Gourmet kimbap market is growing in South Korea.

Kimbap is Korea's favorite food equivalent to hamburger or pizza in the U.S.

Gimbap, or Kimbap, is a popular Korean dish made from steamed white rice (bap) and various other ingredients, rolled in dried laver seaweed (gim/kim) and served in bite-size slices that many foreigners refer to incorrectly as Korean sushi.

Basic kimbap starts at 1500 won (about $1.25), and fancier versions with tuna, assorted vegetables or cheese for 2500 won. A deluxe roll with every topping available won’t break the bank at 3500 won, ($3.15).

Now many kimbap brands and restaurants that serve premium gourmet kimbap are popping up in korea, turning kimbap into something like gourmet cuisine that look elegant and cost a lot more too.

Menus like Apple kimbap, roasted chicken breast kimbap, premium korean beef kimbap at "kimpop",kimbap restaurant located at sinsadong in Seoul,provided with hefty priced tag which ranges between 6000 won($5.50)and 15000 won($14).

Many department store and distributors are opening up gourmet kimbap stores in their branch as well.

Some representive at cooking division of Hyundai department store stated “I think there is a huge opportunity in the better-kimbap niche that is not going to slow down any time soon.”

"But this might lead to price inflation of other products in Korea since kimbap is food that most of korean could afford to eat in daily life."

people are waiting in line in front of some gourmet kimbap store.