Back in October, we told you that Hannam Supermarket, one of Metro Vancouver’s most iconic Korean grocers, was eyeing a new location in the Royal Oak area of Burnaby.
Fast-forward to now: the new store is officially open as of last week.
Located at Imperial and MacPherson, this new outpost takes over a former Craftsman Collision shop and marks Hannam’s latest expansion into the South Burnaby neighbourhood.
Hannam Supermarket, established back in 1998, was the first large-scale Korean mart in Western Canada.
It brought a distinct Korean flair to North Road Mall, and its arrival sparked what became Burnaby’s K-town.
While the Metrotown location is significantly smaller than the flagship North Road store, don’t let that fool you, as it’s already drawing a crowd.
We swung by on day three of opening, and the store was packed, from the checkout counters to the very limited parking lot (pro tip: walk or park on the metered side street).
Inside, it’s a more compact layout than other Hannam locations, but the essentials are all there:
- Fresh produce
- Instant noodles
- Korean BBQ-friendly cuts of meat
- Snacks, ice cream, and frozen dumplings
- Prepared items like broths and marinated meats
They’ve also stocked familiar brands and Korean pantry staples, but don’t expect a massive bakery, deli or hot bar.
On our visit, the prepared food section was either understocked or completely cleaned out, as there were no signs of kimbap or japchae left.
That said, the store was buzzing, with opening week deals drawing in shoppers for steep discounts on items like Turtle Chips and snacks.
If you’re used to the sprawling aisles of Hannam North Road, temper your expectations, it’s clear this new spot is optimized for local, everyday grocery runs, not bulk Costco hauls.
Still, it’s a welcome addition to Burnaby’s growing Asian grocery scene, giving residents in the Metrotown/Royal Oak corridor a more convenient option for Korean groceries without having to head up to North Road or across to H-Mart.
Hannam Metrotown now joins the likes of T&T, Price Smart, and Club Ribbin (prev. Assi Market) in turning South Burnaby into a seriously competitive Asian supermarket battleground.
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Address: 5609 Imperial St, Burnaby, BC