Top 10 must-eat food when you travel to Korea

These days, people around the world are fascinated by Korean cultures such as K-pop and K-drama, and they visit Korea to feel where their stars often visit and live.
I would like to introduce Korean food that I can proudly post and show off on SNS if I visit Korea.

 1. Bibimbap (Bibimbap)

Bibimbap is one of Korea's representative traditional foods, which is a combination of the Korean word 'bibinda', which means mixing, and 'bap', which means rice. 
It is a nutritious bowl of food that mixes various herbs, meat, eggs, etc. with rice.
Bibimbap is also a dish that highlights the five colors that are characteristic of Korean food. The five colors, red (red chili paste), yellow (egg), green (spinach), white (rice), and black (dried seaweed flakes), are harmonious and visually appealing. 
This harmony of colors symbolizes the nutritional balance of food and is an important factor in Korean traditional culture.
How to Enjoy It: Add red pepper paste and mix well. Mixing the egg yolk makes it more savory.

2. Samgyeopsal (Samgyeopsal)

Samgyeopsal is one of the most loved meat dishes of Koreans, and it is a food that is eaten by thinly slicing and grilling the back wall of a pig.

 The name 'pork belly' comes from the shape of three layers of lean meat and fat.

Pork belly is often enjoyed with soju or beer, so it is also a representative food of Korean company dinner culture. 

It is a good food to introduce Korean food culture to foreign friends.

Taste and texture: It boasts a soft texture with a savory and rich taste.

How to cook: It is usually grilled on a grill or on a grill, and it is fun to grill it yourself.

Health Benefits: Rich in protein, moderate consumption can help improve cholesterol.

How to Enjoy It: Wrap grilled meat in lettuce and eat it with ssamjang. It tastes even better with kimchi.

3. Kimchi stew (Kimchi Jjigae)

Kimchi stew is one of the representative stew dishes in Korea, and it is a spicy and richly flavored dish made using kimchi as its main ingredient. 

The fermented taste of kimchi and various ingredients combine to create a unique taste.

Kimchi stew occupies an important place in the daily diet of Koreans, and it is a great opportunity for foreigners to experience the unique taste of Korean food. 

If you eat it with rice, you can enjoy it more deliciously.

How to Enjoy It: It tastes best when it's hot. It's great with rice.

4. Bulgogi (Bulgogi)

Bulgogi, which means 'baked meat' as one of the representative meat dishes in Korea. It is usually eaten by cutting beef into thin slices, marinating them in sweet sauce, and then grilling them.

It is a sweetly seasoned beef dish, and it is a taste that foreigners can easily enjoy.

The origin of bulgogi goes back to the Goguryeo era. It is known that a meat dish called 'marya' at the time developed into modern bulgogi. 

It was a dish of aristocrats during the Joseon Dynasty, but it became a popular dish in modern times.

Not only is bulgogi loved by Koreans, but it is also a delicious dish that foreigners can easily enjoy. It is also popular with people who are new to Korean food because of its sweet taste and soft texture.

How to Eat Deliciously: Eat it on top of rice, or wrap it in lettuce.

5. Tteokbokki (Tteokbokki)

Tteokbokki is Korea's representative street food, and it is a popular snack food that features a spicy and sweet taste. With the combination of rice cakes and red pepper paste-based spices, it boasts a unique taste.

The origin of tteokbokki dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. Originally a royal dish, it became a popular dish in modern times with the development of a spicy version using red pepper paste.

Tteokbokki is a snack that is loved by Koreans and is enjoyed as a meal replacement. It can be a great opportunity for foreigners to experience Korea's unique taste as well. For those who can't eat spicy food well, I can recommend a less spicy version or cheese tteokbokki.

How to Eat Deliciously: Rice cakes and fish cakes are great together. Adding cheese can neutralize the spiciness.

6. Samgyetang (Samgyetang)

Samgyetang is Korea's representative health food, a combination of 'sam,' which means ginseng, 'gye,' which means chicken, and 'tang,' which means soup. Made with nutritious ingredients, it is a popular dish especially in the summer.

Samgyetang is one of the representative dishes of Korea's food culture, and it is also popular with foreign tourists. It is made with healthy ingredients, so you can enjoy both taste and nutrition at the same time.

How to enjoy samgyetang

It's best to eat while it's hot.

Add salt and pepper to your taste.

It is good to eat ingredients such as ginseng, jujube, and garlic together in the middle of the meal.

After drinking the soup, I dip the remaining chicken in the seasoning and eat it.

7. Pajeon (Pajeon)

Pajeon is a traditional Korean pancake dish made with green onions as its main ingredient and fried with oil along with dough. It features a crispy yet chewy texture and the fragrant taste of green onions.

Pajeon is Korea's representative snack food that is simple and delicious. Especially, pajeon, which is enjoyed on a rainy day, is also a food that gives Koreans special memories. It is a dish that is recommended when introducing Korean food culture to foreign friends.

How to Enjoy It: It comes to life with soy sauce seasoning. It's even better with makgeolli.

8. Naengmyeon (Naengmyeon)

Naengmyeon is Korea's representative cold noodle dish. Especially popular in the summer, the dish is loved by many people for its cool and refreshing taste.

How to Enjoy: Add vinegar and mustard to your liking. Enjoy the broth and noodles together is the point.

9. soft bean curd jjigae (Sundubu-jjigae)

One of the representative stew dishes in Korea, soft bean curd jjigae is a combination of soft tofu and spicy soup. It is known as a nutritious, digestible, and healthy food.

How to Enjoy It: It tastes better when you add eggs to it and boil it together. It is great with rice.

10. Chimaek (Chimaek)

Chimaek is a combination of "chicken" and "maekju," which means beer, and it is one of Korea's representative food cultures. Enjoying crispy chicken with cool beer together, this combination is very popular among Koreans and has recently received great attention from foreigners as well.

Chimaek has more than just food. It is an icon representing Korea's modern food culture, and it will be a great opportunity to experience Korea's unique food culture when introduced to foreign friends.

How to Eat Deliciously: Enjoy a variety of chicken flavors. It goes well with cold beer.