7 Exceptionally Flavorful Korean Cuisine

Delicious Korean cuisine can be found across crowded Seoul, from street vendors in alleys to 5-star hotel restaurants. Some traditional Korean sweets have been around for almost 2,000 years and were initially made for the king and queen.

Recently gaining in popularity, Korean food has earned a reputation for being delicious and nutritious anytime. If you find yourself in the South Korean capital, Seoul, here is a list of the top Korean cuisine you can discover there.

1. Bulgogi

Grilled beef sirloin slices marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic Paste form the foundation of this dish. Onions, green peppers, and garlic are also used in the traditional Bulgogi marinade. Before grilling, I like to let the meat marinate for two to four hours in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, and sugar to enhance the taste and tenderness of the meat.

Wrappings of grilled pork, ssamjang (a spicy paste), and kimchi are served alongside lettuce or spinach leaves.

2. Pinkish-Red Rice Cakes (Tteokbokki)

Garaetteok (boiled rice cake), fish cake, onions, sliced garlic, salt, sugar, and other vegetables are stir-fried in sweet red chili sauce to make tteokbokki, a famous Korean street food. Its signature reddish-orange hue makes this popular snack instantly recognizable, and you can get it at a wide variety of concession stands and convenience stores.

3. Kimbap, the Traditional Korean Rice Bowl

Seoul has a broad selection of jjigae, a traditional Korean stew. Light and stew-like, jjigae is served as an intermezzo before the main dish. However, gochujang (hot pepper paste), doenjang (fermented miso), soybean paste, or salty fermented shrimp are common additions to the broth that serves as the soup’s foundation (Peugeot).

Budae jjigae (army stew) is a well-known jjigae dish in Seoul that features a variety of cured meats, including bacon, sausage, and Spam, along with ramyeon noodles, rice cakes, and gochujang sauce for heat.

4. Jajangmyeon

When time is of the essence, but you still want to eat well, try this hearty noodle meal at just 5,000 won. Thick, hand-pulled wheat noodles are layered with a savory black soybean sauce, pork, and fresh cucumber slices. The Korean and Chinese cooking styles come together in one dish called jajangmyeon.

April 14, known as Black Day, is also a popular day for solitary individuals to indulge in. Those who don’t get spoiled on Valentine’s Day usually wear all black and have dinner parties, including the black dish jajangmyeon.

5. Samgyeopsal

Samgyeopsal, which consists of thick pieces of pig belly cooked directly at the table, is another mainstay of ordinary Korean food that doesn’t need a lot of cooking expertise. Finished products are served with dipping sauces and condiments, including kimchi, raw onions, garlic, and green chili peppers, and wrapped in lettuce or sesame leaf.

Young, working professionals in Seoul frequently pair their lunch of samgyeopsal with a shot (or two) of soju.

6. Kimchi

Since the Shilla Dynasty, almost 2000 years ago, this dish has represented Korea as a symbol of national pride. Koreans commonly make pickles using a wide variety of vegetables and spices, including cabbage, radish, pumpkin, onion, ginger, scallion, chili powder, crushed garlic, and salted fish.

There are over two hundred dissimilar types of this traditional cuisine in Seoul, and it is used in everything from porridge and soups to rice cakes on its own. Many more dishes, including kimchi fried rice, kimchi pancakes, and kimchi jjigae, include kimchi as an ingredient.

7. Fried Chicken from Korea

Korean fried chicken is a unique take on a fast food staple in the United States. Veggie oil is used for a second fry in the chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce (some places put green pepper within the batter for a more intense sensation).

This makes the meat moist and tender inside, while the exterior is crisp and low in fat. Many people have this need late at night, which goes great with a beer.