Kimbap
If you find yourself lucky enough to travel to South Korea, the next challenge is to try as many of the dishes as possible. With limited time and only so much your stomach can handle, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly which dishes to eat. It’s hard to narrow down the list to a few items, but the following are the top 10 Korean dishes that must be tried while in South Korea:
1. Kimchi
When it comes to Korean cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is kimchi. This fermented dish is made of napa cabbage, radish, and other vegetables, along with a variety of seasonings. A common sight at Korean tables, kimchi is both eaten on its own and combined with a variety of other dishes.
2. Ddeokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)
This dish is most commonly seen in street vendors around South Korea, and is made from cooking rice cakes in a spicy sauce. A variety of other ingredients can also be added to this dish, ranging from sliced fish cakes, boiled eggs, and vegetables.
3. Seolleongtang (Oxtail Soup)
Oxtail soup is made by simmering bones over a low flame for an extended of period of time, resulting in a hearty, rich broth with a milky white color. While the soup has a unique flavor of its own, it’s often seasoned with black pepper, red pepper paste, salt, and green onions.
4. Samgyeopsal (Grilled Pork Belly)
Samgyeopsal consists of fatty pork belly meat similar to bacon, and commonly grilled right in front of the eater. This grilled meat is popularly consumed with wrapped lettuce, perilla leaves, and hot pepper paste. Despite the relatively high prices of pork, this dish is one of the most popular and most common meals in South Korea.
5. Bibimbap (Mixed Rice with Vegetables)
Bibimbap consists of a bowl of white rice, mixed in with a variety of vegetables and meats. The most common vegetables added include cucumbers, zucchini, seaweed, lettuce, and bean sprouts, along with a fried egg. This dish can be enjoyed both hot and cold, making it one of the most popular, healthy dishes.
6. Naengmyeon (Cold Noodles)
There’s no dish better for the summer than a bowl of naengmyeon, otherwise known as cold noodles. This dish consists of buckwheat noodles in a bowl of icy broth, alongside cucumbers and Korean pear. Another popular
variation of this dish is made not with a soup, but by mixing the noodles with a spicy, hot pepper-based sauce.
7. Mandu (Dumplings)
Dumplings are a common sight in many cuisines, and South Korea is not without its own. These dumplings are filled with variants of minced meat, tofu, and finely diced vegetables, and can be either pan-fried, steamed, or boiled. While dumplings can be enjoyed on their own, they’re often enjoyed with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and chili.
8. Bulgogi (Marinated Beef)
South Korea is known for its signature meat dishes, and bulgogi ranks as one of the most popular. Bulgogi is made from thinly sliced cuts of beef, marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and garlic. This versatile dish can be cooked with vegetables and cellophane noodles, and commonly grilled or pan-fried.
9. Kimbap (Rice Rolls)
Known as Korea’s version of sushi, this dish is made by rolling white rice, vegetables, and meats in a seaweed wrapper. The rolls are then cut into bite-size pieces and can be served as both a snack and a main dish.
10. Jajangmyeon (Black Bean Noodles)
While not Korean in origin, jajangmyeon is extremely popular throughout all of South Korea, with many restaurants offering nighttime delivery for this dish. Thick white noodles are accompanied with a dark soybean paste, often added with meat and diced vegetables. Relatively cheap and easy to prepare, it’s no surprise as to why this is one of the common dishes in South Korea.
About the Author:
Amanda DiSilvestro is a professional blogger that writes on a variety of topics including restaurants in DC. She writes for Restaurants.com, a leading restaurant guide of establishments.