Gimbap

Street snacks

• Sesame (참깨)Usually in itOnly this one→

  The rice is mixed with sesame oil instead of the vinegar used in Japanese rolls, and the outside of the roll is often brushed with more oil or sprinkled with seeds.

• Eggs (알류)Usually in itOnly this one→

  A strip of thin omelette is one of the standard fillings, rolled in the centre with the radish and vegetables.

• Pork (돼지고기)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Ham is one of the most common fillings, and luncheon meat or pork cutlet versions are sold too.

• Fish (생선)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Fish cake strips and canned tuna are both popular fillings, and a single shop often sells several rolls that differ only in which one is inside.

• Wheat (밀)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  The route for wheat is the fish cake filling. Fish cake is made from fish paste mixed with wheat flour or starch, so ask whether there is fish cake inside.

• Beef (쇠고기)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Seasoned beef or bulgogi is a common filling, especially in rolls sold as beef gimbap.

• Milk (우유)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Cheese gimbap, with a slice of cheese rolled into the filling, is a popular variety on shop menus.

• Jeotgal and fish sauce (젓갈 · 액젓)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Kimchi is one of the listed fillings, and kimchi seasoning is usually built on salted anchovy or shrimp — ask whether the roll has kimchi in it.

• Shrimp (새우)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Salted shrimp is a common kimchi seasoning, so a kimchi roll can carry shrimp even though no shrimp is visible in the slice.

• Garlic (마늘)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Hot pepper gimbap and bulgogi gimbap season their filling with minced garlic, which is cooked in and not visible in the slice.

• Onion (양파)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Bulgogi gimbap can have minced onion in the beef marinade, where it cooks down and blends into the meat.

• Soybean (대두)Usually in itOnly this one→

  The burdock root in a standard roll is braised in soy sauce, and the fish cake or spinach is often seasoned with soy sauce too.

• Perilla seed (들깨 · 들기름)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Perilla oil sometimes replaces sesame oil in the rice or spinach seasoning, and some laver is brushed with perilla oil before toasting.

Usually in it

Most kitchens put this in. Assume it is there unless the staff tell you otherwise.

Sometimes in it

It depends on the recipe and the brand of sauce, so it is worth asking.

Rarely in it

The usual recipe does not call for it, but some kitchens still use it.

Checked 13 of the 33 ingredients this site covers. An ingredient that is not listed here has simply not been checked yet — that is not the same as it not being in the dish.

⚠This page describes how the dish is usually made in Korea. Every kitchen works differently, so always show your card and ask the staff before you order.