ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in South Korea
Five dishes to try in South Korea, the most typical first.
Five dishes to try in South Korea
Bibimbap 비빔밥
Rice topped with seasoned vegetables, egg, meat and chilli paste, mixed at the table.
How to have it: Order dolsot bibimbap for a sizzling stone bowl with crisp rice; Jeonju is the most famous place for it.
Samgyeopsal 삼겹살
Thick slices of pork belly grilled at the table and wrapped in lettuce.
How to have it: Ordered for two or more at barbecue restaurants; wrap with garlic and ssamjang and drink soju.
Kimchi jjigae 김치찌개
Bubbling stew of aged kimchi, pork and tofu.
How to have it: A cheap everyday lunch served with rice and side dishes (banchan).
Tteokbokki 떡볶이
Chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce with fish cakes.
How to have it: Sold at street carts and markets like Gwangjang and Sindang-dong's tteokbokki alley in Seoul.
Naengmyeon 냉면
Chewy buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth or with spicy sauce.
How to have it: A summer dish; staff cut the long noodles with scissors, add mustard and vinegar to taste.
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Questions
What food is South Korea famous for?
Bibimbap (rice topped with seasoned vegetables, egg, meat and chilli paste, mixed at the table) comes first on our list, followed by Samgyeopsal, Kimchi jjigae, Tteokbokki and Naengmyeon.
What is the national dish of South Korea?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for South Korea is Bibimbap: rice topped with seasoned vegetables, egg, meat and chilli paste, mixed at the table. Order dolsot bibimbap for a sizzling stone bowl with crisp rice; Jeonju is the most famous place for it.
Which dishes in South Korea are vegetarian?
None of the five dishes on this page is vegetarian as usually made. Ask locally: many places have meat-free versions.
What street food should I try in South Korea?
Tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce with fish cakes).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in South Korea
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.