Inspired by this post at Mary Eats, we made another trip to our nearby
김밥천국 (Gimbap Cheonguk, literally “gimbap heaven.”) It’s one of several Korean comfort food restaurant chains that you see all over the place.
Mary has done an incredible service to all expat-kind and translated the typical 70+-item menu into English and added descriptions of what each one is. (Believe me, it’s one thing to know that the menu says ‘ojingo dapbap’–spelled 오징어 덮밥 in case you are wondering–and quite another to know what to expect to see on your plate if you order it.)
I’ve written before about my bizarre adoration of the Korean equivalent of a basic picnic sandwich. so I was already a frequent visitor to the one in our neighborhood. But I was always too timid to order anything but gimbap. Not. any. more.
This time we came to play.
This is our place’s version of Jaeyuk Dapbap. (Half-eaten, sorry. I was really hungry and forgot to take a picture before we started eating . . .) This was chicken, zucchini, carrots, onions, cabbage and peppers sauteed in a spicy pepper sauce, and served with a generous helping of sticky rice. (And, thank God! Because I am so not kidding about the ’spicy’ in the spicy pepper sauce.)Still, delicious!!
David went with the Ddeok Mandu Guk, meat dumplings in a seasoned broth soup with thin rice cakes and egg.
Oh, and here’s Dave.
I’m mainly including this picture to show the comfy, diner-like interior of the store. And, because my mom says we don’t have enough pictures of us on the blog. (Also because David hates having his picture taken and refuses to smile! OK, so he is chewing in this shot, but it’s not like he didn’t get plenty of warning…)
And, in case you think we forgot about the gimbap, think again. This is my new favorite version - Donkatsu Gimbap. This isn’t the greatest picture because I didn’t get a good shot of the center of the roll. But, it’s like a Korean version of the classic little Krystal burger. It’s your basic roll with just a thin later of pickles, mustard, and a thin breaded strip of fried pork cutlet. Perfect for the late-night munchies.
Other great things about the kimbap shops are: The menus—they are on pre-printed order forms, so you just write a quantity in the space by the item you want and hand it to the waitress. (See Mary’s post for the example.) It’s great if you’re not real comfortable ordering in Korean yet. No talking necessary.
And, the price. I don’t think anything on our menu was over 3,000 won (about $3US). Most of the gimbap rolls are 1,000 or 2,000 won, and the entrees are between 2,000 and 3,000 won. The total bill for our dinner, which included the complimentary side dishes, of course, was 9,000 won.
Also, they deliver, which means I may never have to talk to Papa John’s again . . .
{ 12 comments }
Sue 11.21.06 at 8:32 pm
I haven’t seen donkatsu gimbap before. I wonder why they don’t sell it here where I live.
maryeats 11.21.06 at 9:06 pm
Man that Donkatsu kimbap looks rad. I totally need to try it.
Brian B 11.22.06 at 12:27 am
I haven’t had a Crystal burger (or even a White Castle) in more than 10 years! What memories that brings back.
Cat 11.22.06 at 12:49 am
I used to eat them by the bagful in college. Back when that wouldn’t put 20 extra pounds on.
Good times!
Rose Byrd 11.22.06 at 3:26 am
I don’t know about your mom,Cat, but David’s mom certainly enjoyed the picture of David chewing and pretending he didn’t know anyone was looking. This is the Dave we of his growing up days in Georgia know best and yet love all the more. See what a weird bunch we are? The food looks wonderfully lucious: so glad I ate my own lunch just before logging onto your blog today.
Colin Choi 11.23.06 at 2:09 am
As Korean I haven’t tried it yet. Still I am curious how it is for you. Kimbab used be favored highly for special meal at picnic and gym festival at School when I was young in 1970’s. Kimbab have been a kind of fast food like burgers. Korean old mom still know how to roll and add, cut it neatly. Still I remember I stayed up without sleeping on eve of picnic day dreaming of having kimbab.
JiMong 11.23.06 at 8:53 am
Donkatsu Kimbap? The place is really Kimbap Heaven for sure, and I think the menu developed to attract young generations tastes. Yet, I don’t think it could replace my favorite one, Choong-Moo Kimbap.
Cat 11.23.06 at 9:23 am
JiMong, I will have to try choong-moo kimbap, next!
For new readers, I wrote before about my first ill-fated attempt to make kimbap, here.
Then, I found a place to buy it. (And, I still think that subway shop makes really good kimbap rolls.) But that was all before our neighborhood got its very own 김밥천국.
I really think it is the perfect food for a light meal. The gim (dried seaweed sheets) is a very healthy food, you have rice for your carbs, and then you usually have vegetables and some protein on the inside. Plus, it’s yummy. :-)
American readers probably think it looks like a sushi roll, but it really tastes nothing like it at all. Sushi rice is flavored with vinegar, and gimbap rice is flavored with sesame oil. Also, I don’t think you will ever find raw fish in any gimbap, but not sure.
I could go on and on …
JiMong 11.23.06 at 9:52 am
Definitely, you should try it, it’s zen of Kimbap, IMHO. :-)
Maryam in Marrakesh 11.24.06 at 5:40 am
Wow. It all looks delicious and what an amazing bargain!!
flipflop 11.24.06 at 12:14 pm
looking at the donkatsu kimbap makes me want to fly back to seoul. i never saw one when i visited i just got to eat the usual kimbap and the plain donkatsu which is a breather if you’re tired eating anything spicy. i wann go eat dolsot bibimbap though ^^*
Rose Byrd 11.24.06 at 10:05 pm
Kimbap I must eat at the first opportunity, if the rolls are flavored w/sesame oil. My grandmother used to make sesame yeast rolls. I am searching online for the nearest Korean eatery here that may have kimbap. Great sharing w/us foodies, once again, Cat.
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