The Rich World of Korean Food
Korean food is bold, colourful and made for sharing. It reflects the history, mountains and seas of South Korea. Above all, every meal aims for balance between spicy, salty, sweet and sour. As a result, even a simple lunch feels like a feast.
This guide introduces the dishes you should try, the best street snacks and traditional drinks. Moreover, it explains a few table manners to help you eat like a local.
Kimchi: the Soul of Korean Food
Kimchi is served with almost every meal. Most often, it is made with napa cabbage, radish, garlic, ginger and chili flakes. Then, it ferments for days or months. In fact, there are hundreds of kimchi varieties. Families still make large batches together every autumn, a tradition called kimjang.
Rice, Banchan and Classic Dishes
In Korean food, rice is the base of most meals. Around it, small side dishes called banchan fill the table. For example, you may get seasoned vegetables, savoury pancakes or braised tofu. Best of all, banchan refills are usually free.
- Bibimbap: Rice topped with vegetables, meat, a fried egg and spicy gochujang paste. Mix everything before eating. Also, try the famous version from Jeonju.
- Bulgogi: Thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce, sugar, garlic and sesame oil, then grilled.
- Jeon: Crispy pancakes made with kimchi, seafood or green onions. They are especially popular on rainy days.
Korean BBQ
Korean barbecue, or gogi-gui, is a fun and social meal. Diners grill meat themselves on a burner in the middle of the table. Samgyeopsal, thick slices of pork belly, is the favourite. Then, wrap the meat in lettuce with garlic, chili and ssamjang sauce. Finally, eat the whole wrap in one bite.
Soups and Stews
Warm soups and stews are part of almost every meal. For instance, kimchi jjigae combines aged kimchi, tofu and pork. Meanwhile, samgyetang is a whole young chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng and garlic. Koreans traditionally eat it on the hottest days of summer. Also, sundubu jjigae is a fiery stew with silky soft tofu.
Seafood
Because the country is surrounded by sea on three sides, seafood is everywhere in Korean food. Raw fish (hoe), seafood pancakes and spicy stir-fried octopus are all popular. In Busan, the Jagalchi fish market is a must for seafood lovers. Similarly, Jeju Island is known for abalone and black pork.
Korean Street Food
This side of Korean food is cheap, tasty and found everywhere. For example, tteokbokki are chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce. In winter, hotteok pancakes filled with brown sugar and nuts warm your hands. Also, try odeng, fish cake skewers in hot broth. The stalls of Myeongdong in Seoul are a great place to start.
Traditional sweets are lighter than Western desserts. For instance, tteok rice cakes and yakgwa honey cookies are served at festivals. In summer, bingsu, a mountain of shaved ice with sweet toppings, is very popular.
Traditional and Modern Korean Drinks
Soju is the country’s most famous spirit. It is clear, slightly sweet and usually drunk in small shot glasses. Originally made from rice, it is now often made from other starches. Above all, it is part of every social gathering.
Makgeolli is a milky, slightly fizzy rice wine. It is lower in alcohol than soju and pairs perfectly with pancakes. So, many people drink it on rainy days.
For non-alcoholic drinks, barley tea (bori cha) and corn tea (oksusu cha) are served everywhere. Also, try sujeonggwa, a cinnamon and persimmon punch, or ginseng tea. Green tea lovers should visit Boseong, famous for its tea fields. In Insadong, traditional tea houses offer a calm break.
Korean Food Etiquette
- Wait for the oldest person to start eating.
- Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in rice, because it recalls funeral rites.
- When an elder pours you a drink, hold your glass with both hands.
- Tipping is not expected in restaurants.
For more food trails and festivals, see the official Visit Korea website.
Final Thoughts on Korean Food
Korean food is a celebration of flavour, freshness and sharing. Whether you grill pork belly or sip makgeolli, every meal tells a story. Afterwards, discover Korean pop culture or explore Seoul. Discover all our South Korea travel guides.
