Best Gimbap & Kimbap in NYC

Gimbap (김밥) is an iconic Korean dish made from seasoned cooked short-grain rice (bap) and a variety of colorful fillings rolled tightly in roasted seaweed sheets (gim) and sliced into bite-sized rounds. Typical fillings include beef bulgogi, spicy pork, tuna salad, fluffy egg ribbons (gyeran-mari), pickled yellow radish (danmuji), braised burdock root (ueong), and blanched spinach.

Both spellings refer to the exact same dish. 'Gimbap' follows South Korea's official Revised Romanization standard (where the Korean letter ㄱ is romanized as 'g' at the start of a word), while 'kimbap' follows the older McCune–Reischauer transliteration and remains widely used across American restaurant menus and signage.

The primary difference lies in the rice seasoning, core fillings, and surface aroma. Gimbap rice is seasoned with toasted sesame oil (chamgireum) and sea salt rather than sweetened rice vinegar. Furthermore, gimbap fillings feature fully cooked, sautéed, or pickled ingredients rather than raw fish, and each roll is finished with a fragrant brushing of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

Gimbap developed from a confluence of traditional Korean customs and early 20th-century foodways. Historical Joseon Dynasty records document 'bokssam'—the practice of wrapping steamed grains in toasted laver sheets—while modern rolled cylindrical gimbap evolved during the early-to-mid 20th century as norimaki techniques were localized within Korean food culture using fragrant sesame oil, kimchi, and bulgogi.

Mayak gimbap ('addictive' mini kimbap) originated in Seoul's historic Gwangjang Market; these are slender, finger-length mini rolls filled simply with carrot, spinach, and danmuji, brushed with sesame oil and eaten with a piquant hot mustard-soy dipping sauce. Samgak gimbap is a triangle-shaped seaweed rice roll with savory fillings inside, popular as a convenient grab-and-go snack across Korean convenience counters.

Moonoh's Featured picks include Roll Over Kimbap in Union Square, Kimbap Lab in Chelsea Market, Kim's Kimbap in Greenwich Village, K-Kimbap in Chinatown, E-Mo Kimbap and Woorijip in Koreatown, BK Gangnam in Downtown Brooklyn, Korean BTS Market in Bed-Stuy, Peek In Cafe in Greenpoint, and Song Song Gimbap in Flushing, Queens. The guide separates editorial Featured recommendations from additional active spots (listed under More Gimbap Spots) across the city.

In Koreatown, you will find three outstanding destinations: E-Mo Kimbap (2 W 32nd St) for classic homestyle rolls made fresh to order (cash only), Woorijip (12 W 32nd St) for an extensive grab-and-go selection replenished all day, and Everydaily (35 W 35th St) for modern, affordable sub-$10 rolls in a fast-casual space.

Brooklyn features standout destinations across several neighborhoods: BK Gangnam inside DeKalb Market Hall (Downtown Brooklyn) serves freshly rolled bulgogi and spicy pork rolls; Korean BTS Market on Nostrand Avenue (Bed-Stuy) offers homestyle rolls in a warm neighborhood setting; and Peek In Cafe on Franklin Street (Greenpoint) serves inventive Korean-French jambon kimbap with house-made kimchi jam.

Flushing, Queens is a premier hub for authentic bunsik. Longstanding neighborhood specialist Song Song Gimbap (162-20 Northern Blvd) offers over 30 traditional and specialty varieties starting at $4.00; Rolly Kimbab (163-16 Northern Blvd) provides homestyle rolls and samgak kimbap from $6.50; and KimGaNae (39-12 Union St) is a classic bunsik staple serving traditional rolls, triangle kimbap, and combo sets.

Across New York City, individual gimbap rolls currently range from $4.00 to $21.99 based on verified menu pricing. Value-focused neighborhood counters in Flushing like Song Song Gimbap start between $4.00 and $7.00, and Rolly Kimbab ranges from $6.50 to $9.25. In Manhattan, grab-and-go staples at Woorijip and Everydaily start from $6.50 to $6.99. Most standard full-size rolls across the boroughs range between $11.00 and $16.00, while premium chef-crafted rolls or jumbo specialty sets range from $16.00 to $21.99.

Yes. For gluten-free dining, Kimbap Lab in Chelsea Market specializes in gluten-free Korean comfort using gluten-free tamari. For vegetarian and vegan options, Rice Kitchen in SoHo serves dedicated tofu and vegetable rolls, Roll Over Kimbap in Union Square offers vegan mushroom and vegetable options, and K-Kimbap in Chinatown prepares braised burdock and seasoned vegetable rolls.