I Tried Every Frozen Kimbap I Could Find — These Are the 6 Worth Buying

published Oct 12, 2024
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H Mart inside The American Dream Mall. 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073.
Credit: John Arehart / Shutterstock

The first Korean food I loved was kimbap. I was adopted from Seoul, South Korea, as a baby and learned about my culture through food — something I shared in an Adoptee Potluck Club package here at The Kitchn. Kimbap is a seaweed rice roll that looks like sushi at first glance, but is an entirely different type of snack and lunch box favorite than the Japanese dish. Packed inside a thin layer of rice are things like bulgogi or seasoned beef, fish cake, SPAM, egg, pickled radish, seasoned spinach, carrots, and other varying textures and flavors. Its fillings are endlessly customizable, and some of my favorite rolls double the carbs with japchae (stir-fried sweet potato starch noodles) and rice. 

Credit: Alyse Whitney

Kimbap isn’t a dish that I make at home regularly, mostly because of the effort it takes to cut everything to the right size to fill the rolls, creating an ultrathin layer of rice that barely holds everything together, and making sure to roll it tightly for a beautiful cross section cut once it’s nestled in gim (dried roasted seaweed sheets). Instead, I head to H Mart, the Korean grocery chain that makes a number of different rolls in-house and has an ample selection of frozen kimbap to choose from. 

Ever since Trader Joe’s released its version of kimbap — filled with greens, braised tofu, and an assortment of raw and pickled veggies — there has been a wider awareness of kimbap (also romanized as gimbap, which is gim for seaweed and bap for rice). But there’s so much more than just that one flavor out there, and I took to the aisles of H Mart to find out just how many I could track down.

There were three brands available across the three H Mart locations I went to in Los Angeles, but there may be more in your local store. I was able to pick up 12 different rolls, sampling alongside another Korean friend who grew up eating kimbap all the time and has a discerning palate. Ultimately there were six we’d keep in the freezer for kimbap kravings, which we ranked in order of our personal preference (all are great, but, naturally, we had favorites). 

Credit: Alyse Whitney

6. BOKMANSA 11:45 Burdock Fried Tofu Vegan Kimbap

This is the most similar to the Trader Joe’s kimbap, as it has veggies and fried tofu. In this case, it’s braised fried yuba (aka tofu skin) that is delightfully chewy, tender, and flavorful. The thin layer of rice surrounding the fillings is impressive and looks homemade. It holds together well and was even great re-reheated the next day.

Buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Burdock Fried Tofu Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

5. BOKMANSA 11:45 Red Bibimbap Vegan Kimbap

If you like spicy … this isn’t spicy. Add a dollop of gochujang-spiked Kewpie mayonnaise or chili crisp if you want some heat here. It does have a nice mix of crunchy vegetables inside, but since it is vegan, it can never truly be bibimbap, a dish that is at its best with a runny egg mixed in. This is one that would be fantastic to crisp up in a skillet … and top with an egg!

Buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Red Bibimbap Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

Credit: Alyse Whitney

4. BOKMANSA 11:45 Mushroom Japchae Vegan Kimbap

There are ample mushrooms and japchae for a noodly kimbap that disappeared very fast during this tasting. There’s just enough saltiness and umami without being too much, and a dunk in a little soy sauce and rice vinegar perks it up even further.

Buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Mushroom Japchae Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

3. Baba Vegetable Kimbap 

The photo on the front of this package promised a vibrant array of vegetables and a perfect cross section. In reality, it was a little smooshed, but still tasty. A gentle sweetness made this one unique and kept us coming back for more. 

Buy: Baba Vegetable Kimbap, $3.99 for 8.1 ounces at H Mart

2. BOKMANSA 11:45 Japchae Vegan Kimbap

If you love japchae but don’t feel like making it yourself, having this kimbap in the freezer will satisfy your cravings. It’s packed with extra black pepper, which gives it a nice zing, and the noodles are tender nestled within the warm rice and seaweed. This one disappeared very fast.

Buy: BOKMANSA 11:45 Japchae Vegan Kimbap, $5.99 for 7.76 ounces at H Mart

Credit: Alyse Whitney

1. Sajo Daerim Tuna Kimbap

If you love tuna sandwiches, buy this tuna kimbap. It’s a tuna salad and crisp fresh and pickled vegetables in a crunchtastic-yet-tender bite. It’s the most filling due to the protein, and if you want to go wild, broil some cheese on top for a tuna melt kimbap!

Find it in stores: Sajo Daerim Tuna Kimbap, $3.99 for 8.1 ounces at H Mart

Credit: Alyse Whitney

How I Tested the Kimbap

We microwaved each for about two to four minutes, either in the original packaging or with a wet paper towel on top to help steam and warm through the kimbap. You can also pan-fry them — with scrambled egg for extra protein and pizzazz! — for a nice crispy-tender texture, about one minute per side in a lightly oiled skillet. Just make sure to let them rest for at least five minutes at room temperature to cool down, or you’ll burn the heck outta your mouth (I speak from experience).

When judging these kimbap, it came down to three factors. 

  1. Appearance: Great kimbap should have a thin layer of rice and defined sections with each ingredient seen in the cross section of each piece. It should also be tightly packed so that nothing spills out. 
  2. Taste: We’re looking for great flavor combinations. 
  3. Texture: It should be tender but not soggy and there should be variance in textures for each ingredient and how it all combines into a perfect bite. 

Did your favorite kimbap make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.