Which Korean foods do you want to eat when you visit Korea? Korean barbecue? Bibimbap? Alongside these well-known dishes, there are many other Korean foods to explore. Let’s look at 10 unusual Korean foods you should try when you visit Korea!
삼계탕 [samgyetang]
삼계탕 is ginseng chicken soup. “삼 [sam]” means “ginseng,” “계 [gye]” means “chicken,” and “탕 [tang]” means “soup.” It is a hot soup that consists of ginseng, red dates, and young chicken (poussin) filled with garlic, rice, and other herbs.
The saying 이열치열 [iyeolchiyeol] means fighting heat with heat. Samgyetang is especially associated with 삼복 [sambok], three traditional summer dates associated with the hottest part of the year. They are not necessarily the three hottest days measured in a particular year.
콘치즈 [konchijeu]
콘치즈 is sweet corn with cheese and mayonnaise. It is a Korean fusion dish. It is usually served as a side dish at a pub or a sashimi restaurant.
Try this Korean corn cheese recipe, or follow the basic steps below.
How to Make 콘치즈 (Korean Corn Cheese)
- Season the sweet corn with salt, sugar, and pepper.
- Put mayonnaise and mozzarella cheese on it.
- Cook it in an oven or a pan until the cheese melts.
- You can also add other ingredients such as carrots, bell peppers, or Parmesan cheese.
불고기 [bulgogi]
불고기 usually refers to thinly sliced, marinated meat. Beef bulgogi commonly uses a soy-based marinade; pork versions may use a spicy chili-based sauce. 불 [bul] means fire, and 고기 [gogi] means meat.
Modern bulgogi has several regional preparations, including grilled versions and versions cooked with broth.
Although 불고기 is a typical Korean traditional food and already popular among many foreigners, there are still different kinds of 불고기 that not many foreigners have tried. I recommend trying the spicy pork bulgogi and duck bulgogi when you visit Korea next time!
한정식 [hanjeongsik]
한정식 is a Korean set meal with a variety of side dishes. It can be a good way to sample several dishes at once.
Menus vary. A meal may include appetizers, rice, soup, side dishes, and a dessert or drink. Possible starters include 호박죽 [hobakjuk] (pumpkin porridge) and 전복죽 [jeonbokjuk] (abalone porridge). 오미자차 [omijacha] is a drink made with omija, or schisandra berries.
분식 [bunsik]
분식 [bunsik] is a broad category of inexpensive, casual foods, not a fixed set of six dishes. Common examples include 떡볶이 [tteokbokki] (rice cakes in sauce), 튀김 [twigim] (fried foods), 김밥 [gimbap] (seaweed rice rolls), 순대 [sundae] (Korean blood sausage), 어묵 [eomuk] (fish cakes), and 라면 [ramyeon] (instant noodles).
떡볶이 consists of rice cakes cooked in sauce, often with fish cakes, scallions, or boiled eggs. The familiar street-food version is spicy, but non-spicy varieties also exist.
순대 is a Korean blood sausage. A common version contains glass noodles and blood in an intestinal casing; ingredients vary by region and recipe. It may be served with cooked liver or other offal.
파전 [pajeon]
파전 is a savory scallion pancake, often associated with rainy days in Korea. Recipes vary, but the batter commonly contains flour, water, and sometimes egg. 파 [pa] means scallions, while 전 [jeon] refers to a category of pan-fried foods, including savory pancakes.
Other varieties include 김치전 [gimchijeon] (kimchi pancakes) and 해물 파전 [haemul pajeon] (seafood scallion pancakes). Do not assume a pancake is vegetarian: recipes can include seafood, meat, or animal-based seasonings.
치킨 [chikin]
치킨 [chikin], an English loanword, commonly refers to fried chicken in Korean food contexts. Korean fried chicken has many distinctive preparations and sauces.
The uniqueness comes from the variety of 치킨. There is fried chicken with cheese, pepper sauce, soy sauce, onions, curry, honey, and even octopus. So if you are looking for something familiar but unique at the same time, Korean fried chicken will be an excellent choice!
족발 [jokbal]
족발 is a Korean food made from pig’s feet. German Schweinshaxe and Austrian Stelze are related pork dishes made with the hock or knuckle; they are not simply other names for pig’s feet.
족발 is boiled with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and rice wine for hours, which makes it have a unique and deep taste. The taste of 족발 is as unique as its shape. There are also different kinds of 족발, such as the extremely spicy 불족발 [buljokbal]. If you want to try a particularly spicy version, try 불족발!
게장 [gejang]
게장 [gejang] is marinated raw crab. Two familiar varieties are 간장 게장 [ganjang gejang] and 양념 게장 [yangnyeom gejang].
간장 게장 uses a soy-based marinade, while 양념 게장 uses a spicy chili-based sauce. Both contain raw crab; marinating does not cook it.
육회 [yukhoe]
초밥 [chobap] means sushi, and 회 [hoe] commonly refers to sliced raw fish or other raw seafood. 육회 [yukhoe] is seasoned raw beef, often served with Asian pear and sometimes a raw egg yolk. It is closer to beef tartare than fish sashimi.
Conclusion
These are the unusual Korean foods you should try at least once. How many of them have you heard of or tried before? Trying these unique foods will make you understand Korean food culture better, and of course it is always exciting to try new foods. So do not forget to try these foods when you visit Korea next time!
Also, visit our Korean Words and Phrases For Food Issues.