Sweet and Savoury: 8 Korean foods you need to try right now

You want to try all the cuisine that Korea has to offer but you don’t know where to start. Here 8 delicious Korean foods to try.

What’s something I do every day? Sleep – yes. Brush my teeth – you’d be in trouble if I didn’t. Go to work – sadly. But what is the one thing that I do to survive but also do for enjoyment, to fill the time and to socialise with my friends? Eat. I eat every day and, damn, do I enjoy it. Coming to Korea gave me even more of an excuse to spend all my savings on eating out and enjoying all the tastes that the country has to offer. But with so many different dishes to try you either need a bloody long time in the country or someone to tell you what to try under a time crunch. You’re just in luck because I’m here to tell you my eight favourite Korean foods. I’ve made your life even easier by breaking the list down into my favourite sweet food, comfort dish, hearty meal and anytime snack. Along with that, I’ll let you know my close runner-up (it was hard to pick just one food, okay?). Go and explore Korea, and grab a bite of these must-try dishes along the way.

Sweet Food

There’s no denying that I have a sweet tooth. I love ice cream, chocolate, candy and cake. It has therefore been my absolute pleasure to sample all the sweet treats that Korea has to offer for you. After trying countless foods from walnut bread to corn ice cream, I’m ready to announce my first place and runner-up for Korean sweet foods. 

1st Place: Bingsu

It’s a hot summer’s day and nothing can quite quench your thirst. You’ve been sweating nonstop and you’re in dire need of some sugar. You wish there was a perfect food out there that could fix all your basic needs. Don’t worry – there is. Bingsu is the ideal food for a hot day. Although don’t put it past me to enjoy it on a cold winter’s evening too. If you’re unsure about what bingsu is, think shaved ice but on a new plane of existence. This milky treat is accompanied by a range of different toppings so there’s a flavour for whatever mood you’re in. Try melon, green tea, chocolate or even patbingsu, which is a combination of shaved ice and red bean sauce. I’m a big fan of the mango bingsu as the juiciness of the fruit pairs well with the drizzled condensed milk. The reason why this sweet treat takes the top spot is because it is a great dish to share. I love buying a couple of bowls to eat with a group on a humid day. This way you can try a couple of different flavours and it’s not too filling. Head to a dessert cafe or a chain like Sulbing to try this Korean treat.  

Runner-up: Bungeo-ppang

The polar opposite: bungeo-ppang, or fish bread as it is also commonly known, is best enjoyed on a cold, December day. This close runner-up is often seen along the street in the winter months, as vendors sell them from temporary stalls. The sight of them is synonymous with chilly evenings and seasonal festivity. It’s served piping hot so it’s great for warming you up. Plus, the cute fish shape is sure to put a smile on your rosy cheeks. Like bingsu, a common flavour inside of these fish pastries is red bean. However, if red bean isn’t to your taste you can have a different filling like cream or sweet potato. Yes, I love this food because of sentimentality – it’s tradition to have this snack as soon as I feel a chill in the air – but I also love bungeo-ppang because of its price. This cheap street food will easily fill the hole in your stomach, but won’t create a hole in your pocket. And if you’re not feeling hungry you can often buy a pack of mini fish to munch on. Pair this snack with an iced Americano and you can confidently say you have embraced a large part of Korean snacking culture. Now, only one question remains. Will you eat it head first or the tail first?  

Comfort Food

Sometimes you look outside and it’s raining, and you just crave something delicious. This is what I’d constitute as comfort food. Something to warm you up and fill your belly. Korea has many delicious dishes that do just that – take green onion pancakes (pajeon) or hot stone bibimbap, for example. Out of the numerous comfort foods available, here is my favourite and second best. 

1st Place: Jjajangmyeon

When I need some comfort, my body instinctively looks for salty foods. While you could look for the nearest Mcdonald’s for a handful of salty fries, why not look at Korean cuisine to get your sodium fix? Jjajangmyeon is one of the best sources of comfort in this sense, with its rich black bean sauce and floury noodles. The beauty of this dish is its simplicity – you don’t need fancy toppings or spicy garnishing to make and enjoy this dish, meaning it’s a speedy item on any menu. You could even try making it at home. If you think that making it in your kitchen doesn’t sound comforting in the slightest, don’t quit on me just yet. The beauty of this dish is that it comes in its own instant ramen form: Chapagetti. You don’t even need to leave your house to enjoy the taste of this dish, making it one of the best Korean comfort foods. If you are eating this out and about, you’ll often find it paired with yellow radish and I’d recommend you don’t miss out on this coupling. The crunchy radish cuts through the salty flavour perfectly, making it a match made in heaven. You don’t even have to worry if noodles aren’t to your taste as jjajangbap is a tasty alternative, consisting of black bean sauce over rice. When a meal gives you this many options as well as great flavour, you can’t deny what a winner it is. 

Runner-up: Kimchi jjigae

You’re interested in Korea, so you must have heard of kimchi. Now this little side plate has a whole host of uses, and not just as a palette cleanser. There are tons of varieties of kimchi to enjoy as a standalone food (I personally love cucumber kimchi). But consider the countless dishes you can make with the jars and jars of different kimchi at your disposal. I’m thinking kimchi fried rice or kimchi dumplings to name just a couple. So now you’re aware of the uses of this culinary secret weapon but how can you use kimchi to bring you comfort on a dark, dull day? Kimchi jjigae is your answer. This meal is described as a kimchi stew, so it’ll be served to you piping hot, which is a big reason why it’s so comforting. A dish to warm you up through and through. Although the sour taste of kimchi might not be to everyone’s liking (perhaps the reason why this dish falls short of first place), when stewed it has a more subtle flavour. There is also much more to this dish than kimchi and broth. Popular variations are made by adding other ingredients like tuna or cheese (better for those people who struggle with spice). Best of all and the most comforting thing about this dish is that it will sometimes be added as service in restaurants so there’s no worry about price. Free food is comfortable food in my world. 

Hearty Meal

What is a meal that just fills you up until you think you’re going to explode? I’m looking for that dish that seems endless and keeps you full for days. I love going for a hearty meal with friends where we’re struggling to eat by our final bite. With so much communal dining in Korea, it’s difficult to pick just one hearty and fulfilling meal. But that’s exactly why I’ll share my winner and runner-up with you. 

1st Place: Samgyeopsal

Korean BBQ is renowned around the globe, with restaurants springing up all over the show in big cities around the world. Surprise, suprise, it’s equally as popular in Korea so you can enjoy this dining experience here, too. Samgyeopsal is often a good choice at BBQ spots, as you can’t go wrong with a cut of pork belly. If I want a meal to fill me up, this would be the one. You can order a few slabs of meat and cook it right in front of you. Once it’s charred you simply eat it as is or dip it in some of the sauces dotted around the table. A couple of bites of the juicy meat with ssamjang, a chilli paste sauce, keeps my belly quiet for the rest of the evening. If you don’t like pork belly, there are many other cuts of meat which can be enjoyed at BBQ, and all create an equally hearty meal (although samgyeopsal is always a safe go-to). Why not try seasoned galbi if you need a kick of flavou, or pig skin if you like a chewier consistency? And if you feel like this hearty meal doesn’t deserve to be first place because it’s only meat, why don’t you make a samgyeopsal lettuce wrap. There’s your fix of vegetables. As a meal often enjoyed with friends, the communal method of cooking the meal as well as the denseness of the dish make it the number one hearty meal in Korea. 

Runner-up: Dak-galbi

Nothing gets the heart racing like some spice. Now, I know not everyone can handle their spice, which is why this dish only takes second place, but dak-galbi is a great hearty meal to set your senses on fire. Consisting of chicken, vegetables and rice cakes, there are many textures in this dish to keep you intrigued with the mammoth portion. And if you want to try dak-galbi but you’re afraid of the heat, try coupling this hearty delight with cheese. I feel full just thinking about this meal, as it never seems to diminish in size, easily feeding four or five friends. As the perfect communal meal, this dish is sure to fill you up, but if it doesn’t, don’t worry. You can always add rice to the dak-galbi hot plate. This makes a delicious stir-fried rice meal with a familiar saucy flavour. Dak-galbi really is the food that keeps on giving. I think this meal is a wonderful alternative to the endless samgyeopsal-filled nights. This dish is so filling that I rarely even have room for dessert after (like sweet, sweet bingsu). I know this is a disgrace…but it just goes to show how much of a hearty meal dak-galbi can be. 

Anytime Food

Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here are my favourite ‘anytime’ foods. The beauty of these two foods is that you can easily buy them from any convenience store, which you’ll find on every street corner in Korea. This means you could be munching on them at four in the morning if that’s what you decide. And once again, you’ll be spoiled by the variety of flavours that you can choose from for not a bad price.  

1st Place: Gimbap

Nothing screams ‘anytime’ food like gimbap does. This dish steals first place for its convenience and the fact that it can be taken anywhere. Want it hot? Heat it up in a microwave for a few seconds. Want it cold? Grab and go. It usually comes pre-sliced and ready to munch on. Each piece is just perfect for one bite. This means you don’t even need chopsticks to enjoy it. Once again, there are countless fillings to experiment with; so even if you ate this food for every meal of the day, you’d never be bored. Consisting of rice and vegetables wrapped in seaweed, paired with anything from spam to tuna, gimbap is a versatile meal. Personally, I love donkatsu gimbap, which I think is a great, quick dinner when accompanied with ramen and kimchi. This variation puts one of the yummiest restaurant items in transportable form. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more appropriate for breakfast,  you can consider an egg-based gimbap. These little bites are really the epitome of an ‘anytime’ food, pointing to why you’ll often see them as a popular picnic food. Whacked in a lunchbox, you can take gimbap out and about and enjoy it anywhere and at any time. 

Runner-up: Ramyeon

How could I not give a shout-out to ramyeon, or ramen as you may have heard it? Probably a food that is well-known by every university student in and outside of Korea, this instant noodle dish is an anytime, quick fix. Just add hot water and you’ve got yourself a dinner, a snack, and maybe even a breakfast. I’ve even seen people eat the stuff raw, using the seasoning powder as a delicious topping. You might associate ramyeon with Japan, but Korea is also formidable in the instant noodle department with many popular brands, such as Shin ramyeon or, for the brave, mouth-melting Samyang ramyeon. Although not quite as portable as the front-runner to this category, it can be enjoyed at multiple times of the day and in a number of places. It might not be the perfect breakfast material, but it sure is great as a midnight snack. And I have been known to cook up some ramyeon for dinner on a lazy Sunday. It takes a bit of experimentation but there is definitely a flavour for you out there. This makes ramyeon a great ‘anytime’ and ‘anyone’ snack.  

Are you full yet?

You might have strolled out of the airport in Korea to find that you’re overstimulated by the scents and sights, and most importantly, tastes that you’re met with. You could easily become overwhelmed and find a Burger King to feast on a familiar taste. But this would be an absolute crime, going back to home foods. When you feel lost in a sea of untried tastes and flavours, you should come back to this list. You can revisit some of the recommendations found above and experience the most amazing foods that Korea has to offer. Even with this list on hand, I feel like I’ve missed out on mentioning so many foods to you, but just thinking about all those dishes makes me too hungry to keep writing. Who knows, maybe I’ll have to do a second instalment and talk about my other favourite foods like hotteok, tteokbokki and samgyetang. And until then feast your eyes on 10 best Korean snack to try.