Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아)
What to eat in Korea. Where to eat in Korea. The best Korean food and where to get it. Want to cook in Korea? Here are some great Korean recipes tried and tested. (한국에서 무엇을 먹을까. 한국에서 식사하는 곳. 최고의 한국 음식과 그것을 어디서 구해야 하는지. 한국에서 요리하고 싶으세요? 여기 몇 가지 훌륭한 한국 요리법이 있다.)
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The Gangnam Food Guide: From Handmade Tacos to Buckwheat Noodles
Gangnam is well-known for K-beauty treatments and glossy cafes, but there are also some really good restaurants in the area. Between office towers and down quiet side streets are some genuinely great restaurants that locals return to again and again. When I’m meeting friends, these are the Gangnam restaurants I recommend. This list mixes comfort food, international flavors, and Korean classics, all done well and without unnecessary fuss. From handmade tortillas and old-school American burgers to buckwheat noodles, Thai late-night eats, and honeycomb makgeolli, these spots show a more grounded side of Gangnam dining. If you’re looking for reliable, satisfying places to eat in Gangnam, start here. Get ready to…
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The Many Faces of Kimchi: A Guide to Korea’s Most Famous Ferment
You might be surprised how often the small talk starter in Korea is, “Do you like kimchi?” I always say yes, I do in fact like kimchi. But over the years I’ve heard plenty of foreigners say no. When I ask why, the story is just about always the same: they tried it once, didn’t love it, and crossed kimchi off of the keep-eating-list. Wait once? Which means one kind of kimchi and done? Kimchi is not a single dish. It’s more of a delicious dictionary of dishes. For folks outside of Korea, it is easy to assume the bright red, garlicky napa cabbage version is the whole story. It…
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A Taste of North Korea in Jeju: Eating at Daedonggang Chogyetang
You might not expect to find authentic North Korean cuisine all the way south on Jeju Island in South Korea, but there is a very authentic restaurant here and my husband is pretty happy that it’s just up the road because he is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon fiend. Daedonggang Chogyetang (대동강초계탕) in Pyoseon is run by a North Korean defector. We went looking for Pyeongyang naengmyeon and ended up devouring the chogyetang and more. This unexpected foodie find should definitely make your list of where to eat in Jeju. From cold soups to hearty meals, here’s what to eat at Daedong Chogyetang in Pyoseon: (This post contains affiliate links, which means…
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Mongvely: All You Can Eat Korean BBQ Restaurant in Myeongdong
Korean BBQ is one of those must eat meals when in Korea, but have you been to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant yet? I used to have a group of friends that absolutely loved the AYCE meat restaurants and we went often. Not just for those groups of guys that want to devour a ton, they’re also great options for the Korean BBQ first-timer so you can try a bit of this, a bit of that, and find the meat cuts you love, the side dishes you need, and the sauces that make everything better. If you’re in the Myeongdong area and want to try a Korean BBQ all-you-can-eat option,…
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Jinjak Kakii: Where To Eat Oysters in Bukchon
Did I find the largest oysters in Seoul? I think I did! While seafood is usually something I look for when I’m visiting the coasts of Korea, when presented with oysters, my husband will tell you I can’t pass them up. Jinjak Kakii (진작 카키), a restaurant serving some of the biggest, freshest oysters I’ve ever eaten, is now on my list for where to eat in the Bukchon Hanok Village and it should be on yours too! On the quieter side of the touristy downtown area of Seoul, it is near two other favorites, Salt House Deli and London Bagel Museum. Jinjak Kakii has oysters from Tongyeong, Korea and…
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Why You Should Eat Chinese Food in Korea: Korean Chinese Cuisine Explained
My favorite thing about ordering Chinese food in Korea from the start was that it was brought on plates and bowls which the delivery drivers came back to pick it up after you finished. You might not fly to Korea planning to eat Chinese food, but maybe you should. It wasn’t the first food I set out to eat here, but it has become a comforting staple. Born from Chinese immigrant communities and adapted for Korean tastes, Korean Chinese food has given us some delicious dishes like jjajangmyeon (짜장면), jjamppong (짬뽕), and tangsuyuk (탕수육). Get the backstory about the rituals, roots, and delicious dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Find…
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Fine Dining at Confier: Where Korean Ingredients Meet French Artistry
You may not expect to find one of Seoul’s most creative fine dining experiences to be tucked beneath an office building near Seoul Station, but that’s exactly where you’ll find Confier (콘피에르). Hidden in the basement, behind a large ominous door with a rock-like handle, this restaurant creates an experience from entrance to dessert. Chefs become actors creating dishes in the open kitchen and dishes unfold like scenes in a play, expertly introduced by waitstaff. If you’re looking for an evening that blends artistry, atmosphere, and flavor, this is a stage worth stepping into. Definitely one of the best restaurants near Seoul Station, it’s the perfect spot for a memorable…
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Tot Seaweed in Korea: How to Eat It, Why It’s Healthy, and Where to Try It
When most people think of Korean seaweed, gim (김) or dried sheets of laver, or miyeok (미역) which is used in Korean birthday soup, usually comes to mind. But, there’s another sea vegetable that has been part of the Korean diet for centuries: tot (톶). We’ve been eating more and more living in Jeju, so I did a deep dive into this kind of seaweed, how to cook it, and what to make with it. If you’ve spent time along Korea’s southern coast or browsed a local market in Jeju, you may have seen bundles of wiry, dark brown seaweed piled high. That’s tot, and while it doesn’t look like…
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The Most Popular Alcohol In Korea & What To Eat With Each… Because It Matters
I remember my first few years in Korea being scolded a number of times by Korean friends, who, to be fair, were really just shocked I had no idea what libations pair with which cuisine options in Korea. Coming from the perspective that steak can pair equally well with wine as it can with beer, it was then that I realized Koreans have a very different relationship with alcohol and the food they eat with it. In Korea, alcohol and food are paired with purpose and it’s not just about taste. Drinking isn’t something you do alongside food, it’s something you do with food. There’s rhythm, order, and of course…
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Korean Fruit Punch: How To Make a Tasty Hwachae
The weather has warmed up and we celebrated the coming of summer fun with our first watermelon of the season, by making hwachae, of course. We scooped out our watermelon, tossed in peaches, kiwi, passionfruit, blueberries, ice, and Milkis. Within minutes, it was gone, devoured by hungry mouths. That’s hwachae for you, refreshing, beautiful, impossible to resist, and fun to make together. If you’re looking for a hwachae recipe, or a way to amp up your fruit bowl this summer, this is it. Here’s how to make Korean fruit punch. Fruit is tasty and so delicious in the summer. Amp up your fruit bowl this summer Korean style: (This post…
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Gaeseong Mandu Koong: Where To Eat North Korean Dumplings In Insadong
In the winding alleyways of Insadong, one of Seoul’s most touristy districts, it’s still possible to find cafes, restaurants, and shops tucked away around corners that have been there for decades. Gaeseong Mandu Koong (개성만두 궁) is one of those places and you have to know about it to find it. Visit this restaurant in Insadong and you’re not just eating dumplings, but you’re taking in the history of a family that stretches from North to South Korea. Established in 1970 by a Gaeseong native, this restaurant is now in its third generation of family ownership. The large dumplings stuffed with pork, mushrooms, or kimchi are filling, the soup delicious.…
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This Korean Delicacy Smells Like Ammonia and Yet People Eat It, Would You Try Hongeo?
Whenever I think of hongeo (홍어회), I wonder about the first person that ever ate it. The first person that caught a whiff of the ammonia-odor that emanates from the delicacy and thought, “Yeah, let’s put that in my mouth and see what happens.” To be honest, there are a few Korean foods that I ponder upon with that same question. Made from skate, a type of cartilaginous fish, that has been fermented, this Korean delicacy is not the first dish or even the tenth dish I would introduce someone to when we’re talking about Korean food. But at some point, when the approachable Korean dishes have been exhausted, I…
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Meet Bokbunja: The Korean Black Raspberry Wine That Broke A Chamber Pot
I remember my first sip of bokbunja (복분자), a Korean black raspberry wine, in my first year in Korea. Back in 2006, the wine shelves of Korea were… rather lacking. There was a lot of local Korean wines, which tended to be quite sweet, and an Australian wine with a kangaroo, which was the only other option. Most days, we went for that kangaroo, but come holiday or party time and looking for something with more zing, it was bokbunja all the way. Bokbunja is dark, almost inky, and it smells like it’s just been foraged from the mountainsides of Korea. I had a bit too much that first year…
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An Elevated Fried Chicken Experience In Seoul? That’s Kyochon Pilbang
If you think all Korean fried chicken joints are the same, you haven’t been to Kyochon Pilbang (교촌필방) in Itaewon. This isn’t your average chimaek experience that’s for sure. Chimaek is that beloved combination of chicken and beer, or maekju as it’s called in Korean. KyoChon Pilbang is a fried-chicken restaurant glow-up if there ever was one. It’s an upscale, secretive hideout that is 30 years of tradition in a sleek, artsy space. If you’re going to have just one chimaek experience in Seoul, this is your spot. If you want to go out on a date, this is your spot. It’s cool, it’s modern, and an homage to heritage…
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Boksoondoga Is The Champagne Of Makgeolli & You Need To Try It
If you’ve ever visited a makgeolli bar in Seoul, Sanullim 1992 in Hongdae for example, you know how overwhelming the drink list can be. With beer, you can gauge a lot from the type, and with wine, it’s all about the region. But when it comes to makgeolli, it often feels like a free-for-all taste test until you find the one you love. Suffice it to say, when I first tasted Boksoondoga (복순도가), I never looked back. Boksoondoga makgeolli is a hand-brewed, effervescent delight, called the champagne of makgeolli, it was the libation I needed. With a tangy-sweet fizz and creamy-milky texture, it’s both nostalgic and refreshingly unique in the…
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Yukjeon Hoegwan: Where the Bassak Bulgogi Isn’t What You’d Expect
When you’re searching for the best restaurants in Seoul, you’ll find no shortage of trendy spots. But if you want something with deep roots and real history, Yukjeon Hoegwan (역전회관) near Gongdeok Station delivers. This isn’t just one of the oldest restaurants in Seoul and has a family and flavor that dates all the way back to 1928. If you’re looking for where to eat in Gongdeok, or want to experience something beyond the usual modern Korean fare, this is it. This restaurant is a standout not because it’s new or flashy, but because it’s steady—and still doing what it does best. Get ready to eat at one of the…
