The 18 Best Korean Grocery Items at Costco

Best Korean Grocery Items at Costco

Costco has long been a staple for my family since the Northridge, California location near us in the late 1990s. I loved accompanying my parents to the store — my dad would split off and stare at big TVs in the electronics aisles, while my mom and I would scavenge for free samples, picking up flats of softball-sized blueberry muffins and Danishes along the way. For our Korean American family, Costco was the perfect place to indulge in the sheer Americanness of it all: big, cheap, and super accessible.

Related: 50 Cult-Favorite Things to Always Buy at Costco

And now, with the rise of Korean food in mainstream food culture and markets, Costco has also become a destination to stock up on tons of Korean essentials. Led by reputable Korean brands like Bibigo and Nongshim, and stocked with bulgogi, kimchi, dumplings, and ramyun, the wholesale club features dozens of products that make eating Korean at home cheap and accessible. Here are my picks for the 18 best Korean finds at Costco.

Best Korean Grocery Items at Costco

1. Bibigo Beef Bulgogi Dumplings

Bibigo makes truly excellent dumplings — they’re the brand that my Korean mom likes to reach for at the grocery store because the seasoning of their products is excellent. These extra large dumplings are bursting with soy-marinated beef and vegetables.

Related: Costco Is Selling a Version of the Fan-Favorite Freezer Item That Caused a Stampede at Trader Joe’s

2. Bibigo Fully Cooked Mini Wontons – Chicken & Cilantro

My friends rave about these mini wontons! They heat up in just 5 minutes, making them perfect as quick appetizers for your next holiday party.

3. Orion Chocomont

I’ve loved these little mushroom-shaped, chocolate-covered biscuits ever since I was a kid. And they still delight me as an adult. It’s rare to see them outside of Korea, which makes it even cooler to be able to buy them at my local Costco.

4. Blue Diamond Almonds – Bold Korean BBQ Flavored

My dad would flip for this giant bag of roasted almonds, especially since they’re seasoned Korean BBQ-style: a little salty, a little sweet!

Related: Kettle Brand Chips' New Korean-Inspired Flavor Will Delight Your Taste Buds

5. Imuraya Original Castella Cake

While Castella cake is traditionally a Japanese pastry, it’s well-loved as a street food in Korea. Texturally, I would describe it as a kind of a lighter, airier pound cake. I’m excited to have these packaged cakes on hand as an easy after-dinner dessert!

6. Jonga Kimchi Sliced Napa Cabbage

Kimchi, at Costco! I feel so proud to be seeing Korea’s national food sold in bulk at Costco, especially from Jongga, a brand that makes a very delicious version. I especially appreciate the packaging, which allows for a little extra space for the kimchi’s natural fermentation.

Related: Joanna Gaines' Mom Shares Cucumber Kimchi Salad Recipe

7. Christopher Ranch Peeled Garlic

What would Korean food be without copious amounts of garlic? Every since I could remember, my mom has always bought this pre-peeled garlic because she uses so much, that she can’t be bothered with constant peeling. This bulk bag is especially handy if you’re planning on making your own kimchi or pickles at home.

8. Beef Oxtail

Of course, Costco is an excellent resource for bulk meats! I gravitate towards these beef oxtails, not only because they’re normally hard to find in other mainstream grocery stores, but also because they’re just what I need to make a pot of Korean kkori gomtang, or oxtail soup.

Related: The Costco Rotisserie Chicken Change That Has Fans Riled Up

9. Pork Belly

Pork belly is THE top meat in Korean cuisine (there’s an entire Netflix series dedicated to it), and Costco has the cheapest price and highest quality I’ve seen around. You can use it to make bossam (pork belly wraps) or slice thin for pork belly barbecue!

Related: Gochujang-Cured Pork Belly

10. Beef Bulgogi (Korean BBQ)

Through the Kirkland Signature brand, Costco also sells pre-marinated bulgogi. These marinated slices of beef are ready to be cooked atop a barbecue or in a grill pan. You'll want to make sure to stock up on lots of kimchi, lettuce, and rice to conjure up a complete Korean BBQ meal.

Related: 50 Best Kirkland Products to Buy at Costco

11. Fuji Apples

It’s said in Korean culture that parents show their love through cut fruit, and what better fruit to convey love than these gorgeous Fuji apples? They’re super crispy and always sweet.

Related: 25 Types of Apples and How to Use Them

12. Organic Long English Cucumbers – Hothouse Grown

I reach for these English cucumbers for both at-home crunching and making oi muchim, a Korean cucumber salad that pairs well with grilled meats.

13. Kirkland Signature Organic Roasted Seaweed

These individual packs of roasted seaweed are seriously the workhouse of my pantry. I’ll crumble up a package to mix with warm rice, grab one for a mid-day snack, and thinly slice another to top a bowl of noodles.

14. Nongshim Udon Noodle Bowl

These noodle bowls feature fresh udon noodles (not freeze-dried!) in a delicious savory broth, which is the closest I can get to Korean-Japanese udon at home. I love how incredibly chewy and satisfying the noodles are!

15. Nongshim Black Shin Noodle Cup

If you love Shin Ramyun in the iconic red package, you’ll go nuts for Shin Black, an amped up version featuring a rich beef bone broth and larger, more satisfying vegetable toppings.

Related: 17 Best Instant Ramen Hacks

16. Spam

Spam is a must-have pantry staple for me as a Korean. I like to throw it in a pot of ramyun to make a quick budae jjigae (Korean army stew) or coat it in egg and pan fry it for a tasty side dish.

Related: The Best Times To Shop at Costco 

17. Kewpie Mayonnaise

Once you try Kewpie mayo, you’ll never go back to your standard mayonnaise. This perfectly balanced condiment features lots of egg yolk for extra savoriness and will be the secret ingredient in your Korean (and not Korean!) potato salad.

Related: Nine Costco Food Court Items You Need to Try At Least Once

18. Bibigo Cooked Sticky White Rice

These pre-portioned, microwave-ready servings of white rice are the ultimate lifesaver when you realize you forgot to set that rice cooker ahead of dinner time. Better yet? They also make for an easy meal on the go, whether you take it into the office or on the road.

Up next: What It's Like To Shop At Costco in South Korea