Hello.
Today, I visited Owol Gimbap, which ranked No.1 among gimbap shops in Seoul on Dining Code.
With countless gimbap places in South Korea’s capital, I was really curious to see what it means to be ranked No.1.
Location of Owol Gimbap
The shop is located about a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Nakseongdae Station, making it perfect for a quick visit or takeout.
If you reserve in advance, you can pick it up and transfer right away.
When I first visited, I thought, “This is more expensive than I expected…” after looking at the menu.
The basic gimbap being 6,300 KRW is certainly different from the usual price range.
Still, I ordered the popular “Bapdoduk (Rice Thief Gimbap)” (6,300 KRW) and the “Spicy Tuna” (6,300 KRW), and was told I’d need to wait a bit.
There are two ways to order: by phone reservation or by visiting in person.
Owol Gimbap reportedly accepts reservations in blocks of 25 rolls every 10 minutes.
Once a time slot is full, they move you to the next, but you can also secure your slot in advance by calling.
We visited in person just before 11 a.m. on a Saturday, and the estimated waiting time after ordering was “11:20,” about 20 minutes later.
Owol Gimbap
First of all, the size is huge!
I initially thought the price was high, but in reality, it was “an unbelievably large gimbap.”
It was the biggest gimbap I had ever eaten—bigger than a thick sushi roll—and I was genuinely surprised.
Look at this cross-section.
It’s the first time I’ve seen a gimbap packed with this much filling that it looks like it could burst open.
I completely understood why it’s considered “Seoul’s No.1.”
The basic menu item “Bapdoduk (Rice Thief Gimbap)” contains a slightly spicy seasoned ingredient, which adds a great accent.
Within the fluffy egg, that final spicy kick really stands out.
The spicy tuna gimbap also had rich tuna flavor followed by a spicy note, and both were incredibly delicious.
It was my first time trying them, but I definitely want to go back.
One roll alone is enough to make you full, so the satisfaction level was very high.