Korean seaweed snacks are lightly roasted, seasoned with sesame oil, and dangerously addictive. Here are five you can find in the UK that range from classic to wasabi-blasted.
Why Korea Does Seaweed Differently
Korean seaweed snacks (gim or kim) are not the thick, chewy nori sheets you might associate with Japanese sushi. They are paper-thin sheets of laver seaweed, brushed with sesame oil and sea salt, then roasted until crisp and almost translucent. The result is a snack that dissolves on your tongue with an intense hit of umami and a satisfying crunch. In Korea, seasoned gim is eaten daily — wrapped around rice at breakfast, tucked into lunch boxes, or eaten straight from the packet as a snack.
The Classic Picks
Bibigo's Original Roasted Seaweed is the easiest entry point. Each packet contains individually wrapped portions that stay fresh and crisp. They are lightly salted and have a clean sesame oil flavour without being greasy. CJ's Sesame version is slightly richer, with a more pronounced sesame taste that pairs brilliantly with hot rice. Dongwon's Seasoned Laver comes in a larger multipack and is the brand most commonly found in Korean households — it is a touch saltier and works well crumbled over noodles or rice bowls.
Beyond the Basics
Bibigo's Wasabi Seaweed Crisps are a thicker, puffed style of seaweed snack with a real wasabi kick. They are closer to a crisp than a traditional gim sheet and work well as an alternative to regular crisps for anyone looking for something lighter. Haitai's Baked Seaweed with Almond layers thin seaweed with sliced almonds — the combination of crunch and nuttiness is surprisingly sophisticated.
How to Use Them
Beyond snacking, Korean seaweed has dozens of uses in cooking. Crumble it over fried rice, use it as a topping for ramen, wrap it around a spoonful of rice with a dab of gochujang, or crush it into a powder to season popcorn. A multipack of Dongwon or CJ seaweed in the cupboard is one of the cheapest and most versatile Korean ingredients you can keep to hand.
K-Food → Listicle
5 Best Korean Seaweed Snacks in the UK
Crispy, salty, and surprisingly moreish Korean seaweed snacks.
Beyond snacking, Korean seaweed has dozens of uses in cooking. Crumble it over fried rice, use it as a topping for ramen, wrap it around a spoonful of rice with a dab of gochujang, or crush it into a powder to season popcorn. A multipack of Dongwon or CJ seaweed in the cupboard is one of the cheapest and most versatile Korean ingredients you can keep to hand.
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Beyond the Basics
Bibigo's Wasabi Seaweed Crisps are a thicker, puffed style of seaweed snack with a real wasabi kick. They are closer to a crisp than a traditional gim sheet and work well as an alternative to regular crisps for anyone looking for something lighter. Haitai's Baked Seaweed with Almond layers thin seaweed with sliced almonds — the combination of crunch and nuttiness is surprisingly sophisticated.
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The Classic Picks
Bibigo's Original Roasted Seaweed is the easiest entry point. Each packet contains individually wrapped portions that stay fresh and crisp. They are lightly salted and have a clean sesame oil flavour without being greasy. CJ's Sesame version is slightly richer, with a more pronounced sesame taste that pairs brilliantly with hot rice. Dongwon's Seasoned Laver comes in a larger multipack and is the brand most commonly found in Korean households — it is a touch saltier and works well crumbled over noodles or rice bowls.
01
Why Korea Does Seaweed Differently
Korean seaweed snacks (gim or kim) are not the thick, chewy nori sheets you might associate with Japanese sushi. They are paper-thin sheets of laver seaweed, brushed with sesame oil and sea salt, then roasted until crisp and almost translucent. The result is a snack that dissolves on your tongue with an intense hit of umami and a satisfying crunch. In Korea, seasoned gim is eaten daily — wrapped around rice at breakfast, tucked into lunch boxes, or eaten straight from the packet as a snack.