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.
1. Kimchi Mandu Dumplings
$4.99 (frozen, new)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 3 potstickers (75g) | Serves about 6
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Total Sugars: 2 g
- Includes: less than 1g Added Sugars g Added Sugars
- Protein: 5 g
- Vitamin D: 0.0 mcg
- Calcium: 50 mg
- Iron: 2.2 mg
- Potassium: 270 mg
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.
Taste Notes
Sharp kimchi flavor with real fermented depth — not a mild knockoff. Wrapper is slightly thicker than a gyoza, holds shape on pan-fry. Heat is medium, not extreme.
Serving Ideas
- Pan-fry with a splash of water 6 minutes — crispy bottom, steamed top, like dumpling perfection.
- Drop in chicken broth with scallions and a soft-boiled egg for a 7-minute Korean-inspired soup.
- Serve with a soy-sesame-vinegar dip plus a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
2. Pork Gyoza Potstickers
$3.99 (frozen, 16-count)
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional info coming soon — check the package, or reply with your label photo and we will add it.
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.
Taste Notes
Juicy pork filling with cabbage crunch. Wrapper crisps golden on the bottom and stays tender on top. Garlic and ginger present but balanced — not aggressive.
Serving Ideas
- Pan-fry with water + lid standard method — 7 minutes total, perfect every time.
- Add to a quick wonton soup with chicken broth, bok choy, and scallions.
- Serve with TJ Soyaki + rice vinegar + chili crisp for the perfect dipping trio.
3. Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings
$4.99 (frozen)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 Container (170g) | Serves 1
- Calories: 230
- Total Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 36 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Total Sugars: 3 g
- Includes: 2 g Added Sugars
- Protein: 4 g
- Vitamin D: 0.0 mcg
- Calcium: 30 mg
- Iron: 1.5 mg
- Potassium: 130 mg
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.
Taste Notes
Real broth inside — surprisingly rich for a frozen product. Chicken filling is mild and savory; the broth carries the show. Wrapper is delicate, slightly chewy.
Serving Ideas
- Steam in a bamboo basket 6 minutes — never microwave or you lose the soup.
- Eat the right way bite the top, sip the broth first, then eat the rest.
- Serve with ginger-vinegar julienned fresh ginger in rice vinegar is the traditional dip.
4. Vegetable Gyoza
$3.99 (frozen, 16-count)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: about 3 pieces (85g) | Serves about 5
- Calories: 160
- Total Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 25 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Total Sugars: 2 g
- Includes: 1 g Added Sugars
- Protein: 3 g
- Vitamin D: 0.6 mcg
- Calcium: 30 mg
- Iron: 0.4 mg
- Potassium: 100 mg
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.
Taste Notes
Earthy from the shiitake, sweet from the carrot, light cabbage crunch. Less rich than the pork version but the wrapper crisps more aggressively (which we like). Garlic forward.
Serving Ideas
- Pan-fry until very crisp filling has less moisture so they get extra-crispy easily.
- Toss in a stir-fry with bok choy and TJ Soyaki — restaurant-style 10-minute dinner.
- Serve cold next day with a chili-soy dipping sauce — they hold texture surprisingly well.
5. Mandarin Orange Chicken
$6.99 (frozen)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 cup frozen chicken and sauce (163g)) | Serves about 4
- Calories: 320
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sodium: 570mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 35g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 16g
- Includes: 16g Added Sugars
- Protein: 22g
- Vitamin D: 0.1mcg
- Calcium: 10mg
- Iron: 2mg
- Potassium: 370mg
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.
Taste Notes
Crispy fried-style batter that holds up after baking. Sauce balances orange sweetness with vinegar tang and ginger warmth — never cloying. Chicken pieces stay tender, not stringy.
Serving Ideas
- Bake at 425°F for 18 minutes then toss in sauce — never microwave, you lose the crispy batter.
- Serve over jasmine rice with steamed broccoli and scallions for the classic plate.
- Stuff into a wrap with shredded lettuce + cucumber + extra orange sauce for an Asian-style wrap.
6. Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs
$13.99/lb (fresh meat counter)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 piece (110g/3.9 oz) | Serves about 5
- Calories: 320
- Total Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sodium: 230mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 2g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 16g
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.
Taste Notes
Sweet-savory marinade clings to the meat through the cook. Beef stays tender on a quick broil — never rubbery. Char marks develop fast at high heat.
Serving Ideas
- Broil 8 minutes per side for the right tender-with-char balance.
- Serve over rice with kimchi and a fried egg on top for a Korean comfort bowl.
- Slice and use in lettuce wraps with shredded carrot, scallion, and gochujang sauce.
7. Vegetable Pad Thai
$3.99 (frozen)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 tray (300g) | Serves 1
- Calories: 360
- Total Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 55 g
- Dietary Fiber: 5 g
- Total Sugars: 27 g
- Includes: 20 g Added Sugars
- Protein: 10 g
- Vitamin D: 0 mcg
- Calcium: 50 mg
- Iron: 2.0 mg
- Potassium: 410 mg
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.
Taste Notes
Peanut-forward sauce with a sweet edge — needs lime to balance. Rice noodles hold up well on stovetop reheat. Fresh herbs at the end transform the dish.
Serving Ideas
- Heat in a skillet with a splash of water — 4 minutes, much better than microwave.
- Top with crushed roasted peanuts fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and a few drops of sriracha.
- Add a fried egg for protein and richness — restaurant-style upgrade.
8. Knife-Cut Style Noodles
$3.49 (frozen)
Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 noodle pack + 1 Sauce packet + 1 sesame paste packet (113g) | Serves 4
- Calories: 460
- Total Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 66 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3 g
- Total Sugars: 8 g
- Includes: 6 g Added Sugars
- Protein: 15 g
- Vitamin D: 0.0 mcg
- Calcium: 100 mg
- Iron: 1.5 mg
- Potassium: 210 mg
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.
Taste Notes
Thick, springy, with the slight irregularity that signals ‘real’ hand-pulled noodles. Holds sauces well. Chew is firm without being tough.
Serving Ideas
- Toss with chili oil + soy + scallion for a 6-minute dan dan style bowl with a soft-boiled egg.
- Pair with frozen Kung Pao Chicken and you have restaurant-level texture in 8 minutes.
- Stir-fry with vegetables and Soyaki add shredded chicken or shrimp for a complete dinner.
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.
