Menu
Korean-style serving of Napa-cabbage kimchi

배추김치 · Napa-cabbage kimchi

Napa-cabbage kimchi

배추김치

What exactly is it?

Salted napa leaves are filled with radish and chili seasoning, then fermented. Fresh kimchi is crisp and seasoning-led; acidity develops as it matures. Seafood seasoning and other additions differ between households and regions.

Main ingredients

Napa cabbage, salt, chili powder, radish, garlic, scallion, often fermented seafood

Ordering and serving

Eat small amounts with rice. For vegetarian kimchi, ask about fermented shrimp, fish sauce and oysters. Follow the restaurant’s policy on side-dish refills.

Origins and changes

Salt-preserved vegetables developed into today’s red napa kimchi as chili and cabbage cultivation changed. Filling intact leaf layers creates a different preparation from chopped, mixed mat-kimchi.

Sources checked

Related foods

How do similar dishes compare?

Choose a dish to compare ingredients, flavor and serving style side by side.

Dish to compare

Napa-cabbage kimchi

배추김치

Main ingredients
Napa cabbage, salt, chili powder, radish, garlic, scallion, often fermented seafood
Flavor and character
Salted napa leaves are filled with radish and chili seasoning, then fermented. Fresh kimchi is crisp and seasoning-led; acidity develops as it matures. Seafood seasoning and other additions differ between households and regions.
How to eat it
Eat small amounts with rice. For vegetarian kimchi, ask about fermented shrimp, fish sauce and oysters. Follow the restaurant’s policy on side-dish refills.
Read about this dish →

Cubed-radish kimchi

깍두기

Main ingredients
Radish, salt, chili powder, scallion, garlic, optional fermented seafood
Flavor and character
Cubed radish is salted, chili-seasoned and fermented. Its firm crunch differs from cabbage kimchi, and the liquid develops tang as it ripens. It commonly accompanies beef soup and rice-soup meals.
How to eat it
A large cube can be cut on your plate. Adding kimchi liquid to soup is a personal choice; taste the original broth first.
Read about this dish →
Find nearby food places →

Check the restaurant’s actual menu for the dish you want.