Hello. Today’s new Seven-Eleven lunchbox menu is the “2-Minute Pork Belly Kimchi Jjigae.” As the name suggests, it’s a lunchbox that lets you make kimchi stew on the spot in about two minutes. This is already Seven-Eleven’s third kimchi jjigae release, and it looked like the components had been changed and refreshed again, so I picked one up right away. Each time it’s launched, it’s been surprisingly good. Let’s see what this one is like.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net2-Minute Pork Belly Kimchi Jjigae Price and Features
This menu uses a gelatin-setting method to lightly set the broth, so you just heat it up and eat. Previously, there was the Rich Kimchi Jjigae Lunchbox and Lee Jang-woo’s Beef Bone Broth–Style Kimchi Jjigae. Those earlier versions mainly used ham as the key ingredient. This time, it seems they went for a different vibe by adding pork. The price is 5,500 won, the same as the previous products.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netThe total weight is 404g and it has 680 kcal, which seems like a reasonable portion for a lunchbox in this price range. Sodium is at 82% of the daily recommended intake, and since kimchi jjigae is part of the menu, the sodium does seem set fairly high. Because the stew is the main item, it’s hard not to end up drinking some of the broth, so that’s something to keep in mind.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net2-Minute Pork Belly Kimchi Jjigae Components
Let’s take a quick look at what’s inside. This menu has a simple setup: three compartments with four side dishes, plus kimchi jjigae. Considering the previous menu had four compartments and five side dishes just for the basics, doesn’t this feel a bit more streamlined?
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netAt first, it only came with a fried egg and nothing extra. This time, it includes seasoned roasted seaweed, which pairs well with kimchi jjigae. And as before, it comes with a plastic spork for convenience.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netThe sides are basically arranged in three compartments, but the sausage and stir-fried fish cake are together in one section. It also includes rolled omelet and two pieces of flat-style meat patties. Compared with earlier menus that had stir-fried fish cake, stir-fried sausage, two pieces of rolled omelet, and two vegetable sides, it’s clearly been simplified.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netThe kimchi jjigae—the star of this menu—seems about the same as the previous version, or maybe slightly less. Still, swapping out sausage and pressed ham for pork might earn it a better score. We’ll have to see once we taste it.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netThe pork in the kimchi jjigae is said to use pork shoulder and pork belly. Just looking at it, the amount of ingredients doesn’t seem like much. I think it’ll be clearer once it’s heated up.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net2-Minute Pork Belly Kimchi Jjigae Taste
Using a 1000W microwave as the 기준, I heated it for a little over two minutes. After heating, the set kimchi jjigae melted nicely. Still, it remains much thicker than a typical stew.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netYou can adjust the thickness as needed by adding hot water. With one bite, you get a deep, savory flavor—like kimchi jjigae that’s been left to sit for half a day and then boiled a couple of times. However, it’s quite salty, so eating it on its own can get tiring quickly.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netEven so, since this lunchbox has a lot of rice compared to the small number of sides, it pairs very well together. That said, it’s a bit disappointing that there isn’t as much pork as expected.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netThe other side dishes are the usual convenience-store lunchbox staples, so there’s not much to single out, but having rolled omelet in a menu like this is a really nice match.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netIt’s a shame that with prices going up, the 구성 has become a bit simpler at the same price point. Still, if you adjust the stew’s thickness well, it’s easy to enjoy to your taste, and with the seaweed or other sides, it’s tasty enough that you’ll finish the generous portion of rice in no time.
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.net
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Copyright PAKOC https://pakoc.netConsidering convenience-store lunchbox prices these days, it’s a solid option for a satisfying meal. There also aren’t many standout alternatives from other chains. If you’re looking for a lunchbox you can enjoy with a warm broth in cold winter weather, this was a menu I’d recommend.
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