김밥 · Gimbap

Gimbap

김밥

What exactly is it?

Rice and strips of filling are rolled in laver and sliced into bite-size pieces. Sesame oil and salt often season the rice, giving it a different aroma from vinegared sushi rice. A menu’s “vegetable gimbap” may still include egg, ham or fish cake.

Main ingredients

Rice, laver, pickled radish, egg, spinach, carrot; often ham or fish cake

Ordering and serving

Orders are usually by the roll. Buy takeaway gimbap near the time you will eat it rather than keeping it in a warm bag. For a vegetarian order, specify ingredients to exclude instead of relying on the menu name.

Origins and changes

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes modern gimbap as a Korean adaptation of Japanese rolled sushi. It cites a 1939 lunch-box article and wider popularity in the 1950s–60s, followed by specialist shops offering tuna, cheese, pork cutlet and other fillings.

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Dish to compare

Chungmu gimbap · 충무김밥Mini gimbap · 마약김밥Rice ball · 주먹밥Fried-tofu sushi · 유부초밥

Gimbap

김밥

Main ingredients: Rice, laver, pickled radish, egg, spinach, carrot; often ham or fish cake
Flavor and character: Rice and strips of filling are rolled in laver and sliced into bite-size pieces. Sesame oil and salt often season the rice, giving it a different aroma from vinegared sushi rice. A menu’s “vegetable gimbap” may still include egg, ham or fish cake.
How to eat it: Orders are usually by the roll. Buy takeaway gimbap near the time you will eat it rather than keeping it in a warm bag. For a vegetarian order, specify ingredients to exclude instead of relying on the menu name.

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Chungmu gimbap

충무김밥

Main ingredients: Plain rice rolls in laver, spicy squid salad, radish kimchi
Flavor and character: Small, unfilled rice rolls come with spicy squid salad and radish kimchi on the side. The rolls are mild by themselves; alternating them with the accompaniments balances salt and heat. They are a complete meal, not ordinary gimbap with missing fillings.
How to eat it: Shops often sell a set portion of rolls and accompaniments rather than one large roll. Although the rolls have no filling, the squid side dish means the standard set is not vegetarian.

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