Where to Buy Kimchi — Every Major US Grocery Chain Checked
We checked the refrigerated aisles at Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Publix/Safeway, World Market, and Asian grocers — plus mapped exactly where all 19 brands from our full ranking are actually sold, aisle by aisle, chain by chain.
Where Can You Buy Kimchi?
Kimchi is sold at most major US grocery chains — Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Safeway, and World Market all stock it — in the refrigerated section, usually the international/Asian foods aisle or produce section, never on a shelf-stable aisle. For the widest selection at the best price-per-ounce, a Korean grocer like H Mart beats every mainstream chain. If none of those are near you, Amazon and Weee! both ship kimchi cold, and several brands sell direct from their own sites.
What Aisle Is Kimchi In?
Kimchi is almost always refrigerated — that’s the single most important thing to know before you go looking. It shows up in one of two spots depending on the store.
Where to Buy Kimchi — US Retailer Guide
Availability differs by region and even by branch — always worth checking the store’s app before a special trip.
Retailer Comparison at a Glance
| Retailer | Best Brand Found | Typical Aisle | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | Jongga (bulk) | Refrigerated grocery | 💰 Best value/oz |
| Trader Joe’s | House brand | Produce, refrigerated | 💰 Budget |
| Kroger / Target | Cleveland Kitchen | International, refrigerated | 💰💰 Mid |
| Walmart | Lucky Foods (Seoul) | International, refrigerated | 💰💰 Mid |
| Whole Foods | Wildbrine / Mother-in-Law’s | Produce, refrigerated | 💰💰💰 Premium |
| Sprouts | Sinto Gourmet | Produce, refrigerated | 💰💰 Regional premium |
| World Market | Surasang | Asian foods section | 💰💰 Mid |
| H Mart / Korean grocer | Jongga / Cosmos | Dedicated kimchi case | 💰💰 Best selection |
Brand Availability Directory — All 19 Brands
The full pillar ranking cross-referenced against where each brand actually ships or sits on a shelf. “Full Review” links go to that brand’s own standalone page where one is published.
| Brand | Where to Find It | Full Review |
|---|---|---|
| Jongga | H Mart, Costco, Walmart | See on pillar page → |
| Cosmos | H Mart, Costco, Kroger | See on pillar page → |
| Trader Joe’s | Trader Joe’s (in-store only) | See on pillar page → |
| Bibigo | Walmart, most mainstream chains, H Mart | Full Review →Live |
| Mama O’s | Central Market, Whole Foods | Full Review →Live |
| Cleveland Kitchen | Target, Kroger, Walmart | See on pillar page → |
| Mother-in-Law’s | Whole Foods, Amazon | Full Review →Live |
| Olive My Pickle | Online only (brand’s own site, Amazon) | Full Review →Live |
| Sunja’s | Whole Foods, Amazon | Full Review →Live |
| Sinto Gourmet | Sprouts, Amazon (regional — Bay Area strongest) | Full Review →Live |
| 1000 Year Kimchi | H Mart (in-store), Weee!, online specialty stores | See on pillar page → |
| Choi’s | Brand’s own site (choiskimchi.com), Amazon — no confirmed physical retail | See on pillar page → |
| Wildbrine | Whole Foods, Costco (exclusive 30oz size) | Full Review →Live |
| Surasang | World Market (270+ stores), Weee!, Asian grocers | See on pillar page → |
| Lucky Foods (Seoul Kimchi) | Walmart | Full Review →Live |
| Tobagi | H Mart (primary), Weee!, Instacart, Amazon | Full Review →Live |
| Nasoya | Publix, Kroger (incl. Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Smith’s, Fry’s), Albertsons, Hy-Vee, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, ShopRite, Price Chopper | See on pillar page → |
| Mama Kim’s | Amazon (primary; small-batch, hand-made in California) | See on pillar page → |
| Simple Truth (Kroger) | Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer (Kroger-exclusive private label) | See on pillar page → |
Where to Buy Kimchi Online
If none of the chains above are close by, these ship cold.
Buying Kimchi by Dietary Requirement
Not all kimchi is vegan, and not all of it is gluten-free — always check the label, since formulations change. For the full tested breakdown by brand, see our kimchi label buying guide.
Buying Kimchi in the UK or Australia
How to Check Kimchi Freshness in the Store
Since you can’t taste-test before buying, here’s what to check on the jar itself.
Where to Buy Kimchi — FAQ
Search or tap any question below.
Yes. Walmart stocks kimchi in the refrigerated international foods aisle, most commonly Lucky Foods’ Seoul Kimchi (vegan, keto, kosher-certified). See our full Lucky Foods review.
Yes, in large family-size tubs — Jongga is the brand most commonly stocked, giving Costco the best price-per-ounce of any mainstream US retailer.
Kimchi is refrigerated, usually found in the international/Asian foods aisle’s cold case, or in the refrigerated produce section near other fermented and pickled items.
Yes — Trader Joe’s sells its own house-brand kimchi, naturally fermented with live cultures, at $4-5 per jar, in-store only.
Check Walmart, Kroger, Target, Costco, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe’s first — nearly all stock at least one brand. For the widest selection, search for a Korean grocery store or H Mart location near you.
Yes — kimchi has become mainstream enough that most standard US supermarket chains carry at least one refrigerated brand. A dedicated trip to a Korean grocer is no longer necessary for basic access, though it still offers the best selection.
It depends on the store — both are common. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Costco typically shelve it in refrigerated produce near other fermented foods, while Walmart, Target, and Kroger usually place it in the refrigerated case within the international foods aisle.
Yes — Whole Foods has the best selection of artisan and vegan kimchi brands of any mainstream US chain, including Mother-in-Law’s, Wildbrine, Mama O’s, and Sunja’s, usually at a premium price versus Walmart or Kroger.
Wildbrine (Whole Foods), Sinto Gourmet (Sprouts, Amazon), and Lucky Foods’ Seoul Kimchi (Walmart) are the most widely available vegan options at mainstream US retailers. 1000 Year Kimchi is a strong vegan pick available at H Mart and online.
Yes — Amazon and Weee! both ship kimchi with cold-pack refrigeration, and several smaller producers like Olive My Pickle, Mother-in-Law’s, Choi’s Kimchi Co., and Sinto Gourmet sell directly from their own websites.
Generally yes — Korean grocers like H Mart carry a far wider range of brands, higher turnover means fresher jars, and better price-per-ounce for premium brands like Jongga and Cosmos compared to what mainstream US chains stock.
Trader Joe’s house brand ($4-5/jar) is the best value we found for a standard jar, while Costco’s bulk Jongga tub offers the lowest price per ounce for a premium brand.
The best mainstream options (Cleveland Kitchen, Jongga where available, Bibigo) are genuinely live-fermented and close in quality, but Korean grocers typically offer higher turnover, more authentic recipes, and a wider range of traditional variety kimchis than any mainstream US chain.
Yes — World Market carries Surasang’s Napa Cabbage Kimchi in its Asian foods section, both in its 270+ physical stores and online.
H Mart is the primary and most reliable retailer for Tobagi, both in-store and via H Mart’s own delivery service. It’s also available through Weee!, Instacart, and Amazon. See our full Tobagi review for more, including a real fermentation-consistency finding from our own testing.
Found Kimchi Somewhere Not Listed?
Tell us which store and brand — Ji-Young reads every comment and updates the guide.