Take a break from strolling the alleyways to relax and unwind as you enjoy your food tour through the savoring fine-dining establishments evolving at a fast pace across South Korea. The foods people eat are embraced by a nation and identify both the people and their country. And for a nation like South Korea, there are thousands of curious stories concealed among the traditional dishes handed down unaltered from generation to generation.
South Korean cuisine is a unique blend of flavors, techniques, and ingredients that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. From savory stews and soups to spicy BBQ and fermented condiments, there is something for everyone in Korean food. Whichever tasting menu you choose from the world’s cuisine map, South Korean dishes will always have a revered spot.
Here are 15 must-try dishes that you should add to your culinary bucket list:
Kimchi
Kimchi, this 2000-year-old traditional cuisine, is a great advert of Korean food all around the world. This spicy and tangy dish is a staple of Korean cuisine and is served with almost every meal such as with white rice, and added to porridges, soups, and rice cakes.
It is made by pickling Napa cabbage, the signature ingredient with a mixture of chili pepper flakes, garlic, and other seasonings. The highly nutritional Kimchi is one of the must-try South Korean dishes.
Bibimbap
Once created as a royal dish and now widely available from street vendors to luxury restaurants, Bibimbap is a popular South Korean dish that can be catered to both meat-based and vegetable dishes. It consists of a bowl of rice topped with an assortment of vegetables, meat, and a fried egg.
Often served with gochujang, a spicy red pepper paste, which adds flavor and heat to the dish, Bibimbap is undeniably one of the must-try South Korean dishes. A full bowl can fill your stomach comfortably to continue your South Korean expedition.
Bulgogi
The marinated grilled beef, Bulgogi is a favorite among Korean BBQ lovers. The thin slices of beef are seasoned with a mixture of soy, sauce, and other flavourful ingredients. And then grilled to perfection using a charcoal burner or a barbeque to attain that added smoky flavor.
Bulgogi is best served with a side of leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, which is used to wrap a slice of juicy meat bursting with spices. Enjoy this highly decorated restaurant favorite with a bowl of rice to end your perfect day!
Samgyeopsal
Similar to bulgogi, Samgyeopsal is another popular Korean BBQ dish made with thick slices of pork belly. But it needs a little bit more culinary skills as the chunky slices of pork belly are cooked on a grill at the diners’ table. It is often served with ssamjang, a spicy dipping sauce made with gochujang and doenjang (fermented soybean paste).
Samgyeopsal is a must-try South Korean dish along with its accompaniments such as button mushrooms, green chili peppers, green onions, raw onions, and garlic, as well as kimchi.
Tteokbokki
These spicy rice cakes are popular street food in Korea and are made with thick slices of garaetteok (boiled rice cake) dipped in the spicy gochujang sauce. They are often served with fish cakes, boiled eggs, and a variety of vegetables.
The steamed rice cakes are stirred up with fish cakes and scallions in a special sauce made of chili paste and soybean paste. Tteokbokki is a good and wholesome street food to enjoy during the cold winters.
Japchae
Japchae is arguably the most favorite noodle dish in Korea. With its unique texture and almost transparent look, the glass noodles take the centre stage in this appetizing dish. And should be there in everyone’s list of must-try South Korean dishes.
This sweet and savory stir-fried noodle dish is made with glass noodles, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and meat and is usually flavored with soy sauce and sesame oil. Japchae is a classic popular party dish in Korea.
Galbi
Casual crowd events, fine dining experiences, and a lively dance floor keeps the streets of Korea alive all day. But for party lovers and die-hard BBQ fanatics, Galbi is one of the must-try South Korean dishes to relish upon the flavors of Korea.
Galbi, which is translated to “rib” in the Korean language is a marinated short rib dish. The ribs are slow-grilled to tender perfection and are often served with a variety of side dishes and dipping sauces.
Dakgalbi
Dakgalpi is said to have originated from Chuncheon, a lake city in Gangwon province, and naturally, the Chuncheon style Dakgalpi is the most famous out of all the other variants of this dish. This spicy stir-fried chicken dish is made with gochujang and a variety of vegetables, such as cabbage, sweet potato, and bell peppers.
Chopped chicken is marinated in a mix of spicy Korean sauce and then stir-fried with rice cakes, sweet potatoes, green cabbage, and perilla leaves. This unique flavoring makes it one of the must-try South Korean dishes. It is usually served with rice and a variety of side dishes.
Sundubu jjigae
Sundubu jjigae is a blend of diverse aromas and flavors hot served in a bowl. Also known by the name Soft Tofu Stew, this is a popular South Korean dish that can have different variations throughout the country.
The spicy soft tofu stew is made with a variety of ingredients, such as seafood, meat, and vegetables. It is usually flavored with gochujang and doenjang and is often served with a raw egg that is mixed into the stew just before eating.
Kimbap
The good aim of connecting people through their love for good quality food should be a human spirit all across the globe. And Kimbap is the kind of food that showcases South Korean culture throughout the world. This popular grab-and-go Korean street food is one of the most popular South Korean dishes.
Kimbap can be defined in simple terms as the Korean version of sushi made with cooked rice and a variety of fillings, such as eggs, ham, pickled vegetables, and seafood. It is often served as a snack or a light meal
Gyeranjjim
Gyeranjjim is a popular side dish that goes well with any staple Korean meal at any time of the day. The easy recipe consists of only two main ingredients, eggs, and custard. It is often served as a side dish or as a topping for bibimbap.
Gyeran means eggs, and jjim refers to a steamed dish. So the literal meaning of the dish portrays everything one needs to know about Gyeranjjim. This steamed egg dish is made with eggs, vegetables, and sometimes meat.
Haemul pajeon
All those who love seafood will no doubt be pleased by the mouthwatering Haemul pajeon. This savory seafood and green onion pancake is a popular appetizer or snack in Korea.
It is made with a mixture of flour and eggs, then filled with a variety of seafood and vegetables. Crunchy on the outside it includes common seafood items such as shellfish, oysters, shrimp, and squid.
Jajangmyeon
One of the most consumed dishes in South Korea is this famous noodle dish made with thin wheat noodles and a savory black bean sauce. The chunky, and oily sauce is usually served with Chewy udon-style noodles as its foundation.
Jajangmyeon mostly consists of vegetables like daikon radish, zucchini, and onion. It is often topped with sliced pork and vegetables. This dish can be found in every nook and corner of South Korea, making it a popular delivery food in Korea.
Samgyetang
Samgyetang or also known as Ginseng chicken soup is a traditional South Korean dish packed with high nutrients. This delicious soup consists of a small spring chicken stuffed with chestnuts, garlic, dried jujubes, ginseng, glutinous rice, and gingko nuts to permeate a slightly bitter yet fragrant taste.
This traditional dish has been carefully curated over countless years. The soup is a common dish in most households in South Korea during the months of summer due to the popular belief of its medicinal value.
Korean Fried Chicken
The diverse culinary panel of South Korea opens itself for visitors to enjoy the soul-satisfying flavors of Korea. Korean fried chicken is a very common yet unique snack in South Korea to try out before ending this great journey.
The main ingredient is chicken coated with a sweet and spicy sauce and double-fried using vegetable oil. This makes the meat very juicy on the inside and crunchy with very little grease on the outside.
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