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| "Dosirak," or lunch boxes, sold at convenience stores CU, GS25 and 7-Eleven / Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan |
By Ko Dong-hwan
As more people look to save money on lunch, "dosirak," or lunch boxes, sold at convenience stores are getting popular.
They are no longer the one-item steamed rice ball types but have proper rice and side dishes. While the boxes do not offer the staple soup that Koreans typically enjoy in their meals, these products would work as an alternative for those not wanting to sit alone at a restaurant or looking for a more economical option. The private-brand lunch boxes promoted by stars and sold at GS25 and 7-Eleven are among the most popular products.
Celebrity chef and restaurant businessman Paik Jong-won's name and face are behind CU's lunch box. It rivals the lunch box promoted by actress Kim Hye-ja and Lee Hyeri, sold at GS25 and 7-Eleven, respectively, and released earlier.
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| "Stir-Fried Spicy Pork" dosirak from CU |
All three are palatable, with Paik's lunch cheapest at 3,900 won ($3.20), Kim's at 4,000 won ($3.30) and Hyeri's "11 Side Dish Lunch Box" at 7-Eleven for 4,500 won ($3.70)
All these lunch boxes are recommended to be consumed after being microwaved. "Stir-Fried Spicy Pork" dosirak, modeled by Paik, had rice, two types of sausage, fried rolled egg and vegetables, including seasoned lettuce and spinach. The hot, spicy stir-fried pork was the scene-stealer.
"Bulgogi" dosirak, sold at GS25, had a generally good balance of rice and side dishes. Its rice was topped with black sesame seeds. The main dish, the bulgogi, as well as japchae ― stir-fried sweet potato noodles with vegetables ― spicy dried radish, kimchi, stir-fried zucchini and deep-fried ham and egg were evenly tasty.
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| "11 Side Dish Lunch Box" dosirak from 7-Eleven, left, and "Bulgogi" dosirak from GS25 |
The "11 Side Dish Lunch Box" dosirak sold at 7-Eleven seemed to have too many side dishes in a limited volume and they did not go well together. But those who like a lot of side dishes with their rice would no doubt choose this one.
Missing a main menu, it had the most side dishes among the three subjects, ranging from meaty menus like "sanjeok," or grilled sliced beef, bulgogi, deep-fried chicken and deep-fried shrimp with mayonnaise to vegetables such as stir-fried zucchini, stir-fried anchovy, pickled cucumber and kimchi, as well as rice.
Overall, these lunch boxes would serve well those who do not want to pay the standard 6,000-7,000-won for basic Korean dishes such as kimchi stew or soybean paste stews.
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