MyTastr

Best gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), according to chefs

Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Christina Chaey and Irene Yoo. Recommendations come from thekitchn.com, bonappetit.com and maangchi.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Taekyung Gochugaru

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Yoo, a former pop-up chef, settled on it after years of trying brands: “My kitchen is never without a bag of Taekyung gochugaru” (The Kitchn, 2022). She keeps coarse for garnishing a scallion salad and fine for a smooth ddukbokki sauce. Bon Appétit’s Chaey links its medium-spicy bag in her gochugaru guide, which says sun-dried flakes are worth paying more for. At H Mart, Weee! and on Amazon.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: thekitchn.com ↗
  2. 2

    Bitggalchan Yeongyang Gochugaru

    Chosen by
    • Maangchi (Korean cooking author)
    Maangchi names it her favorite gochugaru: flakes from Yeongyang, the Korean county known for chiles, in a mild “for kimchi” grind that gives kimchi deep color without too much heat. Sold through Wooltari and on Amazon.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: maangchi.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Taekyung Gochugaru, chosen by Irene Yoo (chef, Yooeating); Christina Chaey (Bon Appétit). Yoo, a former pop-up chef, settled on it after years of trying brands: “My kitchen is never without a bag of Taekyung gochugaru” (The Kitchn, 2022). She keeps coarse for garnishing a scallion salad and fine for a smooth ddukbokki sauce. Bon Appétit’s Chaey links its medium-spicy bag in her gochugaru guide, which says sun-dried flakes are worth paying more for. At H Mart, Weee! and on Amazon. Source: thekitchn.com ↗
What are the other top picks for gochugaru (Korean chile flakes)?
No. 2 is Bitggalchan Yeongyang Gochugaru, chosen by Maangchi (Korean cooking author). Only two picks cleared the bar so far. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

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