I tried every frozen kimbap I could find – these are 6 products worth buying

On October 13, 2024By Yukito

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The first Korean food I loved was kimbap. I was adopted from Seoul, South Korea as a child and learned about my culture through food – something I shared as part of the Adoptee Potluck Club package here at The Kitchn. Kimbap is a rice roll with seaweed that looks like sushi at first glance, but is a completely different type of favorite snack and lunchbox than the Japanese dish. Packed in a thin layer of rice are things like bulgogi or seasoned beef, fish cake, SPAM, egg, pickled radish, seasoned spinach, carrot, and other various textures and flavors. Its fillings can be customized however you like, and some of my favorite rolls double the carbs when paired with japchae (fried noodles made from sweet potato starch). AND rice.

Frozen kimbap in the H-Mart freezer. — Source: Alyse Whitney Source: Alyse Whitney

Kimbap is not a dish I regularly prepare at home, mainly due to the effort it takes to cut everything to the right size to fill the rolls, create an ultra-thin layer of rice that barely holds everything together, and make sure it is rolled tightly to get a beautiful cross-section after placing it in a gima (dried sheets of roasted seaweed). Instead, I go to H Mart, a Korean grocery chain that produces its own rolls AND has a large selection of frozen kimbap to choose from.

Since Trader Joe’s released its version of kimbap – filled with greens, braised tofu, and an assortment of raw and pickled vegetables – awareness of kimbap (also romanized as gimbap, which is a seaweed danish and rice bap) has increased. . But there’s so much more than just this one flavor, so I headed to the H Mart shelves to see how many I could track down.

The three H Mart locations I visited in Los Angeles had three brands available, but your local store may have more. I managed to choose 12 different rolls, sampling it with another Korean friend who grew up eating kimbap all the time and has a refined palate. We ended up keeping six kimbap kravings in the freezer, which we ranked according to our personal preferences (they’re all great, but of course we had favorites).

Frozen kimbap packages on the counter. — Source: Alyse Whitney Source: Alyse Whitney

6. BOKMANSA 11:45 Burdock Fried Tofu Vegan Kimbap

This is most similar to Trader Joe’s kimbap in that it contains vegetables and fried tofu. In this case, it is stewed, fried yuba (aka tofu skin), which is wonderfully chewy, tender and aromatic. The thin layer of rice surrounding the filling is impressive and looks homemade. It holds well and tastes great when reheated the next day.

To buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Burdock fried tofu vegan kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

5. BOKMANSA 11:45 Red Bibimbap Vegan Kimbap

If you like spicy… this isn’t spicy. If you want a little heat, add a bit of Kewpie mayonnaise with gochujang or hot chili. It has a nice mix of crunchy vegetables inside, but because it’s vegan, it will never truly be bibimbap, which is a dish that tastes best with the addition of a runny egg. This is a dish that would be fantastic to munch on in a pan… and top with an egg!

To buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Red Bibimbap Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

4. BOKMANSA 11:45 Mushroom Japchae Vegan Kimbap

There are plenty of mushrooms and japchae on the noodles kimbap, which disappeared very quickly during this tasting. Just enough saltiness and umami without being too much too a lot, and the dipping sauce with a little soy sauce and rice vinegar will spice it up even more.

To buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Mushroom Japchae Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 oz at H Mart

3. Vegetable Kimbap Baba

The photo on the front of the package promised a wide variety of vegetables and a perfect cut. It was actually a little mashed, but still tasty. The slight sweetness made this one special and kept us coming back for more.

To buy: Baba Vegetable Kimbap, $3.99 for 8.1 ounces at H Mart

2. BOKMANSA 11:45 Japchae Vegan Kimbap

If you like japchae but don’t feel like making it yourself, having this kimbap in the freezer will satisfy your cravings. It’s full of extra black pepper which gives it a nice tang, and the noodles are tender nestled in the warm rice and seaweed. This one disappeared Very Quick.

To buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Japchae Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 oz at H Mart

1. Sajo Daerim Tuna Kimbap

If you like tuna sandwiches, buy this tuna kimbap. It’s tuna salad and crisp, fresh and pickled vegetables in a crunchy yet tender bite. It’s the most filling due to its protein content, and if you’re feeling crazy, fry some cheese on top to make melted tuna kimbap!

Find it in stores: Sajo Daerim Tuna Kimbap, $3.99 for 8.1 oz at H Mart

Kimbap on a cutting board. — Source: Alyse Whitney Source: Alyse Whitney

How I tested Kimbap

We heated each one in the microwave for about two to four minutes, either in the original packaging or with a damp paper towel on top, to allow the kimbap to steam and warm up. You can also pan fry them – with scrambled eggs for extra protein and pizzazz! — for a crispy, tender texture, about one minute on each side in a lightly oiled pan. Just be sure to let them rest at room temperature for at least five minutes to cool, otherwise you’ll burn your mouth (I’m speaking from experience).

When reviewing these kimbaps, it came down to three factors.

Appearance: A great kimbap should have a thin layer of rice and defined sections, with each ingredient visible in the cross-section of each piece. It should also be packed tightly so that nothing falls apart.
Taste: We are looking for great flavor combinations.
Texture: It should be tender but not soggy, and there should be variation in the consistency of each ingredient and the way it all comes together into the perfect bite.

Did your favorite kimbap make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.