Frozen Korean dishes gain popularity in the USA
7 october 2026 в 09:13
Korean street food, including kimbap, mandu, and Korean barbecue dishes, is rapidly gaining popularity in the frozen sections of American supermarkets. The products are now available in chains such as Trader Joe’s, Target, and Kroger, thanks to viral moments on social media and expanded retail distribution.
The most notable surge in interest for Korean frozen food occurred in August 2023, when Trader Joe’s frozen kimbap sold out nationwide after it was mentioned on social media. Previously, frozen products in supermarkets mainly consisted of ready meals, but in recent years, the range has significantly expanded, with Korean dishes appearing everywhere. While Trader Joe’s kimbap has been a catalyst for this trend, other brands like bibigo, as well as major retailers like Kroger and Target, are helping to turn Korean frozen foods into a broader category.
Kimbap, also known as gimbap, is a Korean roll made of seaweed and rice, similar to Japanese sushi but with cooked fillings. The frozen version from Trader Joe’s went viral in August 2023 due to a TikTok review by Korean-American content creator Sara Ahn, in which she and her mother tried the product. Ahn noted that her previous viral videos addressed bullying related to kimbap in her childhood, and now, with the product being sold at Trader Joe’s and selling out, it reflects a significant change in the perception of Korean culture.
Frozen kimbap is easy to use: it can be stored in the freezer and quickly defrosted in the microwave, making it a convenient lunch option. Currently, frozen Korean dishes can be found at Target, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s, featuring various options, including Korean barbecue chicken and mandu.
Sales of frozen kimbap from bibigo in the U.S. increased by 59 percent from January to July compared to the same period last year, according to data from BusinessKorea. The number of retail locations offering this product rose by 145 percent, from 1,924 stores to 4,734. CJ Foods, which owns the bibigo brand, also completed the construction of a fully automated frozen kimbap production line in March at its CJ Blossom Campus factory in Korea, marking the first such project in the country. A representative from CJ Foods stated that this is a strategic investment to accelerate the global expansion of Korean food.
The most notable surge in interest for Korean frozen food occurred in August 2023, when Trader Joe’s frozen kimbap sold out nationwide after it was mentioned on social media. Previously, frozen products in supermarkets mainly consisted of ready meals, but in recent years, the range has significantly expanded, with Korean dishes appearing everywhere. While Trader Joe’s kimbap has been a catalyst for this trend, other brands like bibigo, as well as major retailers like Kroger and Target, are helping to turn Korean frozen foods into a broader category.
Kimbap, also known as gimbap, is a Korean roll made of seaweed and rice, similar to Japanese sushi but with cooked fillings. The frozen version from Trader Joe’s went viral in August 2023 due to a TikTok review by Korean-American content creator Sara Ahn, in which she and her mother tried the product. Ahn noted that her previous viral videos addressed bullying related to kimbap in her childhood, and now, with the product being sold at Trader Joe’s and selling out, it reflects a significant change in the perception of Korean culture.
Frozen kimbap is easy to use: it can be stored in the freezer and quickly defrosted in the microwave, making it a convenient lunch option. Currently, frozen Korean dishes can be found at Target, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s, featuring various options, including Korean barbecue chicken and mandu.
Sales of frozen kimbap from bibigo in the U.S. increased by 59 percent from January to July compared to the same period last year, according to data from BusinessKorea. The number of retail locations offering this product rose by 145 percent, from 1,924 stores to 4,734. CJ Foods, which owns the bibigo brand, also completed the construction of a fully automated frozen kimbap production line in March at its CJ Blossom Campus factory in Korea, marking the first such project in the country. A representative from CJ Foods stated that this is a strategic investment to accelerate the global expansion of Korean food.
© Puhova Marina
