As a lover of Korean cuisine, you may have had trouble finding a signature dish like Kimchi in a grocery store and may have asked yourself where to buy Kimchi?
Read on in this quick guide that covers the basics of finding Kimchi wherever it may be most convenient to you so you can make delicious Kimchi recipes in no time!
Where to Find Kimchi in The Grocery Store
You can find Kimchi in the produce aisle of the grocery store. Open store settings or supermarkets will typically place in the refrigerated section of their products similar to Kimchi.
Other fermented products like tofu or pickled vegetables will be next to Kimchi.
If you are looking where to find Kimchi in the grocery store, it is vital to keep in mind that there are different varieties of Kimchi that can give you a diverse culinary experience.
Some Kimchi contains fish ingredients or seafood products, so if the store has a health section, you might have to search in that section to find the vegan version.
Often stores might store the fish Kimchi in the regular produce section and the vegan version in the health section.
Sometimes stores have the health version of a product in a section next to the regular version, eliminating the need to look too far for the health section alternative.
Where to Buy Kimchi Near Me
Kimchi is becoming easier to find in the era of modern supply chain convenience. Many popular stores offer Kimchi a good chance of being within a reasonable distance.
Walmart
Walmart has a few popular brands of Kimchi, including Lucky Foods Seoul and Wildbrine Probiotic Kimchi, which come in 14 oz and 18 oz jars, respectively.
They also have Nasoya brand organic and vegan Kimchi in 9 oz packets.
Kimchi is also offered in noodle soup containers dried and prepared in a microwave or stovetop with water.
Walmart has an exquisite selection with many more members, including Scobucha Napa Kimchi, Deden Sauerkraut Kimchi, and a Kimchi paste called Gochujang.
Kroger
Compared to Walmart, the selection of jar Kimchi is more basic, but they do have a great health food section Kimchi from their Simple Truth brand.
Apart from that, their selection mainly focuses on Kimchi Ramen bowls and Noodle cups.
Trader Joe’s
Consider Trader Joe’s if you wonder where to buy Kimchi at a great local price. Trader Joe’s prices are pretty low compared to the quality of your product, even if they are not the lowest prices overall.
Trader Joe’s Kimchi is reviewed very highly online, with users loving the unique sour taste that makes it great for cooking in dishes.
Overripe Kimchi is sometimes not highly valued as a meal by itself. If you are a solo Kimchi connoisseur, you might want to look into other options focused on providing a complete meal by yourself.
How to Buy Kimchi Online
If physical stores aren’t in the cards for you, you can always check out the world of e-commerce and home delivery to get your Kimchi fix. Several sites provide some competition Kimchi options.
Amazon
Amazon will have the best selection of popular Kimchi brands, many of them offered for prime 2-day delivery and overnight delivery for those with a late-night Kimchi craving. Depending on your location, you may be able to qualify for same-day grocery delivery through Amazon’s affiliate, Whole Foods.
Amazon has listings for spicy, cabbage, Sauerkraut, and vegan Kimchi options and Kimchi seasoning mixes and fried rice kits.
The Amazon marketplace is also a great hub to see different brands because they have many users. This fact means that there are many reviews to pursue and investigate to find someone whose tastes might match your own.
These Amazon reviews represent the best way to preview the product without tasting it yourself.
Make sure to filter reviews for the most recent and avoid anyone who doesn’t have an amazon confirmed purchase next to their review title; these people might leave confused or misleading reviews or reviews for the wrong product.
Instacart
Instacart may lack the impressive and robust store-front of Amazon, but it makes up for it by being an aggregate site of many different local stores that carry Kimchi options for you. You can also get same-day and quick delivery with the service.
There is also an Instacart app that allows you to get delivered to your Kimchi right at the touch of your fingertips.
Arirangusa
Arirangusa is the largest online Asian marketplace in the United States, and you are going to find some unique brands that you will not find anywhere else. They have many international favorites like Bibigo tofu Kimchi, a popular Kimchi in Korean restaurants.
Can’t Find Kimchi? See Top Alternatives
If you can’t find a Kimchi brand that agrees with your palette or after trying Kimchi, you can’t find enjoyment in the product; there are a few other similar products that you might enjoy.
Pickles
Pickles are widely and plentifully available and give you a fantastic pickled vegetable taste with a saltier flavor that tastes sourer than Kimchi. It also has a different texture to Kimchi, so if the texture of Kimchi is holding you back, give pickles a go in your recipes!
Miso Paste
This delicacy that initially came from ancient China is similar to Kimchi because it is made with a fermented process and makes a good substitute in recipes that call for Kimchi paste.
It is tangier than Kimchi, owing to its seasoning with sugar.
Sauerkraut
Ancient China is also responsible for Sauerkraut despite its common name meaning “sour cabbage” in german. Like some Kimchi, Sauerkraut is made from fermented cabbage, but it has a crunchier texture than Kimchi.
Natto
This is a famous Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans. It has a much more bitter flavor than Kimchi, and many compare it to aged cheese.
Eel Sauce
Eel sauce is a sweet, tangy, and salty all-in-one. It is seafood-related, like some kinds of Kimchi, so it makes a great alternative to a seafood Kimchi.
