I Asked 5 Korean Chefs To Name the Best Store-Bought Kimchi—They All Said the Same Thing

All the experts I asked agreed that homemade kimchi is best, but when they reach for store-bought, this is the brand they choose.

I Asked 5 Korean Chefs To Name the Best Store-Bought Kimchi—They All Said the Same Thing
A bowl of kimchi with next to a smaller bow of chopped scallion
Simply Recipes / Getty Images

While I didn’t have the opportunity to try kimchi until I was an adult, I immediately fell in love with the fermented product once I did. The spicy tang and crunchy texture of this cultured cabbage (though it can be made from other veggies, too) sparked a new food obsession upon first bite. If not snacking on kimchi straight from the package, I love adding this condiment to fried rice, salads, soups, stir-fries, and egg dishes. 

However, as an Armenian woman, I won’t even try to pretend that I’m a kimchi expert. I often just pick up whatever jars are available at my local grocer, but the world of kimchi is far wider than the limited options I have access to, with dozens of brands I have yet to try. So, I decided to ask a handful of Korean chefs and food pros for insider info on store-bought kimchi … and to my surprise, they all recommended the same brand!

The Korean Chefs I Asked

A jar of Jongga kimich on an illustrated background
Simply Recipes / Jongga

The Best Store-Bought Kimchi, According to Korean Chefs

Though these chefs and food professionals agree that nothing beats homemade kimchi, Jongga kimchi is the best store-bought option. “No store-bought brand compares to my mom’s homemade, but when I’m in a pinch, I’ll grab some Jongga kimchi from the refrigerator section,” says Choung. “Honestly, I only have one favorite kimchi brand, which is Jongga,” adds Lee.

Jongga kimchi's superior flavor earns it this esteemed distinction. “Their kimchi has a traditional flavor, but I find it to be more fermented than other brands, which is perfect for those who love a stronger, more mature kimchi taste,” explains Cha.

Whitney agrees, sharing, “It has balanced spice and funk straight out of the bag as well as a nice garlicky undertone that isn’t prominent or overpowering.” Choung also adds that Jongga is crisp, well-seasoned, and balanced in flavor, though “sometimes the batch I get is mild, so I’ll let it ferment a little further to deepen the flavor before digging in.”

One of the other main draws of the brand is the variety of kimchis they offer. “Their regular sliced kimchi is great for eating as a side or even as a snack—it’s not overly strong but still has a nice kick, with the perfect balance of spice and crunch,” says Park. 

Meanwhile, Lee and Whitney love the brand's poggi kimchi—or that using whole halves of cabbage instead of chopped. “If you ever taste the Jongga poggi kimchi, you will never want to go back to the machine-chopped kimchi that most are made of. I honestly think most store-sold kimchi cabbage is just too smashed and chopped, ruining a nice crunchy texture,” Lee shares. Whitney agrees, adding, “I like the whole uncut kimchi so I can cut it to the size I want—snip it with kitchen shears for less mess!”

Whitney uses Jongga kimchi in the "Say Kimcheese! Dip" recipe from her cookbook, Big Dip Energy, as well as many other dishes. “As it ages, it becomes great for stews, stir-fries, and jeon,” she says. Cha loves using it in kimchi fried rice and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew). “I usually pick up their cabbage kimchi from Costco—it’s a great deal for the price and quality,” Cha adds.

To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.

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