Palama Super Market

A few months ago, Palama Super Market opened a new location right near Daiei Kaheka.  In fact, I passed by often enough during the construction of the building that I completely missed the fact that they were done and that the store had actually opened.  Maybe it's because most of my shopping is done at night, but I'm here today, finally.

Stepping into the store, the first thing that you will see are the check out counters, which are located just beyond the entrance.  To the right is the food court, and to the left there are a few small stalls.  Right behind the check out stations, there is a huge self-serve kim chee "bar".  There must have been about 20 or so different types of freshly made kim chee.  These are some of the vegetable ones....

And the ones on the left in this picture are seafood. I believe the one on the bottom contained mussles.

There were also lots of imported frozen foods such as mandoo, soup bases, fish cakes, breads, etc.

Right next to the kim chee "bar" were some fresh fruits and vegetables at very reasonable prices.  The variety of melon in front is called the gaya.  I've never had it before, but there was a sample of it on a table right in front of the fruits that they were offering for sale.  The melon was very sweet and juicy with a flavor similar to the Korean melon.  I think I'll have to go back and buy some next weekend.

There was a table in front of the produce section that contained pre-packaged steamed cakes, rice cakes and pre-made food kits.  I think some of these were for duk kalbi, kim chee soup and bi bim bap.

After browsing around the store, I decided to visit the food court.  I'm not sure why this was labelled a food court, especially since there was only one restaurant, and one dessert/coffee shop in the place, but here it is.  The space was equal to about 1/4 of the store's entire square footage.

Palama Food Court

The stall that serves the hot food is called the Palama Food Court.  There were a few local-style Korean plate lunches, as well as Korean soups and noodle dishes on the menu for a very reasonable price.

Here is one of the workers frying up some meat jun.  This is truly a local Korean dish as most of the Koreans that I spoke to said that they wouldn't ever think of preparing meat in this manner (in Korea).  Here the thinly sliced beef is marinated, then dipped in egg before being fried.

I decided on the spicy chicken plate (US$5.00).

Six pieces of spicy chicken wings were served with some veggies -- mung bean sprouts, seaweed and kai lan -- two scoops white rice and a scoop of macaroni salad.  There was also a container of kim chee on the side as well.  The spicy chicken was just a bit spicy, not overwhelmingly so, but I found that the batter was a bit thick.  The vegetables and macaroni salad were standard, thus making this a lunchtime bargain.  Next time, I think I'm going to try the bi bim bap. 

Joa Joa Café

After lunch, I headed to the other stall in the food court.  Joa Joa Café serves coffees, cold beverages, and desserts.  How convenient.

With so much to choose from, it was quite hard for me to make up my mind.  At first, I thought of a green tea smoothie, but in the end, I decided on the azuki bean shave ice (US$5.00).

There was tons of stuff in this dessert.  A layer of coarse shaved ice was topped with some fruits such as pineapples, canned peaches, cut watermelon and I think papaya.  There was a sprinkling of roasted grain powder on this that tasted a bit like kinako, although I'm not sure what it is called in Korean.  It was then topped with some evaporated milk, some fruit jelly candies, mochi, a sliced banana, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a maraschino cherry.  Wow!  This was refreshing and an excellent way to beat the heat.  I'll definitely be back for this again!

For some uniquely Korean groceries and a wide variety of freshly made kim chee, Palama Super Market can't be beat.  The food stalls in the food court serve reasonably priced and delicious plate lunches, soups, coffees, cold drinks and desserts. 

Palama Super Market
1670 Makaloa Street
Telephone:  808.945.3900

Palama Food Court
Telephone:  808.447.7705

Joa Joa Café
Telephone:  808.447.7770

Comments

[Kirk]

OK Reid - Tthe Spicy Chicken plate has put me over the edge......need to see if I can book a flight home soon. Sigh, I wish Chicken Alice was still around. Though I have her recipe that was in the Star Bulletin - I can't get the Park's Brand Kim Chee base here.......

[vegimouse]

Right on, Reid!

I heart Palama market! Their veggies are so cheap (cucumber for 29cents/LB whereas the Daiei next door sells it for 79 cents+) and I love the frozen Asian steamed buns and mochi and condiments.....But I haven't checked out their "snack corner", may be tomorrow =)

[potatoeshavetoes]

what a coincidence, i was just there today. i agree with your other readers to say that i love palama although it has been americanized.
i hope you continue to visit palama and other great places associated with food in hawaii. i shall be reading.

[milgwimper]

ohhh...I'm at a loss for words. Im going grocery shopping tomorrow, too bad I wont be at Palama.

Hmmm wonder of the powder on the pat ping su is miskaru, which is mixed grain powder, several different grains I think. i love to drink it on a hot summers day! YUm...memories of Korea *sigh*

[milgwimper]

miskaru = misukaru missookaru etc

[clare eats]

Oh poor Reid!
Dinner at the Sheraton, how will you survive? :P Especially after having to visit a place like this, Shame Shame Shame =)

[Cindy]

Sugoi! Looks like they remodeled. The last time I was there (about 4 years ago), it definitely didn't look so fancy on the outside and have a food court on the inside ^_^ I love their kim chee bar! In Ohio, I have to go to the Seafood Japan market to get fresh made kim chee.

[RONW]

Hey Cindy:

This particular Palama market is brand new and next to Holiday Mart on Kaheka St. I use their new restrooms on my way to Holiday Mart then walk around the store to throw the act like I actually stopped in to shop.

[Kirk]

Is this where Gas and Glo' used to be??

[chef 'em out]

Dude, you are like all over the place, where do you find the time?

[Lajja]

Hi Reid! I go to Palama for my weekly bibimbap fix - you won't find much bulgogi in it but for less than $6 it's tastier than most restaurant versions. If you want to make your own bibimbap at home, just pickup a plate of bibimbap toppings (minus the rice and fried egg of course) in their grocery section and go home and add your own rice and fried egg and whatever else you happen to have in your fridge. It's one way to eat all your leftovers in one bowl like they do in some K-dramas where the heartbroken heroine comforts herself by eating huge spoonfuls of kimchi bibimbap because that's all she has in her fridge, rice and cabbage kimchi...how romantic!?

[milgwimper]

Lajja,

LOL that made me laugh, and it is so true. I stopped watching most K-dramas mainly because I kept getting hungry watching them(and i dont have korean tv...yet).

Reid,
Lajja is right you can make Bibimpap from most anything, and the bibimpap packages are pretty good. Well I have not been to Palamas but the ones here in hankook and Galleria supermarkets are preyy good.

[AugustusGloop]

Great pics Reid!

PS. Nice melons. LOL

[Kirk]

Reid -You're right about Meat Jhun - none of the Korean's here in San Diego except those from knows what it is!

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

The spicy chicken plate was good, but not as good as Chicken Alice's. If you would like me to, I could send you some Park's brand. Just send me an e-mail with your address.

Hi Vegimouse,

Yes, Palama Super Market is quite cheap and the food in the food court is quite good. Try the desserts. That azuki shave ice was so good. I wanted to have it again, but I think once a week will be enough.

Hi potatoeshavetoes,

Thanks for visiting my site.

I'm glad you like Palama Super Market as well, but I don't think anyone said it was Americanized. They sell quite a few imported Korean goods. In fact, the only place that I found that comes close to it in terms of variety is 99 Ranch Market.

I hope you continue to read and comment.

Hi Milgwimper,

I reviewed my notes and it is a roasted grain powder. Don't know if that's what you're talking about, but the flavor reminded me of Japanese kinako. Takes a bit of getting used to, but I like it.

Hi Clare,

Yes, how did I survive that neverending buffet, and the crowds...sheesh! Dinner was with my family and the food there was just so-so. *sigh*

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for stopping by.

Actually this is a brand new store located near Daiei Kaheka. The original store is still there =) and looking as run down as ever.

I like the kim chee bar too. I didn't buy anything since I was going out for dinner last night.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Hi RONW,

LOL!

Hi Kirk,

Yes it is...

Hi chef 'em out,

I'm not really all over the place. =)

Most of these places are near to where I live and are quite convenient.

Hi Lajja,

I'll have to remember that. Thanks for the tips on the bi bim bap. I saw a few packages, but didn't pick one up. I'll remember next time.

BTW...I haven't watched any K-dramas as I really don't have the time. I've heard from the girls at work that the shows are quite good though.

Hi Milgwimper,

When you visit in December, if that's still in the works, I can bring you here so that you can shop to your heart's content! =)

Hi AG,

Thanks and hmmmm! They are nice aren't they? =P

Hi Kirk,

I don't think I've found anywhere else that serves this. My friend from Korea said that they would never consider serving meat this way because of the cost. Perhaps you can convince one of your favorite Korean restaurants to make this. I'm sure it would be a hit!

[MrsT]

Lovely food..! i'm sure kimchi-jon would love the different kimchis.. :)

[foodie20]

Hi Reid,

I've been reading your blog for a while now and wanted to let you know how much I enjoy it. Your pictures make my mouth water and I can't wait to see what you post each day! I will be moving to Oahu soon and I've made a list of restaurants I need to visit thanks to you!

Aloha,

foodie20 in San Diego

[Jo]

Uh oh Reid... ::sniff sniff:: I might get jealous if you go shopping with Mils. ::pout:: I wanna go too... ::bursts out in sobs::

[Naomi]

The azuki shave ice looks really good! Oh and so does all the other food too...though I'd probably head straight for the desserts first :-p All the packaged foods look really interesting too...I'll have to make a trip there sometime! and, did you say free melon samples? :-D

[pinkcocoa]

Wow great pics! I wish we have something like this here! Look at the sweets and gosh, I won't mind some shaved ice right now even though it's in the middle of winter!

[milgwimper]

Reid,
Well the December thing is still on, but still waiting for confirmation on Hubby's vacation time approval. I would love to go to Palamas, with you. Next time you are in California I will have to take you to the grocery stores here. :D

[Cheryl]

yummmmyy... korean food rocks! i've only tried bi bim bap once but it was certainly an interesting experience. have you eaten it before? haha is there actually a right way to eat it? like to mix everything up first? or do they eat it neatly? just very curious. anyway that kimchi bar looks cool... i want some kim chi now... i love the vinegar and spicy kick. your dessert looks wonderful... reminds me of ice-kachang but with much more ingredients. it looks like a fruit sundae! geez, i'm getting hungry now.....

[manapuaMan]

The tidbit about jhun cracked me up and make me hungry! Here in VA, every Korean I've spoken either looked at me like I was nuts or insisted that there's no such dish in Korean cuisine as jhun. Meat jhun, fish jhun, I loved it all and wish I could get some over here!

[milgwimper]

MANAPUAMAN,

Really? Hmmm maybe the prounciation is off? One of my friends from Hawaii asked another Korean friend about chon(jjun jhun etc). The Korean friend didn't understand until we went to a korean restaurant and they had it on the menu. Apparently the friend from Hawaii had mangled the prounciation, so maybe that is why? Because I grew up having my halmoni (grandmother) and mother make chon for special occassions in and out of Korea. But usually we just dont say chon, its usually ie Sengson chun (a type of fish chun) kimchi chon. Also it is know by these other words, chonya, chon, puch'imgae, or chijimgae. Ohhh but ths is pretty much from the top of my head at the moment...sorry i blather on somtimes ;>

[milgwimper]

Cheryl,

Mix up the bibimpap, with the spicey sauce and eat eat eat! I hope you get to eat more Korean food, and now you got me hankering for ice kacang!