[Try It] Non-Spicy Kalbimmyun and Crunchy Bibimbap

Seven Eleven 'Yeolmu Series' Tasting Review
Individually Packaged Yeolmu Kimchi Highlighting Soup Kimchi Characteristics
Emphasizing Tangy Flavor, Perfect for Stimulating Appetite

This year, the unprecedented heatwave has accelerated the release of summer food products. A representative example is the young radish (yeolmu) products, known for their crisp texture that refreshes the appetite during hot weather. Convenience store 7-Eleven introduced two easy-to-eat products using seasonal summer food yeolmu kimchi a month earlier than usual, at the beginning of this month. These are the ‘Jongga Yeolmu Bibimbap’ and ‘Jongga Yeolmu Kalbim-myeon’.

Both products come with generous individual portions of yeolmu. The kalbim-myeon caught attention first. Unlike the yeolmu bibim-myeon made with somyeon (thin wheat noodles), this product uses kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), which was distinctive.

The biggest concern when purchasing yeolmu kalbim-myeon was that the noodles might become soggy. Often, when boiling noodles first to eat bibim-myeon, the noodles get soggy while preparing the other ingredients. Especially since bibim-myeon is eaten by mixing the noodles with the ingredients, soggy noodles can make it difficult to mix properly, leading to a frustrating experience.

However, yeolmu kalbim-myeon was different. Using kalguksu noodles, it became less soggy compared to somyeon. Particularly, the yeolmu kimchi was a masterstroke. The kimchi juice inside the yeolmu kimchi package seeped between the noodles, making mixing effortless. Although the typical chewy texture of kalguksu was not strongly felt, the crispness of the yeolmu sufficiently compensated for it. To check the extent of noodle sogginess, the yeolmu kalbim-myeon was tasted again after finishing the yeolmu bibimbap, and there was no difference from the first time.

The yeolmu bibimbap was delicious not only because of the yeolmu but also because of the rice. In bibimbap, frozen rice tends to harden, making it difficult to mix. However, the yeolmu bibimbap was easy to mix even with cold rice. 7-Eleven recommends heating the rice in the microwave before mixing. To facilitate this, the container holding the rice is made of paper that can safely be microwaved. Still, the cold rice was easy to mix, as the kimchi juice perfectly complemented the mixed dish.

The biggest difference between the two products was their taste. Especially, the bibim sauce showed a significant contrast. The yeolmu bibimbap had a typical bibimbap sauce that anyone would like, while the yeolmu kalbim-myeon emphasized a tangy flavor that stimulated the appetite. One tip is that paying attention to the temperature enhances the taste. The cold yeolmu bibimbap did not show much difference in taste whether eaten with cold rice or microwaved rice, but the yeolmu kalbim-myeon was much more satisfying when eaten cold.