Food Detective / SOUTH KOREA
No dish names needed. Tap what you want and what you cannot eat, and dishes you can find in Seoul appear below.
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| Dish | Budget | Typical | Premium | Chains / maker | Photo · more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gimbap (rice rolls) · 김밥 Rice and fillings like egg, pickled radish, vegetables and ham rolled in seaweed and sliced — easy to take away. | — | ₩3,923 | — | Gimgane | Google Images ↗ |
| Korean fried chicken · 치킨 Extra-crispy fried chicken, eaten plain or coated in sauces — sweet-spicy yangnyeom, soy-garlic, honey or a cheese seasoning. Usually ordered by the whole chicken for delivery or takeout. | — | — | — | BHC, Kyochon Chicken, Nene Chicken | Google Images ↗ |
| Sundae-guk (blood sausage soup) · 순댓국 A hearty pork-bone soup with slices of Korean blood sausage (sundae) and pork offal, eaten with rice. Nothing to do with ice-cream sundaes. | — | — | — | Keunmam Halmae Sundaeguk | Google Images ↗ |
| Gamjatang (pork spine stew) · 감자탕 A spicy stew of pork spine bones, potatoes and greens, usually shared from a big pot. | — | — | — | Jomaru Gamjatang | Google Images ↗ |
| Budae-jjigae (army base stew) · 부대찌개 A spicy stew of ham, sausages, kimchi, tofu and instant noodles, often topped with cheese. | — | — | — | Nolboo | Google Images ↗ |
| Seolleongtang (ox bone soup) · 설렁탕 A milky-white soup made by simmering ox bones for hours, served unseasoned so you add salt and green onion yourself. | — | — | — | Sinsun Seolnongtang | Google Images ↗ |
| Bossam (boiled pork wraps) · 보쌈 Boiled pork slices you wrap in cabbage leaves with spicy radish kimchi and salted shrimp. | — | — | — | Nolboo, Keunmam Halmae Sundaeguk | Google Images ↗ |
| Janchi-guksu (banquet noodles) · 잔치국수 Thin wheat noodles in a light anchovy broth with egg strips and vegetables — simple and cheap. | — | — | — | Guksu Namu | Google Images ↗ |
| Korean corn dog · 핫도그 A sausage or mozzarella on a stick, coated in batter (sometimes potato cubes), deep-fried and rolled in sugar. | — | — | — | Myungrang Hotdog | Google Images ↗ |
| Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) · 떡볶이 Chewy cylinder rice cakes simmered in a sweet and spicy red sauce, usually with fish cakes. | — | — | — | Sinjeon Tteokbokki, Cheongnyeon Dabang | Google Images ↗ |
| Sundae (Korean blood sausage) · 순대 Steamed pork-intestine sausage stuffed with glass noodles and pork blood, sold sliced at snack stalls. Not the ice-cream dessert. | — | — | — | Keunmam Halmae Sundaeguk | Google Images ↗ |
| Kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew) · 김치찌개 A sour, spicy stew of aged kimchi, usually with pork and tofu, eaten with rice. | — | ₩8,846 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) · 삼계탕 A whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng and jujube, simmered in broth. | — | ₩18,269 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) · 삼겹살 Thick slices of pork belly you grill at the table and wrap in lettuce with garlic and sauce. | — | ₩21,321 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) · 칼국수 Thick, hand-cut wheat noodles in a hot broth — anchovy, chicken or clam depending on the shop. | — | ₩10,038 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Naengmyeon (cold noodles) · 냉면 Chewy buckwheat or starch noodles in an icy beef broth (mul) or with spicy sauce (bibim). | — | ₩12,692 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) · 짜장면 Wheat noodles under a thick, savoury black soybean sauce with pork and onion — Korean-Chinese comfort food. | — | ₩7,808 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) · 비빔밥 Rice topped with seasoned vegetables, often an egg and some meat, mixed with chilli paste. | — | ₩12,000 | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Dwaeji-gukbap (pork and rice soup) · 돼지국밥 Sliced pork in a long-simmered pork broth served with rice, a Busan speciality. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Gomtang (beef soup) · 곰탕 A clear, savoury beef soup simmered from meat such as brisket, with rice. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Galbitang (short rib soup) · 갈비탕 A clear soup of beef short ribs simmered until tender. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) · 육개장 A fiery red soup of shredded beef, scallions and vegetables. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Haejangguk (hangover soup) · 해장국 A family of hearty soups eaten after drinking; common versions use ox-blood curd and cabbage, or pork bones. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Suyuk (boiled sliced meat) · 수육 Boiled or simmered meat served in slices, commonly pork belly or shoulder. Served warm and dipped in salted shrimp or eaten with kimchi. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Pyeonyuk (pressed sliced meat) · 편육 Pressed slices of cooked meat, often made from pork head meat. The meat is boiled, pressed into a block, chilled and sliced thin. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Jokbal (braised pig trotters) · 족발 Pig trotters braised in soy sauce and spices, sliced and served at room temperature. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Bulgogi (marinated beef) · 불고기 Thin slices of beef marinated in sweet soy sauce, grilled or pan-cooked. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) · 제육볶음 Pork stir-fried in a spicy red chilli-paste sauce, a common lunch dish with rice. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) · 닭갈비 Chicken stir-fried with cabbage, rice cakes and spicy sauce on a big hot plate at your table. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Bibim-guksu (spicy mixed noodles) · 비빔국수 Cold thin wheat noodles tossed in a sweet, sour and spicy chilli sauce. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Makguksu (buckwheat noodles) · 막국수 Rustic buckwheat noodles served cold, either in broth or mixed with sauce, from Gangwon province. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) · 짬뽕 Wheat noodles in a fiery red broth with seafood and vegetables. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Eomuk (fish cake skewers) · 어묵 Sheets of fish cake folded onto skewers and kept in hot broth; you drink the broth from a paper cup. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Hotteok (sweet filled pancake) · 호떡 A griddle-fried dough pancake filled with brown sugar syrup, often with seeds or peanuts. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastry) · 붕어빵 A fish-shaped waffle-like pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. Contains no fish. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Dotori-muk (acorn jelly) · 도토리묵 A brown, jiggly jelly made from acorn starch, sliced and dressed with soy sauce and vegetables. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Yakgwa (honey cookie) · 약과 A dense, fried wheat-flour cookie soaked in honey syrup, flavoured with sesame oil and ginger. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Injeolmi (rice cake with soybean powder) · 인절미 Soft glutinous rice cake cut into pieces and coated in roasted soybean powder. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ | |
| Hodu-gwaja (walnut cakes) · 호두과자 Small walnut-shaped cakes filled with red bean paste and a piece of walnut, sold at train stations and rest stops. | — | — | — | Google Images ↗ |
Easy to mix up
| Difference | Pyeonyuk (편육) | Suyuk (수육) |
|---|---|---|
| Usual cut | Pork head meat and similar | Pork belly, shoulder and similar |
| How it is made | Boiled, then pressed and chilled | Boiled or simmered, then sliced |
| Texture | Firmer and springy | Soft and moist |
| Served | Often cold | Often warm |
| Difference | Suyuk (수육) | Bossam (보쌈) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The boiled sliced meat itself | Boiled pork served as a wrap set |
| Comes with | Salted shrimp, kimchi | Cabbage leaves, spicy radish kimchi, salted shrimp |
| Meat | Usually pork, sometimes beef | Pork |
| Difference | Sundae-guk (순댓국) | Dwaeji-gukbap (돼지국밥) |
|---|---|---|
| In the bowl | Blood sausage and pork offal | Sliced pork meat |
| Texture | Mix of soft sausage and chewy offal | Tender meat, simpler |
| Where | Everywhere | Busan speciality, now nationwide |
| Pick it if | You are fine with offal | You want just meat |
| Difference | Seolleongtang (설렁탕) | Gomtang (곰탕) |
|---|---|---|
| Simmered from | Mostly ox bones | Mostly meat (e.g. brisket) |
| Broth | Milky white | Clearer |
| Seasoning | Served bland; add salt yourself | Usually seasoned |
| Difference | Janchi-guksu (잔치국수) | Kalguksu (칼국수) |
|---|---|---|
| Noodles | Thin, factory-made somyeon | Thick, knife-cut |
| Broth | Light anchovy broth | Thicker; anchovy, chicken or clam |
| Feel | Light and quick | Hearty and warming |
BRAND DIRECTORY
Soup & gukbap chains
Noodle chains
Korean corn dog chains
Tteokbokki chains
Gimbap chains
Fried chicken chains
DATA