All You Need To Know about Korean Snack— Kimbap 김밥

by - Tuesday, November 06, 2012


Kimbap Vs. Sushi
What’s your first impression of kimbap a.k.a seaweed wrapped rice rolls? Don’t they look just like Japanese sushi? And indeed they do. However, unlike their more expensive and luxurious cousins, Korea’s kimbap are simple, comfort food for the locals. Whether you are looking this triangle-shaped wrap as a snack or a full-fledged meal, kimbap is a healthy choice with its wide choices of flavors. Filled with delicious and healthy ingredients, kimbap is an affordable local food for everyone.

Down-To-Earth
 Depending on what you love, you can find fillings like cooked tuna 참치, squid낚지, beef쇠고기, kimchi김치, crab sticks 맛살, fishcake오뎅, cheese 치스, and ham /sausages/luncheon meat. Simple but deliciously yummy! Other than these main filings, kimbap is also deliciously filled with many varieties of sides such as cucumber오이, green onion, spinach시금치, carrots 단근, marinated radish단무지, yummy scrambled eggs 게란말이 etc. All these are are cut in long strips in advanced for the kimbap preparation.
The cooked white rice is first mixed with sesame oil, some salt and sesame seed. Seaweed is first laid out on top of the bamboo mat. Rice is then spread up to 2/3 of the seaweed. Next, strips of each of the ingredients are then placed line by line ready to start rolling. The completed roll is then cut into pieces.

Now, where can you head to if you want to sit down with your friends to grab a simple and economical meal? To the kimbap eateries 김밥식당of course! There are lots of such eateries along the streets of Korea, many being franchises that don’t just offer kimbap but other dishes such as ra-myeong, pork cutlets, pajeon etc.
Kimbaps are cheap and and will not cost you more than 3500won. As a quick snack, they can be even be as low as 1500 to 2500won. So what are you waiting for? Remember to grab some deliciously-healthy kimbap when you are in Korea next time!

Popular kimbap eateries in Seoul

1. Drug Kimbap 마약김밥
One of the best kimbap stores voted by the public. As addictive as drugs. That's what their house's kimbaps can do to you. But fret not, there are no toxics. only healthy yummy ingredients like carrot, pickles, cucumber were packed. The kimbap comes in bite-sizes easy for anyone to pop one on the go. 
Drug Kimbap is a simple store in Gwangjang Market광장시장, Seoul, where seats are available should you choose to dine in.
Each packet consists of 8 mini rolls and costs about 2500won

To get there: take the subway and get off at Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1). Take exit 8.  
Gwangjang Market, 6-1 Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.


2.  Kimbap Heaven 김밥천국
Part of a franchise chain, Kimbap Heaven can be spotted easily in Korea. Upon entering, you will be handed a self-order chit sheet. Simply tick what you want and pass your order to the ahjuma. However the menu is all in Korean and it might be a bit tricky if you don’t read Hangul. So recognized these keywords and you are on your way to a cheap yummy lunch or snack!
( Or simply use Google Translate's scanning function).
The common in-house kimbap flavors (as shown in the utmost left column-‘김밥류) are: 야채 (vegetable), 김치kimchi, 치스 cheese, 참치 tuna,  샐러드 salad,돈까스 tonkatsu pork cutlet, 게란말이 calamari, 고추 red/green pepper and모듬 for an all-in-one mixed flavor.   

Along the menu, there are items such as rice , noodles , dumplings 만두, soups etc.  So take your pick and enjoy. Prices for the kimbap range between 2500-3000won and are reasonably priced.

3. Other Kimbap Houses
There are also other competitor franchises like Kimbap Nara 김밥나라 (one such branch is Bukchon Gangnam Market) and Kimgane Kimbap 김가네 김밥 with stores nationwide  in Korea. So many to choose from, you will be spoilt for choices.

4. Convenient Stores
Last but not least, do you also know that kimbap can be found sold in convenient stores too?   These triangle shaped kimbap김밥are sold  all around in Korea in 7-11, Family Mart etc. You can grab one 24/7, very cool! So convenient you can grab them anytime, anywhere. Now you know what local food to try out next time when you visit Korea.



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1 comments

  1. Hi, '게란말이' is omelette rolls, not calamari :-)

    ReplyDelete