Korean Pantry Essentials - What to buy at a Korean Supermarket

Here is what you will need to buy from a Korean Supermarket to get started with Korean homecooking.

These pantry items will be used frequently in our Korean recipes. The list is not exhaustive. Some recipes will require a second trip to the mart for dish-specific ingredients.

First things first! Do a Google search and find a local Korean supermarket. Or a large Asian market with a Korean section. If you live in the US, try checking out this list (Click on your State).

If you do not live in the US --> we started our own online Korean store! We curate Korea's best-selling and artisanal goods. Come check us out at www.gochujar.com.

In the first section, I have written-out a concise grocery list, including the spelling in Korea. If you can't find something at the mart, find a Korean employee and point to the Korean text.

I include a more detailed list, that includes the brands we regularly use. It doesn't mean that the particular brand is the best - but certainly tried and tested 😉

At the end of the post, you will also find one of my early YouTube videos. I walk-thru the essential pantry items in more detail. However, please note that the video does includes a few extra items which are not necessary to buy for beginner cooks.

Enjoy and leave any questions in the comment sections

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Korean Pantry Essentials - Concise

 

Korean Rice (2)

• Short grain white rice (흰쌀)
• Hetban (optional*) - (햇반)

Korean Sauces, Oils, and Sauces (10)

• Korean Soup Soy Sauce (국간장)
• Soy Sauce (간장)
• Gochugaru - Korean red chili pepper flakes (고추가루)
• Gochujang - Korean red chili pepper paste ( 고추장)
• Doenjang - Korean fermented soybean paste (된장) - optional
• Korean Fish Sauce (anchovy based) (멸치액젓)
• Sesame oil (참기름)
• Mirin - Cooking Rice Wine (미림)
• Sesame seeds (깨)
• Maesil - Korean Plum Extract Syrup (매실) - optional

Korean Soup Stock (3)

• Dried Anchovies (Medium-sized) - 멸치 육수용
• Dried Kelp Pieces (aka Kombu/Dashima) - 다시마
• Anchovy-Kelp Stock Bags (멸치다시팩) - optional but convenient

Fresh Ingredients (2)

• Spring onions (대파)
• Korean Green Chungyang pepper (청양고추)

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Korean Pantry List - Detailed

 

Korean Rice (2)

Short grain, white rice (sushi rice)

• Korean term: 흰쌀
• Brands: Kokuho Rose, Nishiki Rice
• Note: If you would like to sample Korea's best rice, check out Golden Queen No. 3 (it's on a whole new level)

Hetban - microwaveable instant sushi rice (optional*)

• Korean term: 햇반
• Brands: CJ Hetban
• Note: *It's called instant rice - but there's no extra preservatives or additives. It's simply short-grain white rice that has been partially cooked and vacuum sealed by the manufacturer. These rice packs are a life-saver when you're hungry and don't want to spend 45 min cooking rice.

Korean Sauces, Oils, and Sauces (10)

Korean soup soy sauce

• Korean term: 국간장
• Usage: Seasoning Korean soups and stews
• Recommended product: [Chung Jung One] Soup Soy Sauce
• Note: Stick with the Korean brands (this soy sauce is unique to Korea)

Soy sauce

• Korean term: 간장
• Usage: Used in virtually everything
• Recommended product: [Shinangchon] Sengmyongmul Soy Sauce or [Sempio] Yangjo Soy Sauce 501
• Note: Don't be scared to grab the big bottle (900ml)! Soy Sauce is the most-used ingredient in Korean cooking. It will be used-up quickly

Gochugaru - Korean red chili pepper flakes

• Korean term:고추가루
• Usage: Kimchi, BBQ, Stirfry, Marinades, Stews (this is what makes Korean food spicy)
• Recommended product: [Chilkab Nongsan] 100% Korean Gochugaru
• Note: Many brands import their chilis from China to keep the prices low. Check the ingredients list and try to buy a brand that's using 100% Korean Chili Peppers.

Gochujang - Korean red chili pepper paste

• Korean term:고추장
• Usage: Kimchi, BBQ, Stirfry, Marinades, Stews (this is what makes Korean food spicy)
• Recommended product: [Chung Jung One] 100% Brown Rice Gochujang (Gold)
• Note: This paste is used to give a spicy base for iconic Korean dishes like Tteokbokki, Jeyuk Bokkeum, etc.

Doenjang - Korean Fermented soybean paste (*optional)

• Korean term: 된장
• Usage: *Used primarily for Doengjang Jjigae Soup. If you like this soup, buy it. Otherwise, skip it.
• Recommended product: [Chung Jung One] Traditional Doenjang
• Note: This is one of Korea's iconic stews - if you like this stew, you'll probably like Korean cuisine as a whole

Korean Fish Sauce

• Korean term: 멸치액적
• Usage: Kimchi, Banchan, Steamed Eggs
• Recommended product: [Chung Jung One] Anchovy Fish Sauce
• Note: Koreans fish sauce is made specifically from anchovies (unlike Thai, Vietnamese fish sauce)

Sesame oil

• Korean term:참기름
• Usage: Banchan, BBQ Marinades, Garnish
• Recommended product: [Ottogi] Sesame Oil or [Jirisan Chereum] Sun Grown Sesame Oil
• Note: Most Korean brands import their seeds from abroad to keep prices low - if you have a larger budget, try to purchase a brand that's using 100% Korea-grown seeds. Tastes incredible!

Mirin (Rice wine)

• Korean term: 미림
• Usage: Used to reduce odors from meat, poultry, seafood, etc.
• Recommended product: Any Korean or Japanese brand is good
• Note: You can use any rice wine

Sesame seeds

• Korean term: 깨
• Usage: Use for garnish for many dishes
• Recommended product: [Chung-0] Korea-Grown Sesame Seeds
• Note: The product above is pricier than others - it's because the seeds are grown locally in Jirisan Mountain (Korea) - not imported from India. If you're on a budget, go with any brand.

Maesil (Korean Plum Extract Syrup)

• Korean term: 매실액
• Usage: Sweeten dishes without sugar.
• Recommended product: [Hong Ssang Ri] Maesil-Cheong (Plum Extract Syrup)
• Note: Many homecooks prefer to use this instead of sugar (or honey). That's because it's sweet like sugar but much healthier - packed with vitamins, antioxidants and aids in digestion.

Korean Soup Stock (3)

Dried Anchovies

• Korean term: 멸치 (육수용)
• Usage: Used to make base stock for every Korean soup or stock
• Brands: N/A but reference picture
• Note: Buy the dried, medium-sized anchovies.

Dashima (Kombu)

• Korean term: 다시마 (육수용)
• Usage: Used to make base stock for every Korean soup or stock
• Recommended product: [Ahn-Ok Nam] Charcoal-Dried Dashima Squares
• Note: Buy Kombu that has white specks left on the surface - this is where all the umami comes from.

Anchovy-Kelp Stock Bags (*Optional)

• Korean term: 멸치다시팩
• Usage: *Used as a quick way to make soup stock. If you will buy this, skip the dried anchovy and dashima mentioned above.
• Recommended product: [Hae Tongryeong] Anchovy-Dashima Broth Pack
• Note: There are many different variations of these soup stock. Some anchovy-kelp stock bags will include other seafood like crab or shell fish. All of this is ok! Adds to the umami. But be careful to check the ingredients if you have seafood allergies.

Fresh Ingredients (2)

• Spring onions (대파)
• Korean Green Chungyang pepper (청양고추)

... And the rest can be found in any supermarkets:

• Salt
• Sugar
• Soybean or vegetable oil (neutral taste)
• Vinegar
• Black pepper
• Garlic
• Onion

Daniel out! 🕺

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