Fish-Free Sushi

Kimchi kimbap is a uniquely Korean style of sushi. “ Kim” means seaweed, “pap” means rice and kimchi is a spicy pickle often made with nappa cabbage. So it’s easy to figure that kimchi kimbap is seaweed-wrapped sushi with cabbage kimchi in the center. Other components are cucumber, carrot, egg pancake and sesame leaf, which has an enchanting, almost jasmine-like fragrance.

J.Y. Foods, a sushi and rice cake stall inside the Hannam Chain Supermarket, packages kimchi kimbap (which it spells kim bop ) 11 pieces to a tray, along with sweet, bright yellow daikon pickle. The pieces are small enough to eat in one bite, and there’s no raw fish to deteriorate as the sushi stands, making kimchi kimbap perfect for a party appetizer.

Kimchi kimbap, $3 a tray at J.Y. Foods in the Hannam Chain Supermarket, 2740 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 382-2922.