Best Kimbap in New York City!! Homestyle cooking with grandpa and grandma inside their small store in Koreatown! Location: it's in Koreatown, you won't noticed it because the store is so small, long line and you can eat there but you have to stand up. The owners are old couple (they are cute) they cook in this small place standing. Worth the wait! Service: Grandpa and Grandma are nice! Even there is a long line, they smile. Feels like I am in Korea again when home cooking is the best! Food: Kimbap was so good, huge servings as well! Also it was made fresh. SQUID KIMBAPis the must try here, it is soo good, chunks of spicy squid inside! BEEF KIMBAP is good too, beef bulgogi inside! Each comes with miso soup! They also sell korean drinks! Price rating: 5 out of 10. $7.50 per 2 rolls kimbap but is they are huge! CASH ONLY! Get the Squid Kimbap! I will try other flavors! Drooling for more! :) read more

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Nice people and a great place for a quick snack stop . Not the cheapest but a generous portion and very fresh

They are open so early in the morning! I was grateful they were because I grabbed a couple to eat on the plane ride home. I got the bulgogi. They tasted like they were made with love! It's a small little place. I would definitely go back. read more

This hole in the wall is literally 3 tables wide. They're small but quick! We ordered and got our food within 10 minutes. We ordered the spicy tuna, bulgogi and spam kimbap. They all came with miso soup - not sure if it's only a lunch special. The spicy tuna is not your typical spicy tuna roll from Japanese restaurants. It was cooked and I also didn't find it to be spicy! I like the spam and bulgogi the most! They were really filling so I imagine one kimbap per person would suffice. This place is also cash only! Our order came out to $26. Great place and great value! read more

E-Mo - Menu as of 11/7 - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Simple and quick snack or meal. It used to be a couple of dollars less, but now it's definitely more expensive. If I remember correctly, E-Mo is a cash-only place. It has no seating, but it has counters for people to stand at an eat if they want. They have small drink fridge I love getting the bulgogi or spicy squid kimbap. They usually come with miso soup, but I don't really drink it so I just tell them that I don't want soup. The sesame oil on top of the seaweed really makes everything fragrant and shiny and delicious. I love the pickled radish that comes with the kimbap because it adds a nice crunch and it can clean the palette. I really like buying these to eat on the Amtrak as a meal instead of buying the Amtrak meals. read more

Best kimbap in the city. Literally a hole in the wall, cash only, with someone rolling to order. I love ittttt. Spicy crab and bulgolgi are my go to. Soicy chicken is hottttt beware! read more

[take out review] A few Yelpers mentioned that the rolls were smaller, less good, and I didn't try this place before the possible change in ownership but I thoroughly enjoyed my kimbap and it was large enough. Filling and affordable, would not need two for sure. Got the spicy tuna - loved loved it, will probably be torn between getting it again and try something new the next time. Didn't order ahead and there were three people ahead of me, but my food got mad fairly quickly. Cash only. read more

I went here on a Friday evening around 5pm. There was only one young lady waiting for her order. When it was my turn, I asked for the bul-go-gi kimbap. Sadly, the only sauce they offered was soy sauce. I must be mistaken it for the sauce you can request with sushi rolls. You know, siracha mayo. There was this elder woman making my order. I was there for ​only less than 10 minutes. I will definitely come back. It was delicious and quite filling. read more

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Alas, my short trip to NYC was slowly coming to an end, and wanted some food for the bus ride back to DC. I was in my usual Korean craving mode, and went to Ktown to pick up some food. E-Mo seemed like a fresh and good place to get some kimbap (Korean sushi), so went inside. It's a tiny store. No place to eat, so it would be best for a pick-up and eat elsewhere meal. I went late morning, and there was one Korean lady behind the counter, and a big kimbap menu on the wall. There are a different varieties of kimbaps - tuna, kimchi, vegetable, spam, mushroom, etc. The prices are quite steep for a kimbap, even if it's NYC. Kimbap roll starting prices is $7.50. Being short on time, I just went ahead with getting one. I ordered the mushroom kimbap. The kimbap was made right on the spot and was warm and fresh. The Korean lady was kind and we had a friendly conversation while she was making the kimbap. There was a good portion of vegetables and mushrooms inside my kimbap. On the bus ride home I got to enjoy it, and was quite yummy. Although I am one to normally make my own kimbap, so I probably wouldn't buy it again for the price. But for a one time fix it was good, and needed to do my usual visit to Ktown before I left my fav city :) read more

Cheap, simple and quick meal. I was in the area scheduled for a test and wanted something for a late lunch. E-Mo is simple, it's a small hole in the wall that specializes in Korean kimbab. From bulgogi, spam, spicy tuna and more! I wanted something with a kick and ordered the spicy tuna. The spicy tuna kimbab is not the same as the Japanese spicy tuna roll. The tuna in kimbab is cooked and they pack additional ingredients like radish, blanched carrots, perilla leaf, burdock root and spinach. Each kimbab comes with an optional side of Korean style miso soup. I must admit, one kimbab was very filling. This is the spot if you don't have a lot of time and wants more bang to your buck! read more

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More like a 3.5 star but it's satisfactory for a roll of kimbap. If you're looking for special, won't say this is the place but for a decent roll to appease your hunger, this will do. It's big enough and tasty enough to satisfy the kimbap craving but doesn't leave you wanting to go for seconds of it (tho I did eat some of my friend's cheese kimbap. It was just American cheddar cheese instead of beef filling. I think beef was better.) It's a small store with only 2-3 people working. No seats so everything is take out but you'll finish fast so no big deal. The lady takes orders fast and the rolls roll out pretty promptly after. For the price, you could order a bigger meal nearby but I think it stands strong by itself. read more

E-Mo - Beef Kimbab - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Cash only. I love, love their crab kimbob, tuna kimbob with the perilla leaf, and eel.

My all time favorite kimbap in K-town. I am a sucker for delicious hole in the wall places especially when they are family run. Every time I am in Ktown, I always make sure to go by Emo kimbap for their spicy tuna kimbap. Its always made fresh, on the spot. The seaweed always crispy and rice always soft. Comes with a side of soup, yellow radish. Serving size is generous. Pro-tip: cash only! read more

They do one thing and they do it well. There are a few options for kimbap on the block but E-Mo is my favorite for being quick, fresh, and affordable. I usually go with spicy tuna or spam. I've been going here for years, recently there are a few special kimbap options, there's usually one very friendly guy working instead of the older couple who was always there previously, and there's no longer an automatic miso soup with each order, but I'm not 100% sure if the ownership has changed hands. Looking back at my old pictures the rolls might be a little smaller than before (the rolls also used to come in Styrofoam containers which are now mostly banned in the city) but one is still enough for me when I'm on the go. No indoor or outdoor seating but there's usually a spot free in Herald Square. Pretty sure they're still cash only but there's a Chase by the subway station and another bank with atms on the same block. read more

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A really great spot for a quick grab and go. The kimbap was substantial and delicious. One warning is they are CASH only so plan accordingly. read more

This place has the most flavored kimbap with a decent portion compared to many other places I've tried, including the rice. The kimbap is make to order so very fresh. I had the mushroom and tuna kimbap. Having eaten Kimbap from purple rice, woorijip, kimbap lab, this place is the most affordable yet best tasting and offers bigger portion. I wish they offer credit card payment and online delivery. read more

Fresh made when you order :) Spicy kimbap was really good. Spicy too! Mushroom was my favorite read more

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Came here alone for a quick snack. I had a tuna kimbap. Kimbap was really food but the rice was more than I expected. It's a good place to grab a quick bite. But its only old couple serving the establishment so it takes a little bit of time. I would have given 5 stars but the price of kimbap is a little expensive in my view. $7 for a roll of kimbap is a little expensive. They should figure out of the way to lower their price by calculating their profit margin with the food cost or something. But overall tasty but a bit expensive. GOOD read more

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A small to-go kimbap stand that is cash only. This is a great alternative to Woorijip if you don't want to wait in the long line to pay for your kimbap. The good thing is that they clearly make the kimbap on that day and don't keep anything overnight. They are super nice here. They even give you miso soup. I forgot if they charge you for it but I think I got it for free. read more

kimbaps here are a good size, will definitely keep you full. may take a little while if orders are backed up, so you may end up waiting a while in a busy street. I found the mushroom kimbap to have a sort of strange aftertaste to the mushrooms. I can't really explain it, almost like they were touching or close to something with a strange odor? the rest was tasty though, and I'd come back again to try a different type! read more

E-Mo - mushroom kimbap - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I love E-Mo so much! Fast, fresh, friendly. For under $10 you get delicious kimbap made when you order it and a huge portion of it. The staff is always super friendly and makes you feel welcomed for a the few moments you're in the store. They also have a small cooler of drinks available too. It is cash only so stop at an atm before you go in. My favorite kimbap is spicy crab salad and spicy tuna but they have so many kinds! read more

E-Mo - Spicy Tuna Kimbab and corn silk tea - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I am done with Sandwiches. For a quick lunch that does everything I'm sticking with kimbap. So I didn't have time to sit down for a meal so I grabbed to share back home - broiled eel, spicy chicken and my favorite Squid kimbap. Which one was the best? ALL OF THEM. I usually would not go for chicken but we had bulgogi over the weekend and it was shockingly tasty! But way way spicier than I could handle. So with each bite of chicken I cooled my mouth off with a piece of eel kimbap. Haven't found a better kimbap place so I'll be coming back soon! read more

Fresh rolled kimbab in this hidden gem! The man behind the counter is really nice and fast. Before I paid for my order, he already started assembling the ingredients on top of the seaweed & rice, then rolled and packed them along with chopsticks & napkins in a bag. I got 1 broiled eel & 1 spicy crab salad kimbab. The crab salad tasted fresh, authentic, and had more kick than I thought! LOVE IT! One TIP: if you order broiled eel kimbab, please eat and finish in one sitting. I put it aside to eat for later in my car; 3 hours later I found the kimbab had very STRONG fishy smell from the eel (the eel texture was a bit slimy and wet). I'll order a different kimbab next time. I will be back! :) read more

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In love with kimbap again - was meh abt it after way too many prepackaged hours ago made ones. Nothing beats freshly made ones. From best to worse: Mushroom with add on perilla leaf **marinated shiitake mushrooms (I think it's the rehydrated kind) and that add on perilla leaf is a must it's so good and a bit different than your standard kimbap Beef with add on jalapeño **what you would expect in kimbap just like mom's but I like the add on pickled jalapeño for that kick Spicy chicken ** the staffer was like it's spicy are you sure???? Lol Yup totally spicy like not everyone should attempt this so now I understand the warning. That wasn't the problem for me tho since I like spicy (I'm that girl in college who'd win the hottest wing contest) it was the fact that's what it was all about. I couldn't taste anything it was just hot. I like spicy/hot for flavor, not for the sake of just being hot. This one is not for me. read more

Overpriced for what you get. The portion is small and there's more rice than other stuffings. Also the women who work there (ajummas) are blatantly rude if you're a Korean who can speak Korean. When I ordered in Korean the woman just rudely took my money with one hand and treated me as if I was invisible, but with the other male customer who ordered right after me (Asian-American, obviously not Korean) she was super polite, smiled, made eye contact, and said thank you when he paid. I never expect any excellent customer service from a tiny grab and go joint like this, but I do get caught off guard when I receive unwarranted hostility and disrespect like that. I'd advise not to waste your money here because the food is terrible but if you must only speak in English. If you're Korean don't let it be known there lol read more

5/5 because The food is pretty great, Some of the better rolls in terms of : 1. The options they have 2. Quality of the food 3. Size of the roll 4. They come with soup This place gets a perfect score for being great at what it is, but it is nothing other than a quick bite kind of shop The interior is a nice tiny clean space No seats but a place to stand and eat if you want Not a lot of room to share or go around The service is really efficient The flavor and texture is consistent every time, you get exactly what you came here for and it's always flavorful The price is decently reasonable for what you get - that is, a roll and soup The food isn't exactly light but by no means is it heavy, I can have two rolls - but again, that would make it considerably more expensive than a standard meal 5/5 would come here again to try other items Not a lunch spot More of a heavy snack spot Or light add on to the lunch you got from home A mid day snack to keep you going read more

E-Mo - Mushroom Kimbab, Beef Kimbab - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Very fresh, made to order, rice is warm. Very worthwhile. Never eat prepackaged supermarket kimbap again.

This is the first time I am trying kimbap. I went with the beef one. The old couple make it fresh when you order it. It was nice. I think I will have to eat kimbap a couple more times before I get used to the taste. Banana milk drink was also nice. read more

E-Mo - Beef kimbap and banana milk drink - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Honestly pretty good. Only giving 4 stars since only cash is allowed which is major pain in the butt. Who even uses cash these days?? read more

E-Mo - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I've been meaning to come here for ages but it's cash only and I usually don't carry cash so I always sadly walk by. This time I planned ahead with cash and got the beef kimbap and spicy crab kimbap. Both were so good! The spicy crab's got a kick to it. There was only one person working inside on a Thursday at 7ish so be prepared to wait if there are people before you as he makes the kimbap fresh when you order. read more

Came here to get my kimbap fix for the night. Ordered two rolls (about 8ish pieces each): the spam and spicy tuna (the latter actually packs quite the heat!). I was super impressed by how quickly they made each roll. The space is tiny with one short counter that can fit maybe 4-5 people maximum, standing room only. Besides kimbap they also offer bowls of instant noodles which they can make for you on the spot and a giant vat of miso soup. Overall, it's a no frills hole in the wall where you can take away many rolls of deliciousness for cheap. Now I know where to go for kimbap! read more

E-Mo - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Made to order kimbap shop located in K-town. I was recommended by a friend when I told him I wanted some good quality kimbap for lunch so I decided to check it out one day when I didn't know what to get for lunch. It did not disappoint! Fresh and quality ingredients, it definitely met my expectation. Would come back some other time and highly recommend if you're in the mood for some good kimbap!! read more

E-Mo - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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the bulgogi and sausage kimbap are absolutely delicious. E-Mo will be my weekly go to for Kimbap. Service was swift and extremely polite. Even my husband who does not like to try new dishes, loved the bulgogi kimbap. we love the balanced flavors. Wonderful experience! read more

Best kimbap in town so far!!! I've been to flushing many times and honestly doesn't beat this place! Spicy squid and spicy crab is the best rolls ever!!! read more

E-Mo is the best place to satisfy your kimbap cravings! This place, itself, is very small and there's no seating. I love coming here to get either the spicy squid or bulgogi kimbap for lunch. Their kimbaps are quite big. They make it in front of you and it's very quick if you're on the go. It's cheap, very filling, and flavorful. They offer miso soup that goes along with your order! Something to note is that this place is cash only! read more

Damn pretty good kimbap! There is a reason why this place is still in business even tho the place is literally the size of a closet and only does take out. The only better kimbap I had was in Korea... That says something! Loved their tuna kimbap aka chamchi kimbap... Just love the kenneep... Ahhhh :) read more

E-Mo - Chamchi kimbap - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I've been meaning to try this cubby of a 'restaurant' for awhile. You walk in, place your order, and the ahjuhmah makes it for you right away. I have never seen kimbap made that quickly, but not one piece fell apart while I was eating it. Portion is pretty large for the price. I ordered the vegetable kimbap and it was only $7. Definitely recommend if you just want a quick meal on the go--I was able to eat it while walking. Tastes almost as good as my umma's! Almost :) Remember to bring cash and they don't accept cards! read more

E-Mo - Vegetable kimbap - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

This tiny place serves only kimbab (Korean sushi). Their kimbab rolls come filled with either spicy tuna, kimchi, cheese, mushroom, squidsausage, jalapeno, beef or tuna. They are all around $5-$6 and each one comes with a cup of miso soup. For 50 cents more, you can also ask for brown rice instead of white rice. The portion itself is enough for a light meal. I had the beef kimbab here. It does not taste much different than standard sushi you can find anywhere and is overall, somewhat bland. It is filled with carrot, pickled radish and choy sum. Also, the kimbab was pretty dry so you should probably add soy sauce. The food here was okay but not worth a repeat visit for me. read more

E-Mo - Kimbab and miso soup - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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I absolutely love the kimbap here! I honestly don't go anywhere else for my kimbap now. Everything is so fresh and the flavors are always on point. The rice is never too hard or soft. The kimbap is always made to order which is probably one of the main reasons why it tastes so good. Other places pre-make the kimbap and leave it in the fridge - it's just not the same! An order of kimbap usually comes with soup too, a great pairing with the food. I love the beef, spicy tuna and spicy octopus kimbap. Can't go wrong with any of the kimbap. The mushroom one is amazing as well. Highly recommend. read more

E-Mo (Aunt in Korean) definitely reminds me of my aunt's homemade kimbap growing up. This ma & pa shop is small and best for to-go but also has a small seatless bar, fit for about three maybe - four people. It's literally taken me a decade to try this place out because it's CASH ONLY and I'm not a huge kimbap eater. (Mostly because girl, when you're Korean and your parents don't want to cook for you they make you kimbap like every day... EVERY DAY. Grateful for all the different versions of kimbap I explored as a child but it got extra after a while.) Ingredients are fresh. I tried the Bulgogi and Kimchi. Didn't find the kimchi spicy enough and the bulgogi meat was a bit dry for me but girl that sesame oil on top, really brought everything together. Bonus points because you see them make every order. Overall a bit over priced. I mean $7 for kimbap is a bit too much, don't ya think? I guess that NYC rent is really crackling down on them. Whatever, I wanna go back to try the tuna. (Sorry Bae, prepare for tuna breath. LOL #notsorry) read more

E-Mo - Korean Near Me - New York, New York