Nick Ciminiello, Contributing Photographer

Kai Sim and his mother, Ok, have run Hanmi Oriental Food & Gift Shop for over 30 years.

Located near Lawrence Street Plaza in East Rock, on a street full of small businesses, Hanmi Oriental Food & Gift Shop has been around since 1990, run by the Sim family. Sim, who grew up in his mother’s store, has recently returned from Texas to help run the store.

“There are many smaller grocery stores around here, but we try to focus on culture and providing authentic Korean food and authentic Korean snacks,” said Sim.

Sim said being close to New York and its large Asian population has made it easier to source authentic Asian food and snacks.

According to him, Hanmi has a large customer base that includes both students from Yale and New Haven locals, many of whom are interested in Korean foods and culture.

“They enjoy the sauces and the different foods from different countries as well,” Sim said. “We also have a customer from Hartford who comes all the way here, because there are not a lot of Asian stores in Connecticut.”

He also mentioned that Hanmi prepares its own food as well, including kimbap, a popular Korean dish consisting of rice and meat wrapped in seaweed. The dish, which is made by Ok and is Hanmi’s most popular item, has been a longtime tradition in the store.

Sim discussed how New Haven, and specifically the East Rock neighborhood, has changed over the years, recalling his childhood in the store.

“When I was young, these streets used to be very crowded. A lot of people were here, going to bars around here,” Sim said. “But recently, it seems like there are less people walking by.”

The lower foot traffic was apparent on Thursday afternoon, though it did not affect the store, which had a steady stream of regulars and first-time customers checking it out.

Rosalie, a first-time customer, picked up some candy and mochi. She spoke about having visited a couple of the Asian stores in New Haven to pick up snacks.

“I’m new to the area, but this place is very convenient for me. It’s a short walking distance,” she said.

Alongside shelves of ramen, frozen and dry Asian snacks were also fresh vegetables and ingredients for Korean-inspired cooking.

Jill Brunelle is a local and a regular shopper at Hanmi. She comes by once a month, to pick up fresh ingredients.

“I usually get fresh tofu, fresh scallions, fresh vegetables,” she said, gesturing to her shopping bag full of greens.

Hanmi also sells cooking supplies and other smaller trinkets and gifts, located in the front of the shop next to a bushel of fresh Fuji apples.

Sim takes pride in the store’s reputation as a place for authentic Korean food, and now thinks of opening a Korean restaurant to further share Korean culture. 

Hanmi Oriental Food and Gift Shop is located at 1008 State St.