The food of Korea is a unique blend of East and West, with influences from China, Japan, Russia, Europe and the United States. The country has been influenced by many cultures over the centuries, but it’s modern history can be traced back to the 13th century when the Mongolian Empire conquered most of the peninsula. It was during this time that Koreans adopted Chinese culture and cuisine as well as Buddhism. Today, the country boasts a wide variety of cuisines and ethnic groups, including those who speak Japanese or Russian, and others who are descendants of the original inhabitants of the land.
This article will take you on an exciting journey through some of the best foods in Korea. You will learn about traditional dishes such
Korea has long been known for its delicious cuisine. From spicy kimchi to sweet bibimbap, Korean food is famous around the globe. If you haven’t tried some of these dishes before, now is the time to get acquainted with them.
Koreans love their food. In fact, they eat over 50% of their daily calories from meals alone. And because of Korea’s hot climate, Koreans tend to eat lighter meals throughout the day. This means that they often snack between meals or even skip breakfast altogether.
“15 Must Try Foods”
Here are 15 of our favorite Korean dishes. These are sure to satisfy your taste buds.
1. Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a savory rice dish that includes vegetables and meat. The veggies are stir-fried in an iron skillet called a galbi. The meat serves as a great source of protein to help build muscles.
2. Bulgogi
Bulgogi is marinated beef steak cooked on a grill. It is typically served either cold or hot. Cold bulgogi is sliced thinly while hot bulgogi is usually served as ssam (a bowl of mixed raw meats).
3. Jajangmyeon
Jajangmyeon noodles are made by hand and have a hearty flavor. They contain large amounts of vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, onions and peppers.
4. Mandu
Mandu is deep fried dumpling stuffed with ingredients like pork, radish, egg, bean sprouts, lettuce and other vegetables.
5. Mabogeo
Mabogeo is squid stewed in a spicy sauce. The spiciness comes from gochujang (red pepper paste) and chile garlic paste.
6. Maeuntang
Maeuntang is a milky tea that’s filled with chunks of tofu, slices of hard boiled eggs and various vegetables. A small amount of sugar is added to this refreshing beverage.
7. Mooyeogu
Mooyeoguk is fermented soybean cake that is very popular in Korea. It is similar to miso soup, but mooyeoguk contains more salt than miso does.
8. Naengmyeon
Naengmyeon is a cold buckwheat noodle dish. There are two main varieties: one uses only cold noodles while the other also mixes in vegetables and sometimes meat.
9. Palgwan
Palgwan is a kind of tteok (rice cake) that originated in Gyeongju. The name literally means “three treasures” thanks to the flavors of jujube dates, honey and pine nuts.
10. Samgyetang
Samgyetang is chicken soup with ginseng and gomashio (crushed white rice). Ginseng helps improve energy levels while the crushed rice adds extra nutrients.
11. Sundubu jjigae
Sundubu jjigai is a hearty beef and barley stew flavored with doenjang (soybean paste), gochujang (spicy red pepper paste) and cheongyanggan (Chinese chili oil).
12. Tangsuyuk
Tangsuyuk is a sour cucumber salad that originates from Jeolla Province. It features tangy cucumbers that are tossed with salty anchovies, minced scallions and sesame seeds.
13. Tofu
Tofu is considered a complete food in Korea and is used in almost every meal. It is a versatile food and can be eaten plain, steamed or stir-fried.
14. Yeot
Yeot is a kind of pancake made from glutinous rice flour. It can be sweetened or savory.
15. Yudolsuteopseom
Yudolsuteopseosim is a kind of seafood porridge. The broth for this porridge is made from boiling down kelp which is then strained out and replaced with water.
The Complete List of Korean Food Essentials
- Soy sauce
- garlic
- chamgeereum
- rice
- kochukaru
- daenjang
- ginger
- scallions
- rice wine
- dried anchovies
- myulchi
- tofu
- gim jajangmyun
Korean food has become very popular around the globe. In fact, it’s even considered a national dish in some countries. If you want to try out authentic Korean cuisine, then you should definitely visit Korea.
Korea is home to over 50 million people, and its capital city Seoul alone boasts over 12 million residents. The country also has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Today, South Korea is known for its high standard of living and technological advancements.
Watch your favorite K-Drama or K-Zombie while eating your favorite Korean Food!
