Queen’s Super Market

Return of the Jedi — The Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula
Many light years ago there was Queen’s Super Market. It was located in a small territory claimed by the Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula known as Kalihi. A place which they call Kore-​alihi.
8÷14÷2009 — First Review by Gene K. — Irvine, CA
«Your average Korean supermarket. The parking lot is small and congested, so much so that at times, people are parking in the street. There are never enough carts and in order to get one of these poor, mangled things, you need to take it from someone.
It’s not that clean inside, and there hardly seems to be any people working there except for the register, who do seem pretty nice, though.
The reason I end up here fairly often, though, is because wifey and her mother say this place has the best kim chee to buy.
Now this may seem like an unpleasant review, but I really do not like shopping at Korean supermarkets in general for the above mentioned reasons. But I’ll eat their kim chee!»
But then there was a great battle. The evil Korean Galactic Empire did battle with the Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula.
The Korean Galactic Empire emerged the victor:
November 3, 2014:
«Then one day I drove by and saw their parking lot filled with cars. I remember that day very clearly. The time 11:04 A.M.; the day, Monday, November 3, 2015. A day that will live in infamy… the store was finally open.
The exterior of the Queen’s Supermarket building had a fresh new coat of paint; and the automatic sliding doors looked brand spanking new. Then I caught sight of the sign on the building and it absolute felt like someone stabbed me in the heart:
«KEEAUMOKU SUPER MARKET»
The Galactic Empire was aggressive and renovated the Queen’s compound and renamed the place Keeaumoku Super Market.
Hiding behind a star, the Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula were planning and patiently waiting. Waiting for an opportunity to strike back. The Korean Jedi Order are warriors with great knowledge and wisdom. They speak fluent Korean and do good deeds. There is great pain in defeat; but Korean Jedi take defeat as a chance for learning. They are resilient and strong because they have the Force.
The Chinese Jedi Order believe in the force of Chi. The Korean Jedi Order believe in a force they call Chee. They are masters of garlic and pepper and the Force is with them… the Force of Korean Kim Chee.
May 5, 2016
The return of the Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula.
In the darkness there was a battle. The details are not clear but lightsabers were drawn and clashed. All I know is that the Korean Jedi Order has returned. There is only silent jubilation within. Changes are happening but no one will explain. Jedi tend to treat their enemies as friends that have made things better.
Queen’s Supermarket is fresher and cleaner than before the first great battle. The ultimate victory is with the return of the Korean Jedi Order. It is clear that Queen’s Super Market is strong and well. They have emerged from ashes and the Korean Jedi are back.
The Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula Creed: «There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the force of Korean Kim Chee.»
Rejoice! The Jedi Order from the Korean Peninsula has returned. Kore-​alihi is now a better place. May The Force of Korean Kim Chee be with them! Welcome back Queen’s Super Market.

They are closed and replaced by Keeamoku Supermarket. Hallelujah !
It is now cleaner, better stocked and fresher produce and meats.
Palama market has competition now but good for us!

The kimchi at Queen’s is so good that I must have more!!! Anybody know if the amazing Ahjuma who worked here has moved on to another shop or if she has retired? I would totally follow her wherever she next set’s up her kimchi stand!!!

They have the best kim chee here. Parking can be challenging. Bummed that it’s closed now (don’t know if it’s permanent).

Went by today and a lady told me they closed for business for good! So sad to see this store go!!!

The only reason we come out here is because Queens hands down makes the best kimchee on the island. Being Korean, it’s a staple at our house and my mom is too busy to make her own. They always run sales on the packaged kimchee so we buy them by the jug when they run good deals. They have some pretty fresh fruit also, Korean pears, korean melon, korean grapes, etc.
Despite the fact that the food/​take out section looks worn down, their food is solid. I always get their spicy pork plate and they make it fresh for you then and there. A lot of places have a tendency to pre-​cook things and just reheat it when you order… not Queens!
The only complaint I have about this place is the fact that it’s filthy. I’ve been coming here since I was born and it looks like it hasn’t been remodeled or upgraded in 20 years. Sometimes I feel a little skeptical buying anything from the freezers because I feel like all the items have severe freezer burn. We bought fish the other day and the package was open and the fish was spoiling… I noticed it before we left so they let us change it but I wouldn’t be so sure if it’s going in the trash or into a new bag and into the freezer. Skeptical… Also the canned items on the shelves look like they’ve been there forever.
I would really like this place a lot more if it was just a bit cleaner and more fresh. Please dust your shelves and wipe things down. The glass on the freezer/​refrigerator doors are so cloudy that you can’t even see what’s inside. Just clean it up and I’ll raise the stars to 5.

One of my clients recommended me coming here to buy my kimchee! And that was the best advice I’ve ever taken!
The kimchee here is amazing! & she won best kimchee in honolulu also! They make it fresh, literally right in front of your face! And there’s sooo many to choose from! I love it! You package it yourself so you can choose how much you wanna eat, rather than buying a standard jar! I ended up buying cut up kimchee and the cucumber kimchee! And the price is soo good too! I got a huge container for only $ 7!
There’s also tons of different meats, and marinated meats and marinated seafoods (baby octopus!) and sooo many goodies!
I also walked around the store and they had a lot of your typical korean groceries, so it’s a good one stop shop! On my way out of the store I decided to buy their ready made food from their counter also! I got some soondae and japchae, took it home with my kimchee and ate it all!!! Sooo good!

My friend said she just went not too long after me and she said there were for sale signs and they were going out of business… I hope not… I just discovered Queen’s! I just bought these awesome frozen seafood rolls that I wouldn’t mind going back for more! I went here to buy soju! Soju tends to be on sale here more often (so I was told). Wide variety of items. Fun to shop. Kind of old in feeling but still has so much to offer! Plus you can buy food from this corner shop — great kim bap and tokbokki!

I really love Korean food and something you just need an authentic Korean spice or ingredient for a dish you are cooking. In times like that Queens supermarket is the place to head to. Just like when I am cooking Japanese food I need to go to Marukai, I think for Korean Food you need to go to Queens.
Their meat selection is usually always good and they have a whole lot of selection when it comes to Kim chee. Getting there can be kind of hectic with traffic, but if you are in the area it might be fun to stop by

Small Korean market located in Kalihi. Store looks a little run down and the workers are not so friendly, probably because most don’t speak English?! I love coming here for fresh Kim Chee. The lady makes many different types of Kim Chee fresh daily and the price is great! Parking gets a little crazy, especially on the weekends.

They need to upgrade and change their refrigerators and freezers. They look so old and rusty. I wonder whether the temperature is right. Some packages from those ugly refrigerators and freezers look thousand year old~*

I used to pick up my marinated meats and kimchee here for when I cook on the BBQ. It’s pretty good but the kimchee does lack heat but the prices are decent. The inside of the store is a little run-​down but does offer a large variety of items to purchase. The staff is not there to make friends so don’t expect anyone welcoming you or cracking a smile. Parking here is kind of bad on the weekends, but luckily there is free street Parkin across the street. The only reason I stopped coming here is because another Korean market opened up closer to my house.

Checked Unilocal and found this market on the way from the airport to Waikiki and need to stop in grab some beer, fruit, and water. This is a Korean Market with a bunch of Korean foods. They have a section with Banchans and marinated seafood. However, it’s located in a sketchy part of town, with your normal drunks outside. The parking lot is small. The market although is large, and not clean just like your Chinatown market. The beer selection is limited but there were other Korean items that you normally can not get. At least the prices were very good and they did have fruits like apple pears that you won’t find in Safeway.

I love their Korean food at the front counter near the entrance. There is a bunch of pre-​packaged cooked food on the counter or you could order their plate lunches. Their plate lunches are very cheap and huge portions. If I have time, I normally would order their meat jun/​fish jun plate. But most times I just look at their counter and pick up some Korean sushi and meat jun.
I love their fishcake Korean sushi the best. If they don’t have it on the counter, the lady their will make it fresh. It is so delish! I love sushi, and it’s the best here. Its packed with a lot of Korean vegetables and the right amount of rice. I love the freshness of the nori too. I totally recommend this place to people who want some quick Korean food.

I remember coming to this grocery store as a kid, before it became a Korean market. Nevertheless the prices can’t be beat! Sure it looks like a hole in the wall and could use a do-​over, but aren’t the hole in the wall places just as comparable? With that said, I’ll still shop here and travel over to the other Korean market down the road too. Love the kimchi section here!!! The ajumma is nice! Kamsamnida!!!
Side note: Parking can be a bear… lot is small, so have patience and be courteous to the folks parked on either side of you!

This is one of the places where I like to go when I don’t have anytime to prepare something for a BBQ! Picked up Marinated Kalibi ($ 6.99lb), the cut of meats looked really nice and fresh. They have a lot of different types of Kimchee and you know that it must be good when you see people buy it by the gallons! Lol!!. Parking lot needs some work .By the way the Kabli was soooo ONO!
Hours:
Mon-​Sat 8am-8:30pm
Sun 9am-8:30pm

Ok the best authentic ajima kimchi you can buy by the bulk in plastic bags!
If I recall approx $ 10 – 15 a bag and blows always the commercially made ones by quality, taste, and amount! about 3−4lbs!
Queen’s is old skool market going way back hanabada dayz then bought out and became the best original Korean market before Palama came into existence.
Everything Korean and cheaper than Palama. In the heart of Kalihi my hood!
Shopping is good and plate lunches too!
I go here first then Palama if I can’t find the item I’m hunting for.
Meats are ready cut made for kimchi stew, kalbi and bulgogi! Nice produce section too.
Can’t go wrong here.
:)

One boring evening as I channel surfed I just so happened to stop it on channel 4 during a Queens Supermarket commercial— holy moly!!! Melona 59 cent? Shoju, $ 2.99? SOLD! Drinking some melona shoju tonight! I quickly ventured to Kalihi for some Korean spirits!
I pulled into the driveway and was almost sideswiped by a Mercedes that tried to enter the same time as me. Then, my tiny Honda Civic ran over a huge pothole. Grrrr i was feeling like an angry Korean Ahhhhahaha PERFECT!
I parked and made it into the store and thought «ho da messy» but was soon sidetracked by 1.99 Choco Pies!
Walking around the store was a cluttery adventure. I put so many things in my shopping cart– won bok, green onions, yogurt drinks, mandoo, shoju, melona, choco pies, and kimchee! I couldn’t wait to get to the checkout and have the korean lady say «Kamsamnida» after I paid!
They also sell the metal Korean bowls for bibimbap and rice as well as pots for some warm tofu soup which I thought I would pick up on another shopping excursion here.
This kimchee section is the best (5 stars if i only rated the kimchee)!! There is a cute ajumma mixing away creating delicious, super fresh kimchee of all sorts. The won bok kimchee was the best!
I felt like I was in a flashback of my trip to Korea until I got to the checkout and a non-​Korean rang up my items. This has been the closest I felt to Korea since 2003.

Stepping into Queen’s is like stepping back into time. I remember running in here not long after having unpacked my rice cooker excited to find not one but two Korean markets. But all that greeted me behind its gritty sliding doors was a lone red shopping cart with one very noisy wheel. I remember too while scanning the aisles feeling like the floors were going to cave. To a transplant from SF, it was not a welcoming feeling. Frankly, I don’t even remember the kimchi parlor. I do remember however grabbing some bindaeduk (mung bean pancake) on my way out and remember being sadly disappointed.
So, why have I returned some eight years later? Can you spell, kimchi? Okay, so I read the recent «kimchee» article in Hana Hou and my kimchi radar suddenly went up. And wouldn’t you know, the only person who greeted me with any sincerity was the kimchi maestro herself! She smiled warmly as she packed up my large container of cucumber kimchi and gave me a knowing nod when she saw that I already had in hand a package of young radish leaves kimchi on sale. Now, when does kimchi get marked down? When there’s been some serious fermentation, that’s when.
With the two sets of kmichi in hand, I was set to eat for a whole week. Not sure what the rest of family (hubby and toddler) will eat but that hasn’t crossed this kimchi mama’s mind yet. Threw in some good looking Korean squash for some fun jun, some fuyu persimmons for dessert and some packaged bulk items like multi-​bean and black wild rice mix to transform my plain white rice to one healthy «purple» rice.
The kimchi verdict? Cucumber kimchi was the best local-​style cucumber kimchi I’ve had so far. Perfect contrast of refreshing crunch, sweet, minimal heat. The other, «sale» item was true to its sale package, radish leaves heavily drenched in kimchi seasoning and appropriately aged, all that’s needed is white rice and lots of it! By my third bowl, I’m sweating buckets and am starting to see double but I am in kimchi heaven!

Good selection of items here. I’ve never tried the marinated kalbi here yet, but judging from the empty container it must be good. Got some fresh cucumber Kimchee here and it good! Small, cramped parking lot though…