After moving to Madison, there's a common issue that many Koreans face.

"Where on earth can I buy kimchi and gochujang?"

Since it's not a city with a large Korean community like Chicago or LA, it might seem quite difficult to find Korean ingredients at first.

However, after searching around, I found that there are more options than expected. The important thing is to know which market has what.

The first place to remember is Asian Midway Foods. Located at 301 S. Park St., it's one of the oldest and most representative Asian grocery stores in Madison.

The store isn't huge or flashy like a big supermarket. Instead, once you go inside, you'll see that the small space is packed with products.

They have everything from rice and noodles to sauces, frozen foods, tofu, Asian vegetables, fish, and meat, making it quite useful for households that often cook Korean, Chinese, or Southeast Asian dishes.

If you're specifically looking for Korean ingredients, it's also good to know about K-Food Market, located at 1206 S. Park St.

Previously known as Oriental Food Mart, it's a small store focused on Korean groceries.

These small specialty shops can be more convenient when searching for Korean seasonings or ingredients that are hard to find in regular American supermarkets.

If you live on the west side, Lee's Oriental is also a good option. Located at 3240 University Ave., it specializes in Korean and Japanese foods.

They sell Korean seasonings like gochujang, as well as Korean side dishes and kitchen products like stone pots and Korean barbecue supplies.

For those looking for Korean groceries, it's a place with a clear purpose, unlike a general 'Asian market.'

And in 2026, the Asian shopping environment in Madison has improved significantly.

A large Asian market called Enson Market opened in March on University Ave. Unlike the existing small specialty stores, it's a spacious and modern supermarket, making it easy to browse Asian foods like frozen items, snacks, sauces, and noodles all at once. This is especially a welcome change for those living on the west side.

On the east side, you can't miss Global Market & Food Hall. Located at 2161 Zeier Rd., it's quite large and offers fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, frozen foods, fish, and seafood. This place is more about the fun of browsing than just shopping. There's a food hall next door selling various Asian foods, making it convenient for families to shop while one person buys groceries and another enjoys a meal.

Don't forget about A-Mart Asian Grocery on the west side. Located at 680 S. Whitney Way, it carries products from various countries including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, and Korea. They also have fresh vegetables, meats, and seafood, making it suitable for households that cook a variety of Asian dishes rather than just looking for specific Korean products.

On Monona Drive, there's also Viet Hoa Market. As the name suggests, it has a strong focus on Vietnamese and Southeast Asian ingredients, but you can also find relatively common Korean products like ramen, kimchi, and sauces.

Looking at all this, it's not as difficult to cook Korean food in Madison as I initially thought.

If you prioritize Korean products, you can start with K-Food Market or Lee's Oriental, and if you want to buy a variety of items at once, you can use Global Market or the newly opened Enson Market. If you live near Park Street, Asian Midway Foods is quite practical.

Of course, it's not at the level of large Korean supermarkets in the suburbs of Chicago where every Korean brand is lined up.

Still, it's entirely possible to maintain a typical Korean diet in Madison, including marinating bulgogi, making doenjang jjigae, and stocking up on ramen and dumplings in the freezer.

When I first came to Madison, I wondered how I would manage to cook Korean food, but it turned out the issue was simply not knowing where to look.

And sometimes, using the excuse of not finding a desired brand to go grocery shopping in Chicago isn't so bad either. For Koreans, grocery shopping can sometimes feel like a little adventure.