Chojang is a Korean wellness shop on Farmington Road: Find classes, grocery items, kimchi, salads and more!

A unique blend of retail, cooking instruction, and deli that showcases nutritious Korean cuisine and embraces community is blooming on Farmington Rd.

Chojang is a Korean wellness shop rooted in the belief that what we consume every day quietly shapes who we are. Its owner, Ann Lee, is exploring this new concept after selling her successful Portland business, The Soop, which specializes in farm-to-table Korean dishes that emphasize micro-greens.

“The concept for my food is clean, fresh taste. I use very little seasoning to bring out the natural taste of the product.”

While she loved her restaurant and being in Portland, something was missing. “I was always in the back of the kitchen. I didn’t have a chance to communicate with my customers.”

Customers would also tell her to come out to Beaverton and that everything she has to offer in terms of food and sharing her culture would be well suited to the area.

While looking at the spaces in Beaverton and hoping to start something new, she thought, “Why not? Let’s do a retail space and see how it goes.” It was her chance to be more community-oriented and connect on a personal level with customers.

Walking into Chojang, you’ll find a curated selection of Korean grocery items and house-made treats like kimchi, assorted salads, and more. You’ll also notice a large, purple-tinted array of micro greens, Italian dandelion, and other veggies growing that are incorporated in its food, products, and cooking classes. Ann takes pride in showcasing the full life cycle of her products this way. One of its most popular and prided items is Perilla oil (a cooking oil similar to olive oil).

Frequenting a sijang in Korea, which is like a farmer’s market, she was surrounded by people pressing their own oils and wanted to finally make her own. After a lot of research, trial and error, she figured out how to grow and press it in the US and landed on a product that is already selling out.

But what is exciting her most happens near the back of the space where cooking lessons are offered.

She has three different classes: kimchi, kimbap, and Korean side dishes. All of them can be booked in advance on Chojang’s website. People get hands-on experience with professional guidance and curated ingredients to craft healthy and delicious Korean staples. She found that people were especially appreciative of the kimchi classes because they struggled to get it right at home.

She loves seeing people raise their confidence and enjoy the cooking process. As a former youth group teacher, she always thrived while working in intimate settings, and it has been a great outlet for her to lead these classes.

“You get to talk to other people, they enjoy what they are making, we learn about each other’s culture, and they can modify what they make in the class at home.”

Ann is still figuring out the direction of the space. She wants to expand the cooking classes, pressing oil, and highlighting a few specific items that are shelf-stable, like kimchi. But she hopes to expand into pop-up delis, holding events, and collaborating with other nearby businesses.

Ultimately, she loves sharing her culture, the simple joy of farm-to-table food and creating an inclusive and welcoming space.

You can find Chojang at 12650 SW Farmington Rd. Book classes online at www.chojangpdx.com .