Top 5 Korean Grocery Stores in Toronto

In 1948, the first registration of Korean immigrants came to Canada as Christian missionaries, and only 70 Korean immigrants in Canada remained permanent by 1969. Since then, a number of Korean communities have sprung up in Canada. Koreatown in Toronto and the expanding Korean communities in Coquitlam and Vancouver are the two most densely populated places. In 2004, a section of Seaton Village on Bloor St. between Bathurst and Christie Streets was classified as Koreatown.

According to the 2001 census, Toronto had around 43,000 Korean residents, which had increased to 64,755 by 2011. Koreatown in Toronto has grown to include a Korean grocery store, hairdressers, karaoke clubs, and a variety of eateries catering to the Korean population.

"Koreatown is largely a business neighbourhood with a wide selection of Korean eateries, high-end-fashion Korean boutiques, herbalists, acupuncturists, and many more unique services and shops loaded with Korean made items," according to the City of Toronto. The Spring Dano Festival, held on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Korean Lunar Calendar, is another popular event in Koreatown Toronto. With the exception of 2013, when it was cancelled, the festival has been held in the Christie Pits region for the past 21 years.

Unofficially, the Willowdale/Newtonbrook sections of North York have a slew of Korean companies spanning between Sheppard Ave and Steeles Ave from Yonge St. to Sheppard Ave. It's known as Koreatown North, and it's home to a growing number of Koreans. This trend began in the 1990s and accelerated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In the 2000s, the community extended into York Region, with the heart of the community being along Yonge Street in Thornhill (Vaughan and Markham).

In case you’re in search of Korean groceries in Toronto, we’ve listed the top 5 options that you can choose from. All of them offer pick-up and delivery services for your convenience.

1. PAT Mart

This supermarket with 5 branches in Toronto claims to be the 1st Korean supermarket in Canada. They have a wide variety of traditional Korean food and sweets plus Japanese and Chinese items as well.

Branches:

1. PAT Central Address: 675 Bloor St. W. Toronto Phone: 416-532-2961

2. PAT Thornhill Address: 7289 Yonge St. Thornhill Phone: 905-881-5100

3. PAT Oriental Food Market Mississauga Address: 333 Dundas St. E. Mississauga Phone: 905-276-0787

4. PAT Spring Garden Address: 63 Spring Garden Toronto Phone: 416-226-5522

5. PAT Oriental Food Market East Address: 1973 Lawrence Ave. E. Toronto Phone: 905-276-0787

2. Galleria Supermarket

Galleria Supermarket first opened its doors in 2003, introducing the industry and customers to a whole new world of Korean products on a massive scale. Fresh produce, Korean traditional cuisine, and even culinary tools and appliances, all of which are primarily imported from Korea and Japan! Galleria reflects the Korean population in Canada as well as the country's cultural diversity, and it continues to push the boundaries of multiculturalism in the country.

Branches:

1. Thornhill 7040 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L4J 1V7 Mon-Sun: 24/7

2. York Mills 865 York Mills Rd. Toronto ON M3B 1Y6 Mon-Sun: 7am-10pm

3. Oakville 2501 Hampshire Gate Oakville ON L6H 6C8 Mon-Sun: 8am-9pm

4. Wellesly 558 Yonge St. Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z1 Mon-Sun: 8am-10pm

5. Bloor 351 Bloor St. W Toronto, ON M4W 1A7 Mon-Sun: 8am-10pm

3. H Mart

In 2013, the company debuted its first urban convenience format, "M2M–morning to midnight," on Yonge Street and Churchill Avenue in the Toronto neighbourhood of Willowdale. The four-story, 4,500-square-foot (420-square-meter) store is the first of its kind in Canada. In Richmond Hill, a larger H Mart opened on Yonge Street, and in Downtown Toronto, across from Ryerson University, another opened in 2017.

Branches:

1. Dundas Address: 338 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1R8 Phone: 647-350-3100

2. Bloor Address: 703 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4Y 2B2 Phone: 647-340-3500

3. Sheppard/M2M Address: 4885 Yonge Street North York, ON M2N 5N4 Phone: 416-224-0001

4. North York Address: 5323 Yonge Street North York, ON M2N 5R4 Phone: 416-792-1131

5. Finch Address: 5545 Yonge Street North York, ON M2N 5S3 Phone: 416-227-0300

6. Steeles Address: 370 Steeles Ave West Thornhill, ON L4J 6X1 Phone: 289-597-6500

7. Richmond Hill Address: 9737 Yonge Street Richmond Hill, ON L4C 8S7 Phone: 905-883-6200

4. T&T Supermarket

T&T Supermarket is the largest Asian grocery store chain in Canada. They sell Asian products in general including items from Korea.

Branches in Ontario:

1. College Store Address: 297 College Street, Toronto, ON Phone: 416-413-1113

2. Weldrick Address: 9625 Yonge Street Richmond Hill, ON L4C 5T2 Phone: 905-737-9113

5. HaiSue

Haisue is a Canadian online retailer and distributor specializing in Asian goods, including food, kitchenware, and health and wellness products. Haisue now services its customers from its headquarters and distribution center in Markham, Ontario, following a planned shift from Montreal to the GTA.

To shop from Haisue, you can place your orders on their website. They deliver to any province in Canada. For select areas in GTA, orders can be delivered within 24 hours. For orders elsewhere, they will be shipped through Canada Post or FedEx.

Through these stores, items from South Korea became within your reach. With Remitbee, your loved ones are also within your reach. Send money in the comfort of your own home by downloading the Remitbee Money Transfer App from the App Store or Google play. Best of all, the exchange rates are great and you don’t have to pay any fees when you send over $500.