Korean Kimbap: What It Is, Kinds To Try and Where To Eat It In Seoul

Last Updated on April 20, 2026

I watched a video once where someone referred to Korean kimbap (김밥) as “Korean sushi” and I have thought about it ever since. There’s no raw fish, it’s not Japanese, there’s no wasabi, but I can sort of kind of understand how it happens. They look similar in photographs.

Kimbap is one of the most everyday foods in Korea, a food so common that when I decided to write this article, I realized I barely had any photos of it in my collection. It’s just always been there. Picnics, school lunch boxes, quick meals grabbed from a convenience store, casual restaurant orders. If you’re new to Korean food and want to understand what’s on practically every table, this is a good place to start.

Korean kimbap is a Korean food staple that is budget friendly and delicious. Get ready to learn all about it:

• What Is Kimbap?
• Kimbap vs. Sushi: The Real Differences
• Kimbap Isn’t Always a Roll
• How Many Kinds of Kimbap Are There?
• 13 Types of Kimbap Worth Trying
• Where To Eat Kimbap in Seoul
• FAQ

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What Is Kimbap?

Kimbap (or gimbap) is a Korean roll consisting of rice and various fillings, rolled in seaweed sheets. The term itself combines the words for seaweed (kim (김)) and rice (bap (밥)), highlighting the simple, yet essential components of this dish.

Fillings vary enormously. Traditional kimbap contains carrot, spinach, pickled radish, and egg. Modern variants include beef, tuna with mayonnaise, kimchi, cheese, pork cutlet, anchovy, flying fish roe, and more. You can also find it with brown rice, rice on the outside (nude kimbap), and in miniature bite-sized form.

In Korea, kimbap holds a special place. It appears in sayings like “first kimchi, second kimbap”, in school lunch boxes, at picnics, in the hands of people eating lunch at their desks, and at every convenience store in the country. It’s easy. It’s comforting. It’s always there.

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Kimbap vs. Sushi: The Real Differences

The similarities are mostly visual. Beyond the rolled seaweed appearance, kimbap and sushi are genuinely different dishes:

• The rice: Kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil. Sushi rice is seasoned with rice vinegar. The flavor is entirely different.
• The fillings: Kimbap almost never has raw fish. The fillings are cooked or preserved and can include grilled beef, canned tuna, kimchi, vegetables, egg, cheese. Sushi typically features raw fish as its defining element.
• The accompaniments: Sushi comes with wasabi and soy sauce for dipping. Kimbap is typically eaten with pickled radish (danmuji) or kimchi. There’s no wasabi involved.

I don’t think kimbap should be called “Korean sushi” at all, not because of any cultural sensitivity, but because the comparison misleads people about what they’re about to eat. They’re different foods that happen to be rolled.

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Kimbap Isn’t Always a Roll

While you’ll most commonly see kimbap in thick roll form, it doesn’t always come like that and if you’re a newcomer to the idea of Korean kimbap, I don’t want you to be surprised when you’re given kimbap in different form.

Triangle Kimbap (삼각김밥): The convenience store version is compact, plastic-wrapped triangles of rice with a filling in the center, wrapped in seaweed. When you pick one up at GS25 or CU, look carefully at the plastic wrapping before you open it. There’s a pulling sequence that keeps the seaweed sheet dry and crisp when it contacts the rice. If you pull it wrong, you end up with soggy seaweed, which is still fine, but not the intended experience. Most triangle kimbap packages have numbered steps on the packaging.

Chungmu Kimbap (충무김밥): These originated in Chungmu (now called Tongyeong) on the southern coast and are a specific regional variety. Small, plain rice rolls with no filling inside, just rice and seaweed, served alongside radish kimchi. The story goes that fishermen’s wives made them this way so they wouldn’t spoil while husbands were out at sea. A completely different experience from the standard roll: simpler, and the side kimchi carries all the flavor.

This is a kiddo favorite. If you have kids in Korea and you’re introducing them to Korean food, this is usually an approachable option with just rice wrapped in laver. For more food for kids, read the guide to kid-friendly food in Korea.

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How Many Kinds of Kimbap Are There?

The great thing about kimbap is that there are so many varieties that you’re bound to find one that you like. You can have simple everyday options, but there are some shops that go all out and list more than a dozen kinds of kimbap on their menus. On top of that, there are regional varieties to look for when you’re traveling in Korea too.

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13 Types of Kimbap Worth Trying

Each of these types brings something unique to the table, whether it’s the flavors, textures, or the sheer joy of trying something new.

1. Traditional Kimbap (원조 김밥): The classic, filled with carrot, spinach, and radish, beloved by all. This is what you’ll usually find in kid’s lunchboxes and where you should start if you’ve never tried kimbap before just so you know the common base.
2. Vegetable Kimbap (야채 김밥): A veggie lover’s dream, packed with fresh cucumber, radish, and perilla leaves, this is a great option if you’re vegetarian.
3. Tuna Kimbap (참치 김밥): A popular choice with a mayonnaise tuna inside. This is my go-to when I’m out and about and need a quick bite on the go.
4. Beef Kimbap (쇠고기 / 소고기 김밥): Juicy beef that satisfies with every bite, often enhanced with Korean sauces, this option is good if you’re a beef lover.
5. Cheese Kimbap (치즈 김밥): There’s a love of cheese slices in Korean food. You’ll find cheese slices added to ramen, tteokbokki and all kinds of other things and kimbap isn’t left out either.
6. Nalchial Kimbap (날치알 김밥): Featuring flying fish roe for a burst of oceanic flavor.
7. Egg Kimbap (계란 김밥): Wrapped or filled with egg for a satisfying, protein-rich snack. Some places slice the egg up really thin while others wrap the entire kimbap in egg. Delicious either way.
8. Nude Kimbap (누드 김밥): With rice on the outside, this variant plays with the traditional kimbap structure.
9. Anchovy Kimbap (멸치 김밥): One of my favorites, the anchovy adds a salty kick to the kimbap. Watch out though, some places make the anchovy extra spicy so it’s a salty and spicy kick!
10. Kimchi Kimbap (김치 김밥): Combining two Korean staples for a tangy, spicy roll. If you like kimchi, get this option and see if you can eat it all.
11. Pork Cutlet Kimbap (돈까스 김밥): Crispy pork cutlet offers a delightful texture contrast. If you’re looking for something heavier, this is a great option for your meal.
12. Short Rib Patty Kimbap (떡갈비김밥): Need something a bit meatier? Go for this option with Korean short rib patty slices up inside.
13. Mayak Kimbap (마약 김밥): Miniature rolls that are addictive, served with a special wasabi dipping sauce. Mayak is the term for drugs in Korean and this is said to be so addictive it’s like drugs.

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Where to Eat Kimbap in Seoul

In Korea, you can find kimbap all over the place. You don’t really have to go out of your way to find it, though I suppose there are some brands that make it better than others. So, here’s where to get kimbap in Korea… well just some of the places because, again, you can find it EVERYWHERE!

Fully Gimbap (풀리김밥)

Maybe you’re picky or maybe you like to be in control, whatever the reason, maybe Fully Gimbap is where you should go. Similar to Subway, in this kimbap restaurant,you can walk the line pointing out exactly what you want in your roll. With 11 proteins, 2 vegan options, 6 vegetables, 3 rice, and 5 additional toppings, there are about 260 different combinations of gimbap available.

• Address: 26 Seongsuil-ro 10-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (서울 성동구 성수일로10길 26)
• Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00am ~ 8:30pm; Saturday – Sunday: 11:00am ~ 8:00pm

TongTong Kimbap (통통김밥)

Korean presidents and local celebs are known to eat TongTong kimbap. Their signature dish is ‘Healthy Brown Rice Kimbap’ and features brown rice, instead of the standard white sticky rice you usually find in kimbap. There are a number of branches but the most popular one is in Namdaemun.

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FAQ

What is kimbap?

Kimbap (김밥) is a Korean dish of rice and various fillings rolled in dried seaweed. The rice is seasoned with sesame oil. Fillings range from traditional (carrot, spinach, radish) to modern (tuna, kimchi, pork cutlet, cheese). It comes in roll form, triangle form, and in bite-sized versions. It’s one of the most common and affordable foods in Korea.

Is kimbap the same as sushi?

No. Both are rice rolled in seaweed, but the similarities mostly stop there. Kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil; sushi rice with vinegar. Kimbap almost never contains raw fish; sushi typically does. Kimbap is served with pickled radish and kimchi; sushi with wasabi and soy sauce. The flavor and texture of the two dishes are entirely different.

How much does kimbap cost?

A standard kimbap roll costs approximately ₩3,000-₩5,000 at most shops and chains. Specialty shops with premium fillings may charge slightly more. Triangle kimbap at convenience stores is typically ₩1,500-₩2,500.

Is kimbap vegan?

Not usually. Most kimbap contains fish cake (eomuk) or egg. Vegetable kimbap is the most likely vegan option, but verify the specific ingredients at each shop as preparations vary. Ask specifically before ordering if this matters to you.

What does kimbap taste like?

The sesame oil in the rice gives it a nutty, slightly savory base. The seaweed adds a gentle oceanic flavor. The fillings vary so much that the taste experience depends heavily on which type you order. Traditional kimbap is mild and savory; kimchi kimbap is spicy and tangy; anchovy kimbap is salty and potentially fiery.

Where can I find kimbap in Seoul?

Everywhere from convenience stores, kimbap chains like Kimbap Cheonguk, traditional markets, to specialty shops like Suadang. If you see a 분식 (bunsik) sign on a small restaurant, kimbap is almost certainly on the menu.

What is mayak kimbap?

Mayak (마약) means drugs in Korean. Mayak kimbap is a type of very small, bite-sized kimbap roll served with a dipping sauce, often with a hint of wasabi or mustard. The name comes from how addictive they are to eat. Once you start, stopping is difficult.

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Don’t pass by the next kimbap restaurant you see in Seoul. Stop in, point at something, and try it. The worst case is ₩4,000 spent on something you don’t love. The better case is that you’ve found one of Korea’s most satisfying everyday foods.

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