10 foods to try in South Korea

10 foods to try in South Korea

1. Bibimbap

Probably the best-known Korean dish, bibimbap originated on the eve of Lunar New Year when it was traditional to use up all the vegetables and side-dishes in the house. A hot stone bowl is filled with cooked rice and topped with vegetables, pickled Chinese radish, carrot and mushrooms. Great care is taken to make the dish look attractive. Egg yolk and raw beef are also popular additions – when stirred through, they cook against the hot stone.

Try our cheat's bibimbap for a speedy twist on the classic.

2. Kimchi

Kimchi is lacto-fermented Chinese leaf (baechu kimchi) seasoned with chilli. It's an accompaniment to almost every meal in Korea, usually as a side-dish.

Make our quick kimchi for a spicy, tangy side.

Kimchi pancake topped with spring onions

Another great way to enjoy kimchi is in a spicy kimchi pancake. Try kimchi jeon for a vegan recipe that's gut-friendly and packed full of flavour.

3. Kimchi fried rice

Bowl of kimchi fried rice topped with vegetables, a runny fried egg and sriracha

Fry diced pork in oil then add chopped kimchi and cooked rice, mixing together as you cook. Toss in some sesame oil and spring onion, and serve with a fried egg on top for a simple but hearty meal.

Try our version of kimchi fried rice. It's healthy, free from gluten, and vegetarian (it counts as three of your 5-a-day).

4. Sundubu Jjigae

Jjigae is a type of rich, spicy stew. This seafood and silken tofu version is called sundubu and is served like bibimbap in a hot stone bowl.

Discover more warming stew recipes with our winter stew recipes and vegan stew recipes.

5. Bulgogi

Bulgogi is a traditional style of Korean barbecue. Beef, pork belly or chicken is marinated in soy sauce, sugar and pear juice, then cooked on a hot-plate on the table.

Try it for yourself with our make-at-home bulgogi recipe.

6. Tteokbokki

This popular, filling dish of dduk (rice cake), fishcake and quails' eggs is cooked in a gochujang-based sauce (a spicy, fermented red chilli paste). Typically bought from snack bars and street-food stalls, tteokbokki is a savoury, soupy and very satisfying snack.

Try our delicious tteokbokki recipe as a starter or side.

7. Japchae

A glass noodle with a chewy texture (it's made from sweet potato), often stir-fried with crunchy vegetables, sesame oil, pepper and sugar and added to jorim (a broth-based sauce).

Try our japchae recipe.

8. Kan poong gi

Plate of fried chicken in a dark sauce topped with spring onions and sesame seeds

Fried chicken is big in Korea, and this spicy, garlicky way of preparing it is very popular. Pieces of chicken are marinated, double deep-fried and covered in a kan poong chilli oil-based sauce.

For more delicious Korean-inspired fried chicken, try our Korean chicken wings with sesame slaw, sticky Korean chicken drumsticks, Korean fried chicken burgers and Korean fried chicken.

9. Yook hwei

Bowl of steak tartare with an egg yolk on top and sliced cucumbers

A Korean version of steak tartare seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, spring onion and Korean pear. Topped with an egg yolk, this is a subtle and sophisticated dish. It is often topped with pine nuts.