I finally tried Trader Joe's viral Kimbap

This time last year, a frozen product from Trader Joe's took the internet by storm. And in typical TJ's fashion, the fan-favorite item disappeared from the shelves as soon as we had an interest in it – until now.

Meet Trader Joe's viral kimbap, a Korean rice roll made with tofu and vegetables wrapped in seaweed. Strolling through the supermarket chain's shelves the other day, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the product fully stocked in the frozen food section. Finally, finally, finally, I was just hours away from trying the vegetable roll I'd been dreaming of.

Before I start my review, let's get a few things clear. If you're wondering what exactly kimbap is, it's a large maki sushi roll made of rice seasoned with sesame oil and can be made with a variety of fillings as desired. Trader Joe's version consists primarily of fried tofu, burdock, fried carrots, pickled radish, and spinach.

The indicated serving size is 3 pieces of the roll… but let's be honest: Who doesn't eat a whole roll (is that just me?) So here are the nutritional information for the 9 pieces of Trader Joe's Kimbap:

• Calories: 420
• Carbohydrates: 68g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Total sugar: 7g
• Added sugar: 7g
• Protein: 11g
• Total fat: 12g
• Saturated fat: 2g
• Sodium: 980mg

Let's start with the benefits. TJ's Kimbap is a great source of plant-based protein thanks to the tofu, so it's definitely a filling meal. Plus, it's a good source of fiber because of its vegetarian ingredients. Fiber is important for gut health, healthy digestion, and, depending on your goals, weight loss or maintenance.

However, this sushi roll contains a bit too much sodium, as the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams per day. So if you're like me and want to eat the whole bun, we recommend limiting your sodium intake throughout the day to ensure a balanced eating pattern.

Okay, I'll stop dilly-dallying. Here's my review.

I followed the package instructions and heated the roll in the microwave to room temperature. As a fan of vegetable rolls, I was immediately impressed by the savory aroma of the sesame oil rice and stir-fried vegetables. I paired the kimbap with low-sodium soy sauce – but I quickly realized that no dipping sauce was necessary.

Every bite of kimbap was heavenly, soft rice and crunchy filling made it incredibly enjoyable to chew. The taste made me believe Trader Joe's promise that the roll was put together by a kimbap expert from the Republic of Korea. Full of aromatic, deliciously zesty flavors that literally felt like they were going to burst in my mouth, I'm already planning my next trip to Trader Joe's to stock up on this easy main dish.

For only $3.99, it's a resounding yes: I'll definitely be buying this satisfying dinner again. To up the ante next time, I might even pair it with a spinach side salad for even more crunch and freshness on my plate. It's safe to say it's officially on the grocery list alongside my favorite high-protein drink and my favorite Trader Joe's cheese.