I agree with you about the price, and a Chinese supermarket has a much wider range of inventory, especially with respect to spices, herbs, even utensils, varieties of rices from all over Asia, including black and red rices from Vietnam , Cambodia, Thailand, and products from Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Macau. Wider variety of cuts of meats, seafood, fowl, internal organs. You can have a closer relationship with the butcher as far as getting something not on display.
H-Mart emphasizes that more simple stripped Asian (Korean-Japanese) staple cuisine, of rice, soybean products, lesser variety of seafood, lesser variety of meats and internal organs, salty, sweet, hot red spice, tangy, vinegary, garlicky.
But, as far as freshness and quality, I will choose H-Mart. More organized, more military-PX mart-esque, very orderly, cleaner, stricter stringent standards, closer attention to expiration dates, and seldom a discounted section. They just want the decaying fruits and vegetables out of sight ASAP. Employees, managers, cashiers, much less relaxed and totally on the ball. More corporate/military structure. Plus, they have their own brand on many of the staples like soba noodles, soy sauce, miso, dumplings, et cetera.
But, to be expected, because they are a big chain all over the US and Canada and even overseas.
And, I agree, MORE EXPENSIVE. But, I do love the H-Mart shopping experience on staples like a 20 pound bag of rice, jug of soy sauce, good quality fresh sesame seeds.