not available year round.

On the Central Market in Hoi An

On the Central Market in Hoi An. The market in Hoi An was one of my favorite things about my trip. It is technically outdoors, but with low hanging tarp placed over the venders and it is a pretty decent size. There were trinkets and things for sale, but the big draw of this market for me was the functional selling of fruit, vegetables and fish.

At the Market

Leafy Greens

Eggs

More Eggs

More Greens

Root Vegetables and Tofu

Seafood

Shoppers

Avocados

Sorting

Fruits

Chickens

Onions and Garlic

A Vender

More Venders

Durian

Business

A Little of Everything

On the Ben Thanh Market

On the Ben Thanh Market. On my recent trip to Vietnam I spent some time at the Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh city. The market is located in the city center, district 1. It is a huge covered market with anything you could possibly want or need.

The Front Entrance

The Rear Entrance

Inside

Shoes

Bags

Utensils

Chopsticks

Watches

Fruit

Dried Fruit and Snacks

Candy

Tea and Coffee

Food Stall

It is an easy place to spend a few hours and I found that prices were mostly quoted in U.S. Dollars.

On Grocery Stores in Korea

On grocery stores in Korea. One of my favorite things about travelling is getting to go into markets and grocery stores. This is for a few reasons, but mostly because food is a huge part of culture so I like to see what the stores sell.