10 Mouth Watering Cuisines To Try In South Korea

It is popularly said that you have not truly experienced a country’s culture till you have tried the food of the country. This is particularly true about South Korean food. With their bold flavours and unique tastes, Korean dishes have become a global sensation over the past few years. While you will get Korean food in most places around the world, if you want to get the most authentic experience of it, it is always best to try it locally.

While Korean food has been greatly influenced by the Japanese and Chinese cuisines, it has since evolved into something quite distinct from the various other cuisines of the region. White rice remains a staple in the Korean cuisine and is accompanied by numerous side dishes. Korean dishes often feature a well-balanced mix of meat, veggies, rice, and spice.

Here is a list of 10 dishes you must try when visiting South Korea

* Spicy and Salty Kimchi

One of the most famous of all Korean dishes is kimchi. This side dish is made with fermented cabbage, along with various other vegetables, all seasoned with onion, garlic, ginger and chilli. Spicy, salty, and a little sour, it is served with almost every meal of the day.

* Bibimbap

Bibimbap literally means “mixed rice”, and this Korean dish includes a variety of ingredients. Everything from namul (seasoned and sautéed vegetables), to slices of meat, soy sauce, fried eggs, and gochujang (red chilli paste) can be used. While the ingredients may vary, it is important to have at least five colours (black, white, red/orange, yellow, and green—each with a specific symbolic meaning) in the bowl; so look out for this when you try this dish! The cities of Jeonju, Jinju and Tongyeong are especially famous for their version of bibimbap.

* Grilled Samgyeopsal

Literally meaning “three-layered meat” samgyeobsal, or grilled pork belly, is a type of gui (grilled dish) found in most Korean barbeques. The meat is usually neither marinated nor seasoned, but is accompanied by leafy vegetables, pickles, and dipping sauces. It is among the most popular Korean meat dishes along with galbi (marinated beef or pork short ribs) and bulgolgi (shaved tenderloin).

* Gimbap

Often called the Korean version of sushi, gimbap is a seaweed and rice roll, seasoned with rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sugar, and salt. The rice, and fillings like meat and vegetables, are rolled in gim or edible seaweed.Special variations can be found at the seaside city of Chungmu and Gwangjang Market in Seoul.

* Dukbokki

Also known as tteokbokki, this popular dish is made with spicy cylindrical rice cakes (garaetteok), which are seasoned. The cylindrical rice cakes are mixed with triangular fish cakes and boiled eggs and served with vegetables and a sweet red chilli sauce. It is a very popular Korean street food item and can be found in street corners across South Korea, especially in the Sindang region of Seoul.

* Haemul Pajeon

Haemul pajeon is a version of the pajeon (a pancake-like Korean dish made with onions, eggs, and rice flour) which also has seafood. Oysters, shrimp, and squid are often used in both the batter and as a topping. It can be eaten as both an appetizer and a main dish and is extremely popular in Seoul. Other versions of the pajeon include beef, pork, kimchi, and shellfish as toppings.

* Naengmyeon

Naengmyeon was originally a delicacy in northern Korea, it spread to the south after the Korean War. In this cold Korean noodle dish, buckwheat noodles are cooked and then plunged into icy water before being drained. Beef broth (with ice cubes), and cucumbers, slices of beef, a hard-boiled egg, and sesame seeds are added. It’s perfect to cool off with during the humid South Korean summer. Try the unique version of Naengmyeon from the South Jeolla Province of South Korea, which is served with beef broth and red chilli paste.

* Hotteok

Hotteok is a sweet pancake filled with melted brown sugar, cinnamon and honey.It is best eaten just off the grill, and its crunchy exterior and soft interior make it a winter favourite. You can also get hotteok in various other flavours, such as peanut, green tea, pink bokbunja (Korean raspberries), corn, and many more. It’s also an extremely popular Korean street food item, especially in winter. Try the delicious version in the Insadong area of Seoul.

* Songpyeon

These half-moon shaped cakes are made of rice flour dough and contain sweet or semi-sweet fillings of either soybean, cowpeas, chestnuts, jujubes, dates, red beans, sesame seeds or honey. They’re steamed over pine needles that give them a distinctive taste.

* Bingsu

Bingsu, or patbingsu, has long been a popular way to combat hot Korean summers. Sweetened shaved ice is topped with anything from fruits to green tea, along with condensed milk and sweet red bean paste. You must try patbingsu at one of the many fast-food restaurants and cafes in South Korea.