Sourcing Korean Ingredients

Although Korean ingredients are readily found in supermarkets specializing in Asian ingredients, they are less common in American-style grocery stores than, say, Chinese or Thai ingredients. Still, sometimes there are items hiding in plain sight, labeled in different ways.

• Korean Grocery Stores

H Mart is the biggest Korean grocery store chain in America, with locations primarily on the East and West coasts, as well as a few in the South (and they ship orders too). In areas with large Korean populations, you can also find other Korean grocery stores like Hannam Chain Market / HanNam Mart (California and New Jersey), Zion Market (California, Georgia, and Texas), and others.

• Asian Grocery Stores

If there are no Korean grocery stores in your area, the next best option is to find a Chinese, Japanese, or other Asian grocery store, such as 99 Ranch Market, Mitsuwa Marketplace, or J Mart. These stores typically don’t carry as many Korean products and ingredients, but you can still find ingredients commonly used in various Asian cuisines, such as dried seaweed, noodles, soup and sauce base, and lotus and burdock roots, to name a few.

• American Supermarkets

Don’t overlook American-style grocery stores. Costco and grocery stores that specialize in natural and organic foods (such as Whole Foods) often carry pre-made Korean foods such as kimchi, specific cuts of meat that we use in our recipes, and produce including Asian pears and napa cabbage. Trader Joe’s also carries Asian pears. Large chains such as Stop & Shop may carry jumbo carrots.

• Online Shopping

You can also use online shops such as Mega Mart (megakfood.com), Wooltari (wooltariusa.com), and Weee! (sayweee.com) to order Korean ingredients and supplement any items that might be difficult to find locally. These retailers offer fresh ingredients, including thinly sliced meat, seafood, Korean vegetables, and high-quality artisan brands, delivered to your door. And Amazon is a good place to look for pantry items.