Dosirak

This article is about the packed meal. For instant noodles, see Dosirac.

Dosirak (Korean: 도시락) refers to a packed meal, often for lunch. It usually consists of bap (밥, cooked rice) and several banchan (side dishes).^[1] The lunch boxes, also called dosirak or dosirak-tong (dosirak case), are typically plastic or thermo-steel containers with or without compartments or tiers.^[2] Dosirak is often home-made, but is also sold in train stations, convenience stores,^[3][4] and some restaurants.

A variety of Dosirak (packed meal)

Korean name
Hangul	도시락
Revised Romanization	dosirak
McCune–Reischauer	tosirak
IPA	[to.ɕi.ɾak̚]

Dosirak is derived from the Early Modern Korean word 도슭.^[5] Records dating to the 18th century attest to this as well as other variations such as 밥고리, and 밥동고리.^[6] The practice of packing food as done with dosirak isn't a unique practice to Korean Cuisine, and the modern dosirak can be seen as the Korean form of lunch boxes.

Varieties

Home-made dosirak is often packed in tiered lunch boxes that can separate bap (cooked rice) and banchan (side dishes).^[7] The guk (soup) tier, if included, is usually kept warm by insulation.^[8] Plastic or thermo-steel containers are most common, but combinations of wood and lacquer, ceramics and bamboo, as well as other materials, are also used.^[9]

Yetnal-dosirak (옛날 도시락; "old-time dosirak") consists of bap (rice), stir-fried kimchi, egg-washed and pan-fried sausages, fried eggs, and shredded gim (seaweed), typically packed in a rectangular lunchbox made of tinplate or German silver. It is shaken with the lid on, thereby mixing the ingredients prior to eating.^{[2][8] [10]} Gimbap-dosirak (김밥 도시락; "packed gimbap"), made with sliced gimbap (seaweed rolls), is often packed for picnics.^[11]

Gallery

• 
  Seonbi's Lunch
• 
  Pile Type Dosirak of the Joseon Dynasty
• 
  Home-made dosirak
• 
  Yetnal-dosirak (old-time dosirak)
• 
  Dosirak sold in convenience stores
• 
  Simple dosirak in a plastic container
• 
  Thermal dosirak case
• 
  Catering company storefront, Koreatown, Los Angeles

See also

• Bento (弁当)
• Biandang (便當)
• Dosirac (도시락)
• Lunch box
• Packed lunch
• Tiffin

References

1. "dosirak" 도시락. Standard Korean Language Dictionary (in Korean). National Institute of Korean Language. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
2. "What the world eats for lunch". The Daily Meal. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Fox News.
3. Hong, Ji-yeon (17 February 2016). "Local specialties take train travel to a new level". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
4. Park, Han-na (15 October 2015). "Convenience stores vie for lunch box market". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
5. The dictionary definition of 도시락 at Wiktionary
6. "홈 > 소장 자료 (상세보기) - 『청구영언』 김천택 편, 영인편 | 국립한글박물관 NATIONAL HANGEUL MUSEUM". www.hangeul.go.kr. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
7. Frizzell, Nell (24 July 2014). "Store-Bought Lunch Is Stupid and Wasteful". Munchies. VICE. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
8. Williams, Maxwell (30 March 2017). "5 Best Lunches In the World". GOOD magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
9. Kim, Hyung-eun (2 May 2017). "Korean dining on view in London : Craft Week showcases fine objects used in eating and drinking". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
10. Bolat, Jeff. "Oversigt over danske måltidskasser". Retrieved 18 January 2022.
11. Kayal, Michele (3 July 2012). "Thinking Outside The Bento Box". NPR. Retrieved 12 May 2017.