12 Korean Dishes: Korean Recipes to Try at Home

Korean food comes from North Korea or South Korea and focuses on rice, vegetables, seafood, and meat, especially Korean barbecue (or Korean BBQ). Main dishes consist of proteins and carbohydrates, while side dishes, also known as banchan, consist of vegetables. Seasonings such as gochujang (red chili paste), gochugaru (red chili flakes), sesame oil, and sesame seeds are very popular.

Many Korean dishes share similarities with foods of other Asian cuisines. For example, plenty of Korean dishes feature stir-fried vegetables, rice cakes, fried rice, fish cakes, and sweet treats that resemble those in Chinese and Japanese cuisines. That said, each cuisine is unique and represents a distinct culture. Additionally, people all over the world eat Korean food.

Below are 12 popular Korean dishes:

1. 1. Bibimbap: A Korean meal with a base of glutinous rice, bibimbap comes with toppings like bulgogi (sliced Korean beef), kimchi (fermented cabbage), a spicy sauce, sautéed vegetables, raw radish or bean sprouts, and a fried egg. Learn how to make bibimbap.
2. 2. Bulgogi: A spicy Korean beef, bulgogi is common at Korean barbecue restaurants. Serve it with soju and banchan (side dishes) encompassing cooked, fermented, or raw vegetables. Alternatively, serve it atop glutinous rice in bibimbap. Try this beef bulgogi recipe.
3. 3. Doenjang jjigae: This stew (jjigae) of fermented soybean paste (doenjang) contains meat, vegetables, or seafood (such as clams). Other versions include kimchi jjigae and sundubu jjigae. Learn how to make doenjang jjigae at home.
4. 4. Hotteok: A sweet Korean pancake with rice flour as its main ingredient, hotteok is popular Korean street food, especially in Seoul. The dish uses a brown sugar filling, which results in it being chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Try this hotteok recipe, which uses sweet rice flour and a handful of common household ingredients.
5. 5. Japchae: A stir-fried glass noodle dish, japchae is also known as sweet potato starch noodles. Variations include buchu japchae, haemul japchae, and japchae bap. Depending on your preference, serve the Korean noodles as a side dish or a main dish. Learn how to make japchae.
6. 6. Jeon: A general term for a savory Korean pancake, jeon can take different forms. Variations include pajeon (scallion or green onion pancakes), haemul pajeon (seafood pancakes), and others. Serve these flavorful pancakes as an appetizer, along with a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, and gochujang (red chili paste) as a dipping sauce. Try this jeon recipe.
7. 7. Kalbi: Grilled Korean beef short ribs, kalbi (or galbi) are somewhat spicy. Serve the meat in lettuce wraps, over rice, or with other side dishes for a traditional Korean barbecue experience. Learn how to make Korean kalbi.
8. 8. Kimchi: A staple fermented food in Korean cuisine and Korean restaurants, kimchi commonly consists of napa cabbage, radishes, green onions, and a seasoning rub of gochugaru (red chili flakes). Use kimchi as a side dish, an ingredient in kimchi stew, or a topping for bibimbap. Learn how to make kimchi.
9. 9. Korean fried chicken: A popular South Korean street food, Korean fried chicken is crispy and often comes with a sweet chili pepper glaze. Serve it with Korean-style pickles or kimchi. Alternatively, eat it on a stick like classic street food. Try this Korean fried chicken recipe.
10. 10. Mandu: These Korean dumplings can contain various fillings, such as Korean pork, soft tofu, vegetables, or seafood. Steam them for a chewy texture or pan-fry them for a crispy texture. Then serve them with a dipping sauce, kimchi, or rice cakes. Learn how to make mandu.
11. 11. Soondubu: A spicy Korean soft tofu stew, soondubu (or sundubu) uses a broth of dried kelp, dried anchovies, and fish sauce, and it gets its heat from both gochujang and gochugaru. Serve the stew with samgyeopsal (pork belly), mussels, or vegetables. Try this soondubu recipe.
12. 12. Tteokbokki: These Korean rice cakes use gochugaru and gochujang for their spice and fiery color. Tteokbokki are chewy and can contain a variety of fillings, such as a boiled egg or slices of fish cake, depending on the street vendor or restaurant. Learn how to make tteokbokki.

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