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 Ultimate Night Out in Apgujeong: 4 Must-Visit Bars, All on One Street
While Apgujeong in Seoul, Korea is most often discussed when referring to luxury shopping and boutiques, there’s another side of the area that comes alive when the sun goes down. When it comes to nightlife, Apgujeong is known for its stylish crowd, upscale venues, and a cocktail scene that delivers both quality and creativity. Get ready for the Apgujeong cocktail crawl. What if I told you that you could hit four of the best bars in the area, maybe in the city, all on the same street? That’s right, with just a short stroll, you can experience a variety of atmospheres, flavors, and hidden speakeasies without ever needing to call…
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How To Eat Your Way Through Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market On Jeju Island
We were on the search for a parking lot while in downtown Seogwipo to pick up a new bicycle and the closest place was in the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (서귀포매일올레시장). As we walked through and saw and smelled all of the goods, we decided to grab the bike and then grab a meal. If you’re in the area, you’ll want to as well. This market is a traditional market that has one end of vendors selling vegetables, fruit, pots, pans, and other housewares and then one end that caters to the numerous tourists in the area. There are souvenir stops, citrus juices, citrus ice creams, citrus tanghulu, and then…
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A Bowl of Good Fortune: Regional Tteokguk Traditions Across Korea
Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is one of Korea’s most important holidays, a time for family gatherings, ancestral rituals called jesa, and starting fresh. At the heart of this celebration is tteokguk (떡국), a savory rice cake soup symbolizing purity, renewal, and the passage into the new year. Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, the tradition of eating tteokguk is still intact and as the Lunar New approaches, I thought I’d share some of the regional Korean rice cake soup varieties that you may not have seen before. Each region of the country adds its own twist to the beloved dish and if you’re like me and my family, you’ll…
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Dakgalbi: What It Is, Where to Eat It, and Why You’ll Love It
Did you know one of Korea’s most beloved dishes was born out of post-war poverty? Dakgalbi (닭갈비), a fiery, saucy stir-fried chicken dish cooked right at your table, started as a budget meal for soldiers and students in the 1960s and became a national obsession. Whether you track it down in its hometown of Chuncheon, discover it on a side street in Hongdae, or stumble across a sizzling cast-iron pan in Myeongdong, dakgalbi has a way of becoming the meal you talk about long after you’ve left. Here’s everything you need to know, the story behind it, what to expect at the table, where the festival is, and the best…
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Korean School Lunch: What Students Actually Eat Every Day
Growing up in the US, my school lunches were a predictable rotation of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, greasy fries, and cardboard-like pizza. So when I experienced a Korean school lunch for the first time, working as a teacher at a Korean public school, I was shocked, not just by how good it was, but by how complete it was. Korean public school lunches are planned by a professional nutritionist, rotate daily with no repeats for weeks at a time, include seasonal ingredients, and are subsidized by the government, meaning they’re either free or very low cost for students. I’ve had some of the best food I’ve eaten in Korea…
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Ganjang Gejang: Korea’s Soy-Marinated Raw Crab and Where To Eat It
When you think of Korean cuisine, dishes like bibimbap, bulgogi, and kimchi come to mind first. But for the foodies and the adventurous eaters, ganjang gejang (간장계장), soy sauce-marinated raw crab, is the dish worth seeking out. Once you figure out how to eat it, the umami flavor pulls you back again and again. There’s a reason it’s called the rice thief. The Korean term for umami is gamchilmat (감칠맛), and ganjang gejang is one of the purest expressions of it in Korean cuisine. Marinated raw crab might be for the adventurous eater, but it’s good for everyone. Here’s what to know: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…
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How To Eat Korean BBQ: A First-Timer’s Guide To Ordering, Grilling and Ssam
Korean barbecue might seem a bit intimidating if it’s your first time, but don’t worry, it’s as much about the experience as it is about the food! Whether you’re seated at a table with friends or enjoying it with coworkers, you’re in for a tasty adventure. Before you can begin that adventure though, you need to know how to order meat, what to expect at a Korean barbecue restaurant, and then you can reap the delicious rewards. What makes Korean BBQ so popular, especially for first-time visitors to Korea, is not just the high-quality, flavorful cuts of meat, but the immersive nature of the entire dining process. But, like I…
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How To Eat Abalone: 7 Korean Ways To Try It in Wando
I am an abalone fiend. Can’t get enough. So, when we were headed through Wando recently, the island responsible for about 80% of the country’s abalone production, I was determined to try as many abalone dishes as I could. Here, the locals have mastered the art of preparing this delicacy in various mouthwatering ways. From thinly sliced raw abalone served fresh to the warm, hearty comfort of abalone porridge, there’s something for every palate. But one of the most surprising creations you’ll find here is “abalone bread.” Get ready to learn about all of the abalone delicacies you can try in Wando, Korea. If you’ve ever wondered how to eat…
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Doganitang: What Is Korean Ox Knee Soup and How To Eat It
The first time I had doganitang (도가니탕), or Korean ox knee soup, I had just finished an English lesson and my 70 year old student invited me to lunch. He was the kind of older Korean guy there was no declining, so I went along and was quite taken aback when the soup he’d ordered us was filled with some sort of gelatinous meat. I wasn’t completely sold at first. But my old friend had good taste, and I knew to trust him and eat what was in front of us. Over the years, doganitang has become one of my favorite Korean soups. On a scale of basic to adventurous…
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Sundubu Jjigae In Seoul: Where To Eat This Korean Tofu Stew
My first few years in Korea, I had a friend who loved sundubu jjigae (순두부찌개) with a passion that I simply didn’t share yet. It became her comfort food and she ordered it meal after meal. While she had committed to the soft tofu stew immediately, it took me years to appreciate it as much as she did. Now it’s one of my favorites, the kind of dish I start craving and then have to go get immediately. A lot of international visitors are put off by sundubu jjigae on first sight because the bright red color suggests something extremely spicy. It isn’t. The red comes from the gochugaru pepper…
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Boribap: What Is Korean Barley Rice and Where To Find It In Seoul
I’m often asked for my tips and tricks for traveling around Korea and finding good food. While there are a plethora of both Korean and international food options when you’re in the heart of Seoul, get out into the countryside and sometimes it can be difficult especially if you’re traveling with children or picky eaters. So, let me tell you what works EVERY TIME! Find the boribap (보리밥) restaurant. Boribap restaurants can look unassuming, rustic even, and sometimes just a room attached to a house, but you will absolutely find the best food made with locally grown vegetables and on top of that, it’s kid-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, and the best part,…
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Samgyetang: What Is It and Where To Eat It In Seoul
If you’ve ever experienced the hottest of summers when the sweat pours and the lethargy and lack of energy takes over leading to afternoon siestas, you may think you already know how to fight the heat. But do you know how to fight the hottest of summer temperatures Korean style? In Korea, there is a concept called iyeol chiyeol (이열치열), basically controlling heat with heat, or fighting fire with fire as we say in English. On the hottest days of the summer in Korea, instead of going for cold treats like patbingsu or even cold soups, of which there are many delicious Korean cold soups, Koreans eat the hottest bowls…
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The 26 Oldest Restaurants In Seoul and Why You Need To Find Them
There are a lot of trendy cafes and restaurants in Seoul but you’ll find that they’re often short lived, a flash in the pan as they say. Article upon article is written about the hottest restaurants in Seoul, Korea right now, but check them a year later and you could be hard-pressed to find many of those viral sensations still existing. When it comes to the best restaurants in Seoul for me and my husband, they’re usually the oldest restaurants in Seoul that we seek out because of their longevity and consistency, it’s a sure way to get a good and delicious meal. I love heading to Myeongdong to go…
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Cotton Candy Vending Machine In Korea: Our Sugar Crush
I don’t know how you grew up, but for me, cotton candy was always a treat solely available at festivals, carnivals, and other similar local events. To be walking down the metropolitan streets of Seoul, Korea and spot a cotton candy cloud in the shape of a flower was absolutely one of the most unexpected sugary treats to see. Granted we were in the lively and young Hongdae district of Seoul, but still, have you ever seen a vending machine that makes cotton candy in your choice of a flower design? Get ready to if you’re planning to visit Seoul, Korea. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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Sanullim 1992: The Best Traditional Makgeolli Bar In Hongdae, Seoul
When you look up bars in Seoul, you’re more often shown the newest and most modern spaces to enjoy libations. The thing is, the holes in the wall and the cozy wooden more traditional-themed pubs so so often provide some of the best places to drink in Seoul. Take Sanullim 1992 (산울림1992), one of the best bars in Hongdae, it’s cozy and rich with Korean culture not to mention it has a stunning menu of over 200 Korean traditional alcohols and delicious food to top it off. While the youngest of Hongdae’s visitors are headed to the clubs or watching buskers, the older or just wiser visitors are headed here.…
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The Kimbap Cheonguk Menu Explained: What To Order From Kimbap To Noodle Soups
I was talking with some new students in Korea about where to find budget-friendly food, simple, good, and accessible when you’re still getting your bearings. I brought up Kimbap Cheonguk, Kimbap Nara, Kimbap Heaven, Kimbap Country, basically, all of those budget-friendly Korean chain restaurants that form the backbone of affordable eating in Korea. Then I realized how daunting the menu is when you’re looking at it for the first time. While most Korean restaurants promote one or two dishes, Kimbap Cheonguk offers something closer to a full diner menu. Broken down by category, though, it’s entirely navigable, and once you know the structure, you know it at every similar chain…
