I’ll admit, before my visit, my knowledge of South Korean food extended only to kimchi. I’ve always been a little bit intimidated about going to Korean restaurants because everything seems like such a process. You don’t just show up and eat – you have to know how to cook and prepare a lot of Korean dishes. That was our experience on our visit as well, but thankfully, the kind and patient people of Seoul and Busan made it easy to enjoy all their culinary delights. So if you’re just as clueless as I was, here is your guide on all the foods to try in South Korea.
Korean BBQ
Korean barbecue is one of the more intimidating types of restaurants but also one of the most rewarding. Choosing the right place is the first step in a successful Korean BBQ experience. Not every restaurant will offer every kind of meat. Some only serve beef, chicken, or pork. And some specialize in more acquired tastes like offal and intestines. If you’re not an adventurous eater, you want to make sure to avoid anything like that.
Typically, your order consists of some cut and amount of meat (of which there may be a minimum per person). The meat order automatically comes with banchan, which are small side dishes. They can be hot or cold, like noodles or kimchi, pickled vegetables, and a variety of sauces. Included in the side dishes, you’ll also find something that works as a wrap like lettuce. The idea is to grill and cut the meat into small bite-size portions and then create a small wrap with the side dishes.
Typically, you have to do the grilling yourself, but many restaurants helped us with this process, probably because we looked like clueless tourists. If you like pork, Pig Restaurant 2 in Itaewon is a great option as an introduction to Korean pork BBQ as their servers carefully explain everything and suggest good flavor combinations. Wangbijib is a Seoul chain that is good for beef, though they are a lot less friendly. The only place we were handed tongs and shears and left to fly solo was Soban in Busan, but you can always ask for help if you’re not sure.
Hoe (Korean sashimi)
As someone who loves raw fish, South Korea is an incredible place to completely gorge yourself. Hoe makes Japanese sashimi portions feel like meager scraps. At hoe restaurants, you can order a la carte, but it’s not a bad idea to order one of the set meals that includes a giant plate full of tuna, salmon, mackerel, etc. and a variety of side dishes such as tempura shrimp, noodles, rice, oysters, and maybe even a hot seafood soup. That way you can taste a little bit of everything there is to offer.
Jeongol (Hot Pot)
Jeongol, also known as hot pot, is another interactive dining option that is popular in South Korea along with many other Asian countries. This may also be available as an option in barbecue restaurants or in restaurants that specialize in soup. Korean hot pot involves cooking meat and vegetables by dipping it into a summering broth. You can either dump everything in at once and eat it little by little or place a few ingredients in at a time. You can then serve yourself an individual portion with noodles or rice or simply have it as a soup. As with Korean barbecue, you can opt for chicken, beef, pork, or fish as the main protein.
Yukhoe (beef tartar)
Move over France, because South Korean Yukhoe has entered the chat. Literally translated, Yukhoe means raw meat. It’s marinated simply and served either with an egg yolk or some side dishes like pear shavings. Though some restaurants like Buchon Yukhoe specialize in it, it’s also commonly enjoyed as a side dish when drinking.
Kimchi pancakes and potato pancakes
A popular street food and appetizer, kimchi pancakes or Kimchijeon are savory pancakes that can easily be found in many traditional restaurants and at any food market. The pancakes are fried so they’re a little crispy and have a mildly spicy and sweet taste, like everything in South Korea. An alternative is Gamjajeon, which uses potato instead of kimchi as the main ingredient. There are many variations of this. It may be filled with cheese or served with a sauce.
Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)
Another popular Korean stew is Doenjang-jjigae, which is made primarily from soybean paste and a variety of vegetables and meat or tofu. It can be served on its own or with rice. Check out Doma in Insadong for this dish. There’s often a wait, but if you download the Catch Table app, you can wait in a virtual line instead of in person.
Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a rice bowl served with a ton of vegetables, ground or sliced meat, and sometimes egg. You can then season it to taste with red pepper paste. It can be ordered as a side in many Korean barbecue restaurants, though I warn you that it may be too much food. But it’s often just enjoyed as a convenient and easy lunch.
Gimbap
Gimbap is basically just bibimbap served in a roll. It’s also often compared to sushi. It consists of vegetables, egg omelette, meat or fish, wrapped in rice and seaweed. It’s then sliced into bite-size pieces. It can be dipped or enjoyed as is. This is also popular for lunch and available at many street markets.
Mandu
Mandu are Korean dumplings that can be cooked in different ways and eaten as a snack from street markets or as an appetizer at many restaurants. They’re typically stuffed with beef or pork and vegetables, though other varieties include tofu, pheasant, kimchi, or only vegetables. They can be boiled, steamed, pan-fried, or even deep-fried. They’re a comfort food staple so you can’t miss them.
Bulgogi
Bulgogi is one of the best things on my list of foods to try in South Korea. It’s very thinly sliced meat, marinated in a special sauce and either barbecued on a grill or stir-fried with onions and other veggies. It can be added to bibimbap, for example, or eaten with side dishes at barbecue restaurants. By the end of the trip, I was even having this for breakfast with rice. I can’t recommend it enough.
Salt bread
Korean salt bread is one of the simplest things you’ll eat in Korea. It’s a buttery bread roll with just a hint of salt. Though it’s a staple in many bakeries and cafes, I recommend getting a few rolls baked fresh from the viral Jayeondo Sogeumppang & Jayeondoga in Seoul or Busan. It’s the only food we waited in line for in South Korea, and it was absolutely worth the wait. The peaceful outdoor seating area and the adorable way the rolls are wrapped and sold is an added bonus.
Fried chicken
Available in restaurants, street markets, or from fast food shops, fried chicken is everywhere in South Korea. The street food version may be served with a variety of flavorful sauces like barbecue or sweet and spicy sauce. But perhaps the best way to enjoy fried chicken is to order it as a snack when you’ve had three or four beers.
Seolleongtang (ox bone soup)
Seolleongtang is a beef bone soup that is rich and creamy and is made by slow cooking ox bones and will warm you all the way down to your soul. One of the best restaurant recommendations I can offer if you want to try ox bone soup is Gamcheon Sagol Gomtang in Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan. It has earned its solid 5-star rating on Google.
Sannakji
This is not for the faint of heart, but I tried it so I think you should, too. Sannakji is a Korean dish of fresh baby octopus that is still moving. No, they’re not actually alive, but when octopus is freshly cut, the nerves continue to produce movement. They’re served with a flavorful oil that is frankly the best part. Eating Sannakji is tricky because they wriggle off your chopsticks. It’s even trickier when you put them in your mouth because the tiny suckers on the octopus will stick to your tongue or the side of your mouth. It’s super important to chew thoroughly before you swallow because they can also stick in your throat and potentially kill you.
Korean pizza
I never thought I would find one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in Korea, but here we are. The fun thing about having Korean pizza is that they’re really creative about the toppings. Who needs pepperoni when you have bulgogi and cabbage and sesame oil? It’s a good way to try something that’s still local even when you’re craving the comforts of Western food. To that end, I recommend the signature pizza at A$AP Pizza in Seoul. It’s extra cheesy and has a unique sweet and spicy paprika flavor that I will be thinking about for many years to come.
Drinks to try in South Korea
I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest some of South Korea’s traditional alcoholic drinks since drinking there is almost as important as eating.
Soju and beer
If you’re ever seen a K-drama, you’ve seen how much Koreans love knocking back beers and drinking soju. Soju is an alcohol that is often enjoyed as a shot or to fortify light Korean beers. It’s often compared to sake, which is also made from rice, but unlike sake, soju is not brewed but distilled and it’s a little stronger. Though it typically has around 16-25% alcohol content, it can be as much as 45% so vodka is probably a better comparison. There are many drinking games involving soju and beer, but I won’t bore you with specifics. The main idea of all the games is to get as drunk as possible.
Makgeolli
Makgeolli is a milky rice wine that is lightly sparkling. That probably doesn’t sound like a super appealing combination but give it a chance and you just might love it. It’s a little tangy and sweet and doesn’t have much alcohol so it’s easier to drink. It also comes in amazing flavors like chestnut and banana. It is served cold, and you drink it out of a shallow bowl. Sediment can pool at the bottom of the bottle so it’s important to gently mix it (but not too much because of the gas).
Craft cocktails
There is an incredible and extensive craft cocktail scene in South Korea. If you prefer a creatively mixed stiff drink rather than beer, Seoul and Busan have an vast array of perfectly curated cocktail bars where the vibe is quiet and romantic, and the drinks are over-the-top. In Seoul, I recommend the hidden speakeasy Myeongdong Sookhee and the rooftop at Ugly Society. For a more relaxed but just as excellent cocktail experience, check out the tiny hip-hop hole in the wall Crown B. In Busan, try Bar 11 and Bar Case.
Popular street foods in South Korea
The Korean hot dog
One of the most internet popular Korean street foods is the viral cheese hot dog. Though there are a few varieties, the hot dog consists of a giant melted block of cheese that is breaded and fried. Sometimes it’s also made with an actual hot dog and cheese. And often, it’s covered in tiny cubes of potato. You can then drench it in mayo and ketchup before you dig in and enjoy the beloved cheese pull.
Dalgona (not the coffee)
If you’ve seen Squid game, you’re already familiar with this melted spongy sugar candy. Dalgona is sold on the street as a sweet treat for kids or the young at heart. You’ll often find it in the shape of cartoon characters or as a thin wafer that has the outline of a shape like a star or an umbrella. If you can cut the shape out without breaking the candy, you’re ready to compete in Squid Game.
Hotteok
Hotteok is a filled pancake that is often sweet but also comes in savory varieties. The fluffy dough is filled with a mixture of honey, cinnamon, sugar, and peanuts and cooked on a griddle. It may also be filled with cheese, bulgogi, kimchi, and even stir-fried noodles.
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is a chewy rice cake that is drenched in viscous red tangy and sweet sauce. To the uninitiated, it looks like penne pasta. You can find it in many street markets, and you eat it with a toothpick or on a skewer.
Frozen s’mores
This is one of most indulgent street foods in Korea if you have a sweet tooth. It’s a block of ice cream covered in gooey marshmallow cream that is then torched to perfection to create a crunchy sugary shell. It’s ridiculously good and comes in a couple of different flavors of ice cream.
There are a lot of things South Koreans do well, but I can’t say that they do anything better than the food. I hope my recommendations guide your South Korean culinary journey and that the experience is every bit as amazing as it was for me.
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