South Korea Food: 20 Dishes to Try

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)

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)

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.

한국농수산식품유통공사 (KOGL Type 1)

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)

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.

Chloe Lim (CC BY 2.0)

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)

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)

A unique Busan specialty featuring chilled pig's trotters served with a refreshing mustard sauce and an assortment of vegetables.

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.

bryan... (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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)

A spicy, comforting stew made with uncurdled soft tofu, vegetables, often seafood or meat, and topped with a raw egg cracked in just before serving.

by titanium22 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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)

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)

A savory pancake made from ground mung beans and vegetables, pan-fried to a crispy perfection, offering a rustic and satisfying bite.

Pfc. Bo Park, 2ID PAO, US Army (Public domain)

A thick, savory pancake generously filled with seafood and green onions, representing Busan's rich culinary heritage.

by Jinho Jung from South Korea (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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

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)

Seaweed rice rolls filled with various ingredients like pickled radish, spinach, egg, and often ham or bulgogi, sliced into bite-sized pieces.

changupn (CC0)

Creamy rice porridge studded with succulent abalone – a Jeju specialty, often served as a restorative meal. The abalone’s subtle sweetness balances the savory porridge.

bryan... (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Chewy rice cakes shaped like a cow's ear, traditionally eaten during Lunar New Year. They're steamed and often served with sweet soup.

3hrAgency (CC BY-SA 4.0)