Must-have South Korean Food

If you are planning to visit South Korea and are curious about what to eat there then check out our list!  Most of the food in South Korea comes with a spicy kick, so this list if even more so important for those who can’t handle spiciness, so you can know what to watch out for. 

1. Gogi-gui (Korean BBQ)

Korean BBQ, locally called Gogi-gui, is a Korean cuisine method that involves grilling of meat such as chicken, beef, or pork on charcoal grills in the center of a table. The BBQ dishes are prepared in many ways, whether marinated or not. The most popular type of Korean BBQ are Bulgogi and Galbi. The meat is typically cut into thin slices and accompanied by a sauce and rice.

2. Chi-maek (Chicken and Beer)

Every country has a signature dish, and one could say that Korea’s chicken and beer, is one of the best! This classic is central to Korean food culture, as the beer complements its spicy chicken counterpart. 

3. Bingsu

Bingsu is a famous Korean shaved ice dessert with an assortment of toppings including cereal flakes, red bean paste, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and fruit cocktail. What’s interesting about this dessert is that the ice used for it is not made of water but actually from frozen milk. The ice is shaved finely which gives the feeling of tasting snow made of milk. This dessert is complete once it is drizzled with a sweet sauce or matcha syrup.

4. Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki or commonly called Ddeokbokki,  is made from soft rice cake, fish cake, assorted vegetables, and tossed with gochujang. The sauce is slightly sweet and spicy a perfect combination.

5. Kimchi

One of the most popular Korean dishes is Kimchi which is spicy fermented vegetables that are served with traditional meals all over Korea. It is usually made from cabbage and radishes. There are more than 100 varieties of this dish available. It is a spicy and slightly sour fermented side dish that is known for having several health benefits. For Koreans, dinner is usually considered as incomplete if Kimchi is not on the menu.

5. Bibimbap

Full of flavor and a variety of ingredients, Bibimbap is one of the most popular Korean dishes that can be found. Bibimbap is a bowl of rice topped with namul (different seasoned and sautéed vegetables), beef, mushrooms, and comes with a fried egg. All these things are tossed in gochujang (Korean chili paste) to create a flavorful and savory combination. This Korean fried rice gives distinctly flavored bites and is becoming more popular across the world.

7. Kimbap

Kimbap or Gimbap is a Korean version of Japanese sushi. It consists of rice rolled with different kinds of fillings, from pickled radish, spinach, and carrots to beef, fish cakes, and sliced omelets. All these are wrapped in dried seaweed and eaten like a sandwich. It has a stronger taste than its japanese counterpart. 

8. Bulgogi

A popular Korean treat, Bulgogi is a savory dish consisting of grilled, thinly-sliced beef, garlic, sliced onion, sugar, soy sauce, and paste of Korean pears. According to CNN Travel Reader’s poll in 2011, Bulgogi was ranked as the 23^rd most tasty dish worldwide. It is often served with rice or wrapped in lettuce with different toppings of sliced vegetables, onions, bean sprouts, and kimchi. This is my personal favorite.

9. Hotteok

Thought to be the sweeter version of a Western pancake, Hotteok or Heoddeok is popular Korean street food, served especially during the Winter season. It is a flat, circular dough filled with a combination of brown sugar, peanuts, honey, and brown sugar. Cooked on the griddle, it has a crunchy exterior but is completely soft on the inside. 

10. Japchae

Usually served as a side dish during a meal, japchae is a sweet potato noodle dish that is made with stir-fried vegetables and thinly-sliced beef. These are a bit sweet and often garnished with sesame seeds.