Bites on a Budget

Are you a college student or a foreigner living in Seoul, South Korea who just wants to find good food at a low price? Well, there is a place you can go when you feel like eating some really good Korean food on a budget, that place is called Kimbab Cheonguk. I plan on telling you all about the various foods you can buy and the history of these delicious meals. Maybe after learning more about these meals, it will make you want to eat Korean food more often and maybe appreciate the chefs that have been creating these cuisines for centuries. The foods I will be telling you about today are kimbap, rice bowl, omurice, kimchi fried rice, and curry with rice. I wonder what your favorite Korean food will be by the end of this blog. Let's find out by learning more about kimbap first.

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Kimbap (김밥)

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Kimbap also known as Gimbap is a very popular Korean dish that is rooted in traditional Korean cuisine. There are two different theories of where kimbap came from. The first one is that it is influenced by Japanese sushi, which came to Korea in the early 20th Century. The difference between Japanese sushi and Korean kimbap is that kimbap always has cooked meat or persevered meat while sushi usually has raw fish inside of it. Another theory is that it is from the Joseon dynasty era when Korea started an eating culture called “Ssam” meaning wrapping food. The people of Korea during that time loved to wrap their food in seaweed so that they could just eat it in one bite.

The word kimbap is actually from the Korean words “kim” (seaweed) and “bap” (rice). Kimbap became popular in South Korea during the mid-20th century. It is popular due to its convenience, affordability, and delicious taste. Kimbap is best known as a snack or a light meal that can be eaten while on the move. Office workers and students are known to eat kimbap the most. Kimbab Cheonguk has kimbap at a price of no more than 7,000 Won (5.41 US Dollars).

All kimbap is made with a Korean seaweed sheet, and cooked rice. The filling can be anything but most times it is filled with carrots, cucumbers, spinach, and pickled radish, along with proteins like beef bulgogi, cooked ham, eggs, or canned tuna. As you can see, kimbap has become a staple food in Korean cuisine. You can see it is enjoyed by people of all ages. It can be found in Korean restaurants, street food stalls, and even packed as a lunchbox option. The versatility and portability of kimbap have contributed to its enduring popularity both in Korea and around the world. Now that I have told you about kimbap does it make you want to go out and get some right now? If kimbap is not your favorite thing then let's move on to the kimchi fried rice and see if that’s something you would enjoy instead.

Get Kimbap delivered from:‍ Kimbab Cheonguk.

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Kimchi Fried Rice (김치볶음밥

Kimchi fried rice, also known as "kimchi bokkeumbap" in Korean, is a popular and appetizing meal that brings together two amazing delicacies of Korean cuisine: kimchi and rice. No one really knows where kimchi fried rice originated but it is believed to have become common in the mid-20th century. If you did not know already, kimchi is a fermented vegetable made primarily with cabbage and spicy seasonings. It has always been a staple in Korean cuisine for centuries. It is known for its tangy and big flavors. A lot of people often use it as a condiment or side dish. Rice, being another predominant food in Korea, is commonly consumed in various forms, including steamed, boiled, and fried.

Kimchi fried rice originated just as a way to use leftover rice and kimchi. In traditional Korean culture, wasting food was said to be wrong. Koreans decided to come up with creative methods to repurpose and transform leftovers into tasty dishes. Kimchi fried rice became a way to utilize leftover rice and kimchi. Kimchi fried rice has now been able to provide people with a savory and satisfying meal. The kimchi fried rice that is at Kimbab Cheonguk costs 12,000 Won (9.27 US Dollars) but you can add shrimp for 1,000 Won more. I bet a lot of you did not know all this information about kimchi fried rice, but now that you know more about kimchi fried rice, let's move on and learn about omurice.

Get Kimchi Fried Rice delivered from:‍ Kimbab Cheonguk.

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Omurice (오므라이스)

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While omurice actually originated from Japan and is not considered a traditional Korean meal, it is actually quite popular here in South Korea. It has taken South Korea by a storm and now you can find omurice in various restaurants and you may even find an omurice cafe. Omurice cafes in South Korea often offer various types of omelette rice dishes, including classic omurice, as well as Korean-style adaptations that incorporate the local flavors and ingredients.

The actual history of omurice in South Korea is not really known but it gained its popularity because of Japanese influence. With the globalization of food and the popularity of Japanese anime in South Korea, omurice gained recognition as a trendy dish. Now that omurice is becoming sort of a big deal here in South Korea you can always find some with Korean ingredients such as kimchi and bulgogi. Omurice is a good way to show Korean and Japanese influences in a creative way.

This dish may not have much history in South Korean culinary traditions but its presence here in South Korea showcases the ongoing culinary exchange between the neighboring nations. As well as the willingness to experiment with new flavors and concepts from other cuisines. Omurice cafes and restaurants are now popular destinations for foodies seeking a taste of something new that is a fusion cuisine and an intriguing dining experience. Kimbab Cheonguk has two omurice rice. One is just a normal omurice that you can get for 12,000 Won (9.27 US Dollars) or their mozzarella omurice for 13,500 Won (10.43 US Dollars). Another dish that you probably would not think you have a bit of Korean history would have to be curry and rice, let me be the one to tell you all about it.

Get Omurice delivered from:‍ Kimbab Cheonguk.

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Curry and Rice (카레라이스)

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Curry and rice, also known as "kare-raisu" or "ka-re-bap" in Korean, is a popular dish in South Korea that has Japanese-style curry with Korean rice. The history of curry and rice in South Korea can be traced back to the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). Under Japanese colonial rule, Japanese culture and cuisine was promoted in South Korea. Japanese curry actually came from British curry dishes but had been adapted to Japanese tastes, and became popular in South Korea during this time. Koreans began to adopt and adapt the Japanese curry into their own flavor of Korean curry and rice.

The Korean version of curry and rice has a thick and mildly spicy curry sauce made with a lot of different vegetables, meat (such as beef, chicken, or seafood), and a blend of their own spices. It is usually served over some steamed white rice or mixed with rice. Curry and rice are loved by everyone in South Korea. You can find this dish in school cafeterias, restaurants, just like Kimbab Cheonguk who sells curry with rice for 8,500 Won (6.56 US Dollars), and even some convenience stores have them as meals.

This is again another dish that blends these two nations together with a unique twist of Korean flavors. Today, curry and rice has become an essential part of South Korean food along with traditional Korean dishes. It displays the diversity and evolving nature of what Korean cuisine is today. We have talked about just about every rice dish there is except for one; the last one on the list is the rice bowl. Let’s see what we can learn about this unique diverse meal.

Get curry and rice delivered from:‍ Kimbab Cheonguk.

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Rice Bowl (밥 그릇)

Rice dates back thousands of years in Asia, mostly in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Rice became consumed on a daily basis and was a part of everyone’s diet. As a result, rice bowls were created as a way for everyone to enjoy a meal that is practical and convenient. South Korea has made their own version of the rice bowl.

The original Korean rice bowl is actually bibimbap. Bibimap is very popular and is an iconic Korean dish that has a history that dates all the way back to the Joseon dynasty era. During the Joseon dynasty bibimbap was actually known as “goldongban," which means a dish of assorted rice. Bibimap is traditionally recognized as a Korean temple dish. The rice bowl is very versatile and has a way of making people feel complete due to all of the ingredients that are assorted within the bowl. Each bowl has its own unique history and flavors. Kimbab Cheonguk has rice bowls no more than 15,000 Won (11.59 US Dollars) and there are so many to choose from.

Get the rice bowl delivered from:‍ Kimbab Cheonguk.

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Now that you have learned about all the rich culture found in these remarkable meals, here is where you can find them at Kimbab Cheonguk. The restaurant has been open since 2011. You are able to purchase these tasty dishes that I mentioned here in the blog as well as other meals that they have by using the Shuttle App and do a pickup order. Using the app is very simple and I am happy to show you how to place a pickup order for this restaurant

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1. When you get on the shuttle app first you select pickup and then you click on “All Cuisines” which will take you to the nearest restaurants in the area.

2. When you have gotten to the Kimbab Cheonguk page you then decide on what you want to eat and add it to the cart. For this time, I ordered the rice with beef bulgogi. The meal was 12,000 Won (9.27 US dollars). Check out the menu right here by clicking this link: Kimbab Cheonguk.

3. Once you have added everything to your cart and it all looks right, you just have to proceed to check out and pay for your food. They will give you a pickup time, and you just go pick up your order.

Summary

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I hope that you enjoyed learning about some of these Korean cuisines. There are still so many different Korean dishes out there to try and learn about. It is so hard to just choose one meal to love when there are so many out there. When you have time make sure you go and check out Kimbab Cheonguk and find your next favorite Korean dish. Maybe in my next blog we will talk about some other foods you can find out here in South Korea that may be hard to find in other countries, you will just have to wait and see. Thank you for reading this blog on Korean bites on a budget.