Korean must eat food — Top 14 food you must eat in South Korea

November 1, 2024

This is genuine Korean specialty! In fact, Ddukbokki, or tteokbokki, is just a simple dish; but because it was so popular, when referring about Korea, people would unconsciously connect with the image of spicy rice cake.

Credit: 5 days in seoul blog. seoul-street-food-1533289916-1000X561 — Photo: korean must try food blog.

Tteokbokki in korean street food around the world — Photo: must eat in korea blog.

Korean street food tteokbokki spicy rice cake — You can easily find this dish on the streets in Seoul.

Tteokbokki is a popular spicy dish in Korea made from cylindrical rice cakes, triangular fish cake slices called omuk (or odeng), vegetables and sweet chili sauce. It is usually sold by pojangmacha (a small tented spot that can be on wheels or a street stall in Korea). People like ddeukbokki by the combination of spicy and sweet taste.

tteokbokki, street food, seoul, korea — A wide array of street food, including tteokbokki.

This is a delicious Korean dish to try (must try food in Korea), not by strange or familiar taste; but because of the feeling of enjoying hot and spicy rice cakes in the cool air and romantic atmosphere of Korea. You don’t have to buy rice cakes, but really are spending money to buy this great feeling!

Seolleongtang (Beef Bone Soup)

A traditional Korean soup made from beef bones, meat and beef brisket, seolleongtang is a local Seoul dish, often cooked with salt, ground black pepper, chopped green onion, or minced garlic depending on the taste of each person. The broth is milky and usually eaten with rice.

1Seolleongtang (Beef Bone Soup) (2) — Local food in Seoul for food lovers.

You can try Seolleongtang at many restaurants and eateries in Korea, and remember not to miss this dish. You will be enchanted with Seolleongtang’s thick soup broth, sweet taste and soft and firm beef!

Sundubu-jjigae (Korean Spicy Soft Tofu Stew)

Often served in stone bowl (dolsot bowl), Korean soft tofu stew soup is the most popular spicy stew of Korea with the main ingredients are usually tofu (dubu), vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, beef or pork and chili sauce. Depending on each region and the cook, some ingredients will be added or replaced.

Although there are many versions, Sundubu-jjigae still keep a common point, that is, after being scooped into the bowl, diner will beat a raw egg to the top. When eating, this part of the egg will be mixed with the broth to create the perfect flavor for the dish.

Samgyeopsal (Grilled pork belly BBQ)

Barbecue dishes always have a strong attraction on the dining table, and in Korea this is no exception. Samgyeopsal is one of the most famous dishes in Korea, including grilled pork slices.

Jeju black pig, which is smaller than other pig species, has a much more succulent texture and carries less of a pork stench. — Grilled pork belly BBQ. Foto: food you must eat in south korea blog.

Samgyeopsal (Grilled pork belly BBQ) (1) — Samgyeopsal is a favorite dish, also the pride of Korean cuisine.

But the special thing about this Korean delicacy is that the meat is not seasoned or marinated spices before. After ripe, meat is dipped in salt and pepper spices mixed in sesame oil, and then wrapped in lettuce along with slices of garlic and grilled onions, shredded green onions, served with kimchi. This is one of the most popular dishes, which can easily be found in any Korean restaurant around the world.

In reality TV shows, promotions … you will see a lot of samgyeopsal (Grilled pork belly BBQ) appearances as a typical representative of Korean cuisine.

Haemul Pajeon (Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake)

As an “upgraded” version of Pajeon (similar to Korean pancake), Haemul Pajeon is a pancake made from green onion, beaten eggs, wheat flour, rice flour combined with seafood.

Usually seafood used will be shrimp, squid and some scallops or oysters; However, it can be added or replaced with other types for each person’s taste. Seafood pancakes are often used as main dishes, and are favored by the softness of the cake combined with the toughness and richness of seafood.

Hobakjuk (Korean Pumpkin Porridge)

There are many people who will not be very interested in when hearing the name of pumpkin porridge, but this is really a Korean delicacy to try when you come to the land of the kimchi! Hobakjuk is a traditional Korean porridge made from steamed pumpkin and soaked sticky rice. Although it is quite simple, but possesses a very strange taste.

Koreans often eat pumpkin porridge in the morning. This dish can be used in hot or cold, but often people like to “slurp” hot porridge, especially in the days when the air becomes cold.

Korean must eat food: Naengmyeon (Cold Noodle Soup)

Do you know that Korea has a song called Naengmyeon?

Sometimes all the elite end up in ... a bowl of cold noodles like this. — Sometimes all the elite end up in … a bowl of cold noodles like this.

Naengmyeon is a very popular cold noodle dish in Korea, including noodles (usually buckwheat noodles), cucumbers, some slices of Korean pears, beef and boiled eggs. Although noodles are usually made from buckwheat noodles, potato noodles or sweet potatoes; but sometimes it is replaced with other types of noodles – and this depends on the type of cold noodles you order.

Cold Noodles-busan-korea3 Photo: must eat in korea blog. — Photo: must eat in korea blog.

Naengmyeon (Cold Noodle Soup) — In some places, cold noodles have spicy broth like this.

Cold noodles are a “trendy” dish in the summer to cool down the hot heat and humid air characteristic of this season in Korea. However, if you come at other times, you can still try; because Naengmyeon is a pride and definitely a Korean delicacy to try!

Naengmyeon, street food, seoul, korea — Naengmyeon is a cold dish of buckwheat noodles.

Korean must try food: Sundae (Korean Blood Sausage)

Korean specialties? One of them must be Sundae (or another way of writing is soondae). This is an extremely unique Korean delicacy made from pig intestines, stuffed with a number of ingredients such as noodles, pork and barley. It has a form and making method that is quite similar to Vietnamese blood sausage.

Korean street food sundae blood sausage — Picture: korean must try food blog.

Sundae-best food to eat in busan-korea6 — Wrap with vegetables

Sundae-best food to eat in busan-korea4 — Eat with rice

This dish also has many variations, such as changing, increasing and reducing ingredients depending on regions and cities living in Korea. However, despite the difference, sundae is still a mouth-watering dish with the toughness of the outer covering combined with the softness and richness of the inside.

Sundae-best food to eat in busan-korea — Credit: korean must eat food blog.

Sundae, street food, seoul, korea — Sundae is one of the most popular street foods in South Korea

Must try food in Korea: Samgyetang (Ginseng chicken soup)

Samgyetang soup, one of the must eat Korean food.

Korean chicken stew soup with ginseng is Korean delicacy that is very popular in summer. Samgyetang is a traditional soup made from chicken, garlic, rice, green onions, red apples, Korean ginseng and spices. This dish has very high nutritional value; But that is not the only reason that makes it one of the must-try dishes in Korea, but because of the thick soup and those soft, sweet of chicken flesh. You can try this dish at one of the best Samgyetang restaurants in Seoul at Tosokchon Samgyetang.

Samgyetang is both a nutritious food and a representative for Korean cuisine.

Samgyetang soup, typical type of Korean soups — Image by: must eat in korea blog.

Samgyetang, street food, seoul, korea — Foto: food you must eat in south korea blog.

Through this list of food you must eat in South Korea, which Korean delicacies would you like to try when traveling to this country? And what dishes have you tasted right in the land of kimchi? Please share with Living Nomads.

Deoksugung Doldam-gil road autumn seoul — Deoksugung Doldam-gil road in autumn.

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