The Absolute Best Frozen Japanese Foods From Trader Joe's
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If you're craving Japanese food, you might want to skip the restaurant and head to Trader Joe's instead. We've done some important investigating, and among the many gems we've found in the frozen aisle at Trader Joe's are some seriously tasty — and cheap — Japanese foods. And because there's no shame in turning to your freezer for a quick dinner or dessert when you're short on time (and money), we've rounded up the best frozen items from TJ's, all of which our editors have tried and can vouch for.
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Chicken Fried Rice ($3)
Chicken fried rice isn't exactly hard to make, but sometimes you don't even have 20 minutes to spare. That's where Trader Joe's Chicken Fried Rice comes in. This cheap frozen dinner can be heated in a skillet to get a little crispy or microwaved for about five minutes, and it undoubtedly satisfies cravings for takeout fried rice. With diced chicken, peas, carrots, and onions, this bagged fried rice is a solid option for a filling meal on a budget.
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Strawberry Mochi Ice Cream ($4)
Mikawaya Mochi ice cream is one of the most delectable Japanese treats, and luckily, Trader Joe's carries the company's exact products for a low price. The Japanese sticky rice filled with ice cream comes in a variety of flavors at Trader Joe's, including strawberry, and it's downright perfect. We have a hard time leaving the store without picking up at least one box of mochi from Trader Joe's ice cream section.
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Japanese Style Fried Rice ($3)
If you haven't tried Trader Joe's Japanese Style Fried Rice, do yourself a favor and give your taste buds something to get excited about. The freshest-tasting and most legit fried rice from Trader Joe's, this one has edamame, tofu, hijiki seaweed, and carrots, plus a crazy-flavorful sauce of mirin, sugar, soy sauce, sake, and sesame oil. We swear by this frozen staple for any busy weeknight. Throw it in the microwave for four minutes, and dinner is on the table.
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Lightly Salted Edamame ($2)
At $2 per bag, Trader Joe's Lightly Salted Edamame is one of the most affordable snacks to keep around. It's just as high quality as what you'd find in a Japanese restaurant, and it's available in an unsalted variety, too. The lightly salted version is our favorite because it has the right amount of flavor and doesn't need any additional seasoning.
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Coffee Mochi Ice Cream ($3)
In addition to selling Mikawaya Mochi, Trader Joe's has its own version of mochi, including this amazing Coffee Mochi flavor. This was introduced in 2016 and is still available at most TJ's stores. The coffee-infused ice cream is meant for true espresso-lovers, and it also happens to be dairy-free.
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Vegetable Fried Rice ($2)
Vegetarians, don't worry; Trader Joe's didn't forget about you! Opt for TJ's Vegetable Fried Rice, which is packed with peas, carrots, edamame, corn, onions, and red peppers. You might want to make a more filling protein to serve alongside the rice, like spicy garlic tofu, but the frozen fried rice is great to have stocked in your freezer to pull out at a moment's notice.