Aldi just made a bold move in the frozen food aisle with its $3.49 kimbap dupe that’s turning heads and winning over Trader Joe’s loyalists.
The budget grocery chain has released its own spin on the viral Korean sushi rolls, aiming straight at one of its biggest competitors. With Trader Joe’s Kimbap constantly sold out, Aldi’s timing couldn’t be more perfect.
The new fully cooked kimbap is already a hit, showing up in two delicious options: traditional and tuna mayo. Both varieties include eight hand-rolled pieces, each packed with flavor and priced at just $3.49. The traditional version mixes imitation crab, egg, spinach, carrots, and pickled daikon wrapped in a seaweed rice roll. The tuna mayo option brings a creamy twist with tuna mayo and perilla leaf, also wrapped in seaweed rice.
Shoppers are racing to grab these frozen rolls, but availability varies. Some fans say they’ve found them easily at their local Aldi, while others complain they’ve had better luck finding kimbap at Trader Joe’s. One fan on Reddit raved, “Highly recommend if anyone finds them in their stores,” while another added, “I went back to get more!”
This isn’t Aldi’s first sushi rollout. The store has previously offered kimbap flavors like spicy tuna with gochujang, kimchi & tofu, spicy salmon, and BBQ beef bulgogi. But this new release is striking a nerve thanks to its uncanny resemblance to Trader Joe’s cult favorite and the wallet-friendly price point.
Kimbap mania aside, Aldi’s growth plans are just as aggressive. As of May 12, 2025, Aldi operates 2,510 stores across 41 states and territories in the U.S., with Florida leading at 244 locations, followed by Illinois (215) and Ohio (170). And the company isn’t slowing down. Aldi plans to open 225 new stores this year alone, its biggest U.S. expansion year yet.
In total, Aldi is gunning for 800 new locations by 2028. So far, 40 have already opened in 2025, with 18 of them located in Florida, many converted from former Winn-Dixie stores. The company finalized a massive deal earlier this year to acquire around 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores, most of which will be transformed into Aldi locations by 2027.
CEO Jason Hart said the expansion will bring Aldi’s signature affordability to more communities in the Southeast, where demand has surged. Upcoming stores are set to open in Washington, Philadelphia, and Staten Island by the end of June.
Whether you’re a Trader Joe’s diehard or just someone looking to score a sushi fix on a budget, Aldi’s new kimbap might be worth tracking down. But with how fast it’s flying off shelves, you better act quick.
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