Irvine is becoming a key hub for Asian food markets, driven by rising demand from the city’s growing and diverse Asian population.
As of 2024, Irvine’s population is approximately 300,000, with about 44% identifying as Asian. The largest group is Chinese (18%), followed by Korean and Indian (each 4.2%), Filipino (1.7%), Japanese (1.3%), and Vietnamese (1.3%). With many residents being high-income and highly educated, Irvine has become a strategic location for the Asian grocery industry.
Major chains including H Mart, Zion Market, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and 99 Ranch Market already operate in the city. New entrants like Tokyo Central and T&T Supermarket are set to join them, intensifying local competition. Many stores are located within a 1–2 mile radius along Culver Drive near the I-5 Freeway, allowing for convenient access by car.
H Mart Sets the Pace in Irvine’s Market
H Mart, the largest Asian grocery chain in the U.S., operates three locations in Irvine: Irvine, Westpark, and Northpark. The Northpark branch, opened in 2023, spans 53,341 square feet and offers a wide range of Asian ingredients, direct-sourced produce, and premium seafood.
Popular items include Jeju flatfish, Japanese sashimi packs, and fish favored by Korean and Chinese customers such as cod, mackerel, hairtail, butterfish, carp, catfish, and lobster. Every Thursday, freshly cut bluefin tuna is sold for $49–50 per pound, about 30–40% cheaper than in Japanese markets. A live seafood section features lobsters, shrimp, and flatfish, with some tanks open for public viewing…