Korean dishes are known all over the world for their spiciness. In fact, before traveling to Korea, many travelers ask themselves the fateful question, “What will I be able to eat?”.
In fact, Korean cuisine is very diverse and mainly based on the use of rice, meat and vegetables. The choice of dishes is really vast and you will surely find some (but surely many more!) that you will like.
You have already decided to travel with Blueberry Travel to South Korea, and you have already chosen one of our trips to South Korea. All you have to do now is to prepare your suitcase and your palate to these new flavors.
Since there are so many dishes to choose from, we would like to introduce you to our 10 favorites, all Korean dishes that you should definitely try during your stay in Korea!
Kimchi Jjigae
If you’re interested in Korean cuisine, you’ve probably heard of kimchi, a side dish with a very particular taste, made by fermenting cabbage seasoned with garlic, ginger, onion, chili powder and other ingredients that may vary depending on where you are.
Kimchi Jjigae is a soup made with Kimchi, onions, tofu and beef or pork. It is a very tasty and spicy dish that is always accompanied by a bowl of rice, which helps to tone down the spiciness. A must eat if you want to experience a Korean DOC flavor.
Tteokbokki
Anyone who watches dramas already knows what we’re talking about, and there are plenty of people who want to try them! Tteokbokki are cylindrical rice dumplings dipped in a very spicy bright red sauce. They are part of the famous street food and can be enjoyed in one of the many mobile stalls that Korea is full of.
Samgyeopsal
Samgyeopsal is nothing more than bacon cut into thin slices. The advantage of this dish is that it is usually cooked directly by the customer on a grill placed in the middle of the table, which allows you not only to see if the meat is fresh or not, but also to choose the quality of its cooking. It’s almost like having a barbecue… but in a restaurant!
What makes this dish even more special and fun to eat is the different toppings it is served with, usually consisting of salad, kimchi (fermented cabbage, a popular side dish in Korea), garlic, onion, rice and dips. Basically, once the meat is cooked, you place it on a lettuce leaf, add side dishes and sauces to your liking, close it up and eat it in one bite! A must try, barbecuing in Italy will never be the same again.
Pajeon
Pajeon is a pan-fried “Korean pizza”, a mixture of flour, eggs and spring onions, a fourth ingredient giving it its main flavor. Seafood pajeon and kimchi pajeon are a must try! Even better if you eat them on a rainy day, dip them in the sauces they are served with and accompany them with a bottle of makkeolli (rice wine), in true Korean style.
Did you know that Blueberry Travel specializes in South Korea tours? If you would like to try delicious Korean cuisine in the best place to do it (Korea!), please contact us at [email protected], by phone (0794812011) or on social channels. If you wish, we can also arrange a cooking class during your stay!
Sundubu jigae
Sundubu Jjigae is a soup made from Sundubu, a very fresh and soft quality of tofu, to which vegetables and a red sauce called gochujang (very spicy and giving a red color to the dish) are usually added. Depending on the type of Sundubu Jjigae you want to eat, other ingredients can be added, such as beef or pork, seafood, Korean dumplings, etc.
Sundubu Jjigae is served in a very hot bowl, in which you can, if you wish, break an egg, which you will find in a basket on the table. The heat from the bowl will allow the egg to cook and make the soup even better! Don’t forget to eat the Sundubu Jjigae with some of the rice that will be served with it.
Fried chicken
A very popular dish in South Korea is fried chicken, usually eaten while sipping a beer to start an evening!
The fried chicken comes in many variations, from the classic version to the one where it is drowned in strange sauces, more or less spicy. The versions of this dish are all worth trying and you will certainly not be disappointed!
Seollongtang
Seollongtang is one of the pillars of Korean cuisine. It is a delicious milky colored soup made by boiling beef bones for 15 hours. This soup is served hot with pieces of meat inside and garnished with green onions; we recommend you season it with a little black pepper and garlic. This dish is also accompanied by a bowl of rice, which can be added to the broth or eaten separately.
Seollongtang is a really simple and tasty soup, especially suitable for those who can’t eat spicy food, but still want to taste a typical Korean dish. If, on the other hand, you like spicy food, we recommend you to eat it with kkaktugi, a type of kimchi made with white root, very good, like the real Koreans.
Mul neangmyeon
Mul Neangmeyon are thin buckwheat noodles dipped in a bowl of cold broth, topped with slices of cucumber, turnip, meat and a hard-boiled egg to top it off. The broth is sometimes served with ice still in it, making mul naengmyeon the perfect dish to get through the hot and humid Korean summer.
Although it may seem a bit strange at first glance, we guarantee that once you try it, you will be delighted and it will become your favorite summer dish!
Hoddeok
Hotteoks could be described as pancakes filled with brown sugar syrup, honey, chopped nuts and cinnamon. Due to their high calorie content, they are sold mostly in the winter when the thermometer drops below zero and you need some extra gear to get you through the day… and what extra gear! Hotteoks are really delicious and worth trying not just once, but twice, three, four times!
Dolsot Bibimbap
Dolsot Bibimbap is a combination of rice, finely chopped vegetables and a raw egg, served in a bowl that is still warm, allowing the ingredients inside to continue cooking. The best way to enjoy this dish is to let the ingredients cook for about 2 minutes, add a little gochujang sauce and stir well so that the egg cooks and mixes with the rice and vegetables. The quality of this dish lies in the combination of all the flavors of the ingredients. Not to be missed under any circumstances.
As you can see, Korean dishes are very diverse and these are just 10 of the delights that Korea has to offer! Don’t let the tastes, smells and colors of Korean food deter you, there are many other dishes that will make you want to eat Korean food for a lifetime.
