Korean seaweed rice rolls (gimbap, also spelled kimbap) of rice and assorted fillings wrapped in dried laver and sliced into bite-size rounds. It is commonly known as a picnic, lunchbox and grab-and-go staple.
🇰🇷 Korean: 김밥🔤 Romanization: gimbap📍 Nationwide🏷️ snack · lunchbox · rice roll
Taste & texture
Sesame-scented rice with pickled radish, vegetables, egg and meat — savory and well balanced.
How to eat it
- Pick up the bite-size slices and eat them as they are.
- Pair with pickled radish or a bowl of fish-cake soup.
- Choose from versions with tuna, cheese, beef and more.
Where to try it
Common at snack bars and gimbap specialists nationwide; one roll runs about ₩3,000–5,000.
🗺️ Where to try it
Frequently asked questions
What is gimbap?
A Korean seaweed rice roll of rice and fillings, sliced into rounds — written as gimbap or kimbap in English.
Is it the same as sushi?
It looks similar, but gimbap uses rice seasoned with sesame oil and salt, not vinegared sushi rice.