Trader Joe’s just leaked a new Korean-style Kimchi Mandu Dumpling that fans have been waiting on for years — and it’s the perfect excuse to revisit the whole dumpling-and-Asian-frozen section. Eight items below earn the freezer space every week, and one is the new kid that’s about to disappear from shelves on day one.
Here’s what to grab.
Contents
1. Kimchi Mandu Dumplings (New)
The brand-new Korean-style mandu that’s about to hit shelves this month. Rectangular pillow-pouch shape, packed with kimchi, described by early tasters as “intensely kimchi-y” — the spiciest dumpling in TJ’s freezer lineup. Microwaved, pan-fried, or thrown into broth. Expected to be the kind of item that sells out within the first week.
Price: $4.99 (estimated, frozen)
2. Pork Gyoza Potstickers
The all-time TJ freezer staple. Sixteen Japanese-style pork-and-cabbage gyoza for $3.99. Pan-fry with a splash of water and you get crispy bottoms with juicy fillings in seven minutes. The mid-week dinner that never fails.
Price: $3.99 (frozen, 16-count)
3. Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings
XLB-style soup dumplings with broth sealed inside. Steam-only, six minutes. Eat carefully — the soup is hot and there is a lot of it. The dipping sauce we recommend: TJ’s Soyaki plus a splash of rice vinegar plus a tiny dot of chili crunch.
Price: $4.99 (frozen)
4. Vegetable Gyoza
The plant-based counterpart to the pork gyoza. Cabbage, edamame, carrot, and shiitake mushroom filling. Crisp up better than the pork because the filling has less moisture. Sixteen pieces for $3.99.
Price: $3.99 (frozen, 16-count)
5. Mandarin Orange Chicken
The TJ-iconic battered chicken in a tangy orange sauce. Best to bake (not microwave) — toss in convection oven at 425°F for 18 minutes, then drizzle the sauce after. Serve over jasmine rice. The dish that introduced an entire generation to TJ’s frozen aisle.
Price: $6.99 (frozen)
6. Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs
Already-marinated, flame-grill-ready short ribs from the meat counter (not freezer, but close enough). Broil for 8 minutes per side. Serve over rice with the included sauce packet or with TJ Gochujang Sauce.
Price: $13.99/lb (fresh meat counter)
7. Vegetable Pad Thai
The frozen Thai noodles with peanut sauce. Best heated stovetop with extra cilantro, lime, and crushed peanuts on top — the microwave version lands sweet but a bit loose. A 4-minute pantry dinner.
Price: $3.99 (frozen)
8. Knife-Cut Style Noodles
Thick, chewy hand-pulled-style noodles, frozen. Cook 4 minutes and toss with chili oil, soy, scallion, and a soft-boiled egg. Or pair with the Kung Pao Chicken (also frozen) for a fast bowl with restaurant-level texture.
Price: $3.49 (frozen)
The cart-builder
If you’re stocking the freezer for the next two weeks of weeknight dinners, grab these four: Pork Gyoza Potstickers, Mandarin Orange Chicken, Knife-Cut Noodles, and a bag of the new Kimchi Mandu if you can find them. That’s four meals for under $20 total, all under 15 minutes start to finish.
What’s your favorite TJ dumpling or Asian frozen item? Reply and tell us — we’ll feature reader picks in next week’s frozen-section roundup.
