Food · June 2026
Korean Food Guide — What to Eat & How to Order
Korean food is amazing but ordering can be confusing. Here's your survival guide.
Must-Try Dishes (Top 10)
- 삼겹살 (Samgyeopsal) — Grilled pork belly. You grill it yourself at the table.
- 비빔밥 (Bibimbap) — Rice + vegetables + egg + sauce. Mix everything.
- 김치찌개 (Kimchi Jjigae) — Kimchi stew. Spicy, cheap (₩7,000~9,000), everywhere.
- 떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) — Spicy rice cakes. Street food staple.
- 치킨 (Chicken) — Korean fried chicken. Order via 배달 (delivery) at night.
- 냉면 (Naengmyeon) — Cold buckwheat noodles. Summer essential.
- 순두부찌개 (Sundubu) — Soft tofu stew. Mild spice option available.
- 불고기 (Bulgogi) — Marinated beef. Not spicy, foreigner-safe.
- 제육볶음 (Jeyuk) — Spicy stir-fried pork. Cheap lunch set ₩8,000.
- 라면 (Ramyeon) — Korean instant noodles. 편의점 (convenience store) has hot water.
How to Order
- Sit down — water/banchan (side dishes) come automatically, FREE refills
- Press the call bell (벨) on the table when ready to order
- Point at menu + say "이거 주세요" (ee-geo ju-se-yo = "this please")
- Number of servings: "2인분" (ee-in-bun = 2 servings)
- Pay at the counter when leaving (not at table)
Key Menu Words
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 밥 (bap) | Rice |
| 면 (myeon) | Noodles |
| 고기 (gogi) | Meat |
| 찌개 (jjigae) | Stew |
| 볶음 (bokkeum) | Stir-fried |
| 매운 (maeun) | Spicy |
| 안 매운 (an maeun) | Not spicy |
Vegetarian/Halal Options
- Say "고기 빼주세요" (gogi bbae-ju-se-yo = no meat please)
- Temple food (사찰음식) restaurants are fully vegan
- Itaewon has halal restaurants (look for 할랄 signs)
- Bibimbap without meat is the easiest option everywhere
Tipping
Don't tip. Korea has no tipping culture. It can actually confuse people.