On this page
Explore ten Korean foods and meal styles, from corn cheese and street snacks to ginseng chicken soup and set meals. Learn their Korean names and typical ingredients, then choose dishes that fit your preferences and dietary needs.
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.
Bulgogi is widely known, but its preparations vary. Spicy pork bulgogi and duck bulgogi are two versions you may encounter alongside beef bulgogi.
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.
Preparations include plain fried chicken and versions with cheese, pepper sauce, soy sauce, onions, curry or honey. Some restaurants combine chicken with other ingredients, including octopus; menus vary.
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
Choose one dish and practise recognizing its Korean name on a menu. Ask about unfamiliar ingredients using the food phrases linked below. These examples show the variety of Korean cooking; recipes and restaurant menus differ.
Also, visit our Korean Words and Phrases For Food Issues.
