Top 10 Korean Dishes You Must Try (With Local Tips & Prices)

 

🍲 Must-Try Korean Foods in Korea

🍲 Must-Try Korean Foods: 10 Dishes (and Street Snacks) You Can’t Miss

Korean cuisine is a rich and flavorful experience you shouldn’t miss when traveling in Korea. From hearty stews to sizzling barbecue and iconic street snacks, this list will guide you through the must-eat Korean dishes that locals love and travelers rave about.

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1. 김치찌개 / Kimchi Jjigae

A spicy, comforting stew made with aged kimchi, tofu, pork, and sometimes ramen noodles. It’s one of Korea’s most beloved everyday meals—perfect for a cold day.

Local Tip: In Korea, stews like kimchi jjigae are always eaten with rice at the same time—not separately. The stew is salty on its own, so don’t eat it alone. Always pair each bite with rice!

Best Price Range: ~₩9,000 per person. Some restaurants serve it in individual stone pots, others in a shared pot (usually for 2+ people).

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2. 갈비찜 / Galbi-jjim

Tender braised beef short ribs slow-cooked in a sweet soy-based sauce with carrots, radish, chestnuts, and jujubes. This is often served during holidays and special occasions.

Local Tip: There are two main types—pork (dwaeji) and beef (so). Beef is more expensive, while spicy galbijjim can be very hot. For most travelers, regular beef or pork versions are a safer and more enjoyable choice. For portioning: 2 people = small, 3 = medium, 4 = large.

Best Price Range:

- Pork: ₩32,000–₩40,000 (small)

- Beef: ₩50,000–₩60,000 (small)

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3. 삼계탕 / Samgyetang

A nourishing ginseng chicken soup with a whole young chicken stuffed with rice, garlic, dates, and ginseng. Koreans love eating it in the summer to boost stamina.

Local Tip: It’s common to dip the chicken in salt or salt-and-pepper mix served on the side. After eating the chicken, enjoy the rice stuffed inside the chicken—it completes the meal.

Best Price Range: ₩16,000–₩18,000 (individual servings, no sharing)

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4. 부대찌개 / Budae Jjigae

Also known as "Army Stew," this spicy, savory hot pot includes spam, sausage, ramen noodles, baked beans, kimchi, and vegetables. It originated after the Korean War, using surplus ingredients from US military bases.

Local Tip: Usually for 2 or more people to share. If the broth reduces, you can ask for a free refill of the stock. Cheese and extra noodles are popular add-ons.

Best Price Range: ₩10,000–₩11,000 per person (sometimes as low as ₩9,000)

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5. 삼겹살 / Samgyeopsal

Thick slices of pork belly grilled at your table, served with lettuce wraps, dipping sauces, and side dishes. Grilling and wrapping it yourself is part of the fun.

Local Tip: Wrap your grilled meat with rice, sauce, and vegetables into a big one-bite wrap (ssam). Don’t bite it in pieces! Also, explore other cuts like galbi, hangjeongsal, or gabrisal. Most restaurants require at least 2 portions, and 1 serving is often smaller than expected. Pair with kimchi stew or cold noodles. Some places have staff who grill it for you, others are self-service.

Best Price Range: ₩60,000–₩70,000 for two people (pork). Beef is usually 3x more expensive.

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6. 닭갈비 / Dak Galbi

A spicy stir-fry dish with chicken, cabbage, rice cakes, and sweet potatoes, often cooked on a large pan at your table. It’s a social dish, best enjoyed with friends.

Local Tip: It’s one of the most loved Korean dishes among foreigners. Be sure to ask for 볶음밥 (fried rice) at the end—cooked in the leftover sauce on the pan!

Best Price Range: ₩15,000 per person

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7. 찜닭 / Jjimdak

Braised chicken in a savory soy-based sauce with glass noodles, vegetables, and chili peppers. It’s sweet, salty, and slightly spicy—a satisfying all-in-one meal.

Local Tip: Eat with rice and mix the glass noodles thoroughly—they soak up the sauce beautifully.

Best Price Range: ₩26,000 for a small portion (2 people)

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8. 해물파전 / Haemul Pajeon (Seafood Scallion Pancake)

A crispy pancake filled with scallions and various seafood like squid, shrimp, and clams. Often eaten on rainy days with a glass of makgeolli (rice wine).

Local Tip: Try ordering 모듬전 (assorted jeon) to enjoy various types of Korean pancakes on one plate.

Best Price Range: ₩18,000 (usually as a side dish)

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9. 보쌈 / Bossam

Boiled pork belly slices served with pickled radish, kimchi, and lettuce or cabbage wraps. It’s a clean-tasting dish and often enjoyed with oysters in the kimchi.

Local Tip: Add makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) to your order for the perfect combo.

Best Price Range: ₩33,000 for a small portion (2 people)

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10. 떡볶이 + 튀김 + 김밥 세트 / Tteokbokki Combo

A classic street food combo: chewy spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), deep-fried snacks (twigim), and seaweed rice rolls (gimbap). Affordable and addictive!

Local Tip: Try 라볶이 (rabokki), which combines tteokbokki with instant noodles for extra satisfaction. Instant-style tteokbokki restaurants may cost more, around ₩18,000 for two people.

Best Price Range:

- Rabokki: ₩6,000

- Twigim: ₩6,000–₩9,000

- Tuna or cheese gimbap: ₩5,500

- Regular gimbap: ₩3,500–₩4,000

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🍡 Bonus: Must-Try Korean Street Snacks

- 호떡 / Hotteok – Sweet syrup-filled pancakes, crispy outside and gooey inside.

- 붕어빵 / Bungeoppang – Fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean or custard.

- 계란빵 / Gyeran-ppang – Small bread with a whole egg baked inside.

- 한국식 핫도그 / Korean Corn Dog – Covered in batter and sometimes sugar, with cheese or sausage inside. Tip: Try a famous chain like Myeongrang Hotdog. Ask for sugar coating and top it with ketchup and mustard for the full experience.

- 회오리감자 / Tornado Potato – Spiral-cut potato on a stick, deep-fried and seasoned.

- 소떡소떡 / Sotteok Sotteok – Skewered rice cakes and sausage brushed with a sweet-spicy sauce.

Local Tip: Street food in Myeongdong is famous but relatively expensive. For budget-friendly options, try Mangwon Market. For taste, Gwangjang Market delivers excellent flavor, though prices may be higher.

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📝 Final Tips for First-Time Foodies

- Many restaurants have self-serve water, utensils, and side dishes—look around or ask.

Street food is best in places like Myeongdong, Hongdae, and traditional markets.

- Vegetarian? Say: “저는 고기 못 먹어요. 채식주의자입니다.” (Jeo-neun go-gi mot meok-eo-yo. Chae-sik-ju-ui-ja-im-ni-da.) – "I can’t eat meat. I’m a vegetarian."

- Google is not widely used in Korea for restaurant info. Prices listed there are often outdated due to inflation. Use Naver Map for accurate and recent info.

Enjoy the bold and unforgettable flavors of Korea!