The Best Store-Bought Kimchi Your Money Can Buy: Our 6 Fermented Favorites

Best Overall

Mother-in-Law's Kimchi House Napa Cabbage

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Only a handful of ingredients go into this kimchi, including Napa cabbage, onion, red chili pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, sugar, fish sauce, shrimp, beef bone broth, and salt. It is made in small batches using the authentic, handcrafted fermentation process with chunky vegetables and high-quality chili pepper and tastes the same from jar to jar. The result is crunchy cabbage covered in a tangy umami sauce. It may be a bit too spicy for some palates, but pairing it with stews, rice, and eggs instead of eating it by itself can help cut some of the heat.

The company’s founder, Lauryn Chun, knows a thing or two about what goes into perfect kimchi—she shares "60 Traditional and Modern Ways to Make and Eat Kimchi" in her book, "The Kimchi Cookbook". The brand also offers up some of the essential ingredients needed to make the best kimchi at home, too, like gochujang and Korean chili pepper flakes.

Price at time of publish: $10

Size: 16 ounces | Flavor: Original | Organic: No | Vegetarian: No

Best Vegan

Wise Goat Organics Organic Raw Vegan Kimchi

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The one caveat of buying kimchi pre-made is you don’t get to be picky about the ingredients. Traditionally it is made with seafood ingredients, meaning it is not part of a vegan diet. Innovations in flavors mean that some brands have vegan versions of kimchi that are still perfectly spicy and sour without fish sauce, shrimp paste, etc. 

This one from Wise Goat Organics has an ingredient list made up of lots of vegetables and more in addition to Napa cabbage, including carrots, spring onions, radish, ginger, garlic, seaweed, sesame seeds, Korean red pepper, and unrefined sea salt, giving it a homemade and natural taste. Also, all of these are organic. One jar is slightly pricey, but a little goes a long way, especially since there are some larger chunks inside. Use some in stews and broths, to top sandwiches, to snack on, or with tofu for a full vegan meal.

Price at time of publish: $13

Size: 16 ounces | Flavor: Traditional | Organic: Yes | Vegetarian: Yes

Best Spicy

Seoul Vegan Spicy Kimchi

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This is another vegan kimchi made without any seafood ingredients like fish sauce or shrimp paste, but it still packs a punch. The crunchy Napa cabbage is fermented with chili pepper, garlic, green onion, sugar, sea salt, and ginger to give it heat without making it too spicy. We do miss the umami flavor, but if the spice is what you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. This kimchi is also non-GMO, kosher, gluten-free, and vegan certified.

This spicy kimchi comes in a slightly smaller jar than others on this list, but it is cost-effective. This is a good thing—kimchi doesn’t last as long as other condiments because it is fermented, and therefore having to restock your supply regularly ensures you’re getting the youngest kimchi that will last the longest. Keep in mind, though, that the newer it is, the less tangy it is.

Price at time of publish: $6 

Size: 14 ounces | Flavor: Spicy | Organic: No | Vegetarian: Yes

Best White

Jongga White Kimchi

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White kimchi, or baek kimchi, is far less spicy than other varieties because no Korean chili flakes or gochugaru are used. This doesn’t mean it is any less flavorful, though. This one from Jongga is made in Korea, which means it probably will have been through a longer fermentation period in the package once you get it home than others, making it sour. (The longer the kimchi ferments, the more tangy and fizzy it is.) So while this one might be on the sour side, it definitely is not as spicy as others. In fact, the pear, leek, and kelp give it a mild and almost sweet flavor profile that lets the natural flavors of the cabbage and radish come into play a lot more. All the essential kimchi ingredients are still included, though, like garlic, salt, red pepper, and ginger for a slightly salty kick. 

We don’t love that this option comes in a sealed bag that, once opened, can’t be resealed. So it’s best if once you rip the bag open to store this kimchi in an airtight, sterile glass jar in the fridge so the fermentation process is slowed and it lasts longer.

Price at time of publish: $9 

Size: 17.6 ounces | Flavor: Mild | Organic: No | Vegetarian: Yes

Best No Sugar

Sunja's Oriental Foods Medium Spicy Cabbage Kimchi

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If you are watching your sugar intake, you may be familiar with the fact that many foods contain added sugar—even savory ones. That’s the case with some jarred kimchi, as sugar is one of the main ingredients included to aid the fermentation process. Left out of traditional recipes, often there will be a few tablespoons of it in ready-made jars, but if you want an option without any sugar at all, look no further than this relatively cheap one.

Sunja’s Medium Spicy Kimchi comes in a 1-pound glass jar and is sugarless. Ingredients consist of large cabbage pieces, green onion, sea salt, crushed red pepper, and ginger for texture and spice, and carrots and sweet red peppers for a hint of sweetness. We promise you won’t miss the sugar, though, as this kimchi is spicy without making your eyes water, crisp-tasting, and crunchy. In addition to containing no sugar, there is no seafood ingredient to give it an umami flavor, but you can add a dash or two of fish sauce to this store-bought mixture if you wish before eating it as a side or adding it to your favorite dish. 

Price at time of publish: $7 

Size: 16 ounces | Flavor: Medium spicy | Organic: No | Vegetarian: Yes