Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nycbabyblue67]

I will be arriving in Bundang in February.
I'm open to trying all kinds of new food, but wondering if I can easily find the following food items:
Cocoa powder
Natural fruit preserves/jam
Old fashioned oatmeal in a canister
Plain Greek yogurt

[conbon78]

Yes you can find all of those items, no, not easily. I know they all exist in Itaewon, but otherwise, your store might have some - depends on your grocery store in Bundang.

[eamo]

Would it be ok if you bought the oatmeal and cannister separately, then transferred the oatmeal from a box or packet to a cannister?

[curiousaboutkorea]

[nycbabyblue67]

[nycbabyblue67]

[nycbabyblue67]

[David Lee Roth]

As another poster said, you can find all of those things in Itaewon. More specifically, the Foreign Mart up Hooker Hill is your best best for one-stop shopping.

[egrog1717]

Costco is always a possibility as well

[climber159]

You'll do fine in Bundang. There's a Lotte Department Store supermarket at Sunae station, a Huckleberry Farms (read, overpriced organic foods store from New Zealand) near Jeongja station, and an I Love Cookie also near Jeongja station on "cafe street." The E-mart in Bundang also has an organic foods section.

[curiousaboutkorea]

[red_devil]

[nycbabyblue67]

[nycbabyblue67]

[Skippy]

To your list

Cocoa Powder) Availbale at your basic emart/homeplus grocery stores and department stores grocery sections. Medium to expensive prices. Will likely be of Korean or Japanese origin

Natural fruit preserves/jam) Most Korean jams are filled with sugar. Best bet is you can find some more natural jams and that at emart/homeplus grovery store. You will likely have better luck at department store grocery stores. Price will be expensive. Costco can also be okay for some jams.

Old fashioned oatmeal in a canister) This one is a bit difficult. You will have to find it at the blackmarket stores to buy it. You rarely will find this in you groery store. If you do find it it will be of the instant variety- which Costco does have oatmeal but it will be instant. Places to find oatmeal is the black market stores in Itaewon - red door and Foreign Food Market. Also check out the major market NamDaemun(?).

Plain Greek yogurt) next to impossible. Most yogurt will have some fruit or sugar in it. They do sell a sort of plain yogurt at most grocery stores but I do not trust it to be unadulterated. Price will be medium but comes in small sizes - sorry no tubes likely. I think there are some alternatives but you will likely half to buy it in Seoul.

Remember Korea is NOT back home. Finding unique items will be next to impossible or difficult. Koreans are their market in Korea and their tastes are so different from the west.

Good Luck.