Takuan (Japanese yellow pickled radish)Some stores
Same strips
Very similar — look in the Japanese aisle or at Asian grocers.
Ingredient guide
Danmuji 단무지
Bright-yellow pickled daikon radish, sweet, tangy and crunchy. It is a classic gimbap filling and a side for Korean-Chinese dishes such as jjajangmyeon.
Taste
Sweet-sour and crisp.
What to look for
Pre-cut strips or whole pickled radish at Korean groceries. Gimbap kits usually include ready-cut strips.
Storing it
Refrigerate in its brine after opening. It keeps for weeks.
How to find Danmuji, anywhere
Works in any country — look for these names, in these kinds of shops.
Names to look for
- danmuji
- yellow pickled radish
- 단무지
- takuan (Japanese, similar)
Show this at the shop단무지
Where to look
- Korean grocery stores, in the pickles section
- Asian supermarkets (Japanese takuan is similar)
Watch out for
- Takuan is a close stand-in but can be saltier or less sweet.
- Pre-cut sticks for gimbap save time.
Can't find Danmuji? Use this instead
Honest swaps, with amounts per unit of the original and how the dish will change.
Extra cucumber stripsEasy to find
Use a few more strips of cucumber
Fresh and crunchy instead of sweet and tangy.
▼ sweet-tangy bite
Where to buy it near you
More Korean ingredients
Green onion
대파
Fresh and mildly sweet with a gentle onion bite that mellows when cooked.
Gochujang
고추장
Spicy-sweet and savory with a fermented depth; the heat varies by brand.
Baechu Kimchi
배추김치
Sour, salty, spicy and savory. It gets tangier the longer it ferments.
Gosari
고사리
Earthy and subtle, with a chewy texture.