I ranked all the Kimchi brands! The Ultimate Kimchi Review.

[@VioletStone100]

I love how instead of just going through all the kimchi, you put them into mini sections. That really helped keep track of which was good in each category and made more sense of just a vast line up. I will definitely reference this video in the future when buying kimchi.

[@CafeMaddy]

Thank you so much for watching and the feedback 😍😍 so glad you came over from Shorts

[@Blaqueasian]

KimC: I bought off of your recommendation . Paid the outrageous price. Packed exceptionally well. Received and like you, I LOVED IT! Reminded me of my MOMs kimchi and I haven’t had that for years. MIL kimchi: no good but it was a saving grace for my MOM in her final years. She acquired a shell food allergy so anything shrimp was OUT. We all know that is a staple in kimchi. MIL didn’t have it so she could eat it. Jongga: my go to if I am in a pinch and want some kimchi. It’s at my nearest Costco. Twin brand: good as well BUT, you have to get a good batch. I have had a bad batch so it is a hit/miss for me. Like you Maddie…that KimC kimchi is BOOOOOMB 💣! The cost is the kicker but if you got it to spare…BUY IT! MADDIE 🙏🏽 THANK YOU for this thoughtful and most importantly thorough review! Doing the LORDS work for your audience…YOU ARE THE BEST!

[@CafeMaddy]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This comment is the BEST I appreciate you ❤❤😍

[@fordhouse8b]

Though the price might seem outrageous, and it certainly isn’t cheap, you do get more than 11 lbs of Kimchi, including some interesting non-cabbage ones.

[@Meidosama]

I'm so happy for you that you got to try something that reminded of you of your mom's kimchi after years of not having it anymore! Your mini reviews are awesome and I def might splurge on KimC now

[@khalilahd.]

Guess I’m buying KimC 😅❤

[@deannas1515]

It says a set of 2, instead of all the bags and jars that she shows in the video.

[@asdylavista]

This is exactly the video I need so I don’t have to try every brand 😂

[@CafeMaddy]

LOL yes i hope it helps you guys!!

[@rosemarywilliams9969]

Exactly👏👏

[@candacerain1]

Ditto!

[@pumpkin_pie98]

@@CafeMaddywe need a try it series!

[@nineten-eu4ig]

If i tried all kimchi brands in Korea (where i live) the video would be 20hours 😂😂

[@Guitargoddess843]

I feel so Vindicated because I've never really liked mother-in-law's kimchi and I wondered why it was so popular. But then I got the tobagi kimchi at Hmart and that's sort of been my standard go to when I buy kimchi and I'm so glad that, to somebody who grew up eating kimchi, that it ranks highly❤ I didn't grow up eating kimchi but that country style really hits all the notes for me too

[@yunni3371]

Mother in laws to me is awful ! I had to trash both bottles I purchased 😅

[@DB-xo6xh]

I’m 1st gen Mexican American and I’ve been eating kimchi since my early 20s( mid 30s now). Joonga has been a Fave staple of mine since it was introduced at Costco…any other brand just Never did it for me. I really dislike MIL kimchi. Can’t trust Whole Foods Kimchi! Funny side note: I’m eating a traditional Mexican dish right now called Menudo Rojo, and I thought I’d grab a side of kimchi. My brain told me to put some kimchi in the hot soup and MAN!! If that wasn’t one of the BEST COMBOS I’ve had in a long time!!! I like cooking cabbage into menudo to add more veg and cut carbs, so naturally I went for thought kimchi might be tasty in there. Meaty, garlicy, oniony, with delicious dry red chile flavor and kimchi!! Amazing!

[@Meidosama]

I loove the Jongga kimchi from Costco!! Surprisingly really good for being a mass produced kimchi. Beats some of the local Korean restaurants near me tbh and a lot of other kimchi brands I have tried. The fact that you liked it a lot makes me feel VALIDATED lol

[@Mary-Ann_B_Mabaet]

Yeah. I'm honestly surprised when a Korean Restaurant doesn't have decent quality Kimchi. I will eat it, don't get me wrong, because I hate wasting food. But I still think restaurants should accept a standard.

[@Meidosama]

@@Mary-Ann_B_Mabaet I know right? I have had some really flavor-less kimchi from a few local Korean spots... They definitely should be more on top of making sure a staple dish is good

[@blackroseinbloom]

The first thing I ever got from Costco after I had gotten my own card was the Jongga kimchi. I drive to another city just to get it because my local Costco doesn’t carry it. Heck, I even got my mom and aunt to like Korean food because I started cooking with the kimchi more often. For sure a game changer and a must have item.

[@Travybear1989]

Agreed, Jongga kimchi is EXTREMELY good quality for the price. I've tried most of the kimchi in the video (as well as homemade) and for around $3.50 a jar you really can't top Jongga. Sure, the expensive stuff is a bit better but for over 4 or 5 times the price it's not worth it to me. I buy 4 jars of Jongga every month and have even accidentally bought the vegan kind (they stock them together) and it was just as good as the regular kind. Just an all around great brand for the price, Nasoya is very good as well but it's a bit more expensive per ounce and not as flavorful.

[@CurrentBeatle]

I just tried it, I tried kimchi for the first time, actually, and to me it tastes pretty salty, like kinda overwhelming. Is that normal, or are there brands that aren't?

[@spamandkimchi]

2:22 Homemade kimchi 3:32 KimC Market 5:51 Mother-In-Law’s 6:34 Goshen 7:01 Twins 8:02 Tobagi vs 1000 Year visuals 8:26 Tobagi 8:56 1000 Year 9:40 Bibigo vs Jongga visuals (Vegan) 10:22 Bibigo (Vegan) 10:53 Jongga (Vegan) 12:24 Jongga vs Bibigo visuals (Non-Vegan) 13:30 Bibigo (Non-Vegan) 14:31 Jongga (Non-Vegan) 16:07 Jongga Canned Kimchi 17:30 Final Ranking

[@la381]

You're the MVP.😊

[@CafeMaddy]

Ya u da mvp👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@petergriffiinbirdistheword]

Thank you

[@khalilahd.]

You’re the best thank you!

[@unknownfancy]

What do you buy then hahaha

[@lina_chats]

Due to health reasons, I've had to eat kimchi daily. And yep, from what I have tried, Jongga Original is my favorite. Its also priced the best. Glad it was your pick too!! Never tried any kimchi over $20.

[@EspeonMistress00]

Ohhh i am curious? Do you need to intake a lot of salty foods so you relied on kimchi for that? I am curious what condition you have? You don't need to explain. A Google-able term is enough.

[@Moonchild99]

​@@EspeonMistress00 i don't know if it's the case. But I also have to eat a ton of salty foods due my low blood pressure that causes me to faint often

[@lina_chats]

My blood pressure isn't high but mainly also because I need probiotics for my bloating.

[@BiografWien-zx6tf]

It’s not about being saulty but fermented like kefir or sauerkraut …

[@ericcc172]

After being used to Bibingo, the first time I tried Jjonga, I was very surprised at how much better it was! It made me realize how much variety there can be in flavor and quality. I hope to try some of the other brands you mentioned!

[@chu-tingchang448]

The 1st time I got jongga at h mart, I immediately fell in love and kept going back to get more. I was so happy to find it at Costco.

[@bkozel]

tobagi and jongga are definitely my favorites! Jongga is a really good value at Costco and Tobagi has so many delicious types of kimchi: napa with oysters, cubed radish, scallion, etc etc :)

[@HANABiLOG]

In my country we only really have a choice between Jongga and Bibigo. After eating Bibigo Mandu once before, I refused to buy anything from Bibigo ever again, but curiosity almost got the best of me until I saw this video and my thoughts and feelings were confirmed, so thank you for that

[@7.5Mviews]

Yes! Bibigo mandu is terrible.

[@TheCitygear]

In Korea, Jongga rules.

[@greenecrayon]

I am weird and only really care for radish and cucumber kimchi, but knowing a brand makes good typical kimchi is probably helpful in identifying who makes good kimchi for other veggies.

[@HonourandBlessingCafe]

Jongga Kimchi (non vegan) is one of my all time favourite Kimchi! I haven't tried their canned version, but maybe I don't need to 😂 Thank you for reviewing so many for us!

[@CafeMaddy]

you're so welcome :D thank you for watching. glad to know a lot of people agree with the review!

[@L1ttlefl0w3r]

This is such a thoughtful video! Makes it easier for me to shop for kimchi :)

[@CafeMaddy]

Yay thank you for watching!!

[@ashapash]

I’m lucky to have a local Korean restaurant that sells kimchi by the container to us, but just in case I can’t reach them, this video will definitely come in handy. Thank you!

[@Mary-Ann_B_Mabaet]

Wow. That's amazing. Some Korean Restaurants here do not have good quality kimchi, which is sad. Usually if Restaurants also sell their products on the side, it should be of decent enough quality. So, lucky

[@jijijijibaby]

OMG i knew the one you laughed at was going to be Jongga!! i legit had the same reaction when i tried it the first time. like hold up! i must be dreaming 😂 that is the only kimchi i will buy when i run out of mom’s kimchi. it’s always well fermented when it hits the shelves so you can just buy it the day of when you need it and don’t have to wait.

[@miso_sleepy]

I honestly watched this video to see if my kimchi of choice made your favorites and I'm so happy it did!! Jongga kimchi is the most convenient one for me to purchase since I can bulk buy it at Costco and have it for months, so I'm glad it does a decent job representing the complexity of flavors in kimchi. Now, I can't wait to try more brands after seeing this video!

[@patriciapantoja2000]

Thank you for making this video! I was at our Asian market and was overwhelmed by the variety. I knew what flavor profile I was looking for, but didn't know which one would deliver that flavor. You are so awesome Maddie, I love your content and wish you the best. ❤

[@Livitron22]

you should totally make a series with different kimchi recipes to use up all the kimchi!

[@CafeMaddy]

I'm on it!! =)

[@gladiusexe3870]

Kkimchi has to be my go to brand it’s sooooo refreshing, has a wonderful crunch, and the perfect spice to sweet ratio 😮‍💨🤤

[@andyzhang7890]

gotta check this brand out sometime, that sounds perfect

[@rosecheawu1945]

I really appreciate you doing this review for us! Also, I know I can trust your judgment because one of your favorites was the Jongga Sliced Kimchi and I've had that one and it's quite good. I haven't tried Twins brand spicy kimchi yet but I recently tried their non spicy white kimchi from Weee because my son and husband can't eat the spicy fermented one and I enjoyed the quality and flavor. I'll have to try the Twins spicy one next. I live in an area with enough Korean restaurants to have eaten a lot of varieties of spicy Napa cabbage kimchi and I also look for the qualities you do. Thanks for a great review!

[@jacoboniaplay]

Buying kimchi has always been hit or miss, with more miss. This is SO helpful! Thanks for taking the time to do some sleuthing!

[@luis.notlewis]

Beginner kimchi eater here, this was super helpful because there’s so many kimchi choices to choose from its a little overwhelming. I look forward to purchasing twins kimchi and or tobagi thanks again 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Travybear1989]

Go with Twins and/or Jongga, Twins is probably a *bit* better but Jongga is very inexpensive and good quality. Jongga also has radish, green onions, and a few other unique ingredients in it but can be a bit overly salty. Twins isn't as salty and more authentic but not very complex. As a person with a limited grocery budget due to being retired my wife usually purchases a large jar of Twins for me for Christmas and then through the year we generally buy Jongga when grocery shopping. There are a few other more expensive brands available and I've tried them all and they just aren't worth the price when Jongga is better and cheaper anyways.

[@juliakim26]

Thank you for doing this! Whenever I go to a new Korean grocery store, I never buy mass produced kimchi and buy a small container of the homemade kimchi that market makes to see if it tastes like my Mom’s Kimchi 🥰

[@blaackberry]

I tried this at my local Lotte and was so deeply disappointed 🥺 I was expecting it to be better than the pre packaged but I was wrong

[@CafeMaddy]

Ah I should give those a try too! I was surprised at the mass produced ones

[@em-agan]

Thanks for rating the vegan ones! My fiancé has a shellfish allergy so we usually buy the vegan ones to be safe… I just need to learn to make my own!

[@lequinntessential]

Maddie, this is arguably one of your most important and relevant uploads on your entire channel. You are doing us a great favor here - thank you!

[@SilverReviews]

Do more of these videos, doesn't have to be kimchi but the format was fun and so easy to watch 20 minutes. It was awesome

[@Melonjam_]

There’s not a ton of kimchi available in Norway in my city but I’m rly thankful I can pretty easily get my hands on the jongga one 🥰 rly helpful video for kimchi enjoyers!

[@dianekeetan]

I absolutely loved this video. You need to make these a series as you find them - the kimchi diaries

[@Fiawordweaver]

❤much gratitude for providing this guide. I used to live in Hawaii for 13 years. Never thought twice when purchasing kimchi. Many years have passed and I’m on the mainland and needed guidance. You are so wonderful to do this video

[@smllpup]

The moment you said you didn’t like Mother In Law, I knew I could trust this review. Thanks for all your effort!

[@jennadavis8505]

That was the first brand I ever tried and I just thought kimchi wasn't for me. Tried kimchi at a Korean barbecue restaurant and realized kimchi could actually taste good!

[@MonkieD]

you have a sweet, calming and authentic energy. truly a national treasure 😊

[@momomichimo]

Thank you so much for including vegan kimchi options!! 🙏💗 usually I make my own but when I’m feeling lazy now I know what to get and what to avoid 😆💗💗 I’ve only tried the Tobagi vegan kimchi and that was pretty decent if anyone is curious (even though the color was off-not super red) :)

[@BlanchardEA]

Thank you! I am a Swiss American in my 50s now with kids of my own. I tried kimchi for the first time when I was 7 or 8 years old and absolutely loved it. Now, 3 of my 5 kids like it, one of them ALOT! :) My brother married a wonderful Korean woman whos mother made me kimchi once, and I will never forget it. I thought the Jongga came really close, but I really wanted something that would knock my socks off. I love the Jongga but feel there is something missing. Thank you for your review, I really enjoyed how you ranked each kimchi. I will be looking to try each of your top 3, starting with the Twins :)

[@ennivirtanen9254]

The Jongga canned kimchi was the first kimchi I ever tried and as a foreigner that doesn't have anything to compare to, I really liked it and have bought it multiple times after. There isn't many choices of kimchi where I live so I just chose the best looking can. 😊❤

[@ry9112]

I love the jongga original kimchee! I buy it at Costco in Hawaii, it’s my favorite. Thank you for your wonderful Korean food content!

[@tpixl]

Excellent review! I can't imagine the amount of preparation and work that goes into these kinds of videos !

[@paulineurban6735]

For anyone in the midwest, the 80 Million Kimchi brand is the best kimchi you can find in the Midwest and it's made in Chicago! You can find it at Hmart, the Refresh Napa cabbage version is my favorite. At first when you open it, it might seem a little too salty, but let it sit in the fridge for a couple weeks and it ferments into the best kimchi flavor that is the perfect balance of sour, umami, sweet, spicy, tangy, and still really crisp and fresh even after being in the fridge for a couple months. I'm the only one in my household who eats kimchi but I buy the biggest jar they sell so that I get that fermentation flavor development as I eat it over the course of a month or two. I personally prefer 80 Million kimchi over the Tobagi kimchi which is the other brand available at Hmart in my area.

[@rickie2sticky66]

80 Million is my 2nd favorite only to the 5000 year foods brand... i love em both... 80 million is spicier but 5000 year is saltier/fishier (which i like)... if those 2 had a baby it would be awesome!

[@guyplay]

Thanks. I’ll have to try it. Chicago here

[@higg873]

Jongga is my favourite brand that's available here in the UK

[@CafeMaddy]

Im so glad you guys have it!!

[@awesomeguy3211]

Try mr kimchi, Korean owned company and made to order. Big fan

[@higg873]

@@awesomeguy3211 I'll check them out. I also really love the Korean Pantry kimchis. Her water kimchi is amazing

[@extractinghoney4330]

The dark hair is GORGEOUS on you!

[@CafeMaddy]

Thank you💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️

[@amberch0]

jongga jip has by far been my fave store brand for years but i definitely think there's a difference in the basic 맛/포기 kimchi that's in a container vs in a bag. i don't know why it makes a difference but the bag one >> plastic container. loved this video!

[@eviebee3188]

I've been buying Jongga Kimchi in Australia for the last year or so. Much cheaper than the more prominent and available organic branded kimchis, and sooo much better. Most of my life I've only known kimchi as a side dish, but since buying it I've been having it in soup, eggs, fried rice and other stir fries, even just in a grilled cheese sandwich. It's rapidly become one of my essential kitchen items.

[@yvonnewong3097]

LOL. I was given a Walmart brand once and it was horrible. After buying a varieties of store bought kimchi (Costco, Loblaws, HMart, T&T) I gave up and just assumed all store bought brands were horrible. This helps a lot. I’ll be heading to H Mart soon!

[@chocopandan]

Love this! Can you make more longer videos like this. Maybe share more Korean desserts? I don’t know many and would love to learn all the rice desserts they have. Lived there for study abroad and it was mostly foreign desserts. Keep it up!

[@LisaMichele]

I've never had kimchi but it's something I'd love to try! I've been watching your videos for a long time and I love seeing Korean food and the comforting way you describe it, but I've never tried it. I think with kimchi I'd be a little scared of getting a bad batch not knowing what it's supposed to taste like! :)

[@CafeMaddy]

Hope you get to try some of the brands I recommended! Try a small batch first and see if you like it 🥰 if not, you can always cook it which you might like even better!

[@SK-fy8dl]

It's spicy pickled cabbage with a bit of funk from fermented seafood! I'd buy the smallest jar since it can be hard to incorporate in Western food. One idea would be a fusion carbonara with caramelized kimchi (NY Times recipe).

[@lllllShjnllll]

My tip is even if you somehow end up with a batch you don't really like, you can still make other dishes out of it and it will help so much with the flavor! For example, if the kimchi is too funky and sour for your taste, make them into stew like Kimchi-jjigae, Kimchi tofu soup or just put them in when you're making instant ramen. Mellows them out real nice and the extra acidity gives the broth a lot more flavor. If the kimchi is too bland, cut them up and make a bomb Bibimbap rice bowl or Kimchi fried rice! Or (keep this a secret since the Koreans might come for me) sometimes I treat bland kimchi like edgy cabbages and just make a little salad side dish out of it with some seasoning like vinegar, salt, sugar, ginger, sesame oil to taste. Voila you have a little banchan to go with your meal. If it's too sharp from the fermentation, give kimchi grilled cheese a try and pair them with a creamy, mild, milky cheese like mozz. Super addicting. Kimchi is very versatile and the worst thing that can happen is you get to try like 5 new dishes with kimchi to "save" the bad batch! Do give them a try! :)

[@andyzhang7890]

I've never had family-made kimchi, but Jongga for me is the brand (of those I've tried so far) that closest emulates the kimchi at my go-to Korean spot 🙌🙌

[@kritisharma3510]

I really needed that video. Thankyou so much. Being a vegetarian and a Korean culture lover, I always wanted to try KIMCHI, such an important part of Korean meal. I think now I can. I always wanted a native or Korean person to do a proper comparison and proper video for all the types of packed KIMCHI available in the mart. Thank you. I'm loving you.❤

[@cocoPABL0]

There’s a very specific Hmart that I used to go to that would sell their own kimchi. It would be packaged in clear plastic bags, super minimal, looked “homemade”. HANDS DOWN the closest kimchi I’ve found at the stores that come close to my friend’s mom’s kimchi (she used to own her own restaurant). I’m so sad I love too far away now and can’t get it. So this was amazing to watch and I might be open to trying mass produced kimchi again..

[@ayajade6683]

There was an amazing Chinese restaurant that also had kimchi it was so good I miss that restaurant

[@chomparoo]

This is such a great video because those kimchi shelves at Hmart and other supermarkets have so many brands and idk which to pick!! thank you for trying them all for us

[@alex_ignateva]

It is such a nice video and your voice is comforting ❤ I'm ill today and I can't sleep because of pain. Your video helps me skip this night and gives me some comfort and relief. And it's also is very interesting! Thank you for your hard work for us ❤

[@bani_niba]

Yay! We regularly eat Jongga that we buy from Costco. Good taste, convenience and value - that's a win in all aspects.

[@hrwmuffins]

There isn't much kimchi availability in my local area so I've been eating the regular Jongga kimchi for quite a while! Glad to see it did so well! Will definitely have to try the Twins kimchi as well!

[@melissamayhaps8990]

Please do a part two if possible. Besides the bagged one, I didn't see any brands they sell at my local Korean market. Definitely gonna order the Twins to try it though. Thank you!

[@sunglint]

This made me so happy! I was eating Saturday breakfast when I watched this, and have just started adding a little Kimchi to my breakfasts (after watching a video on Japanese breakfast and fermented foods.) I was eating Jonnga I got from Costco, and delighted to see it ranked very well! But, I also LOVE H-Mart, so will be picking up some Twins, that looked like the bomb. Thanks so much, the delightful whimsical video gets a subscribe!

[@kaebarnes5401]

So I am a 3rd generation Korean American living in California. My names cadence or 영은 and I am definitley spoiled. My 할머니 lives with us and is renowned for her kimchi. Like the entirety for k-town acknowledges that her kimchi is amazing if not the best. And if you're korean, you know how hard it is for an 아즈마 to admit someone else's kimchi is better than theirs. Anyways she makes kimchi like all the time and we always have fresh homemade kimchi. I'm biased but I think hers is the best. I totally agree with your flavor list for the kimchi. Afterall my 할머니 s follows all of it. One ot my favorite store brands that you can find all over la and ktown is oceanae/오씨네 and I really like it and would love to see you review it! Thanks for the amazing content as always! You're amazing...you have such great inclusive content that's still informational and entertaining. Anyways best of luck from Cali! Canr wait to see your next video!

[@RandalGaus]

I live in a state where i don't have much access to kimchi, but we have a couple of Costco. They started selling the Jongga brand and I've just been keeping it in stock to use. It's such a great value for the quality. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I have been.

[@conradtaylor29]

As a vegan, I wish that there were more to chose from here. Jongga Vegan Kimchi seems like a good option. Also, you mentioned that Twins Premium Kimchi offers a vegan option. After looking at their site, they do have a lot of vegan options. Thanks so much for your video and this will save me a huge amount of time. Bravo!!!! 👍🏾👏🏾🙌🏾

[@poetdrowned]

I loved this! Very informative; loved the format of the different notes of flavor you were tasting and the vegan/non-vegan options. I will mention that Mother-in-Law Kimchee has a non-vegan option that is a bit better than the vegan option. I only mention this because it’s a brand that’s relatively easy to find if you’re someplace with no Asian markets (it is a bit pricey imo, though).

[@lou9511]

one of the only videos ive went out of my way to watch from KZbin shorts, definitely worth it!! great video, will be referencing everytime i buy kimchi 😅

[@hypotheticaltapeworm]

Whenever I see kimchi, I crave it, which is weird because I don't like kimchi. I love cabbage and red Korean stuff, but every time I've had kimchi it just tastes like raw onion to me, maybe I need to give one of these fancy brands a try.

[@Mary-Ann_B_Mabaet]

Do you remember which brands you tried? Always good to note which did not turn out that good for you so you don't end up accidentally spending money again on a product you didn't like.

[@haleyselene]

There's also a wide range of flavors to kimchi. Honestly, I love making my own when I can just so I have full control, but its very much a labor of love. But freshly made homemade kimchi, before fermenting, is wonderfully full of cabbage flavor

[@nyushinebae]

I agree with your bibigo and jongga comparison :D jongga is so crispy, refreshing and yummy, i always buy it! Bibigo is just... WAY too saucy and sweet for me! If I happen to have it at home I'd rather go and cook kimchi jjigae with it than eating it raw 😅

[@Mary-Ann_B_Mabaet]

Yeah. Bibigo is just something you need to use in cooking if used at all. Ahaha, I agree.

[@sommps]

Thanks for the review! Jongga has been my go-to ever since I visited Korea and randomly picked it from a grocery store. Glad to know I didn't miss out on anything much better. Will definitely try other recommended brands if I come across them!

[@CherryGryffon]

I'm so glad to see that Jongga ranked so high XD That's the ONLY kimchi I can find in any store near me, except for the small asian market that makes their own (Which I greatly prefer, but they're also usually sold out, woe is me) So seeing that my usual brand is at least comparable to quality kimchi, I feel better getting it even though it's mass-marketed :D

[@dianepeters7485]

Thank you for this! I love kimchi and Asian food in general, but really adore Korean food. I haven’t yet found a store-bought Kimchi that I like, so I’m excited to try those from your top tier choices. I’m not confident enough in my ability to make a homemade kimchi, so this was extremely helpful! ❤

[@Meidosama]

I have NEEDED this video for so long! While I am passionate about cooking, and love perfecting my skills with it, I feel that there are some foods I should leave to people from their respective cultures to make because I just can't get it like a Korean ajumma can!! I'm Mexican, and I can make an amazing salsa, but I've made kimchi so many times and really can't nail it. I've decided I am going to just buy it from now on. My local Korean market sells their own AMAZING homemade kimchi but it's pretty expensive, so I need a more budget-friendly store bought option to quell my kimchi addiction. This video is sooo informative and I'll def try some of the ones you liked the most :)

[@CafeMaddy]

Haha I’m Korean and I still am not at the ajumma level!! I love buying good kimchi 🥰 I’m so glad you found this helpful!! Hope you try out some of the brands and ENJOY

[@vanorav]

actually my comfort and cosy youtuber - thanks for another great video maddy !

[@Micah6.8life]

I came specifically for the vegan Jongga because I bought it and hadn’t tried it yet. I’m very happy you gave it an approval rating

[@bethanylalala]

I love your new haircut!! I know it was in past videos but I got to focus on you more in this video and I think it’s so cute! And your little rice guy is adorable every time he pops up lol. Thank you for this!! Telling us which is more sour, which is more fresh will definitely help me with what flavor profiles I’m looking for in my kimchi!!!

[@franciscasepulveda4370]

I am so glad I found this video! I recently made kimchi jigae for the first time. I had it once before when I was in Korea and was craving it when I saw the recipes online. I made it with MiL Kimchi and although it was tasty, I was wondering why the stew tasted so much like borscht. When you said in your review that MiL tasted more like sauerkraut it CLICKED! Thats why I was tasting what I did. Honestly, the idea of making a slightly spicy borscht with MiL kimchi isnt a bad idea. I cant wait to try kimchi jjigae again with the brands you recommend. Thank you so much Maddy!

[@TheAvgWoman]

Thank you! I wanted to buy kimchi and while I love cooking… I just don’t see the point in making any for myself when experimenting making kimchi fried rice. It’s a novel dish for me and not something I would eat regularly. I am Indian, and I have become accepting that companies have become diverse and that there are now solid options for ethnic foods that take a lot of the work out for us if we want a quick snack and don’t want to go through the long drawn out process of prep. This is cool because this was not the case growing up (I am in my 30s, raised in US). While this isn’t as healthy as fresh, it still healthier and better on the pockets than eating out. A happy medium, for sure!

[@adroitus]

Thank you for this! Now I have a reference for what good kimchi should taste like, and good recommendations for home use.

[@Sid629]

Awesome review. Thanks so much yeodongsaeng!

[@onlyonemorepanda9524]

You should make a series of recipes with all the kimchi you have left! Ps: love your channel 🫶🏼

[@CafeMaddy]

Hehe good idea

[@sheonyx]

honestly, because i'm european, i like my kimchi to be more on the salty and sour side. when i made my own batch at home i left out one of the jars a day longer and the similarity to sauerkraut but with a spicy twist was such a welcome surprise. i'll see if i can find any of the brands you recommended in my local asian grocery store :)

[@hellochristimbouttasinagain]

i’m gonna order jongga. i’m a MIL type of girl, maybe cause my taste buds are different but it was the only kimchi i bought from the beginning and it was really good but then over time im like “oh.. maybe not the BEST buy, but it fits for my top “5” even though i don’t have a top 5 yet 😂😂😂❤ thank you so much!

[@chkrimi3]

My mouth is watering watching this at 10am! Thanks for the thorough review❤ so helpful!!

[@CafeMaddy]

Hahah time to eat some kimchi 😍 thank you sm for watching

[@marylinda]

Please do more of these. Ideas: rice cakes, noodles, etc

[@yunni3371]

Haha I am glad you are so honest with mother in laws ! I hated it and I almost thought it’s something wrong with my tastes ! This is Good ❤

[@AllSeeingScorpio]

Same! I was so worried something was wrong with ME and not the kimchi. I'm soooo happy I'm not the only one! 😄

[@yunni3371]

@@AllSeeingScorpioespecially I watch mummy tang from time to time and she and her family were advocate for the mother in law kimchi . 😅

[@user-kg5lq6nd7q]

@@yunni3371omg same!! I had never had kimchi and wanted it so bad whenever she ate it. I went to Japan and had a ton of kimchi from 7/11 while I was there. When I came back I was so excited to start eating kimchi and eagerly bought mother in laws, it was …. Disgusting haha

[@blaackberry]

This was so needed! Kimchi can be so expensive so its hard to want to try out a brand just for it to not be very good! My favorite kimchi is from an upscale kbbq place about a mile from my house. So sad they dont and wont sell it to me 😢

[@kiera7455]

Whenever I make homemade kimchi, I always add extra radish and carrot they're my favorite part ^_^ thanks for this video!! I've been bummed before choosing store bought so this helps a lot. I can vouch for the country style radish kimchi, it's so yummm

[@_kwak]

Jongga has been my favorite that I have access to! There are even some shelf stable Jongga packets that are perfect portion sizes and great to backpack!

[@60CC60]

LOVED the comparisons! I gotta admit, I'm personally not all that good at picking out subtleties in food, so I rly appreciated your insight into what differences you found in the flavors. I'm sure at least half of those would've tasted very similar to me 😭 so it was really interesting to see how you ended up rating and valuing all of them for the canned kimchi (since it's the only one on the list I've tried myself), I completely agree with your assessment! among the three brands I tried, I really didn't like how extremely sour it was. it overshadowed the other flavors and as a result, I felt it was lacking what makes a good or at least average kimchi. definitely wouldn't rebuy it again 😂 despite being such a small serving, I struggled finishing the can, I just really really did not like it 😂😂 ohhh also I just googled the store bought kimchi I liked and turns out it's by jongga too! except it's a red label? I don't know if it's a different one or just simply the european design, but I really really liked the taste of that one ♡♡♡ I usually end up making kimchi myself bc it's cheaper and lasts me for a while, but I think jongga's might just taste better sometimes 😂😂😂

[@Queerpunx]

Loved this video! Would you be open to reviewing a new brand available at wholefoods called CHI. They have a vegan, and non-vegan. Honestly I love it, but really would like another opinion.

[@rhiannongutierrez6145]

This video was so well done and so helpful! I have tried the mother in law kimchi and you described exactly how I get about it! Thank you for sharing this video.

[@koko.kortnei]

OMG!! I too was disappointed w MILs kimchi! Im so excited for this video you’re making, this is something i wished for back in 2021 lol

[@kaorisity4962]

I live in Germany and Bibigo is basically the only kimchi brand we have in our local Asian market. Personally, I buy my kimchi online at a store called HaneeMum. It’s a small business based in Germany, but is Korean owned, organic and self made. They make the kimchi by order and it’s still fresh when it arrives so you have to wait a bit to open it. Very yummy, it’s my favorite. It was definitely interesting to see all the different types of brands and options people in America have when it comes to Kimchi.

[@IjeomaThePlantMama]

Proud if myself for always having Tobagi as my go-to kimchi whenever i stopmin HMart, but im looking forward to trying some other brands you mentioned!

[@aejeongjones5404]

This video is so valuable. Good store-bought kimchi is so hard to find. Thank you for doing this research for us.

[@lordpickle8424]

Ha, nice. I tried the kimchi for the first time, the Jongga non-vegan one earlier in the summer, and was immediately hooked. My small town in the middle of Canada actually had some in our lone grocery store. When I got back to Vancouver I tried a couple other brands but none were as good as the Jongga one. Glad to see I was right about the taste.

[@iExclude]

I love bibigo brand mandu/soup dumplings, so I was very surprised that I haven't seen or tried their kimchi before. I'm glad you warned me before I wasted my money!!

[@supermelanie246]

I actually really like the bibigo kimchi but that’s because I love how spicy it is and also I love how much juice it comes with because I put that in kimchi fried rice ❤

[@SidnieFarley]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video!! I always buy the Jongga Vegan Kimchi. Occasionally, I'll get the original. It's actually the only store bought kind I've had. I guess I just got lucky, haha.

[@lenac6999]

So helpful! I was avoiding the Costco kimchi because I felt the only place to get kimchi is Hmart. Since Costco is much closer I'll give Jongga Kimchi a try!

[@melissabeiselmckinney6709]

Love this super informative video and I could listen to you talk allll day! So calming to me. Thank you! ♥️🙌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@CafeMaddy]

Thank you!! 😍😍

[@heckkaGEE]

Thank you for this! I’ve been wondering why sometimes I’d have kimchi in a restaurant and I love it then buy jars in stores and it’s not the same kimchi flavor I fell in love with. But should’ve known not all kimchi is made equal! Will be on the search for your top recommendations now ;)

[@MrsMilato]

Jongga original was the first kimchi I tried and I fell in LOVE!

[@SyntaxGamify]

I found your Channel because of the Open Letter of the New KZbin CEO (Congrats for the epic shoutout btw 😂) and I found your videos to be so chill, yet profound and deep for some videos as well, and you can rest assured you earned yourself a new loyal subscriber.

[@CafeMaddy]

😮😮😮 wow thank you!! When was this letter sent out?! I think i missed it 🫠

[@FEELSORRY4URASS]

My daughter ordered and shipped radish kimchi from twins kimchi for Mother’s Day for me from California’s and man it was delicious and the way they ship products are absolutely perfect highly recommend 💜

[@VioletStone100]

As I promised in the short advertising this video, I came! I watched as I was washing dishes after a big move, and it made me so hungry... Great video!

[@tinyghostahmi]

never knew how much I needed this video till now! thank you!! ❤

[@bellar3488]

Finally, you have no idea how bad i have been wanting this video 🙏🏻