What is Dosirak? - Guide to Korean Packed Lunch

Lunches differ around the world – in the UK you may be used to a ham and cheese sandwich, while Japan is home to the bento box. In Korea, the lunch concept is similar to a bento box, but with a definite Korean twist on this to-go dinner.

Korean packed lunches are known as Dosirak and typically consist of an assortment of traditional side dishes and rice. Here we take a look at some of the items you could pack into a Korean lunch.

What is a Dosirak?

Dosirak is both the name of the lunchbox and the food that is served within it in South Korea. A dosirak lunchbox will typically be made from thermo-steel or plastic. They can be a simple box or contain compartments and tiers.

Often, these lunchboxes will be filled at home and enjoyed as lunch at work, school or on a picnic. Some supermarkets and train stations will also sell their own version of a dosirak.

• Rice – boiled rice
• Kimchi – fermented vegetables, typically cabbage or radish; a Korean staple.
• Bean sprouts – mung bean sprouts
• Sausage – typically Sundae, Korean blood sausage
• Dried seaweed – in Korea this will be a type of seaweed called Gim, and it will be served shredded.
• Fried egg – the egg is typically placed on top of the other ingredients. When shaken, the egg should cover the rest of the ingredients.
• Gimbap – Korean sushi roll, with ingredients surrounded by rice and a seaweed outer layer
• Seafood pancake – a savoury pancake, with seafood such as shrimp and squid added into the batter before it is fried.
• Rolled omelette – egg batter is poured in layers and rolled
• Fried tofu – adds great flavour and a crispy, golden exterior to each tofu bite.
• Glass noodles – a traditional Korean noodle dish, these translucent noodles are typically mixed with carrot, scallion and onion.

How is Dosirak Served and Eaten?

The dosirak lunchbox will be filled with rice and an assortment of side dish components. Unless the lunchbox is separated by compartments, most will shake the lunch box up before eating, so that all of the elements are mixed together as one delicious meal! A thermal dosirak lunchbox may also contain a portion of soup.

What items would you pack in your dosirak? If you would like to add some authentic Korean cuisine into your lunches, then check out the range of Korean food in the UK that we have in stock at Oriental Mart!