Happy Family (Korean food)(inside Hana Mart)

mmm-yoso!!! Food blog. Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are busily researching subjects for posts.  Cathy is posting results of her research. 

A few weeks ago, driving to U Mart for some weekly groceries, we noticed a change in the exterior signage.

The Mister and I had been here (the building was the original San Diego location of Zion supermarket) several times since UMart had opened in December and noticed construction going on inside each time. We were told there was a new owner of the building who wanted the name change.There are now cash registers facing each doorway and the 'hallway' of other stores has been widened. As Kirk mentioned in February, Happy Family reopened. 

The Mister and I try to grab a bite to eat before each shopping trip and this day was a perfect chance to have another meal at Happy Family. 

The menu has been simplified further, with ten total offerings. 

The Mapo Tofu ($7.99) is always a favorite.  It comes with the red pepper paste soup as well as the pickled sides and the black bean paste.

There were a few ounces of ground pork, some wood ear fungus and a lot of very good tofu in this dish.  The flavors were not Americanized at all -the way we like it- with a few numbing peppercorns used in the sauce. 

The pepper paste soup was made with onions and zucchini and the broth seemed to have a saltiness to it (no condiments were needed with this meal other than what was served).

We also shared an order of fried dumpling ($5.99).  These gunmandu were made fresh here (not frozen) and fried to a very crispy (yet still chewy level).  The dumpling skins were a bit thick in a good way; there was no leakage of the filling. 

The filling, mostly chives with some ground pork: so fresh and the chive greens still crispy. The right amount to balance the fried dumpling dough.  These were the nicest version we've ever had. A great way to start our shopping trip.

Happy Family inside Hana Mart 4611 Mercury Street San Diego 92111 (858)279-8713 Open 10-8 Tues-Sunday

Comments

[Kirk]

Man, that's some nice gunmandu.....

[nhbilly]

Simply delicious fried gunmandu.

[Cathy]

The gunmandu cross section photo is accurate, unlike the oblong then round plate of Mapo above, Kirk. Ha.
It was so very good, bill.

[Faye]

I LOVE their huge fried dumplings here! I used to go to Zion JUST for Happy Family's fried dumplings. I thought it had 8 to an order though. Can't remember. How was the service? They never seemed too friendly. I visited UMart one time and it was terribly depressing. I maybe saw two customers wandering the entire market. I hope Hana fares better. I heard on radio today that Zion will have it's 1 year (anniversary?) party next weekend (the 29th, I'm not sure) or something.

[caninecologne]

I was surprised to see the name change so soon. I hate the parking lot over there but I like the prices of their produce!

[Cathy]

The people who work at Happy Family are always very nice, Faye. The dumplings (and everything prepared here) are so very good. Yes, the new Zion location has finally been open a full year; heard those ads and made a mental note to stay away this weekend.

I like that UMart had open aisles (not used for storage, as Zion did) but never did see those pushy 'Zion ladies' which coincided with parking available; Hana is the same (plus the happy paint colors on the walls helps) and I like the prices and choices; it's one of our weekly stops, cc. They are still using UMart grocery bags, so I am thinking something else happened to make the name change.

[Charish~J]

Fried dumplings looks yummilicious :)Thanks for sharing this visual delight. U mart is certainly the best to serve this!

[Christine]

Those look like some hefty mandu.

[Cathy]

They are quite large, crispy and chewy and so very good, Christine.

I'm sorry I didn't see your comment Charish-J. Glad you've enjoyed the dumplings at Happy Family. It's a great place.