Cream Kimchi Fried Rice: Viral Kimchi Bokkeumbap

The New Viral Korean Dish

Forget the classic Kimchi Fried Rice you thought you knew! A creamy, upgraded version, the Viral Cream Kimchi Fried Rice is sweeping South Korea! The sourness of kimchi harmonizes deliciously with the rich flavor of cream and cheese. If you’ve been searching for a trendy, less spicy, and delicious Korean dish, this easy kimchi bokkeumbap recipe is a must-try.

Why Cream Kimchi Fried Rice is Different (It’s Rich and Cheesy!)

The Secret Cheese Cream Sauce

It only takes two ingredients, cheese and heavy cream to create this soft, rich, and savory cheese sauce. When you dip the Kimchi Fried Rice into this sauce, the smooth harmony explodes with umami flavor in your mouth, elevating the entire dish.

Perfect for Novices

Were you worried about the spice and sourness of kimchi? Then you will absolutely love this Cream Kimchi Fried Rice. The cream sauce beautifully balances the sourness of the kimchi and dials down the heat. If you’ve been looking for a mild Korean food recipe, this is the one for you.

Why It Went Viral in Korea

If you enjoy watching Korean food Mukbangs (eating shows) on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, you’ve probably seen this dish: Kimchi Fried Rice piled up in a large frying pan, with a creamy sauce pool in the center. This meal, where you dip the fried rice into the cream sauce, is one of the most viral Korean foods of late 2025.

The first reason it went viral is the surprisingly delicious harmony between the cream and the Kimchi Fried Rice. As a Korean, I initially thought, “Ugh, what is that? It looks too rich and heavy.” But after trying it, I realized it was incredibly tasty, and now I often eat Kimchi Fried Rice this way! Many other Koreans also initially found the idea strange, but the unexpected deliciousness is why it’s gone viral.

Another reason for the viral success of cream kimchi fried rice is how incredibly easy it is to make. Just adding cream and Cheddar cheese instantly creates a rich, delicious dipping sauce that levels up the Kimchi Fried Rice by about 100 points!

Bokkeumbap? Fried Rice?

In Korea, we call “Fried Rice” Bokkeumbap (볶음밥). Therefore, Egg Fried Rice becomes Gyeran Bokkeumbap (계란 볶음밥), and Kimchi Fried Rice becomes Kimchi Bokkeumbap (김치 볶음밥).

Viral Cream Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe

The Essential Ingredients for Creamy Kimchi Bokkeumbap

Category	Ingredient	Notes / Pro-Tip
Rice	Cooked Short Grain Rice	Using cold, day-old rice is especially crucial to prevent the rice from clumping and becoming sticky when you fry it. – Get Korean Rice
Kimchi	Well Fermented Kimchi	The Foundation: Well ripened, sour kimchi is key to boosting the umami flavor of the cream kimchi fried rice. That is the true taste of Korea! If you can’t make your own, purchase an authentic kimchi here that Koreans really use.
Protein	Spam or Bacon or Sausage	This ingredient dramatically elevates the savory umami flavor of the Kimchi Fried Rice and adds necessary protein to your meal.
Cream Base	Heavy Cream, Cheddar Cheese	Just these two ingredients are all you need to create a decadent, thick, and delicious dipping cream sauce.
Necessary Seasoning	Oyster Sauce, Dasida	MANDATORY FOR UMAMI! You absolutely must include both, or at least one, of these seasonings! They will create an epic, flavor bomb fried rice. If you don’t have them, purchase them through the links below – Get Oyster sauce – Get Dasida
Optional Seasoning	Sugar, Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)	These two are optional, but adding sugar helps balance the sourness of the kimchi. Gochugaru adds a beautiful color and a clean layer of subtle heat. – Get Gochugaru

Step-by-Step Easy Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe

• Prep: Chop the kimchi and your chosen meat (Spam/bacon/sausage) into small, bite-sized pieces.

• Sauté Meat: Heat the cooking oil in a pan (or skillet) over medium heat. Add the meat and sauté until nicely browned and crispy.
• Add Kimchi: Once the meat is golden, add the chopped kimchi. Reduce the heat to low and continue to sauté until the kimchi is tender and slightly caramelized.

• Season: When the kimchi is well-cooked, add the Oyster Sauce, Sugar, Dasida, and Gochugaru. Mix well and stir-fry for about 30 seconds to incorporate the seasonings fully.
  • [Link to Oyster Sauce]
  • [Link to Dasida]

• Mix Rice: Add one large serving of cooked rice. Mix everything thoroughly, ensuring the rice is fully coated with the seasoned kimchi mixture.
• Add Cream & Cheese: Make a well (a hole) in the center of the rice mixture. Pour the heavy cream into the well. Add the shredded mozzarella and the slice of cheddar cheese on top of the cream.

• Melt & Finish: Cover the pan with a lid and simmer over low heat until the cheese is completely melted (about 1 minute). Sprinkle with dried parsley to garnish.
• Serve: Serve immediately. The dish is meant to be eaten by dipping the seasoned kimchi fried rice into the creamy, cheesy sauce beneath.

Real Korean’s Pro Tips and Customizations of Cream Kimchi Fried Rice

Use Cold Rice for Fluffiness

Using cold, day-old rice prevents the rice grains from clumping together and becoming sticky or mushy, ensuring your cream kimchi fried rice is perfectly fluffy (or go-seul go-seul in Korean) when stir-fried.

Fixing Sauce Thickness

If your cream sauce becomes too thick (kku-deok kku-deok) from being overheated, simply pour in a little more heavy cream or milk and simmer briefly. It will be reborn as a perfectly creamy dipping sauce!

Taming Kimchi’s Sourness with Sugar

If your kimchi is overly ripe and sour, you can add a small amount of sugar to neutralize the sourness. This trick helps balance the flavor profile, preventing the sourness from overpowering the rich cream sauce.

The Ultimate Umami Boost with Seasonings

In a Korean kitchen, we heavily rely on Oyster Sauce and Dasida (Korean Beef Stock Powder). They are game-changers for boosting the dish’s umami! If these two are missing from your Kimchi Bokkeumbap today, the dish will taste incomplete, lacking that explosive depth of flavor. If you want a truly delicious, umami-packed fried rice, you absolutely must use both (or at least one!) of these seasonings.

• Link to Dasida
• Link to Oyster Sauce

Sauté Kimchi Over Low Heat

Kimchi, especially due to the chili flakes (Gochugaru), burns very easily. Always sauté the kimchi over low heat when mixing the seasonings. You can turn the heat up slightly again only after adding the rice.

Practical Substitutions for Global Cookers

What if I don’t have well fermented Kimchi?

If your kimchi hasn’t fermented enough (meaning it’s not sour yet), here’s a Korean trick: add a very small dash of vinegar to the kimchi. For example, Koreans often add a little vinegar when cooking Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew) with mild, non-sour kimchi to boost the essential sour flavor!

Vegan or Vegetarian Options

If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can substitute the heavy cream with oat cream or cashew cream. If you omit the cheese, be sure to add a little more salt (소금) to compensate for the missing savory flavor and to adjust the seasoning. Of course, make sure to use a certified vegan kimchi as well!

More Korean Favorites Using Kimchi

Kakdugi Kimchi Fried Rice (Crunchy Korean Radish)

Have you only ever made Kimchi Fried Rice with Napa Cabbage Kimchi? You can also make Kimchi Bokkeumbap with Kakdugi (Diced Radish Kimchi)! The crisp, crunchy texture of the radish combined with its natural sweetness makes for a truly delicious fried rice. Many Koreans actually prefer Kakdugi Bokkeumbap over the cabbage version. By discovering Kakdugi Bokkeumbap, you’re opening the door to new fried rice possibilities and getting closer to the authentic dishes Koreans truly eat. I’ve shared the recipe below. This is a flavor too good to keep to myself!

Tuna Kimchi Jumeokbap (Easy Lunchbox Hack)

The combination of kimchi and tuna is a pairing beloved by Koreans. Tuna Mayo mixed with kimchi, rolled inside a ball of rice. This is how you make the world’s most delicious Tuna Kimchi Rice Ball (Jumeokbap). It’s incredibly easy to make, yet it’s a perfectly delicious, protein-packed, Korean style meal. It’s great for a quick breakfast and is the perfect item to pack for a lunchbox. Give it a try!

FAQs about Cream Kimchi Fried Rice

Share Your Creation!

Did you try the Viral Cream Kimchi Fried Rice? I’d love to see your delicious review! Share your dish on Instagram and tag @BlondeKimchi_ (your Instagram handle). I can’t wait to see your wonderful culinary creation!

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