CU PBICK Gyeranjang Kimchi Jeyuk Review [Korean Food]

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Korean convenience stores keep raising the bar for lunchboxes, and CU’s PBICK line has become the poster child for that. Its “Bapdoduk” series — literally “rice thief,” meaning a dish so good it makes you devour bowl after bowl of rice — just added a new member: the Gyeranjang Kimchi Jeyuk. This one tops the rice with a soy-marinated egg (gyeranjang) and pairs it with spicy kimchi pork (kimchi jeyuk), an unusual combo. I’d reviewed the Cheongyang Ganjang Bulbaek from the same line before, so let’s see what this one brings.

Table of Contents

📋 At a Glance

Product: Bapdoduk Gyeranjang Kimchi Jeyuk (PBICK The Kitchen)
Store: CU
Price: 5,800 won (approx. $4.20 USD)
Weight: 394g
Calories: 639 kcal (sodium 83% of daily value)
Main components: Kimchi jeyuk (pork), soy-marinated egg, cockle meat, cheongyang pepper anchovy paste
Verdict: ★4.0 — The kimchi pork is a true “rice thief”; filling and satisfying, just watch the saltiness.

Gyeranjang Kimchi Jeyuk: Price and Highlights

Across CU’s whole lineup, the Bapdoduk series has the most distinctive pairing of a “kick” side and a main dish, and this new release is no exception. There isn’t really a fixed concept behind it. The package simply reads “one-bowl wonder: tasty soy egg.” A soy-braised egg sits on top of the rice, with kimchi jeyuk as the main. The price lands at 5,800 won.

The total volume is 394g and the calorie count is 639 kcal, with sodium at 83% of the daily recommended intake. Neither the volume nor the calories stray far from a typical lunchbox. Still, since this menu packs kimchi jeyuk plus a soy egg, the sodium runs a bit high, so that’s worth keeping in mind. The stir-fried pork uses domestic pork hind leg, by the way.

What’s Inside the Box

Let’s take a quick look at how it’s put together. Like CU’s other Bapdoduk items, this one has one main side, one “kick” side, and two extra sides — four sides in total.

The Star of the Box: Kimchi Jeyuk

The CU PBICK Bapdoduk line always gives the impression of “one hearty side plus one kick side,” so the kimchi jeyuk feels genuinely generous. What’s striking is that there are almost no other vegetables — it’s mostly just pork and kimchi. As mentioned, the meat is pork hind leg, sliced thin as if for bulgogi.

The Soy Egg and the Side Dishes

Here’s the highlight side, the soy-braised egg. It looks like it was cooked in a soy sauce base. The yolk feels slightly soft-boiled, and the sauce isn’t as heavy as I expected. Once it’s microwaved, though, the yolk might firm up a touch more.

Personally, the part I looked forward to most is this kimchi jeyuk. There’s a lot of it, and it has just enough sauce, so eating it with a big scoop of rice looks like it would go down easy. If you’re eating at home, grabbing a spoon and mixing it all together is one good way to go. Haha.

For the extra sides, there’s cockle meat, which shows up now and then in the Bapdoduk lineup, plus the cheongyang pepper anchovy paste (also called ttaengchojang or gochu-dajim) that features as a kick side in other Bapdoduk menus. Looked at this way, this box actually has two highlight sides. Haha.

Taste Test: How It Actually Eats

Now let’s dig in and see how it tastes. Even though the number of sides isn’t huge, the kimchi jeyuk makes it feel plenty hearty. I’ll start with the main side first.

First Bites — Kimchi Jeyuk and Cockle

First I tried a single piece of meat from the kimchi jeyuk. It was less spicy than I expected. With the tangy kimchi, the sauce’s savory depth, and the pork all together, my first thought was that you wouldn’t need any other side. There’s plenty of sauce too, which makes it perfect with rice.

The cockle meat side is still tasty as ever, and it pairs nicely with rice. Remember, you have to set this one aside and heat it separately. Since freshness matters for a side like this, I figured it might be a seasonal item — so it’s honestly a little surprising it’s still included.

Soy Egg, Pepper Relish, and a Salty Note

The kick side, the soy egg, wasn’t as salty as I’d expected. Because it’s laid on top of the rice rather than sitting in its own broth, the rice soaks up a little of the sauce. And after a spin in the microwave, it settles into a mild savory note that just works with plain rice. As for the ttaengchojang — haha, this one is genuinely good even spooned straight over rice. Just mind that it’s a bit spicy, and you’ll enjoy it.

Once again, the part I enjoyed most was this kimchi jeyuk. Even just a chopstickful pairs so well with rice that nothing felt lacking, and the rice kept vanishing, filling me up nicely. It’s a “kick” side all on its own.

That said, one thing nagged at me: the rice had soaked up the soy-egg sauce, and between the egg, the pepper relish, the kimchi jeyuk, and the cockle, the sides skew fairly salty overall. Even though the sodium sits at 83% of the daily value — not far off other lunchboxes — I was left with a noticeably salty aftertaste and got a little thirsty.

Final Verdict

Set aside that minor drawback and this box was quite satisfying overall. The core setup is so solid that it never felt short as a lunch, and it filled me up enough that I didn’t need anything else. If you’re after a simple, hearty meal, this is one you can pick without hesitation. For anyone visiting Korea, it’s an easy grab-and-go option you’ll find at CU stores nationwide.

For more on CU’s PBICK The Kitchen renewal and the Bapdoduk lineup, you can read the (Korean source) Electronic Times (ET News) report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much is CU’s Gyeranjang Kimchi Jeyuk lunchbox?

It costs 5,800 won. You get 394g at 639 kcal, which is about average for a Korean convenience-store lunchbox, with sodium at roughly 83% of the daily value.

Q. What comes in the box?

Four sides fill the tray: spicy kimchi jeyuk (pork), a soft soy-marinated egg, cockle meat, and cheongyang pepper anchovy paste. The kimchi pork uses domestic pork hind leg and comes in a generous portion.

Q. Does the kimchi jeyuk actually taste good?

The spicy kimchi pork pairs beautifully with rice and disappears fast. That said, the egg, pepper relish, and cockle all lean salty, so you may reach for some water afterward.

Q. Is this a good grab-and-go lunch if you’re in Korea?

Yes, it’s a solid one-box lunch. The core components are filling enough that you won’t need a side, and if you can handle a slightly salty finish, it’s an easy recommendation at any CU.

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