The $4.99 Trader Joe’s Find That I’m Eating All Summer

Once, instead of ordering a regular-sized container of gochujang, I wound up with a five-pound bucket. This is what Bob Ross liked to call a “happy accident.”

I’m stubborn about using up the ingredients I buy, so I could not let that precious gochujang go to waste. I got deeply obsessed with finding ways to use my endless supply. I was pregnant, which for me has always meant finding a beloved dish and hyper-focusing on it. During my Summer of Gochujang, it was bibim guksu. 

For months, I ate as much bibim-guksu as I could. It’s a dish designed for the dog days of summer: cool, crisp veggies like cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and cabbage mixed with cold soba noodles and tossed in a sesame oil and gochujang dressing.

I made bibim-guksu whenever I was too hot or tired to cook. Before long, I had made a decent dent in my bucket of gochujang.

Recently, while pursuing the produce section of Trader Joe’s, I was hit with instant nostalgia. There, in the cold case, was a ready-made bowl of Korean Style Bibim-Guksu for $4.99. I had to give it a try.

Why I Love Trader Joe’s Korean Style Bibim-Guksu

 I have to admit, I didn’t expect much from this bowl of prepackaged noodles. But Trader Joe’s fully over-delivered. The noodles were perfectly textured—not sticky, mushy, or over-cooked. The kimchi was tangy, and the vegetables (Napa cabbage, cucumber, carrots, and scallions) tasted super fresh. 

My only complaint was that the dressing could have used a hit of my five-pound tub of gochujang. To me, it was a bit sweet, but I easily remedied that with a dash of hot sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil for richness. I appreciate that the dressing came in a separate pouch so I could add as much or as little as I wanted.

This is perfect as a light lunch, but on days when you feel super hungry, I recommend adding a soft-cooked egg or two to make the bowl more substantial. 

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