The Best Kimbap I’ve Ever Had

Every month and a half, I take some time in the week to make the trek to deep Queens via the LIRR, where I get an Asian hair cut for $20.00 less than what I would get anywhere in the city.

It’s also during this time that I stop by a couple of stores —  there’s Parksanbal, a spot that serves only one thing and always has a line, Daesung Noodle, a local favorite has an amazing seafood pancake and kalguksoo, and Beans & Malt, a cafe where you could spend an entire afternoon chilling and wondering how the owners can afford this much space.

However, the one place I will always stop by is Nawabari.

A couple years ago, I made this Tiktok talking about how much I love this place, and I thought it was about time to write a small blogpost about it too!

After entering, usually there’s an older Korean lady wearing a face mask and some plastic gloves, with a confused look and a shy “Annyeonghaseyo?”unsure whether they should greet me in Korean and or English. After I give them my best, “Hello! Can I order to go?” they flip the menu over to the English side and slide it towards me.

The menu is pretty simple: there’s kimbap and there’s tteokbokki, plus some other noodles and side dishes. If I’m ordering to go, I’ll usually alternate between the king kimbap (which has a Korean sausage as a filling) bulgogi, and spicy tuna. Each of these usually includes the traditional fillings of carrots, spinach, pickled daikon, tofu skins and an egg omelette, in addition to the protein of your choice. Each kimbap is made fresh to order and then it’s topped off with a sprinkle of sesame seeds — and it hits every single time. 

If I’m ordering to stay and have some friends with me, I’ll usually get the rose tteokbokki because there’s nothing that’s better than dipping your kimbap in that creamy rose sauce! I’ll also get a bunch of mandoo (fried dumplings) on the side because I’m a sucker for dumplings in general.

There’s not really a need for reviews or accolades because the amount of punch cards on the wall from regulars speaks for itself. The price is reasonable and there aren’t any long waits or RSVPs needed. Every time I drop by, Nawabari has become a welcome escape from whatever I’m dealing with in New York. There’s something comforting about the no frill space, with K-dramas in the background and a slower pace of service. After eating until I can’t eaten 

It’s just a good spot serving good food at a good price—and I love it.