DISCOVER SYR

DISCOVERSYR: A TASTE OF HOME

From sweet to savory, Biwon Syracuse is a little slice of Asia in the heart of Syracuse.

words by Hannah Miao-Bian Ly | photos by Ling Ung

Rows of gochujang, a savory red chili paste common in Korean cuisine, ramen, and kitchen utensils line the shelves of Han’s Asian Supermarket. Across the parking lot, the scent of warm Korean pastries waft from Tous Les Jours as customers pick up fresh sushi from Secret Garden.

This mouth-watering collaboration of various establishments is none other than Biwon Syracuse, a hub for Korean, Japanese, and other Asian foods of over 30 years. The small plaza located in East Syracuse houses four businesses: Han’s Asian Supermarket, Secret Garden Restaurant, Tous les Jours, and Palace Music Studio. Beatrice and Jong Hee Han opened Han’s Asian Supermarket in 1989 and then added Secret Garden Restaurant next door 10 years later. Finally in 2015, they opened Tous les Jours, the first Korean bakery in Central New York.

Han’s Asian Supermarket has become a landmark for Asian cuisine. Regular customers know that Han’s is the place to go for recommendations for their latest dishes. Jeanie, the manager, was happily chatting with an elderly man about a new ingredient when I walked in. The market is undeniably embedded into the Syracuse community and the surrounding area. “We’ve been here for so long that the elderly knows us. Central New York knows us,” Jeanie said.

Once you walk in, you are greeted with fridges filled with traditional, handmade Korean meals, sides, and desserts which the family-owned and operated business is known for. The in-house prepared tteokbokki, a stirfried rice cake, and beef bulgogi, korean beef, practically beg you to take them home. The Syracuse community is a big fan of their offerings. “Local businesses use our homemade kimchi, homemade tofu, homemade rice cakes,” Jeanie said.

As you explore the packed aisles of the market, you’ll find all sorts of domestic and imported goods. You can barely move around with all the different products toppling over shelves and stacked on the floor. I dare you to leave the store without finding something new to try.

On the other hand, Secret Garden offers an extensive menu of Korean and Japanese food like sushi, sashimi, and bibimbap, a spicy Korean dish with beef, sautéed vegetables, and a fried egg over rice. The restaurant’s name is based on the name of the plaza – fun fact Biwon means “secret garden” in Korean.

Next door, Tous les Jours is a bakery franchise and the newest addition to Biwon Syracuse. The French-Asian bakery offers various breads, desserts, and beverages that have become a sweet staple for Central New Yorkers.

Various cakes, pastries, breads, and sweet drinks create a sweet aroma that makes your mouth water when you enter the bakery. These treats taste even better than they smell. Their milk cream and red bean bread is a delicious combination of chewiness and sweetness all baked to perfection. They also offer savory pastries like kimchi and curry croquettes that show off its French-Asian roots.

Visitors from all over the state come to enjoy the flavorful foods of Biwon Syracuse. Jeanie said that customers come from Binghamton, Ithaca, Rochester and even Buffalo. For some, the traditional Asian cuisine is nostalgic. “I go there really often because it reminds me of the Korean places I’d go to at home,” said Sarah Lee, a Korean-American student at SU. “It’s something I treat myself to and share with my friends here.” Despite COVID-19, business at Biwon Syracuse has been strong as one of the few places in Syracuse to offer authentic Asian foods. These never-ending rows of exciting ingredients add a yummy, much-needed addition to the Syracuse community.

You can find Biwon Syracuse at 2737 Erie Boulevard E in East Syracuse or online at biwonsyracuse.com.