7 Delicious Korean Picnic Foods

By
Naomi Imatome-Yun
Naomi Imatome-Yun
Asian food expert Naomi Imatome-Yun is a freelance writer and the author of four Asian food cookbooks.
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Updated on 06/14/20
Korean lunch box

whitewish / Getty Images

Koreans love picnics and eating alfresco. Most Koreans (especially the older generations) also love hiking, so maybe the picnic love has to do with Korea's mountainous terrain and rugged natural beauty.

There is so much Korean food that is portable for hiking and seasoned so that it doesn't need to be surrounded by massive amounts of ice and heavy colors (Koreans are masters in food preservation). Korean dishes also lend themselves to open-air dining because many of them can be enjoyed at room temperature.

  • 01 of 04

    Korean Rice Rolls (Kimbap)

    Kimbap rolls on dish

    whitewish / Getty Images 

    Kimbap is the staple food for all Korean picnics and lunchboxes. They look like sushi rolls, but kimbap is not restaurant food, it's snack food that you eat with your hands.

    Traditional fillings include seasoned vegetables, egg, meat and/or imitation crab, but these days anything goes. From Seoul to NYC, fillings range from cheesy to spicy to fresh. Kimbap is like the Korean version of a sandwich- you can change the filling to fit any diet, palate, or occasion.

  • 02 of 04

    Korean Dumplings (Mandoo)

    Korean dumpling mandoo recipe

    The Spruce Eats/Ulyana Verbytska

    Korean dumplings are traditionally made with beef or pork filling, but chicken and vegetarian dumplings are also popular. Versatile and delicious, mandoo can be boiled, steamed, deep-fried, pan-fried or added to a soup. They are substantial enough for a main dish but are also good as snack dishes or a mess-free lunch.

  • 03 of 04

    Korean Rolled Egg Omelette (Gaeran Mari)

    Korean rolled egg omlet

    Brian Yarvin / Getty Images

    This Korean rolled egg omelet (Gaeran Mari) recipe is as easy to make as an American omelet, but it looks beautiful and is nicely portable for a picnic lunch. Healthy, delicious, and full of protein, Gaeran Mari has many variations. You can use different vegetables, add in some diced ham, omit the seaweed if you don't have any, or Westernize it with the addition of some cheese, and it will still be delicious if you keep the proportions right.

  • 04 of 04

    Korean Potato Salad

    Korean Potato Salad

    The Spruce / Naomi Imatome

    Make this Korean potato salad on good bread as a sandwich filling and you won't need any pickles or fruit on the side. Unlike Western versions, Korean potato salad usually includes fruit, vegetables, and sometimes ham, and it doesn't have a vinegary component.