MAIN INGREDIENTS
This gimbap (Korean rice roll) is made with canned tuna. Apart from rice and fish, the fillings may include other ingredients that are typically used in gimbap such as fresh or pickled vegetables, eggs, or fish cakes, while the tuna is often mashed and then combined with mayonnaise, mustard, and spices.
The roll is traditionally wrapped in toasted seaweed, and it is served sliced into small, bite-size pieces.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Mayak is a popular variety of South Korean rice rolls (gimbap). These mini versions of the standard roll consist of rice, toasted seaweed, and fillings that traditionally include carrots, pickled radish, and spinach. Unlike the traditional gimbap, mayak is never sliced.
The rolls are sprinkled with sesame seeds, while soy sauce and mustard dip is usually served on the side. It is believed that mayak rolls originated at Gwang-jang market in Seoul. Their captivating name translates as narcotic, not because of the presence of an illegal substance, but because once you try these miniature rolls, you will always be hungry for more.
Bibim means mixed, and bap means cooked rice, so bibimbap is literally mixed rice. The rice is combined with a variety of ingredients such as sliced beef, namul (sliced vegetables), soy sauce, gochujang (thick, deep red chili pepper paste), and a raw egg on top, cooking as it is dispersed through the steaming rice.
One of the most popular Korean dishes besides bulgogi and kimchi, bibimbap is said to have been invented out of necessity, just like many other national dishes. In Korea, there is a tradition that any leftover food from New Year's Eve should not be brought over into the New Year, so it started the practice of combining different ingredients with rice in a bowl, and bibimbap was created.
VARIATIONS OF Bibimbap
MOST ICONIC Bibimbap
Often referred to as Korean sushi, gimbap is a Korean dish consisting of seaweed (gim), seasoned rice (bap), and other, optional ingredients that are usually rolled, sliced, and served. Almost anything can be added to the roll, but the most common ingredients are fishcakes, meat, spinach, eggs, and cucumbers.
There are several theories about the origin of gimbap. Many believe that it is a Korean take on Japanese sushi. Others say that it is a variation of gimssam, a wrap consisting of rice and seaweed. Regardless of the origins, gimbap remains one of the most popular Korean dishes.
VARIATIONS OF Gimbap
MOST ICONIC Gimbap
Tteok are traditional Korean rice cakes that are prepared with glutinous or non-glutinous rice. The cakes are incredibly versatile, and although they are mostly sweet and enjoyed as a dessert, some plain varieties can be incorporated into savory dishes.
The usual preparation includes steaming, pounding, or kneading the rice until it transforms into a pliable dough which can optionally be enriched with different ingredients and shaped into various forms. The most popular tteok varieties include songpyeon, chapssaltteok, garaetteok, gyeongdan, as well as many more traditional and modern versions.
VARIATIONS OF Tteok
Kimchi bokkeumbap is a simple South Korean dish made with a combination of fried rice and kimchi. It is considered to be a great way to use leftover kimchi. The dish can also be enriched with additional ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and soy sauce.
In most cases, kimchi bokkeumbap is topped with a fried egg before serving, although it can also be garnished with sesame seeds, finely chopped green onions, or gim. Because it is very easy to prepare, inexpensive, and comforting, the dish is a favorite amongst South Korean students.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Samgak is a triangle-shaped variety of gimbap—South Korean rice roll. It consists of various fillings that are neatly placed inside a piece of triangle-shaped rice. The pouches are then wrapped in seaweed (gim) and are typically additionally covered with a thin plastic wrapper, which allows the gimbap to stay fresh for an extended period.
This gimbap was inspired by the Japanese onigiri, a similar triangle-shaped sushi variety, but the fillings were adapted to Korean taste, and traditionally include various combinations of kimchi, tuna, bulgogi, or gochujang paste.
Nurungji is the South Korean version of scorched rice—a crispy and nutty layer of golden-brown rice that forms at the bottom of the pan. This simple snack is prepared with pre-cooked rice, or it can be a by-product of cooking rice. Nurungji can be enjoyed on its own, but it is often sprinkled with sugar and served as a dessert.
Optionally, the crust can be topped and shortly cooked with water or tea to create sungnyung—an infusion that is served after a meal and should be enjoyed as a drink.
Tteokbokki is a spicy stir-fried dish that usually consists of cylinder-shaped rice cakes, sweet red chili sauce, and fish cakes. It is considered to be one of the top street food items in Korea, and can usually be bought from street vendors known as pojangmacha.
The dish originated during the Joseon Dynasty period, when it was used as a cure, and it was also one of the royal court's dishes. Originally, tteokbokki was called tteok jjim, a braised dish of sliced rice cakes, meat, eggs, and seasonings.
MOST ICONIC Tteokbokki
Hoedeopbap is a Korean rice bowl that is topped with raw fish and slices of fresh vegetables. Although similar to the Japanese kaisendon, this Korean version is finished off with the addition of a sweet and spicy sauce that usually combines gochujang (chili paste), vinegar, garlic, and sugar.
The most common fish varieties used in the dish are salmon, tuna, sea bass, or halibut which may be sliced or cut into thin strips. The key to every hoedeopbap is to use only high-quality, fresh ingredients, and to serve the dish well-chilled.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 18 Korean Rice Dishes” list until February 13, 2025, 1,343 ratings were recorded, of which 1,155 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.