Where to Buy Furikake Seasoning: Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart, and Pono

Furikake used to be a specialty item you could only find at a Japanese grocery store or bring back from Hawai'i in a suitcase. That's changed. It's now stocked at a few mainstream U.S. retailers too, though not always the same blend, and not always the same quality. Pono makes its own Nori Komi Furikake, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and plant-based, available in sizes from a 2.5oz two-pack up to a 1lb bulk pack. Before you go hunting through a grocery aisle, here's what's actually out there, and how it stacks up.

Shop Pono's Nori Komi Furikake →

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's carries its own Nori Komi Furikake in a 1.95oz jar, and it's one of the more consistently available options in mainstream grocery. The blend is built from dried nori, black and white sesame seeds, salt, and kelp powder, and it's made without added MSG. It's a solid, inexpensive way to try furikake for the first time, though the small jar size means it disappears fast if you're using it daily rather than as an occasional topping.

Costco

I didn't find a Kirkland Signature furikake in Costco's current lineup, but its Business Center carries an Olde Thompson Furikake Rice Seasoning in a large 22.9oz shaker, aimed at the same bulk-buying crowd that shops there for everything else. Availability varies by location and membership tier, so it's worth checking your specific warehouse before making a special trip, since bulk seasoning selection isn't consistent across every Costco.

Walmart

Walmart's furikake selection is the most fragmented of the three, split across several third-party brands sold through its online marketplace rather than one house brand. Pono's own Nori Komi Furikake and Island Chili Crunch are both listed there alongside other furikake brands, so pricing and availability shift depending on the seller. If you're comparing listings anyway, it's worth double-checking whether you're looking at the brand you actually want or a similarly named blend from someone else.

Target

Target comes up often in furikake searches, but I couldn't confirm a consistent, nationwide furikake listing the way I could for Trader Joe's and Costco. Grocery assortments for a specialty Japanese seasoning vary a lot more by region and by store than they do for mainstream spices, so if you've spotted it at your local Target, treat that as a store-specific find rather than something you can count on elsewhere.

Why Shop Pono

The retail options above are convenient if you just want to try furikake once, but they come with two trade-offs: smaller jars at a higher per-ounce cost, and less visibility into what's actually in the blend. Pono solves both.

The 1lb Bulk Pack works out to a lower per-ounce cost than any of the small retail jars above, and it's built for households or kitchens that go through furikake regularly rather than occasionally.

The 2.5oz Two-Pack is closer in size to what you'd find at Trader Joe's, but Non-GMO, gluten-free, and made without artificial colors or preservatives.

For restaurants, poke bars, or anyone seasoning in volume, the 10-bag wholesale case skips the retail markup entirely.

Every Pono furikake is made in a GHP- and HACCP-accredited, USFDA-registered facility, which isn't something a grocery store shelf tag tells you either way.

Why Furikake Is Easier to Find Now

A decade ago, furikake was mostly limited to Asian grocery stores and Hawai'i-based retailers. That's shifted as demand for Japanese flavors has grown across mainstream U.S. grocery, the same trend that's pushed furikake onto restaurant menus. The upside is that furikake is no longer hard to find. The downside is that "available" doesn't always mean "the version you actually want," since mainstream retailers carry whichever blend fits their private-label program, not necessarily the ingredient list you're looking for.

What to Check Before You Buy

Not every furikake on a store shelf is built the same, so it's worth checking a few things before you commit to a jar:

MSG: Some blends use added MSG as a flavor enhancer to cut costs. Trader Joe's version and Pono's are both made without it, but that's not universal across every brand on a Walmart marketplace listing.

Gluten-free: Furikake is naturally gluten-free at its base, but soy sauce powder or other additives in some blends can introduce gluten. Check the label if that matters for your household.

Jar size versus actual use: A 1.95oz jar from Trader Joe's sounds inexpensive until you compare the per-ounce price to a 1lb bulk pack. If furikake is becoming a pantry staple rather than an occasional purchase, the math tends to favor buying larger.

The Bottom Line

Trader Joe's is the easiest single-jar option if you want to try furikake without committing to a bulk size. Costco's Business Center has a larger shaker if you're already a member and shopping there anyway. Walmart is hit or miss depending on the seller listing, and Target is maybe at best. For regular use, Pono's Nori Komi Furikake gets you a lower per-ounce price, a Non-GMO and gluten-free formula, and sizes actually built for how much furikake you're going through.

 

Where to Buy Furikake: Quick Comparison

 

FAQ

Is furikake sold at regular grocery stores?

It's more common than it used to be. Trader Joe's carries its own version, and Costco's Business Center and Walmart's marketplace both list furikake from various brands, though selection varies by location.

What's the cheapest way to buy furikake regularly?

A larger bulk pack from Pono usually beats the per-ounce price of small retail jars, especially if you're using furikake often enough that a small jar doesn't last.

Does Trader Joe's furikake contain MSG?

No. Trader Joe's Nori Komi Furikake is made without added MSG.

Is furikake seasoning gluten-free?

Most furikake is naturally gluten-free, but it's worth checking the label, since some blends include soy sauce powder or other additives that can introduce gluten.

Can I buy furikake in bulk for a restaurant or food business?

Yes. Pono sells a 10-bag wholesale case pack in addition to retail sizes, intended for restaurants, poke bars, and other high-volume kitchens.