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, and Asian grocers — which brands each one stocks, which aisle to look in, and where prices are actually best.
Where Can You Buy Kimchi?
Kimchi is sold at most major US grocery chains — Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Publix, and Safeway 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.
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 |
| H Mart / Korean grocer | Jongga / Cosmos | Dedicated kimchi case | 💰💰 Best selection |
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), with Nasoya as a fallback brand in some stores.
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) and Lucky Foods’ Seoul Kimchi (Walmart) are the two most widely available vegan options at mainstream US retailers. 1000 Year Kimchi is a strong vegan pick available online.
Yes — Amazon and Weee! both ship kimchi with cold-pack refrigeration, and several smaller producers like Olive My Pickle and Mother-in-Law’s 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.
Found Kimchi Somewhere Not Listed?
Tell us which store and brand — Ji-Young reads every comment and updates the guide.