[ENG] From Rice to Roll: The Ultimate Guide to Making Kimbap in Dublin
🥢 The Great Kimbap Hunt: Finding Korean Ingredients in Dublin!
It’s been two months since I started my working holiday in Dublin. At first, I was excited to try local food—fish & chips, Guinness, full Irish breakfast… But as time went on, I found myself longing for something different. Not just any Korean food, but a simple roll of kimbap. 🍙
If you’ve ever suddenly craved kimbap while abroad, congratulations—you’re officially experiencing the true expat life. 😂
At first, I settled for rice wrapped in gim (seaweed) with a bit of kimchi on the side. But that wasn’t enough! I wanted realkimbap—with pickled radish, fish cake, and all the right flavors. So, my Dublin Kimbap Ingredient Hunt began. Here’s where I found everything I needed!
📍 Where to Buy Korean Ingredients in Dublin
1. AISA MARKET – The Basics, But Not Kimbap-Ready
🛍 Location: Dublin city center (Google Maps: "AISA MARKET")
🚌 How to Get There: 7-min walk from LUAS Green Line St. Stephen's Green stop
⏰ Opening Hours:
- Monday–Sunday: 10 AM – 7 PM
✅ What You Can Buy:
- Rice, ramen, soy sauce, seaweed sheets
- Instant food (microwave rice, cup noodles)
- Drinks (soju, makgeolli, sikhye)
❌ What You Can’t Find (Important!):
- Pickled radish (danmuji)
- Imitation crab sticks
- Burdock root (우엉)
- Kimbap-style ham
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This is a Japanese-brand curry, but…! I spotted Golden Curry right away! 😆🍛 Personally, I think Golden Curry tastes better than Ottogi Curry! What about you? 😋 |
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Ramen just hits different when it’s cooked in an aluminum pot… 😏🔥 And makgeolli? You gotta pour it into an aluminum kettle for the full experience… 😉 You all know what I’m talking about, right? 😆🍜🍶 |
AISA MARKET is great for basic Asian groceries, but it’s not the best for kimbap-specific ingredients. The Korean food section is quite small, so if you’re looking for true Korean essentials, you might need to go elsewhere.
2. COREANA – The Holy Grail of Korean Ingredients
🛍 Location: North Dublin (Google Maps: "Coreana Supermarket")
🚌 How to Get There: Accessible via Bus 4, 7, or 9
⏰ Opening Hours:
- Monday–Saturday: 10 AM – 8 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM
✅ What You Can Buy for Kimbap:
- 🦀 Imitation crab sticks (€3.70 each)
- 🍖 Luncheon meat (Spam/Richam, €4.80 per can)
- 🌕 Pickled radish (€3.15 per pack)
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Korea rice 2 |
Koreana is the best place to get proper kimbap ingredients! However, keep in mind that the prices are about 1.5x higherthan in Korea. But hey, when you’re craving kimbap, price is a secondary concern. 😆
🥢 Kimbap Ingredient Substitutes in Dublin
If you’re struggling to find traditional kimbap ingredients, here are some local alternatives:
🔹 Spinach → Baby spinach (Available in Lidl/Aldi, blanch and season with soy sauce + sesame oil)
🔹 Ham → Irish bacon (Thinly slice, pan-fry, and remove excess oil)
🔹 Burdock root (우엉) → Parsnip (Simmer with soy sauce + sugar + water in a 1:1:2 ratio)
💰 Is Homemade Kimbap Cheaper Than Restaurant Kimbap in Dublin?
Let’s do a quick cost breakdown for one homemade roll of kimbap (8-10 pieces):
- 🍚 Rice: €0.80
- 🥢 Seaweed: €1.20
- 🌕 Pickled radish: €0.60
- 🦀 Imitation crab: €0.90
- 🥕 Carrot: €0.30
- 🌿 Spinach: €0.40
- 🥚 Egg: €0.50
- 🍖 Ham/Bacon: €0.90
- 🥢 Seasoning (soy sauce, sesame oil, etc.): €0.40
🎉 Total: ~€6.00 (~₩9,000 KRW)
Compare that to restaurant kimbap in Dublin, which costs around €12-15 per roll, and you’re saving at least 50% by making it at home!
🍙 Kimbap = More Than Just Food
At first, my kimbap cravings were simply about missing Korean food. But as I started searching for the ingredients and making kimbap myself, I realized—it was more than that.
Kimbap wasn’t just food; it was a taste of home, a piece of my identity, and a connection to my culture. Making it in Dublin became a fun challenge and a reminder that, no matter where I am, I can always find a way to bring a little bit of Korea into my life. 💚
If you're in Dublin and missing kimbap, don’t worry—you can make it happen! Hopefully, this guide helps you in your own Korean food journey.
Now, time to roll another batch… because one is never enough. 😋🍙
🔖 Tags:
#DublinLife #KoreanFood #Kimbap #DublinKoreanFood #DublinFoodie #KoreanMarket #DublinShopping #DublinAsianMarket #WorkingHoliday #KoreanFoodDublin #HomeCooking #ExpatLife #KoreanInIreland #IrelandLife #FoodHunt #DublinGroceries #DublinSupermarket #DublinFoodHacks #TravelEats #KoreanCulture
