Let's talk about grocery shopping in Long Beach. When you move to the U.S., there's something that worries you even more than finding a place to live.

"Where can I buy kimchi?" "What if I run out of gochujang?" Those were my biggest concerns when I first came to Long Beach. But after living here, I realized those worries were unnecessary. Once you get used to it, grocery shopping is actually quite convenient.

For everyday essentials like milk, eggs, bread, fruits, and vegetables, I often shop at the local Trader Joe's or Ralphs. Trader Joe's has great prices on frozen foods, salads, nuts, and wine, while Ralphs offers good deals on meat and household items if you use coupons wisely.

If you buy a lot of meat or have a big family, Costco is almost a must. Buying in bulk on items like toilet paper, water, detergent, beef, chicken, and salmon can definitely save you money. If you have a membership, Sam's Club is also a good option. Many people alternate between Costco and Sam's based on their preferences.

If you want to save a bit more, I also go to Vons frequently. Their weekly sale items are quite good, and if you use the app coupons well, you can score some unexpected deals. Everyone knows that sale prices are much more important than regular prices at American markets, right?

So where can you find Korean groceries? While there aren't any large Korean markets in Long Beach, you don't need to worry at all.

Just a 20-30 minute drive away, you can find H Mart, Hanam Chain, and Galleria Market in Torrance and Gardena, where you can get almost all the ingredients you used to eat in Korea. You can find everything from kimchi, perilla leaves, peppers, side dishes, rice cakes, to cold noodles and pork belly.

Chinese markets are also really useful. 99 Ranch Market has a variety of vegetables and seafood at competitive prices. Sometimes, bean sprouts, bok choy, and mushrooms can be cheaper than at Korean markets. There's also a huge selection of Asian ingredients like soy sauce, tofu, and frozen dumplings.

These days, more people are opting not to go to Korean markets directly. Many products can be ordered online from H Mart or places like Wootang Mall and delivered to your home, and in some areas, you can even get H Mart delivery through Instacart.

This is my recommended grocery shopping method: do your regular shopping at Ralphs or Trader Joe's, and once or twice a month, go to H Mart or Hanam Chain in Torrance to stock up on Korean ingredients. Then, you can save a lot on food costs by getting meat and household items at Costco.

In the end, while Long Beach isn't a Koreatown, living here is really convenient. By using American, Korean, and Chinese markets as needed, you might even feel like you have more options. Now, instead of asking myself, "Where should I go grocery shopping today?" I find myself thinking, "Which market has the better sales today?" It really seems true that once you get used to grocery shopping, you've adapted to living in America by half.