10 Korean Dishes You Have To Try Out Right Now!

The best way to experience a culture is through its food. This is because food is one of culture’s first and foremost markers or symbols. Therefore, we bring you some of the best Korean dishes that have become popular recently. 

Every dish we discuss in this blog has a deep-rooted history in Korean culture. Therefore, let us dive right in to understand Korea through food. Let’s go! 

Gastronomic Guide To Korea 

Korea is rich in tradition, culture, and amazing Southeast Asian culinary delights. If you are a food connoisseur, you must have heard the respect and love Korean food gets worldwide. Many food connoisseurs like Anthony Bourdain openly stated his passion for the gastronomic culture of Korea. 

In his fieldnotes, Bourdain famously stated, “So it was a no-brainer that as soon as I could, I’d go back to South Korea and do what Koreans do so well: eat lots of great food, drink lots and lots of beer and soju and other alcoholic beverages—and then do silly sh#t that you would never do if you weren’t with Koreans.”  

And now, popular chefs like Jung Sik Yim, David Chang, and Roy Choi have ensured that Korea is a shining beacon of the world’s Food Map. This article celebrates that authenticity, that spice, and most importantly, the food.  

Here are the top 10 best Korean foods you must check out today. Then again, this is not a ranking list of any means. So, approach the dish accordingly.  

Kimchi 

According to historians, Kimchi is one of the oldest surviving recipes in the world. It has been a signature dish for over 2000 years and is still strong. Historians believe this signature dish’s lineage can be traced back to the Shila Dynasty.   

Kimchi primarily consists of radish, Korean cabbage, pumpkin, ginger, scallion, onion, chili powder, crushed garlic, and fermented seafood. This is one of the most popular dishes because of its simplicity. 

Kimchi is not just popular, but it also comes in various forms. You can find around 200 variations of this popular dish in Seoul alone.  

Bibimbap 

The second dish on our list is called the Bibimbap. This scrumptious culinary excellence is tasty, nutritious, and super filling. The dish is easy to make and has been a Korean staple for generations.  

Bibimbap practically riddles the streets of South Korea. Bibimbap can be found in street food markets, courts, and Michelin Star restaurants. The dish comes in two primary variants: meat-based and vegetarian. Subsequently, the recipe also varies from one region to another.  

The most common variation includes rice topped with mixed vegetables, chicken or beef, raw egg, soy sauce, and a smidge of chili paper paste to add that spice. This is a whole meal and is mainly served as a staple meal.  

Tteobokki 

Tteobokki is one of the most beloved spicy snacks for Koreans. This dish might not have Kimchi’s versatility or Bibimbap’s wholesomeness, but it has that sauce. This is one of the most popular snacks served everywhere in Korea.  

Tteobokki is made using something called garaetteok. Garaetteok is a form of rice cake that is made by boiling rice and making it into cakes. Alongside Garaetteok, you will find fish cakes, diced garlic, onion, and salt/sugar as per requirement. Subsequently, a separate assortment of vegetables is stir-fried till they turn brown in sweet, red chili sauces and added to the dish. This gives it its iconic color. 

Tteobokki has become so popular that people have started developing their versions. However, if you have the dish for the first time, we suggest you go for the simpler ones.  

Bulgogi 

Smoked beef along with lettuce wraps? Call us sold! Bulgogi is a blessing to all meat lovers. This dish is one of the best foods after a heavy night of partying. This is primarily due to its simplicity. 

Bulgogi consists of thinly sliced marinated beef sirloin alongside garlic, green pepper, and sliced onion. Bulgogi is primarily simmered over a charcoal burner. This is why it retains that smoky flavor.   

The marination varies, but some staple ingredients include soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, onion, and ginger. This creates a spicy experience that stings but retains its essence.  

Jigae 

Jigae is a food with multiple personality disorder. Do not take it in a negative light. Jigae is one of the most experimented foods in Korea. Every restaurant, household, or chef has their iteration of this iconic dish. This is why it is often called the soup with diversity.  

In simple terms, it is a stew. A stew where you can throw practically everything and would still taste great. In other words, jigae can be made using seafood, meat, or veggies. Apart from that,m you can also find traces of gochujang soy paste and gaejang.  

If you are visiting Seoul, do give buddae jigae a try. This is particularly popular in and around Seoul and worth trying. This is popularly known as army stew; you must try it out to understand why.  

Jajangmyeon 

Jajangmyeon is a bit of a black sheep of the Korean food family. This is a cross between Chinese and Korean culinary disciplines. As a result, you can also find variations of this in China.  

Jjanmyeoon is an absolute festival of spices and richness. It is made using hand-made wheat noodles generally topped with thinly sliced cucumber and black salty soybean paste.  The dish also contains diced pork, veggies, and some kimchi on the side. 

This hearty Korean meal will make your bellies full but not burn a hole in your pocket. If you are single, you should have it on April 14th, which is often called Black Day and is a celebration of singlehood.  

Samgyeopsal 

Samgyeopsal is another popular staple food that has outshined itself recently. This is primarily due to its robustness. This is not a simple dish by any means. The dish requires a clear understanding and some fantastic culinary skills. 

This is usually prepared in an open grill format. Thinly sliced pork bellies are grilled and then wrapped in lettuce or sesame leaves. You have to eat it by dipping it into sauces. You can also keep button mushrooms, chili peppers, green onions, etc., as part of the dish. 

This is usually popular amongst young adults who work long hours. Therefore, the robustness of the food is understandable. Just pair it with soju to have that authentic feel.  

Japchae 

Japchae is not food. It is a concentrated culinary personification of what love is. This dish is one of the best and most loved gastronomic experiences you will encounter. Japchae is primarily stir-fried glass noodles. 

However, that simplification does not do justice. Japchae is a versatile dish and an everyman’s dish. You can come up with your variation of Japchae. However, the dish sometimes contains elements like onion, capsicum, soy sauce, chili paste, and raw eggs. 

The best part about japchae is that you cannot go wrong with it. As a result, you can have it in any place, and it will taste just as good.  

Bibim Naengmyeon 

If you are saturated with all the rich foods we discussed and need something good for your gastrointestinal system, then Bibim Naengmyeon is the food you need to go for. This is one of the best dishes to have for good health. 

The dish is generally served in a stainless steel bowl with cold broth. This is meant to give rest to your tummy after all that eating. However, that does not mean that it is bland in any way. Some variations also use seaweed noodles. 

This food is often associated with good health and longevity. There is a sense of calming comfort that you will be able to experience after having this dish. Therefore, the association sounds good.  

Samgyetang

Last but not least is the Samgyetang. This is, again, nriching and healthy dish that Koreans have from June to early September. Samgyetang translates to ‘chicken ginseng soup.’ 

This piping hot stew comes laden with vegetables and chicken pieces. The pieces can be shredded or left whole. It primarily depends upon the chef. Apart from the chicken, you can also find an assortment of vegetables like onion, dried jujube, garlic, etc. 

This thick broth is meant to help people build immunity during the harsh summer days. Therefore, it is a light yet fulfilling dish that would surely not affect your health but would tingle your flavor buds.  

Honorable Mentions 

While we were able to discuss some of the best Korean dishes we want you guys to check out today. But we are not done yet. In this final section, before closing, we would like to list five more dishes that did not make it onto our list but are significant nonetheless.  

• Kan Poong Gi 
• Yook Hwei 
• Mandu 
• Gamjajeon 
• Bingsu 

These dishes might not harrived ononto our list, but they are worth a try. With that, we would like to end our list.  

The Final Thought 

In summary, these were some of the best Korean dishes you can check out in 2024. The best part of these dishes is that they are healthy but will not shy away from tingling your flavor buds.  

Let us know if you liked this piece of content, then do let is know and keep following us for more content on Korean food, lifestyle, fashion, etc. Thank you, and have a great day ahead.  

Annyeonghi gaseyo!