Is Vadasz Kimchi Good?The Full Review: Taste, Ingredients & Where to Buy (2026)
Is Vadasz kimchi good? We taste-tested the UK’s best-known supermarket kimchi and checked the label, salt, prices, ratings and every retailer that stocks it.
Is Vadasz Kimchi Good?
Yes. Is Vadasz kimchi good? We rate it 8.0/10. It is a clean, naturally fermented, vegan UK kimchi made from just Chinese leaf cabbage, carrots, spring onion, sea salt, chilli powder, ginger and garlic, and it carries a Great Taste Award from 2018. Shoppers rate it about 4.1/5 across Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Amazon. The catches: salt is high (2.1g per 100g) and it is not a traditional gochugaru and fish-sauce kimchi. It is sold at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Amazon UK for £4.50 to £4.95 per 400g pot.
Vadasz Kimchi at a Glance
What matters before you put a pot in your trolley.
- Taste: clean, ginger-and-garlic forward, milder than a traditional Korean jar (8.5/10).
- Made by: Vadasz, founded 2011, produced by The Compleat Food Group in the UK.
- Ingredients: Chinese leaf cabbage, carrots, spring onion, sea salt, chilli powder, ginger, garlic.
- Diet: vegan and vegetarian, raw and live cultured.
- Watch out for: 2.1g salt per 100g, and it is not low-FODMAP.
- Price: £4.50 to £4.95 for 400g (£1.13 to £1.24 per 100g).
Vadasz Kimchi: Product Overview
Before answering is Vadasz kimchi good in detail, here is the product itself.
Who Makes Vadasz Kimchi, and Where?
Unlike most kimchi brands, Vadasz has a documented UK founder story.
Vadasz was founded by Nick Vadasz in 2011, selling pickles and ferments from London market stalls. The brand’s own materials describe a Hungarian family background as part of the inspiration. It arrived on Waitrose shelves in 2019, the year it was acquired by The Compleat Food Group, a UK food manufacturer that produces the range today.
For anyone asking is Vadasz kimchi good from a consistency standpoint, that backing helps: it brings the quality control of an established UK producer while keeping the short, natural recipe. Compleat describes Vadasz as “the UK’s no.1 chilled pickles and kimchi brand”, which is marketing language rather than an independent ranking, but it signals real commercial confidence.
Where is it made? In the UK. Compleat Food Group says the kimchi is naturally fermented at the Vadasz fermentary in Clitheroe, Lancashire. The Redhill (Surrey) and Belfast addresses on supermarket listings are marked “Produced for: Vadasz”, so they are the brand’s offices, not the factory.
A real grassroots-to-supermarket trajectory: London market stalls in 2011, Waitrose in 2019, and now Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Amazon UK too.
Vadasz is positioned as a natural, vegan “super condiment”, not a strict Korean recipe. That is a different promise from a Korean-import jar, and worth knowing going in.
Real Ingredients Breakdown
From the current retailer ingredient panels, not a marketing summary.
| Ingredient | Role |
|---|---|
| Chinese leaf cabbage | Base vegetable |
| Carrots | Sweetness and colour |
| Spring onion | Aromatic |
| Sea salt | Fermentation and seasoning |
| Chilli powder | Heat and colour (not gochugaru specifically) |
| Ginger | Aromatic |
| Garlic | Aromatic |
Vadasz Kimchi Nutrition & Salt
Per 100g, from the retailer label panels. Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all list salt at 2.1g.
| Typical values | Per 100g | Per 30g side serving* |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 63kJ / 15kcal | ~5kcal |
| Fat (saturates) | 0.4g (0.1g) | ~0.1g |
| Carbohydrate (sugars) | 1.0g (<0.5g) | ~0.3g |
| Fibre | 1.8g | ~0.5g |
| Protein | 1.1g | ~0.3g |
| Salt | 2.1g | ~0.6g |
*Our own 30g estimate, not a label serving. A whole 400g pot holds about 8.4g of salt, and the NHS advises adults to eat no more than 6g a day, so treat it as a condiment, not a big side. It is low in calories and very low in sugar, with no sugar in the ingredients.
Allergens & serving ideas
No allergens appear in the ingredient list (unlike Eaten Alive and Kim Kong, which use soy-based tamari or miso), but check the pack for “may contain” notes. Garlic and onion-family ingredients mean it is not low-FODMAP. Try it in a kimchi fried rice, a kimchi cheese toastie, noodles, rice bowls, wraps, burgers, or on a fried egg.
Taste & Texture: Is Vadasz Kimchi Good on Flavour?
We put the 400g Raw Kimchi through the KimchiGuide taste test. The scores and notes below are ours, not a summary of other people’s reviews.
How we tasted: Vadasz Raw Kimchi (400g), eaten straight from the pot and as a condiment with rice and noodles. All scores are out of 10.
What we liked
Flavour (8.5/10). This is a clean, easy-going kimchi. Ginger and garlic lead, chilli gives a straightforward lift, and the vegetables taste fresh rather than heavily fermented. Next to a gochugaru jar it lacks the smoky-sweet chilli depth, and with no fish sauce there is none of that fermented-seafood funk. That is exactly what makes it a friendly first kimchi and a good everyday condiment.
Spice (8/10). Moderate. The heat comes from chilli powder, so it arrives up front and fades quickly instead of building. Most people will find it comfortable; heat-lovers should look at Hot & Chunky (see the range section).
What kept it at 8
Salt (7/10) and umami (7.5/10). The label lists 2.1g of salt per 100g, which is on the high side for a side dish, and it is the most common complaint about this brand. With no fish sauce or miso, savoury depth comes from garlic, ginger and the ferment alone: good, but not deep. That is why it is an 8 and not a 9.
Texture (7/10). Finely cut Chinese leaf, carrot and spring onion give a slaw-like bite rather than the chunky crunch of a daikon-heavy kimchi, and as a live product it softens as the pot ages in the fridge.
Raw and live: why it matters
It is sold as Raw Kimchi, naturally fermented and live cultured, so it is not heat-treated to stop fermentation like shelf-stable jars. That is the main reason gut-health shoppers choose it. It keeps fermenting slowly in the fridge and gets sourer over time, and it also works cooked: stirred through fried rice or noodles it needs little ageing first.
KimchiGuide Rating: 8.0 / 10
A well-made, genuinely vegan UK kimchi, held back from a higher score by salt, a less traditional flavour and moderate value. “Confidence” shows how much evidence sits behind each score.
| Category | Score (/10) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.0 | – |
| Taste (overall) | 8.5 | High |
| Spice / heat | 8 | Medium |
| Saltiness | 7 | Low (mixed opinions) |
| Umami / depth | 7.5 | Low |
| Texture | 7 | Medium |
| Ingredients | 9.5 | High |
| Authenticity | 6.5 | Medium |
| Probiotic / health | 9 | High |
| Versatility | 8.5 | Medium |
| Value for money | 7 | Low |
| Packaging / shelf life | Not rated | Not enough data |
For context, shoppers rate it about 4.1/5 (roughly 8.3/10), a weighted average of Waitrose (4.0, 105 reviews), Sainsbury’s (3.96, 76), Tesco (3.9, 18) and Amazon UK (4.3, 219 ratings).
Pros, Cons & Who Should Buy It
Pros
- Short, natural ingredients; no added sugar
- Raw, live-cultured and vegan
- No allergens listed (no soy)
- Cheaper per 100g than most UK independent brands
- Easy to find in big supermarkets
- Approachable heat; a good first kimchi
Cons
- High salt: 2.1g per 100g
- Not traditional (no gochugaru or fish sauce)
- Texture can be soft, with some chewy stalks
- Not low-FODMAP
- Price varies between shops
What People Who Don’t Like Vadasz Say
Ratings are good but not universal: Tesco sits at 3.9/5, so some shoppers are not convinced. The complaints fall into three groups.
The Wider Vadasz Range
Vadasz has grown well beyond one pot, and the range is part of why it stands out among UK kimchi brands.
A milder, fruitier, non-traditional take on kimchi, launched in 2020.
A naturally fermented health-shot format with no added sugar.
Original vs Hot & Chunky
| Raw Kimchi (original) | Hot & Chunky | |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetables | Chinese leaf, carrot, spring onion | Chinese leaf 36%, radish 32%, carrot 9%, apple, spring onion |
| Heat source | Chilli powder | Chilli powder and red jalapeño |
| Texture | Finer, slaw-like | Chunkier, crunchier, easier to scoop |
| Intensity | Moderate | Hotter |
| Price (400g) | £4.50 to £4.95 | £4.50 to £4.95 (Ocado has had it from £3.50) |
| Shopper rating | 3.9 to 4.3 (Tesco, Waitrose, Amazon) | 4.5 (Waitrose, 3 reviews), 4.0 (Ocado, 14 reviews): small samples |
Vegan & Halal Status
Vadasz Kimchi is labelled suitable for vegetarians and vegans, with no fish sauce, shrimp paste or other animal-derived ingredients listed.
Storage & Shelf Life
- Keep refrigerated below 5°C before and after opening.
- Once opened, use within 2 weeks.
- Keep the pot upright. Active fermentation builds CO2 pressure inside the sealed pot.
- Don’t exceed the use-by date printed on the pot.
Where to Buy Vadasz Kimchi, Prices & Ratings
The 400g Raw Kimchi is stocked at five major UK supermarkets and on Amazon UK. Prices and ratings were checked in 2026 and change often, so confirm the live price at the shop.
| Retailer | Price (400g) | Per 100g | Customer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | £4.50 | £1.13 | 3.9/5 (18 reviews) |
| Asda | £4.50 | £1.13 | 58 reviews |
| Morrisons | £4.50 | £1.13 | No rating found |
| Sainsbury’s | £4.75 | £1.19 | 3.96/5 (76 reviews) |
| Waitrose | £4.95 | £1.24 | 4/5 (105 reviews) |
| Ocado | Check site | – | Hot & Chunky: 4.0/5 (14 reviews) |
| Amazon UK | Check live price | – | 4.3/5 (219 ratings) |
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, KimchiGuide earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not change our rating.
Supermarkets run frequent offers (loyalty-card prices around £3.50 to £3.80 have appeared), so the cheapest pot is often a promotion. Larger branches are likelier to stock the full range.
Vadasz vs Eaten Alive vs Kim Kong
| Brand | Pack & price | Per 100g | Umami source | Allergen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vadasz Raw | 400g, £4.50 to £4.95 | £1.13 to £1.24 | None (veg, garlic, ginger) | None listed |
| Eaten Alive Classic | 375g, £7.49 (own site) | ~£2.00 | Tamari soy sauce | Soy |
| Kim Kong Vegan | 330g, £6.25 to £6.59 | ~£1.89 to £2.00 | Aka miso, gochugaru | Soy |
All three are vegan. Vadasz is the cheapest per 100g and the easiest to find; the other two use soy-based seasonings for more savoury depth, and Kim Kong is closest in style to gochugaru kimchi. Prices are indicative. For a from-scratch comparison, see our how to make kimchi guide.
Related Guides
Connected reading if you’re deciding on Vadasz or want to put a pot to use.
Is Vadasz Kimchi Good? FAQ
Yes. We rate it 8.0/10. It is a clean, naturally fermented, vegan UK kimchi with a short ingredient list and a Great Taste Award from 2018. Shoppers rate it about 4.1/5 across Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Amazon. It is high in salt and less traditional than a gochugaru and fish-sauce recipe.
Vadasz was founded by Nick Vadasz in 2011, selling ferments from London market stalls. It reached Waitrose in 2019, the year it was acquired by The Compleat Food Group, which makes it today.
Yes. It is labelled suitable for vegetarians and vegans and has no fish sauce or shrimp paste.
Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stock the Raw Kimchi, and it is sold on Amazon UK. Ocado lists the Hot & Chunky version. Availability varies by store.
£4.50 to £4.95 for a 400g pot at supermarkets, about £1.13 to £1.24 per 100g. Promotions are common.
The label lists 2.1g of salt per 100g, so a whole 400g pot holds about 8.4g. The NHS advises adults to eat no more than 6g of salt a day, so treat it as a condiment.
Yes. It is sold as Raw Kimchi, naturally fermented and live cultured. Slight CO2 build-up in the pot is a normal sign of active fermentation.
Not in the strictest sense. It uses chilli powder instead of gochugaru and has no fish sauce or rice paste, giving a simpler, milder, vegan flavour. We score authenticity 6.5/10.
Hot & Chunky is hotter and crunchier. It adds radish, apple and red jalapeño to the Chinese leaf and carrot, and the pieces are bigger.
No animal ingredients are listed, but we could not confirm a formal halal certification. Check the pack for a certification mark if it matters to you.
In the UK. Compleat Food Group says it is fermented at the Vadasz fermentary in Clitheroe. The Redhill and Belfast addresses on supermarket listings are marked “Produced for: Vadasz”, so they are brand offices.
Keep it refrigerated below 5°C and upright. Once opened, use within 2 weeks. A slightly domed pot is normal CO2 from live fermentation.
