neushimo

Kimchi became a regular side dish for me from time to time ever since we went to samgyupsal restaurants a few months ago. I tried it before when I was a kid, and I didn’t really like it. But after trying it again as an adult, I found it surprisingly tasty.

It didn’t take long before I started buying kimchi for home to pair with rice and Filipino ulams that I thought were lacking a bit of vegetables and fiber. That’s another thing I like about kimchi. It lasts much longer than fresh vegetables and often still maintains that satisfying crunch.

Seoul Kimchi by Seoul Foods MFG is a particularly old brand and, according to their website, has been introducing Korean cuisine and kimchi to the Philippines since 1989. They are located in Valenzuela City.

Nongbu Kimchi by Nongbu Food, on the other hand, is based in Malabon, Metro Manila, and was founded much more recently in January 2024.

I’ve seen and tried these two kimchi brands that are readily available in Savemore supermarkets, so let’s see which one is better.

Appearance and Taste

The Nongbu Kimchi is much redder than the Seoul Kimchi. The sauce also looks thicker and more like a paste similar to gochujang. Seoul Kimchi looks much paler, and its sauce is a bit more watery.

In terms of taste, the Nongbu Kimchi is slightly sour, salty, but a bit too overwhelmingly sweet for me. It’s nice for the first few bites, but I get pretty sick of it after that. The Filipino term for this is “nakaka-umay.”

The Seoul Kimchi has a slightly fresher taste. It’s more garlicky, tangy, and a bit more sour with just the right amount of saltiness and a very, very small hint of sweetness. I really like this kimchi more than the other one, but this is just my personal preference.

In terms of texture, both kimchi brands have a nice crunch to the vegetables.

Price

The Seoul Kimchi (800g) costs PHP 298 while the Nongbu Kimchi (900g) costs PHP 230 which is significantly cheaper and gives you an extra 100g.

Seoul Kimchi costs approximately PHP 0.37/g, while Nongbu Kimchi costs only PHP 0.25/g, which means it is about 32% cheaper than Seoul Kimchi. Does it taste 32% cheaper? I honestly don’t think so. It’s just not my cup of tea.

These prices are based on Savemore and SM Supermarket online listings, which I have personally verified are the same prices as in their physical stores.

Packaging

The Seoul Kimchi comes in a glass jar with a warning that the contents may splatter upon opening due to the kimchi’s fermentation.

The Nongbu Kimchi comes in a plastic jar with a foldable ring on the lid, which makes it easier to carry. It also has a gas absorber attached to the underside of the lid to absorb gases produced during fermentation.

Even though I haven’t had any explosive incidents with Seoul Kimchi, the bubbling build-up after opening it and some juice flowing out can be a bit of a problem. I have to wipe the jar clean, my hands clean, and the sink clean. Nongbu Kimchi is, in fact, much easier to open.

So Which One Should You Buy?

It depends on what flavor you want in your kimchi. Seoul Kimchi is much tangier and has a more watery consistency, while Nongbu Kimchi is noticeably sweeter and thicker.

If you like sweeter side dishes with your rice and want to maximize value for money, then go for Nongbu Kimchi. But if you want a tangier, sourer kimchi with less noticeable sweetness, then go for Seoul Kimchi.

For me, I’d prefer Seoul Kimchi any time of the day. Switching to Nongbu Kimchi was more of a one-time thing that I wanted to try, but I definitely prefer the taste of Seoul Kimchi.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’d rate Seoul Kimchi a 9 out of 10 and Nongbu Kimchi a 7 out of 10. They’re both pretty good and, again, taste is subjective for everyone!

I’d like to know what other kimchi brands you’ve tried before and what your favorite go-to brands are. Leave them in the comments down below!