What to eat in Korea: 15 Most popular & must try food in South Korea

September 14, 2025

Black-Pork-Jeju-Island-food-South-Korea — Jeju black pork, must eat

Korea – a country with a unique culture and long history is not only famous for its interesting Kpop industry or special TV dramas but also a place that hides unique culinary secrets. So, What to eat in Korea? In this article, let’s explore with Living Nomads 15 famous Korean dishes, must try food in south Korea, best food to try in Korea with delicious flavors that make anyone fall in love.

Seoul street food (c)GettyImages | must try food in south korea

Mayak gimbap | must try food in south korea

Gwangjang market,best street food area in seoul,where to eat korean street food in seoul,where to eat street food in seoul (3) — Delicious mixed noodles | must try food in south korea

Must try food in South Korea: Kimchi – Symbol of Korean cuisine

Kimchi – a culinary symbol of Korea and has conquered many diners around the world. Made from cabbage, chili and many other vegetables and spices, kimchi has a bright red color with a unique flavor: spicy, sweet and sour, very delicious to eat with rice. It can be said that kimchi is the cultural heritage that most clearly reflects the traditional identity and culinary soul of the Korean people. If you have never tried kimchi, this is a big mistake because you have missed out on a culinary essence.

seoul Hangaram,best street food area in seoul,where to eat korean street food in seoul,where to eat street food in seoul (1) — Kimchi soup | must try food in south korea

Kimchi is considered the soul of many Korean dishes, often having all 5 flavors of sour, spicy, bitter, salty, sweet. Photo: Sungsu Han | must try food in south korea

Places where you can find the best kimchi in Korea:

Yangdong Market: 94 Yangdong-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
Hanokjib Kimchi-jjim Restaurant: 178 Naengcheon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul,

Bibimbap – Mixed rice

Bibimbap or a rice dish mixed with beef, gochujang chili sauce, fried eggs and a variety of stir-fried vegetables and mushrooms is also a quintessence in the culinary culture of the land of kimchi. Thanks to such a variety of ingredients, this Korean dish combines all the flavors and colors such as white rice, yellow soft-boiled egg, red kimchi, orange carrots, dark green seaweed… When eating, you just need to mix all the ingredients together and then pour a special sauce to have an irresistible delicacy.

A true portion of bibimbap must have a soft-boiled egg in the middle. Photo: Louno_M | must try food in south korea

Restaurants with excellent bibimbap:

Gogung Restaurant: 2 층, 27 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Chungmuro 2 (i) -ga, Jung-gu Seoul
Jeonju Jungang Hoekwan Restaurant: 21 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Myeong-dong, Jung-gu Seoul
Manna Bunshik Restaurant: 40 Donhwamun-ro 6ga-gil, Bongik-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul

Kimbap – Seaweed Rice Rolls

itaewon street food — Kimbap (Korean sushi roll) at Itaewon street, Seoul | must try food in south korea

Another Korean dish that we want to introduce to you is kimbap – seaweed rice rolls that are extremely typical of Korean cuisine. The main ingredients to make this dish include seaweed, rice, beef, fried eggs, stir-fried vegetables and sausages. All are neatly wrapped in a seaweed coat and when eaten, they will be cut into beautiful round slices. Although in appearance, kimbap is somewhat “inferior” to other Korean dishes, the flavor of this dish is really not inferior to any “rival”.

Kimbap ssam hwawoo (1) — | must try food in south korea

Places where you can enjoy delicious kimbap:

Mo-nyeo Woncho Mayak kimbap shop: Gwangjang market, Changgyeonggung street, Jongno district, Seoul
Chosun kimbap shop: 78 Yulgok-ro street, Jongno-gu district, Seoul

Jajangmyeon – Black bean noodles

Jjajangmyeon3 — Jjajangmyeon | must try food in south korea

Korean black bean noodles are also known as Jajangmyeon. This Korean dish is famous for the perfect combination of soft noodles and rich black bean sauce made from black bean sauce, meat and vegetables. The sweet sauce mixed with a little saltiness, when mixed with noodles, will create an attractive flavor that you can hardly refuse.

Black bean noodles are often processed to retain a little sweetness for easy eating. Photo: Ika Rahma | must try food in south korea

Some restaurants have extremely attractive black bean noodles:

Star Jjamyeon: unggu Dwegyero 200 (Pildong 2ga 7-3)
Daehangak Restaurant: 34-151 Itaewon-dong Yongsangu Seoul
O’mori Chiggae Restaurant: 183-2 Seokchon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Must eat in Korea: Japchae – Mixed noodles

Japchae or mixed noodles is a typical Korean dish that when mentioning kimchi cuisine, everyone knows. The noodles in Japchae are made from sweet potatoes, are transparent in color and when you eat them, you will feel a unique toughness and flexibility. In addition to noodles, Japchae also has tender beef tenderloin, wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, carrots, onions… All will be mixed with a little sesame oil and soy sauce to create a slightly sweet but fragrant flavor.

Japchae-korea-tips to save money in Korea — Although the ingredients are simple, to prepare mixed noodles also requires a lot of effort to create a delicious flavor. Photo: GeoLee | Must eat in Korea

japchae noodles, Namdaemun, street food, seoul, korea — Delicious japchae noodles at Namdaemun. | Must eat in Korea

Places serving extremely delicious mixed noodles in Korea:

Bucheon Restaurant: 1128-2 Jung-dong Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Namul Meongneun Restaurant: 20-12 Jandari-ro Seoul

Naengmyeon – Cold noodles

Naengmyeon cold noodles are a culinary symbol of Korea, especially on hot summer days. Made from buckwheat flour, potatoes, sweet potatoes and some other ingredients, the noodles in this Korean dish are chewy but still have a certain softness. The highlight of cold noodles is none other than the cool broth but the flavor is very rich thanks to the perfect combination of beef, boiled eggs, cucumber, bean sprouts and a few slices of delicious Korean pear.

A bowl of cool soup served with thin, chewy noodles. Photo: Johnnieshin | Must eat in Korea

Restaurants serving delicious cold noodles:

Pildong Myeonok Restaurant: 26, Seoae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nampo Myeonok: 24 Eulji-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Pyongyang Myeonok: 207 Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Bulgogi – Grilled Beef

Bulgogi is probably one of the most familiar Korean dishes for those who have fallen in love with Korean cuisine. Bulgogi or grilled beef has a unique and enchanting flavor. Each thin, soft piece of beef is soaked in rich spices, so when grilled, the beef emits a fragrant aroma, creating an indescribably delicious dish.

bulgogi korean beef bbq, food to eat in korea, food you must eat in south korea, korean must eat food (7) — Wrap with lettuce | Must eat in Korea

Some places with delicious grilled beef in Korea:

Maple Tree House IItaewon: 26, Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Tuppul Deungshim: 19, Eonju-ro 148-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Samwon Garden: 835 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Must try food in Korea: Samgyeopsal – Grilled Pork Belly

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

Grilled pork belly, commonly known as samgyeopsal, has become an indispensable symbol of Korean cuisine. The characteristic of this dish is the soft slices of pork belly that are not marinated but grilled directly on the stove. When the meat is cooked, you can eat it with vegetables, kimchi and a bowl of spicy tonkatsu sauce.

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 is a typical Korean dish. Photo: Romiximage

Some of the best restaurants serving Sangyupsal in Seoul:

Yennaljip Restaurant: 143 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Blue Roof Town: 32-4 Yeongjung-ro 10-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Galbi – Grilled Ribs

Mapo Sutbul Galbi 24 — | Must eat in Korea

Galbi is a familiar dish for those who love Korean cuisine and movies. This is a typical grilled rib dish of the kimchi land, usually made from beef, pork or chicken ribs. The special thing about galbi is the process of marinating the meat with soy sauce and other unique Korean spices to create a delicious flavor and attractive color for the dish. When enjoying it, you will feel the sweet, salty and fragrant taste of the grilled ribs that are still hot.

Each piece of ribs is marinated according to a special Korean recipe so that when grilled, the meat is beautifully golden brown. Photo: hot8030 | must try food in korea

Enjoy fragrant grilled ribs at the following locations:

WooSung Galbi: 372-40 Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Seocho Myeonok: 46 Banpo-daero 28-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

Gopchang – Grilled Intestines

Ilbeonji Gopchang Kkomjangeo Korean BBQ,best street food area in seoul,where to eat korean street food in seoul,where to eat street food in seoul (1) — | where to eat street food in seoul

Gopchang is also an extremely famous grilled dish in Korea. Each piece of intestine when grilled on the stove will emit an attractive aroma, combined with the soft, chewy, fatty texture that will definitely create an unforgettable culinary experience. In particular, gopchang is very suitable to enjoy with a glass of warm wine in cold weather or stormy rain.

This is a dish that is very familiar on the small screen of the kimchi country. Photo: Eater LA

The best Gopchang restaurants in Korea:

Gopchang Myeongdong: 2nd floor, 33, Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Ilbeonji Gopchang Makchang: 33 Myeongdong 9-gil, Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Sundubu Jjigae – Spicy Tofu Soup

Sundubu-jjigae (Korean Spicy Soft Tofu Stew) (1) — After beating raw eggs, diners will mix it up with the stew soup to create more flavor for the dish. | must try food in korea

Sundubu Jjigae is a delicious spicy tofu soup that you cannot miss when talking about Korean cuisine. When the weather starts to get cold, there is nothing better than enjoying a bowl of hot, flavorful Sundubu Jjigae with steam still rising. This dish is the perfect combination of soft tofu, fresh vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, meat and of course, the spicy flavor of chili sauce. People often joke that coming to Korea without trying this dish is a big mistake.

Suggestions for some places to enjoy a bowl of delicious spicy tofu soup:

Baeknyeonok: 1450-6, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu: 307-4, Chodang-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Samgyetang – Ginseng Chicken Soup

Geumgok Samgyetang | must try food in korea

Samgyetang, or traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup, is a perfect combination of young chicken, ginseng, hedysarum root, and jujube. To prepare this dish, people stuff the chicken’s belly with the above ingredients, then tie it tightly and simmer it in a stone pot or clay pot until the chicken is tender and the broth becomes rich.

Samgyetang is both a nutritious food and a representative for Korean cuisine. — A nutritious dish with an irresistible aroma. Photo: The Seoul Journal | must try food in korea

Samgyetang soup, typical type of Korean soups

Some restaurants serving delicious ginseng chicken soup:

Tosokchon Samgyetang Seoul: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Goryeo Samgyetang: 1 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Tteokbokki – Spicy rice cake

Tteokbokki – a famous spicy rice cake dish of Korea and has become familiar in Vietnam. The outstanding feature of Tteokbokki is the soft, hot white rice cakes soaked in a special spicy sauce. This is an extremely popular dish and is loved by both Koreans and international diners.

tteokbokki-korean-street-food,myeongdong food blog,myeongdong food guide,myeongdong must eat,what to eat in myeongdong (1) — The smooth, chewy rice cakes soaked in spicy sauce are extremely addictive. Photo: 4nadia | must try food in korea

Gwangjang market,best street food area in seoul,where to eat korean street food in seoul,where to eat street food in seoul (4) — Odeng (fish cake) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)

Some places selling irresistible Korean spicy rice cakes:

Jopok Tteokbokki: 60 Eoulmadang-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hongdae Dooki Tteokbokki: 8, Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Seolleongtang – Beef Bone Soup

Seolleongtang is a Korean beef bone soup and an important part of traditional Korean cuisine. Made from simmered beef bones and meat, this soup was once reserved for the nobility and kings of the Korean royal court. Seolleongtang is characterized by its milky white broth made from simmering beef bones for many hours. The rich, fatty flavor of the broth combined with green onions and mushrooms creates a dish with an unforgettable, attractive flavor.

Recommended restaurants serving delicious Seolleongtang in Korea:

Imun Seolnongtang: 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Cham Seolleongtang: 1340, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul

Kalguksu Noodles

Kalguksu noodles are associated with the image of thin, soft noodles made from wheat flour and cut by hand with a knife. Unlike Vietnamese pho, kalguksu has thinner and softer noodles. Kalguksu broth is often made from chicken or beef bones to help bring a rich and delicious flavor. To increase the appeal, the chicken or beef will be minced before adding to the bowl. Some places also add mantou or mushrooms to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Hand-cut noodles have a very unique flavor of Korea. Photo: Korean Bapsang

Where you can enjoy the best Kalguksu in Korea:

Noodle Soup Alley: Jongno 3-ga Donhwamun-ro Station, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Kalguksu Myeongdong Kyoja: 29, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Through the 15 Korean dishes that we have just introduced, we hope you will have more knowledge and understanding of the rich cuisine of the kimchi land. Please “visit” the Living Nomads Travel Guide to learn more useful Korean check-in experiences for your upcoming trip.

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