On the way home, after grocery shopping on Sunday, we stopped at Kimgane to get some Kimbap. We’d been shopping for about 2 hours, so we couldn’t wait until we get home. As usual, it was very crowded, though I remind you it is a quite small size shop. I’ve never eat in there with Michael, because I don’t like people staring at us. (In other restaurants, people still stare at us, though I always sit where no one else is around so I can avoid those eyes, but at Kimgane you can’t really avoid it.) – We are living in a small town, 5 hours away from Seoul, so foreigners are quite rare.

I ordered Chamchi Kimbap (Tuna Kimbap) and Sogogi Kimbap (Beef Kimbap).
Both are 2500 won each (US $2.60).

While a lady was making Chamchi Kimbap, I was carefully watching her to learn how to roll it. (It is slightly different to making vegetable Kimbap) I could feel my eyes were flaming out of eagerness to learn. Hopefully I can demonstrate well for my readers next time when I make it.

When we got home, I unpacked them like a beast.

I tasted Sogogi Kimbap first. I expected it to taste like bulgogi, but it didn’t. (I can’t guarantee though, I think it is just marinated with soy sauce.) However, they both were really good, yet I still like Chamchi Kimbap best. Two thumbs up!

• Left – Sogogi Kimbap (Beef Kimbap)
• Right – Chamchi Kimbap (Tuna Kimbap)

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There was a shop called “Kimbap Nara” and they sold Kimbap for 1000 won. (About US $1 that time) It was so sensational because it was so cheap. Kimbap used to be 2000 won for the cheapest one. So everyone lined up to get some Kimbap at Kimbap Nara, sometimes I had to wait for about 10 minutes or more. But still everyone was so happy that they could get some Kimbap so cheaply, so it became more popular as a simple meal or snack. Before that time, it was only a picnic meal.

Anyhow, as the shop got popular, lots of other similar shops opened near the Kimbap Nara. In the town where I live, we have 3 Kimbap shops on the same street about 25m away from each other.

These three franchises are what we have in this town and are the most common franchises.

Kimbap Nara (means Kimbap country)

Kimbap Cheonguk (means Kimbap heaven)

Kim-ga-ne (means Mr.Kim’s households) Kim/gim also means sea weed sheets in Korean.

They all have similar menus, especially the first and second one. But Kim-ga-ne is a little more expensive than the other two shops, though its food quality is better. Since I first went to Kim-ga-ne I haven’t been to Kimbap Nara nor Kimbap Cheonguk. I like tuna Kimbap best from Kim-ga-ne.

I wanted to talk about these cheap Korean style fast food shops for a long time, but I just couldn’t dare to mention them. Because, simply, their menus are just too much. There are about 70 items on each menu. However, yesterday, Mary from maryeats pulled the trigger. She named all the menus from Kimbap Nara in Korean and English, the prices, and also simple but descriptive descriptions. I was simply amazed with her effort. It will be very useful if you are living in Korea, if you are not, just be jealous.

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1. Beef Kimbap and Tuna Kimbap from Kimgane (Sogogi Kimbap and Chamchi Kimbap in Korean)
2. Traffic Light Kimbap
3. Vegetable Kimbap