Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I've only gone to Costco once in Korea. It was good, as the stuff was way cheaper, but I only went because some friends were driving. They only go a few times a year, and stock up. Usually I get the stuff in Itaewon or (more often) just order it from ezshopkorea or nicemarket, markup and all. If Incheon had a Costco, I'd definitely go more often. For now, it's Homeplus and online shopping.

[jfromtheway]

I think I saw a twelve pack of Miller Lite in there for around 16k last time I was there. F*** that noise. Costco is probably the perfect place for the provider of a family or a couple, but if you're a short term minded single person here, who doesn't need 8,000 pieces of Dentine Ice or six gallons of extra virgin olive oil, you'll likely find yourself being very selective in your shopping. I usually just food shop around Itaewon, but I know that is a ways out of the way for a lot of people, so Costco can be quite beneficial. That place is also a goldmine for Koreans who take care of their children and grandparents.

Cheaper fruit (I think), sandwich meat, box wine (I roll hard), and a few other things make it worthwhile for me. But I usually end up lost in that place, wondering whether or not I want to pay 20k for eighty fruit roll-ups or 30k for a bag of pistachios that would cost nine bucks in the states. In most cases, you have to buy an enormous amount of one product, and if you aren't here long term, it's hard to justify many of those purchases. The exorbitant price of juice in this cuntry also pisses me off. Paid out the ass for some apple juice there a few weeks ago. Don't think I'd drank apple juice since I arrived, due to the price.

Pizza is good, though. Great deals to be had, good place in general. And if you haven't witnessed the freak show that is the crowd around onion dispenser, you're depriving yourself of a unique cultural experience. Hoards of Korean people shoving mustard laced onions into their gullets at breakneck speed is a sight to behold. As disturbing as it may be.

[premiummince]

Where's sojusucks?

[northway]

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

[dairyairy]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[sojusucks]

[motiontodismiss]

[sojusucks]

[ganstar]

Here is a non North Americans view of costco. And yes I do cook.

The fruit and veg is crap mostly. The local markets are much better and cheaper.

It's true the cheese is much cheaper than anywhere else. The stuff I have tried was average. I bought that big wheel of President brie, that was so salty and getting that ammonia nose/taste. The date on it was fine.

The orange hued Kirkland cheddars weird me out. The Monterey jack is bland and doesn't seem that creamy. The Tillamook has more flavour but is chalky. Again not that creamy. They are ok to have on hand, you just snack on them and don't really think about. Forgettable. If you've ever had the Livecross or Pilgram's Choice cheddars (Megamart, Homeplus or Shinsaegae) compared to costco's they are chalk and cheese. Admittedly they are a bit costly. You can get blue cheeses, Padano and Parmesan, the latter two really well priced.

The cereals are a bit random, not even a bran cereal.

The Kirkland bacon, though cheap, has a large portion of rind fat and no loin/eye. It is very soft and squidgy and tastes like prosciutto, of which I am not much of a fan. Very different to the K bacon or stuff from my own country. I got used to it, lucky I did you get so much. Don't know I would re- purchase. They stock a pack of local bacon, one the big brands, much cheaper than the regular supers.

There are 'lunch' meats, haven't tried yet. Noticed a domestic small whole ham, I really want to try that. The chicken is really well packaged in a sheet of cryovac bags things. Just tear and freeze. Thighs too which I much prefer to breast and I have never seen these sold separately anywhere.

Good selection of coffee, yet no black tea except for Twinings Earl Grey, weird. Homeplus has more tea, and most supers stock kilo bags of coffee that are cheaper than costco's. Supers themselves seem to be developing bulk supply ranges perhaps in response to costco.

Cheap vitamins and supplements. Queen sheet sets. Kettle chips, they are the bomb. And that big tub of Pesto is really good.

Generally, it's not particularly worth it, except those Kettle chips.

[Dodge7]

Ok, I went back yesterday and this time I went to the food court.
I did see what many here said about the Koreans and onions and ketchup. They cranked the onions out onto their plates with a lot of ketchup.

How are they eating it? Extra toppings for pizza? I don't get it. I couldn't stay and watch because we got our food to go--it was too crowded.

I got a calzone and my wife got the chicken bake--i tried it and I actually thought the chicken bake had a little better taste than my calzone. We got a free hot dog and it was pretty good, I guess they are the same one they sell in the store.

[Stan Rogers]

I generally like going to Costco for the pizza or hotdogs. What I don't like about the Ilsan Costco is having to walk through the whole store and the checkout area to get there. I guess they want their customers to walk through the store hungry so they buy more stuff.

Also you cannot re-enter the grocery section of the store through the checkout area. The workers there would not let me go back into the grocery section to pick up something I forgot. I had to go through the entrance and the whole store again.

I only went there once. Maybe I missed something.

[maximmm]

I buy everything on g-market. Haven't been to a mall in months. Sadly, it's impossible to buy beer on g-market...