The Finest Korean Merchandise at Costco

The common measurement of a Costco retailer in the US is 146,000 sq. toes. There’s a purpose the superstore calls itself a “membership warehouse membership,” and it’s not simply because it presents bulk quantities of every product — it additionally sells all kinds of things.

From clothes to residence decor, baggage to massive jugs of olive oil, magnificence merchandise, eggs, and every little thing in between, you title it and Costco most likely has it. One of many joys of this countless array is that there are seemingly fairly just a few meals merchandise you haven’t tried but. Whereas it may be straightforward to stay to the standard staples you all the time purchase in bulk, exploring the realm of yet-undiscovered Costco gadgets can unlock an much more scrumptious world.

And you already know what you have to be shopping for from this warehouse membership? Extra Korean elements and ready merchandise which can be packed stuffed with taste, making it extremely straightforward to take pleasure in Korean delicacies at residence. To seek out out which Korean gadgets are price your time at Costco and which of them you’ll be able to skip, we consulted the content material creators of @crazykoreancooking. 

Of their movies, daughter Grace Lewis showcases her Korean dad and mom attempting each meals you’ll be able to think about, starting from American classics like Chicago deep dish pizza to Korean meals they take pleasure in collectively. The trio even sells their very own gochugaru — Korean purple chili powder — on their web site.

When searching for out Korean merchandise to purchase in the US, the household tends to search for gadgets which can be made in Korea. That mentioned, Lewis mentions that whereas main manufacturers in Korea like O’Meals, Bibigo, and Jongga are usually good, she says not every little thing they make is nice, so you could wish to search for product critiques earlier than making a purchase order. As common Costco customers who’ve not too long ago sampled all kinds of Korean merchandise from the superstore, right here’s every little thing they do and don’t suggest.

The Korean gadgets you can purchase from Costco

Kirkland Signature Natural Roasted Seaweed Snack

Lewis and her dad and mom say they love these crisp, salty sheets of seaweed — which include 10 sheets in every individually wrapped packet — as a result of the “high quality is best than a variety of seaweed you see within the Korean markets in America. It’s truly made in Korea.”

These seaweed snacks are additionally natural, and have a really quick ingredient checklist, solely together with natural seaweed, natural sunflower oil, natural sesame oil, and sea salt.

Bibigo Steamed Dumplings

These spherical dumplings in wheat wrappers don’t make clear whether or not they’re meant to be Chinese language soup dumplings or Korean jjinmandu, however the household says they’re “fairly good for store-bought, mass-produced dumplings.”

In a latest video reviewing their Costco haul, Lewis’ mother notes that whereas the dumplings are good, she doesn’t love the sauce they arrive with. As a substitute, she makes her personal sauce with vinegar, soy sauce, and gochugaru. If you wish to recreate this at residence, Lewis explains that they use Korean brown rice vinegar, however commonplace white rice vinegar would work too.

Though she opts for Kikkoman gluten-free soy sauce attributable to dietary restrictions, she says any soy sauce is ok, and they might suggest Sempio Natural Soy Sauce in case you can eat gluten. Lastly, ensure you use a coarsely floor gochugaru.

The ultimate tip? After tearing a small gap within the high of every dumpling, Lewis’ mother spoons the sauce inside for optimum taste.

Korean ramen

The household observes that Costco is a good place to snag “Korean Ramen equivalent to Shin ramen, Buldak, and many others” for value. Shin Ramyun occurs to be the most well-liked ramen model in South Korea, whereas Buldak has turn into recognized on social media for its capacity to essentially flip up the warmth with its spicy noodles. Shopping for a bulk quantity of high quality ramen can also be a simple means to make sure you all the time have a filling snack or meal readily available.

Bibigo Cooked Sticky White Rice

It’s time to fulfill your new pantry staple. This pre-cooked rice is available in microwavable bowls, permitting it to be prepared in underneath two minutes. Lewis and her dad and mom suggest the product “for these on the lookout for a handy possibility for Korean rice. It is also good for fried rice. For fried rice, you’ll be able to immediately begin cooking within the pan with out microwaving and it’ll lead to fried rice that’s not soggy.”

Melona Bars

These frozen fruit bars are the right candy deal with to take pleasure in throughout hotter months. They’re creamy, with a texture usually likened to gelato, and are available in quite a lot of flavors equivalent to honeydew melon, mango, and coconut.

The Melona model was began in Korea in 1992 — the honeydew ice cream bar was its unique product — and Lewis and her dad and mom describe the bars as a “nostalgic Korean frozen deal with.”

Jongga Kimchi

This merchandise comes with a caveat: Lewis and her dad and mom most likely wouldn’t select this kimchi for themselves. As @crazykoreancooking explains in a remark responding to one among its followers, their household prefers a spicier kimchi that isn’t pre-cut, because it alters the feel.

That being mentioned, the trio additionally tells Meals & Wine, “We wouldn’t purchase it for ourselves, however it might be possibility for many who don’t stay near Korean markets and for many who can’t do spicy kimchi or a robust fermented fish sauce taste.”

CheongKwangJang Hong Sam Gained Pink Ginseng Drink

With ginseng — a root that’s been utilized in many natural medication traditions — jujube fruit, ginger, cinnamon, and goji berry, this beverage is wealthy in antioxidants. Though the drink is usually marketed as an vitality drink, it doesn’t comprise any caffeine, making it a superb alternative for these with caffeine sensitivity.

The beverage particularly options Korean purple ginseng, with Lewis and her dad and mom noting that “this can be a legit Korean model well-known in Korea for ginseng.”

The Korean merchandise you need to skip at Costco

Bibigo Kimchi and Cheese Rice Ball

Though the packaging for these frozen rice balls depicts reddish-brown rice that seems to be completely seasoned with kimchi, Lewis and her dad and mom be aware that they’re sadly “not nice,” with “not sufficient kimchi.”

Nevertheless, they provide an alternate suggestion, recommending that you just “simply purchase kimchi and prompt rice and rapidly stir-fry [them] and add cheese,” which sounds precisely like what I’ll be doing tonight.

Gimbap

On @crazykoreancooking Lewis’ dad and mom have beforehand reviewed the frozen gimbap from Costco, the place they be aware that after all they acknowledge that it might’t be held to the identical commonplace as a freshly ready, home made model of the rice roll with savory fillings. 

Whereas they don’t have unfavourable critiques for the gimbap from Costco, the household explains that “it’s okay however dealer joe’s gimbap is best in case you should go for frozen gimbap.”

Kevin’s Korean BBQ-Fashion Beef

The rationale they don’t suggest this beef in a bulgogi-style sauce is correct within the title. Lewis and her dad and mom level out that the product is “not Korean. It is Korean-type made by a non-Korean firm.” The ingredient checklist for the product additionally consists of monk fruit sweetener, which might depart an disagreeable aftertaste.

Yukgaejang (Spicy Beef and Vegetable Soup)

As they overview this rendition of yukgaejang from Costco — labeled merely as “Spicy Beef & Vegetable Soup” on its packaging — on YouTube, Lewis’ dad and mom appear to take pleasure in it. Nevertheless, whereas heating the spicy, vibrant purple stew, their daughter observes that it doesn’t seem to have a variety of shredded meat, the standard star of the dish.

In the end, the content material creator and her dad and mom conclude that “It’s okay, however undecided if it’s well worth the value.” Though you may wish to skip this merchandise the following time you’re at Costco, don’t fear, you’ll be able to seize some Korean ramen in case you’re on the lookout for one thing spicy to slurp down.