Kimchi Jjigae Hits Kroger: K-Food Goes Local in US Retail

The enticing aroma of Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew) is now wafting through the aisles of a major American grocery chain. Lyon’s Street Table, a specialized Korean deli, has officially launched its first location inside a Kroger supermarket in Houston, Texas. This partnership is highly significant as Kroger, founded in 1883, is the largest grocery chain in the U.S., operating approximately 2,700 stores across 35 states. The entry of an authentic Korean deli into such a “retail giant” signals a major shift in how Korean cuisine is perceived by mainstream American consumers.

Located near downtown Houston, the 500-square-foot open-kitchen deli offers a variety of traditional dishes, including Kimchi Jjigae, Soondubu Jjigae (Soft Tofu Stew), Japchae, and Kimchi Fried Rice. To make these flavors accessible to daily shoppers, meals are priced competitively between $6.99 and $9.99 per pound. CEO Stacy Kwon, a seasoned food service expert with over 20 years of experience, designed the brand to pull Korean food out of specialized ethnic enclaves and into the daily routines of local residents.

The brand’s name, “Lyon’s Street Table,” carries personal history, named after the street in Houston where Kwon first settled after immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager. “The goal is to make Kimchi as accessible as Italian pasta sauce or Mexican salsa at your neighborhood grocery store,” Kwon explained. With local customers already dubbing her the “Korean Mama,” the deli is successfully bridging the cultural gap. While the current focus is on stabilizing the flagship Houston store, the long-term vision is to expand the brand into major retail markets nationwide, establishing K-food as a staple “local” option for families across America.