For most, and probably all, of its many-millenium history, the half-mile stretch of land between what we now call West 13th and Carmine Streets was home to zero kimbap restaurants.
Then suddenly, in a kind of coincidental culinary miracle, two such divine creations arrived within around 10 blocks of each other, making the West Village, circa 2026, the city's capital of casual kimbap.
And the best part? Both places, TBD Gimbap and Kim's Kimbap, open with a strong pedigree, a lot of love for the form—if you need reminding, kimbap is rice, crisp vegetables, greens, burdock root, egg, and a cooked dish, usually involving meat, all wrapped up in seaweed—and an equally excellent take on the Korean classic.
It's not a competition, but if I had to pick a winner, I'd say it was you—because of all the great kimbap you now get to eat around here.
