Is All Kimchi Vegan?
Kimchi is not always vegan. Whether you buy Kimchi at the grocery store or order it at a restaurant, there is always a chance that it contains an animal product (usually a fish product, such as fish sauce).
Kimchi is sour, sweet, spicy (sometimes), and savory, making it a perfect addition to many meals! You can add a pop of flavor to your rice bowl or even use it as a marinade for tofu.
You don’t have to eat fish-flavored Kimchi, as there are many brands at the grocery store that are entirely plant based!
The brands that are pictured in the list are the most popular and the easiest to find. But there were so many brands to include, so I added a small section of other plant-based kimchi brands in case you have a specific store nearby that might sell their own kimchi.
For each of these brands, I’ll list some popular stores that carry the product, and I’ll also link to some online retailers if you can have it shipped to you!
If the Kimchi brand has any other certifications besides vegan — such as gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, or organic — I’ll put this in the description for those who are following special diets other than a plant-based diet.
By the way, if you plan on making vegan Kimchi from scratch, you can use one of these Vegan Fish Sauce brands from my list to give it an umami flavor.
Remember that ingredients can change at any time, so be sure to always read the most recent product descriptions, certifications, and labels to ensure that they are still vegan-friendly.
Vegan Kimchi Brands
Nasoya Kimchi
Nasoya Kimchi has to be the first brand mentioned, as it is one of the easiest kimchi brands to find in stores. There are two kimchi varieties (spicy and mild) to choose from, and they are both vegan friendly!
Nasoya Kimchi is sold in many popular grocery stores, including Publix, Albertsons, Hy-Vee, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, ShopRite, Price Chopper, and more! Use their product locator to find the closest store to you.
One of the most popular Vegan Kimchi brands, Mother In Law’s Kimchi comes in three different vegan varieties! Choose between Vegan Table Cut Napa Cabbage, Vegan White Napa Cabbage with Ginger Kimchi, and Vegan Daikon Radish Kimchi. Be careful though, as the Mother In Law’s House Kimchi is not vegan-friendly (it’s made with fish sauce and bone broth).
You can buy this popular brand of vegan Napa cabbage kimchi at many health food stores like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market, but you can also find it at regular grocery stores including Meijer, HEB, Shaw’s, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, and more! Use their store locator to find MIL products near you!
Seoul Kimchi
Next up on the list is Seoul Kimchi by Lucky Foods! This Kimchi brand comes in 5 different varieties — two of which are certified vegan! The two vegan Kimchi varieties — Vegan Original Kimchi and Vegan Spicy Kimchi — are also certified gluten free, Keto certified, non-GMO, and MSG free!
You can easily find these plant-based Kimchi varieties in stores like Target and Sprouts, but you can also find them in other select grocery stores including Fred Meyer and Food 4 Less. Use their store locator to find the store closest to you!
Wildbrine Kimchi
All Wildbrine Kimchi products are vegan-friendly, and they have three varieties to choose from. The Mild Kimchi with Turmeric is perfect if your’e looking for a raw vegan kimchi that isn’t spicy. Wildbrine Korean Kimchi is just a veganized version of classic Korean kimchi with no MSG. And the Japanese Kimchi with miso has an umami flavor without the fish sauce.
Find Wildbrine Kimchi products at a wide variety of stores including Sprouts, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Frys, Safeway, Ralphs, GreenWise Market, and more! Type in your zip code on their store locator to find the closest store to you.
Surasang Napa Cabbage Kimchi
If you can’t find any of the above brands at your local grocery store, you might have better luck finding Surasang Napa Cabbage Kimchi, which is also vegan-friendly! It is slightly spicy and also gluten free.
Some stores that carry Surasang Kimchi include Albertsons (and affiliates like Vons, Safeway, etc.), Meijer, HEB, and more. I couldn’t find a reliable product locator, so just search for it on your local grocery store’s website to see if they carry this product!
Jongga Sliced Napa Cabbage Kimchi
After being frustrated searching for a Kimchi sold at Walmart, I went to my local Walmart to see what they have. Here’s what I found: Jongga Sliced Napa Cabbage Kimchi! It is vegan, gluten free, keto-friendly!
The website wasn’t very helpful when I checked, so I couldn’t find a product locator, but if your local Walmart has a vegan section in the produce department, look for Jongga kimchi! Also, Costco may sell this brand but it will be in a larger container.
Other Plant-Based Kimchi Brands
The brands I listed above are the easiest to find at many grocery stores and also the most frequently purchased brands. However, there are so many other vegan Kimchi brands, so I decided to list some more below that are not as popular or only sold at select locations. Feel free to try any of the below and leave a comment if you discover some other plant-based kimchi brands near you!
- Simple Truth Korean Style Kimchi: If you have a Kroger nearby, or any Kroger affiliates (like Frys, Smith’s, Pick ‘n Save, Fred Meyer, etc.), the Simple Truth Korean Style Kimchi is vegan-friendly. Simple Truth is sold exclusively at Kroger stores.
- Trader Joe’s Korean Napa Cabbage Kimchi (Bagged): Trader Joe’s does have a vegan kimchi option, but they also have one that contains fish sauce. Be careful to buy the plant-based one, which is usually bagged. The one that contains fish sauce is usually jarred. Always read the ingredients just to make sure.
- Sunja’s Kimchi, sold at Whole Foods, is also vegan.