Tteokbokki (떡볶이)Must-try
Meat · Snack
Chewy rice cakes simmered in a vibrant, spicy gochujang-based sauce, a beloved street food often served with fish cakes and boiled eggs.
by jetalone (flickr) (CC BY 2.0
South Korea Food: 20 Dishes to Try
Every dish ranked by how essential it is — must-try picks first, with photos and what’s actually in them.
Samgyeopsal (삼겹살)Must-try
Meat
Thick slices of uncured pork belly, grilled at your table, then cut into bite-sized pieces and wrapped in lettuce with garlic, ssamjang, and kimchi.
by hellochris (CC BY 2.0
Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
A bubbling stew made with aged kimchi, tofu, and typically pork or tuna, it's a staple comfort food served nationwide and eaten at almost every meal.
by avlxyz (CC BY-SA 2.0
Samgyetang (삼계탕)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
A whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, and jujubes, simmered to create a nourishing and healthy soup, particularly popular in summer.
wizdata (CC0
Bibimbap (비빔밥)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
A visually stunning bowl of warm rice topped with sautéed vegetables, gochujang (chili pepper paste), a fried egg, and often sliced beef, all mixed together before eating.
abex (a flickr user) (CC BY-SA 2.0
Hoe (회)Must-try
Freshly sliced raw fish, typically enjoyed with gochujang or soy sauce, often picked directly from live tanks at one of Busan's sprawling seafood markets.
No machine-readable author provided. Warszk assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 3.0
Milmyeon (밀면)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
Busan's unique cold wheat noodles, often served in a tangy, icy broth with beef or pork slices and a spicy gochujang sauce — distinct from northern Korean naengmyeon.
Mobius6 (CC BY-SA 4.0
Naengchae Jokbal (냉채족발)Must-try
Meat · Dinner
A unique Busan specialty featuring chilled pig's trotters served with a refreshing mustard sauce and an assortment of vegetables.
by ayustety (CC BY-SA 2.0
Ssiat HotteokMust-try
Vegetarian · Snack
A fried pancake stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a generous amount of toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The seeds add a distinct crunch that separates the Busan version from others in Korea.
seul5167 (CC0)
Naengmyeon (냉면)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
Perfect for hot weather, these refreshing cold noodles are served in a tangy, icy broth or with a spicy gochujang sauce.
Jinho Jung at Flickr from South Korea (CC BY 2.0
Mandu (만두)Must-try
Meat · Snack
Handmade dumplings filled with various ingredients like minced meat, tofu, kimchi, or vegetables, either steamed, boiled, or pan-fried.
국립국어원 (CC BY-SA 2.0 kr
Hotteok (Sweet Pancake)Must-try
Vegetarian · Snack
A popular sweet street snack, these chewy pancakes are filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes nuts, then pan-fried until golden.
by yearofeats (CC BY 2.0
Kalguksu (Hand-Cut Noodle Soup)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
A comforting bowl of handmade wheat flour noodles in a clear broth, often served with vegetables and sometimes seafood or chicken.
by jslander (CC BY 2.0
Eomuk (어묵)Must-try
Meat · Snack
Busan is famed for its fish cakes, made from ground fish paste, often served on skewers in a savory broth from street carts or in popular eomuk bars.
Pibiy (CC BY-SA 4.0
Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancake)Must-try
Vegetarian · Snack
A savory pancake made from ground mung beans and vegetables, pan-fried to a crispy perfection, offering a rustic and satisfying bite.
Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (CC BY-SA 2.0
Dongnae Pajeon (동래파전)Must-try
Meat · Dinner
A thick, savory pancake generously filled with seafood and green onions, representing Busan's rich culinary heritage.
by Tales of an LA Addict (Abby) at Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0
Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥)Must-try
Meat · Lunch
A Busan specialty, this pork bone soup with tender slices of pork and rice is simmered for hours, offering a deeply savory and comforting meal that locals swear by.
Wikimedia Commons
Gyeranppang (계란빵)Must-try
Breakfast · Snack
A popular street snack featuring a small, fluffy loaf of bread with a whole egg baked inside, often with a hint of sweetness.
travel oriented from Seoul, South Korea (CC BY-SA 2.0
Haemul Pajeon (해물파전)Must-try
A savory Korean pancake studded with green onions and various seafood like squid, shrimp, and mussels, often enjoyed with makgeolli (rice wine).
by Tales of an LA Addict (Abby) at Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0
Kimbap (김밥)Must-try
Seaweed rice rolls filled with various ingredients like pickled radish, spinach, egg, and often ham or bulgogi, sliced into bite-sized pieces.
changupn (CC0
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under Creative Commons licenses. Individual credits shown on each photo where available.