KIMBAP : My love for Korean Street Food
Rice is the staple food in my family. It is a tradition. Our meals are never complete without rice. I can’t shake off rice even though I shouldn’t be having so much of it these days.
I have a particular weakness for a Korean rice dish – KIMBAP.
I have a particular weakness for a Korean rice dish – KIMBAP.
Kimbap is basically having cooked rice and assortment of ingredients rolled in dried sheets of seaweed. Bokssam (복쌈), which was eaten in the Joseon era (1392 – 1897), is very similar to the kimbap which we eat today.
Kimbap is one of my favourite food for many reasons. It is easy to make, portable and filling. It is very versatile – it can be a vegetarian or meat dish. In short, it is my easy-to-make comfort food, like porridge.
When I travelled in Korea, I would always buy kimbap if I am pressed for time, on the go, or after a hike, when I am hungry. I would just eat kimbap and continue to explore places without having to lose much time for a proper sit-down meal, or have kimbap for a snack before I go for a bigger meal.
Kimbap is sold everywhere in Korea and is extremely affordable. Unfortunately, in Singapore, I can’t find them at every corner and it is definitely not as cheap as it is in Seoul. To be fair, this is not Korea after all. I am just glad that I still can find my favourite Korean comfort food even in my home country.
Kimbap is one of my favourite food for many reasons. It is easy to make, portable and filling. It is very versatile – it can be a vegetarian or meat dish. In short, it is my easy-to-make comfort food, like porridge.
When I travelled in Korea, I would always buy kimbap if I am pressed for time, on the go, or after a hike, when I am hungry. I would just eat kimbap and continue to explore places without having to lose much time for a proper sit-down meal, or have kimbap for a snack before I go for a bigger meal.
Kimbap is sold everywhere in Korea and is extremely affordable. Unfortunately, in Singapore, I can’t find them at every corner and it is definitely not as cheap as it is in Seoul. To be fair, this is not Korea after all. I am just glad that I still can find my favourite Korean comfort food even in my home country.
Whenever my kimbap craving strikes me, I head for Rolling Rice, my hunting ground in The Central at Clarke Quay. Rolling Rice is one of those places where reasonably-priced kimbap can be found in town. The price ranges from S$3.80 to S$5.80 per roll. I will usually order a combo set of 2 rolls of kimbap, which comes with a S$7.80 price tag. I always share them with someone else as I can’t finish them all by myself. They are good to satisfy my craving for Korean comfort food and since I am sharing, I won’t risk overeating.
The Rolling Rice is located at the basement and has their own seats. They serve other Korean street food like Tteokbokki (떡볶이), ramen (라면), fried rice (볶음밥) and bingsu (빙수).
There are other places in town which specialise in kimbap. They are House of Gimbap and Seoul Roll.
The House of Gimbap is a restaurant situated at Millenia Walk. Since it is a restaurant, the kimbap here are priced more highly. They make traditional kimbap like (Australian) Beef Bulgogi Kimbap, sold at S$12.50, and the fusion version Cream Cheese & Walnut Kimbap, sold S$10.50. Their menu has other offering such as Bibimbap (비빔밥), Dubap (덮밥) and Noodles (국수). They also sell different types of tea that I don’t normally see in other Korean restaurants: Burdock tea (우엉차), Doraji Tea (도라지차) and Esel Tea (이슬차), all at S$3.00 per cup.
Seoul Roll offers more fusion versions of kimbap like the Avocado Roll, priced at S$5.00, and Mushroom & Truffle Oil Roll, at S$5.50. They have 2 outlets – Raffles City Shopping Centre and Plaza Singapura. Both outlets are located at the basement of the two malls. They do not have seating places but they offer fuss free, grab-and-go services.
All in all, I like how kimbap can be a simple meal with just the rice and seaweed. It can also be a complete meal in itself, with 1 meat and 3 types of vegetables, like a bulgogi kimbap rolled up into a bite-size portion. I can have different types of food every day, but still it is always rolled up in seaweed into something called KIMBAB(김밥).
Writer : Ching Sean
The Rolling Rice is located at the basement and has their own seats. They serve other Korean street food like Tteokbokki (떡볶이), ramen (라면), fried rice (볶음밥) and bingsu (빙수).
There are other places in town which specialise in kimbap. They are House of Gimbap and Seoul Roll.
The House of Gimbap is a restaurant situated at Millenia Walk. Since it is a restaurant, the kimbap here are priced more highly. They make traditional kimbap like (Australian) Beef Bulgogi Kimbap, sold at S$12.50, and the fusion version Cream Cheese & Walnut Kimbap, sold S$10.50. Their menu has other offering such as Bibimbap (비빔밥), Dubap (덮밥) and Noodles (국수). They also sell different types of tea that I don’t normally see in other Korean restaurants: Burdock tea (우엉차), Doraji Tea (도라지차) and Esel Tea (이슬차), all at S$3.00 per cup.
Seoul Roll offers more fusion versions of kimbap like the Avocado Roll, priced at S$5.00, and Mushroom & Truffle Oil Roll, at S$5.50. They have 2 outlets – Raffles City Shopping Centre and Plaza Singapura. Both outlets are located at the basement of the two malls. They do not have seating places but they offer fuss free, grab-and-go services.
All in all, I like how kimbap can be a simple meal with just the rice and seaweed. It can also be a complete meal in itself, with 1 meat and 3 types of vegetables, like a bulgogi kimbap rolled up into a bite-size portion. I can have different types of food every day, but still it is always rolled up in seaweed into something called KIMBAB(김밥).
Writer : Ching Sean