Trader Joe’s is known for its delicious selection of frozen food, and is also unfortunately known for selling out of fan-favorite items. This speciality side is no different—it’s so popular that the grocery store chain actually had to put purchase limits on it. What is this superfan favorite item? Kimbap! A Korean tofu and vegetable seaweed rice roll that has fans stocking up while they can.
What is the Trader Joe's Kimbap?
According to Trader Joe's website, it's a Korean sushi roll. Known in Korea as "gimbap," with "gim" meaning "seaweed" and "bap" meaning "cooked rice."
Kimbap is made with sesame oil-seasoned rice, and can contain all kinds of combinations of savory fillings. The one that TJ's sells is made by an expert in Korea, who "arranges an assortment of sautéed greens, crunchy root vegetables, and crisp pickles around a base of braised tofu, wraps it all in a layer of rice and seaweed, then slices it into two-or-three-bite-sized rounds."
The package, which costs only $3.99, can be microwaved and served hot or chilled as an entrée, side, or snack. Insider tip: give each piece a quick pan-fry: two minutes in hot oil per side ought to do the trick.
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Fan reactions
On an Instagram post from @TraderJoesObsessed that features the item, fans took to the comments to share their thoughts.
"Hooray!! I missed it last go around!" one fan commented.
"Omg yesssss!!!! I am gonna stock up for sure!" another customer posted. "Yesssss!!! Please don't run out!!" one fan added.
"So good!!" another customer said simply. One lucky fan was able to stock up before the purchase limit was enforced, writing, "I just bought 14 of them!!"
Another fan, who may have visited the same location after the last fan, commented, "Already sold out! Why don't they just make more since it's such a popular item?"
Another customer agreed, reporting, "These were restocked overnight then gone the next morning" at their location.
A final fan posted, "My fav thing at TJ's for sure!"
