Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ – Express Eats Inside HMart Katy

Tucked inside the bustling HMart food court, this express version of Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ offers a slimmed-down menu compared to the full-service locations in Bellaire and Sugar Land. While the convenience is great for a quick meal during grocery runs, the service and execution can vary, and some signature elements—like sizzling hot tofu soup and a full spread of banchan—may feel pared back.

Still, certain dishes shine, such as their surprisingly crisp seafood pancake. For diners who already know and love the brand, this location delivers familiar flavors in a more fast-casual format, though it may not fully match the consistency and breadth of the standalone restaurants.

Review

Sara I. (Jan 21, 2020):

“This seems to be an express version of Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ, tucked inside the newer HMart in Katy. Having visited the Bellaire and Sugar Land locations, I’ve always liked their food and menu options.

Service here, however, was dull and lackluster. I ordered tofu soup with mushrooms and asked for kimchi in my soup. When it arrived, it wasn’t bubbling as it normally does in cast-iron bowls. No kimchi in sight, and the flavor lacked the usual sharp, spicy kick. I also noticed there was no egg—normally you crack a raw egg into the hot soup for that creamy binding factor. Without it, the soup felt watery and flat. My friend asked for an egg, but the cashier said they didn’t offer that. Oddly enough, when I went up later, I saw a sign stating you can request an egg. Strange.

Banchan was limited to three small items. The other locations typically offer six. I guess that’s the express trade-off.

The seafood pancake, though, was crisp and well-balanced—probably the best item we had. Not doughy or soggy, and the crunch held up even after a while.

Overall, the meal was just okay. Healthy at least? Many of the other cafeteriastyle stalls serve fried or greasy food, which isn’t my vibe. I’ll likely stick to this HMart for grocery shopping rather than meals.”

Category: Korean 

Location: Katy, TX 

Tags: Korean tofu soup Katy, HMart Katy food court, Korean comfort food Houston suburbs, soondubu Katy, Korean seafood pancake Houston