Korean Job Discussion Forums

Funky Chunk · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Location: Haebangchon, Seoul

We all know that buying bulk items from costco is usually a pretty decent deal. But what about beef, seafood, and bacon? Would one be better off buying from costco or the local butcher?

Chicoloco · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Location: In the ring.

I really don't think beef is great value at Cosco.
You can get better deals at your local Emart or Kims Club on things like stewing beef, shabu cuts etc. But if you are interested in high end cuts like New York steaks - Costco isn't so bad.

As for bacon, both Emart and Kims Club have pretty decent bacon now available. You can find multi pack deals (usually 3 or 4 packs) for around 6,000.

Seafood, I'm not so sure about. You can buy frozen salmon fillets at Costco which are good value but low on taste. You can buy fresh flounder for about 25,000 a head.

Overall, if you have the inclination to search out the smaller, local butchers and fish mongers, you could probably get better deals on most meats. If not, I reckon Kim's Club or Emart and pretty decent for bulk buys. Costco is still quite good for pork though.

highlander_76 · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Location: Jeongja

I've found that Emart and Homever usually have comparable meat prices with Costco. The catch is that when you buy meat at Emart or Homever, you have to make sure to ask for "su-ip-san", the imported stuff, and not "han-u-san", the domestic beef that costs over twice as much. Can't tell the difference myself.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

I must respectfully disagree about E-Mart's bacon. I made the mistake of purchasing one variety and then the other (the one with the western looking chef on the package). Absolutely the worst "bacon" I have ever had. Absolutely tasteless, almost like cardboard. Disgusting, IMHO. Costco sells a 4-pack of bacon (Kirkland Brand) for around W14,000. Much, much better than the E-Mart stuff.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

No supermarket in Korea does Western-style meats cheaper than Costco. Not that Costco is especially cheap. It's just that the other supermarkets are incredibly expensive for meats. Beef, bacon and cold-cuts most of all. Pork and chicken is reasonable in most Korean supermarkets.

ramikera · Joined: 19 Dec 2007

As for bacon, I'm not sure about price, but taste-wise, I'd say your best bet is Costco. While the major "Marts" offer much in imported goods, they are still lacking in western-style bacon. I've bought bacon in the marts before, and it's just not the same as back at home. Costco's bacon is fine for me, but most likely you'll be buying bulk.

As for other meats, it depends on which meat you're interested in. If it's for stews (meaning, not tender beef, but fine for broths), then the local marts are fine.

For Australian beef steaks, I think Costco tends to be slightly lower in price and much better in quality (but read disclaimer below). Like the previous poster said, watch out for "Han-ooh" beef. It's actually very good quality and tender, but you'll be paying a premium for it. My Lotte Mart had some Australian steaks available, and they were just so-so. Costco isn't that cheap, but the availability and quality are more consistent.

Now, if you're interested in the marinated meats, both the major marts and Costco are great. My friends and I used to go to either Lottemart of Emart near closing time (we usually went between 10pm-12am) and the marinated meats would be marked down anywhere from 30-60%!!!

I once even found some decent beef steaks at a good price during this time (but only once). And if you like sushi, Emart has great quality sushi. These are a great buy after around 9pm, too (the salmon rocks!). Check the time on the package, though. I've never had a problem, as they've been made a couple of hours before I purchased them (even when I buy them at 10pm), but you never know, so make sure to check.

***Disclaimer: prices and stock vary. Sometimes, I see a larger variety of meats at a decent price at the major marts and when I return a couple of weeks later, it's not available anymore. If you have time, stop by a couple of hours before closing time just to check it out.

Oh, and one last note on the local neighborhood butchers... the ones I've been to tended to be a little more expensive than the major marts. I only go when I just need a little meat to get me through the evening, or for guests. And it's usually been for pork, so the quality was fine and the price was reasonable. I've never bought beef with them, so can't really speak for that.