Palama Supermarket - Makaloa

Palama Supermarket on Makaloa Street is a well-established Korean grocery store and neighborhood market in Honolulu, known for its broad variety of authentic Korean ingredients and grocery products packed into a lively and well-organized store environment. Many shoppers describe it as having fresh produce, meats, snacks, and pantry staples not commonly found in mainstream grocery stores, making it a go-to destination for home cooks and visitors seeking hard-to-find items.

The refrigerated sections include kimchi and an assortment of chilled banchan-style side dishes alongside tofu, fresh vegetables, and other essentials that pair with Korean meals at home. Customers also note a selection of refrigerated and ready-to-eat foods — such as kimbap, bibimbap bowls, and other prepared Korean favorites — that make lunch or dinner convenient without extensive cooking.

A modest snack corner and food counter within the market offers hot and cold prepared foods that reflect local tastes and Korean culinary staples, often drawing lunch crowds during peak shopping hours. The store’s layout — while described as a bit dense with inventory — provides a wide range of imported sauces, noodles, rice, beverages, and frozen items alongside everyday produce and proteins.

Palama Supermarket’s location near central Honolulu and major retail corridors makes it a convenient stop for grocery shopping, quick meals, and specialty ingredient sourcing, with ample product variety and competitive prices often cited in local reviews.