Mapo gimbap restaurant takeout: Samhyeongje Gimbap

I stopped by Samhyeongje Gimbap, Sangam branch (삼형제김밥 상암점) to get gimbap for lunch at the office. I chose one Original Yubu Gimbap and two Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap; the Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap suited my taste better.

Where is Samhyeongje Gimbap, Sangam branch?

The shop is in unit 1029 on B1 of Nuritkum Square, 396 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Following the building signs leads you down by escalator.

Enter through Gate 4, then make two right turns to find the shop.

Which gimbap did I choose?

There were yubu gimbap (fried tofu gimbap) options with various added ingredients. I considered the newly released jinmichae yubu gimbap (seasoned dried squid fried tofu gimbap), but chose Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap instead. Other customers often ordered the Original Yubu Gimbap, cheese and tuna yubu gimbap, and Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap.

There is also something to note for takeout. The shop said it cooks all gimbap ingredients for food safety. Even when collected right away, the gimbap may not be warm and can be cold.

Can I have breakfast or eat in?

At the time of the original post, the listed hours were 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last orders at 7:00 PM. It also stated that breakfast delivery and group orders were available. When I went to pick up my order in the morning, I saw customers buying gimbap before work, including one person taking six rolls.

There was a seating area on one side of the shop. Customers were eating there when I visited.

How do ordering and self-service packing work?

You can buy gimbap already prepared on trays, or order items that are not available. The preparation area was open, so I could watch the process; it looked tidy to me, and they added generous fillings. Their hands were quick, which made it convenient to get takeout on the way to work.

They also sold cup ramen and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) to eat with gimbap. Tteokbokki takes about four minutes, so it would be best to mention it in advance if you want to have it together.

Payment and packing were self-service. Packing bags and other supplies were beside the kiosk, and once the ordered gimbap was ready, I packed it myself at the packing station.

I sat and waited, then went to the packing station after hearing that my gimbap was ready. The station was neatly organized, so it was easy to pack the three rolls.

While I was packing, the owner told me to take mini miso soup as well, so I took three. You prepare it by adding more than half a paper cup of hot water; since I prefer lighter flavors, I added a little more water.

How were the Original and Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap?

I took one Original Yubu Gimbap and two Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap to the office and shared them. The prices listed in the original post were ₩5,000 for the Original Yubu Gimbap and ₩6,000 for the Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap.

The Original Yubu Gimbap had a straightforward, classic flavor. I shared the gimbap with the person I was eating with so we could try both options.

The Kimchi Tuna Yubu Gimbap tasted better to me. The kimchi and tuna went well together, and it was still good after it had cooled. It was packed with filling, so I felt full after about half a roll and ate it slowly.