12 unique kimbap spots in Seoul, Korea to check out

1. Wonjo Nude Cheese Kimbap

Why visit? Nestled in the bustling alleys of Gwangjang Market, an unassuming kimbap store serves waves of local and foreign customers. Don’t be too quick to raise eyebrows at this shop’s name.

This spot serves kimbap assembled inside out — instead of wrapping seaweed around everything, rice is used to wrap the seaweed and ingredients — hence the name “nude kimbap”. 

You might come across this rendition of kimbap elsewhere, but Wonjo is where it all began (“wonjo” means original in Korean). After gaining fame when popular figures, including celebrity chef Baek Jong-won, praised nude kimbap on TV programmes, the store has become a local favourite at Gwangjang.  

Crowd favourites: This place only serves up one variation of nude kimbap, the original cheese tuna (4,000 won or S$3.57), but it also goes great with a side of japchae (5,000 won). Get the japchae (5,000 won) set if you’d like to try both specialities. 

2. Sikmoolwon Kimbap — Seocho main outlet

Why visit? Ever tried the Hermes of kimbap? How about the Chanel of kimbap? Sikmoolwon Kimbap has been branded as both, serving up healthy kimbap with more premium ingredients less commonly found in kimbap, such as pollack roe and tobiko.     

Sikmoolwon went viral in Korea after pop-duo Davichi’s Kang Minkyung recommended it as her absolute favourite kimbap, praising it as delicious yet low-carb and diet-friendly. 

You can find Sikmoolwon’s kimbap at multiple outlets around Seoul, particularly areas such as Yeoksam, Yongsan, and Jamsil where office workers congregate. 

Crowd favourites: Branded as “luxury kimbap”, the pollack roe egg (9,000 won) is an indulgently savoury, carb-light departure from the regular rice-packed kimbaps you’re used to, featuring a plump roll of egg omelette and pollock roe with veggies and a leaner portion of rice. 

The flying fish roe tuna kimbap (9,900 won) is another crowd-favourite, starring heaps of tobiko and creamy, savoury tuna spread.

3. Exo Kimbap

Why visit? Yes, this kimbap store shares the same name as the boy group EXO, but unfortunately the handsome hunks of EXO will not be serving your kimbap. What you can look forward to here, though, is the unique combinations of flavours served in stuffed kimbaps.   

The flavour combinations here are best described as a child’s dream come true, with flavours such as cheese sausage frank, mayo sausage frank, and ham and kimchi. 

Do note that Exo kimbap is a takeaway-only store, so you’ll have to bring your kimbaps somewhere else to eat.  

Crowd favourites: Go for the cheese sausage frank (5,200 won) if you’re a fan of the nostalgic sausage franks from our childhood days. The cheese kimchi (4,700 won) is another popular option, pairing savoury cheese with fried kimchi for an ultimate burst of flavour.   

If you enjoy kkoma kimbap (also known as kid kimbap for its small size), the mini ham roll (4,300 won) is a good pick, too. 

4. Joseon Kimbap

Why visit? Located in the heart of Jongro, Joseon Kimbap has a reputation for being a kimbap spot you’ll definitely revisit once you’ve tried it. For decades, customers have kept coming back for its generously packed rolls.

While crabmeat or other proteins are usually the main stars of this dish, Joseon Kimbap features flower greens/namul (seasoned vegetables) as the highlight.  

Crowd favourites: Go for the Joseon (6,300 won), generously stuffed with namul for a nutritious roll. 

The fishcake (6,300 won) features a thick sheet of fishcake with dollops of wasabi and is also the only other kimbap variation here. It’s worth a try if you’re a fan of Korean fishcake. 

5. Olbareun Kimbap

Why visit? Located near the Yeonhui-dong side of Hongdae, Olbareun Kimbap is Yeonhui-dong residents’ best-kept hidden gem. 

Olbareun is known for serving healthy yet exceptionally hearty kimbaps alongside regular rice-filled ones, so there’s a kimbap for everyone here. In particular, the salmon variation is most popular, featuring thick, chewy, fresh salmon sashimi that keeps customers coming back for more.  

Classic rice-filled flavours include pollack roe crabmeat and cheddar cheese, while diet-friendly options include keto pollack roe and keto avocado pollack roe. 

Crowd favourites: Head straight for the salmon (10,000 won), Olbareun’s bestselling kimbap on the menu. If you’d like a carb-free option, there’s also a keto salmon (10,000 won) that replaces the rice with egg omelette sheets. 

6. Kitchen Bomnal

Why visit? Tuna lovers, you’ll want to bookmark this spot. Kitchen Bomnal is best known for not holding back on its rolls.

Traditional tuna kimbaps usually include a modest, if not almost conservative, amount of tuna. Kitchen Bomnal subverts this unspoken standard by heaping loads of tuna into its kimbap, creating an indulgent, savoury treat. 

Crowd favourites: The tuna (6,000 won) might have brought Kitchen Bomnal to fame, but its namesake Bomnal (6,000 won) is equally worth the hype. The latter packs an overflowingly generous amount of egg omelette strips.   

7. Dunchon Kimbap 

Why visit? Trying to increase your fibre intake? Dunchon Kimbap has the solution. 

Dunchon Kimbap’s cabbage ditches the traditional roasted seaweed wrapper for a lightly steamed cabbage sheet instead, resulting in a naturally sweet, crunchy kimbap roll. 

Crowd favourites: The cabbage (6,000 won) is essentially an upgraded nude iteration, wrapping the cabbage sheet around an inverted kimbap roll.  

For those who aren’t big fans of veggie wraps, Dunchon has an egg (6,000 won) variation, where the kimbap is wrapped in a thin sheet of egg omelette. 

8. Tiger Kimbap 

Why visit? Ever felt your kimbap was too sparsely packed with ingredients? Tiger Kimbap will never leave you feeling that way; it went viral on Instagram for kimbaps so generously stuffed they look ready to burst. 

Bulgogi kimbap isn’t anything new, but it is pretty rare to find ribeye bulgogi in the humble roll. Tiger Kimbap highlights ingredients not usually featured in the dish, featuring mainstays such as chwinamul perilla seed, ribeye bulgogi, and dried gourd shavings.   

Do note that Tiger Kimbap is a takeaway-only store.  

Crowd favourites: The ribeye bulgogi (11,000 won) remains the most popular menu item here, with the chwinamul perilla seed (10,000 won) coming in at a close second. 

If you visit Tiger Kimbap during the winter months of October through February, don’t miss out on its Chungmu (12,000 won) — plain kimbap served with spicy squid and radish kimchi.  

9. 136-gil Yukmi 

Why visit? Replacing the classic white rice in kimbap with purple rice, brown rice, and the like probably isn’t too novel, but what about having buckwheat noodles as the base layer in your kimbap? 

136-gil Yukmi’s buckwheat creation swaps the traditional white-rice layer for a base of buckwheat noodles, giving this staple a twist in both taste and texture. 

You might also be pleasantly surprised to know that this is actually the creation of the Culinary Class Wars Season 2 winner, chef Choi Kangrok! Buckwheat kimbap was created during Choi’s stint at 136-gil Yukmi years back, and it’s left a mark on the menu ever since.  

Crowd favourites: The buckwheat (10,500 won) here features a buckwheat noodle-based kimbap with a thick block of tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled egg omelette) in the centre. 

If you’re looking for a more protein-packed kimbap, get the fried shrimp buckwheat kimbap (13,000 won). 

10. Dasibab    

Why visit? If you ever try going on a diet in Korea, you’ll probably hear that kimbap is one food you should stay away from because of its high-carb composition. Dasibab solves that problem and lets those on a diet enjoy them guilt-free with its healthy keto kimbaps.

Dasibab’s keto kimbaps replace the rice layer with thin strips of egg omelette, making them carb-free. It only makes 40 servings of keto kimbaps a day, so head down early if you’d like to try them! 

Crowd favourites: Besides the signature crabmeat keto (7,500 won), the crabmeat tofu skin sushi (4,000 won) is another popular option with both kids and adults alike. 

11. Woo Eoung  

Why visit? Ever eaten a kimbap and thought to yourself: “This would taste great with green onion in it”? Someone over at Woo Eoung had that very thought, birthing its jangjorim green onion kimbap — a roll starring soft-boiled pork tenderloin and fresh green onion. Definitely not a flavour combination you would expect, but the added crunch brings a new dimension to an otherwise one-note gastronomic experience.   

While Woo Eoung is a takeout-only spot, it’s just a stone’s throw away from the Han River, so get some kimbap here and bring it to the river for a picnic! 

Crowd favourites: Woo Eoung’s jangjorim green onion (6,500 won) features two key ingredients typically not found in kimbap: pork jangjorim, which is usually made with beef and eaten as a side dish with a bowl of rice, and whole green onion (just isn’t a common ingredient in kimbap at all).  

If you like an added kick of spice, go for the wasabi egg roll (5,500 won), which features a whole egg roll in the kimbap, paired with wasabi and mayonnaise. 

12. Roll N Lol   

Why visit? Located near Daeheung Station, Roll N Lol is a popular kimbap spot amongst Sogang University students for its innovative flavours. 

Think American-style kimbap, with Roll N Lol’s Philly cheesesteak, which swaps out the seaweed sheet for a tortilla wrap and ditches traditional fillings for Philly cheesesteak. 

Crowd favourites: The most popular Philly cheesesteak (7,000 won) uses a tortilla wrap instead of seaweed and features beef, egg omelette strips, and cheese, covered in a generous serving of cheese sauce. 

Besides the American-style kimbap, Sogang (3,900 won), affectionately named after the nearby university, features spicy japchae as the star of the roll. 

For more places to explore, check out Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Bangkok, or if you’re in Singapore, you can also check out this new pet-friendly wellness cafe at Ang Mo Kio.