How Korean Food Took Over American Supermarkets

Flat-lay of Korean food including kimbap rolls, Buldak spicy ramen, tteokbokki rice cakes and gochujang paste arranged on a white marble surface, representing the rise of K-food in American supermarkets in 2026

It started with a rather unassuming product in the freezer aisle. In August 2023, Trader Joe’s — the beloved American grocery chain — introduced frozen kimbap, a traditional Korean seaweed rice roll. The initial batch of 250 tons was expected to last for months. Instead, fuelled by a viral TikTok video of a Korean-American mother … 더 읽기