Gimbap
Sliced vegetable gimbap | |
| Place of origin | Korea |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Gim, bap |
| Variations | Chungmu-gimbap, samgak-gimbap |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김밥 |
| RR | gimbap |
| MR | kimbap |
| IPA | [ki(ː)m.bap̚] [ki(ː)m.p͈ap̚] |
Gimbap (Korean: 김밥; lit. seaweed rice; IPA: [kim.p͈ap̚]), also romanized as kimbap, is a Korean dish made from bap (cooked rice), vegetables, and optionally cooked seafood or meat, rolled in gim—dried sheets of seaweed—and served in bite-sized slices. Some sources say it originates from Japanese norimaki, introduced during Japanese colonial rule, while others argue it is a modernized version of bokssam from the Joseon era. The dish is often part of a packed meal, or dosirak, to be eaten at picnics and outdoor events, and can serve as a light lunch along with danmuji (yellow pickled radish) and kimchi. It is a popular takeaway food in South Korea and abroad.