Korea’s food scene is easily one of the best worldwide, with foods that feature local favourites and a twist on dishes worldwide.

Their recipes emphasise fresh ingredients with many vegetables, meats, and broths. 

The Best Korean Cookbooks for Korean Home Cooking

Below, you’ll find Korean cookbooks that share delicious recipes with mouthwatering photos. Some are simple, while others are bold or a mix of the two.

Enjoy creating side dishes, traditional entrees, snacks, desserts, and more, all from these amazing Korean cookbooks.

Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food: Authentic dishes and modern twists

Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food is a Korean recipe book that’s filled with authentic comfort food. Chef Judy Joo incorporates her own heritage and international experiences with various recipes and something for everyone.

This cookbook shares over 100 recipes, beautiful photography, helpful glossaries, and how-to tips. It’s great for amateur home cooks and accomplished chefs.

With Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food book, you can prepare a mix of Korean snacks, meals, street food, and desserts.

Best of all, she helps you master the basics of preparing and cooking Korean foods before sharing her most special recipes.

Maangchi’s Big Book Of Korean Cooking: From Everyday Meals to Celebration Cuisine

If you’re looking for the best Korean cookbook that has it all, Maangchi’s Big Book Of Korean Cooking: From Everyday Meals to Celebration Cuisine is it.

This expansive book has been recognized and awarded by Forbes, Amazon, and The New York Times. 

Not only does author and Youtuber Maangchi share her favourite dishes, but she also covers interesting topics such as vegan cuisine of Buddhist mountains temples and Korean street vendors.

You can also find hundreds of helpful photos which show specific ingredients, step-by-step techniques, and striking close-up photos of prepared dishes.

Maangchi’s Big Book Of Korean Cooking shares various Korean recipes for any occasion. Learn how to prepare party food, including baby back ribs and homemade clear rice liquor.

The book also teaches you to make soups, hotpots, diverse kimchis, and more.

The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma’s Kitchen

It’s no surprise that The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma’s Kitchen was named one of the best new cookbooks of the year by Epicurious.

Although Korean cuisine can be meat-centric, this inspiring Korean vegetarian cookbook shows us that it doesn’t have to be.

This amazing Korean vegan cookbook shares powerful stories of love, family, and food by author Joanne Lee Molinaro aka “The Korean Vegan.”

It’s a collection of traditional and reimagined Korean dishes, including a potato and leek soup, a delicious and quick and crispy garlic tofu, a Korean-Chinese black bean noodle, a plant-based power bowl, and much more. 

Read more: Discover Korean Vegan Food and Temple Cuisine

Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home

Korean American Eric Kim has compiled his favourite recipes to create Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home. This is one of the best Korean cookbooks if you appreciate good stories, too. 

In Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home, you can discover how to make various dishes from Caramelized-Kimchi Baked Potatoes to Cheeseburger Kimbap.

And, if you like sweet treats, you’ll appreciate the Gochujang Chocolate Lava Cake.

Eric also shares authentic and playful stories about leaving and returning back home, family holiday traditions, and how he grew into the person he is today.

Korean Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Korean Recipes for Everyday Home Cooking

Are you looking to make tasty Korean recipes with ease? Korean Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Korean Recipes for Everyday Home Cooking is the Korean recipe book for you! 

Recipe developers Nancy Cho and Selina Lee learned their cooking skills from their mothers and grandmothers.

After exploring their Korean heritage, family experiences, and special dishes, they put together almost a hundred recipes in this book.

We love this one because it’s filled with steps to make quick weeknight meals, simple late-night snacks, and even more fancy dishes.

Learn to make traditional cuisine, including Jjajangmyeon (Black Bean Sauce Noodles), contemporary fusion like Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew), and much more.

Eat Korean: Our home cooking and street food

Eat Korean: Our home cooking and street food is possibly the best Korean cookbook if you’re looking to tie Korean cuisine with Western flavours.

Authors Gareth and Da-Hae West use their backgrounds to teach you how to prepare some of the most mouthwatering food.

The book discusses Korean cooking basics, such as popular sauces and Korean BBQ etiquette.

It also gives you the details for preparing sticky spare ribs, Panjeon (seafood pancakes), Bulgogi burgers, and other modern Korean dishes.

The Kimchi Cookbook: 60 Traditional and Modern Ways to Make and Eat Kimchi

Kimchi is a South Korean cultural staple, and The Kimchi Cookbook: 60 Traditional and Modern Ways to Make and Eat Kimchi tells you all about it.

Check out 60 recipes and tips to prepare and cook with kimchi. 

We love this colourful cookbook that tells you exactly how to make various kimchis, from bold to lighter flavours.

From a spicy winter Kimchi to a simple summer Kimchi and Kimchi side dishes, you’ll likely find this to be your go-to dish to wow family and friends.

Our Korean Kitchen

In their Korean recipe book, Our Korean Kitchen, Jordan Bourke and Rejina Pyo share a cultural history.

Discover over 100 authentic and easy-to-make recipes with ingredients and techniques you need to master them.

Learn how to stock your Korean pantry, get complete menu ideas, and discover ways to make an assortment of meals and snacks. 

Our Korean Kitchen is sorted by chapters of foods, including soups & stews, noodles, fish, meat, dessert, and a few more.

Learn to prepare recipes from Kimchi Fried Rice and Chicken Dumpling Soup to Shrimp and Sweet Potato Tempura to Deep Fried Honey Cookies.

Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes [A Cookbook]

New York Best Times Seller Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes [A Cookbook] is easy to use and fun to look at. Unlike other Korean cookbooks, this one is written in a graphic novel style.

In it, you’ll find 64 recipes with ingredient profiles shared through light-hearted comics.

Each quirky comic illustrates every step and ingredient you need to create delicious Korean dishes. Beginners and skilled cooks can learn to make various recipes, including kimchi, soy garlic beef over rice, seaweed rice rolls, and more.

Read more: 10 Best Korean Ramen (Instant Noodles)

BTS Cookbook: Authentic Korean Dishes Members of the World’s Biggest Boyband Adore

If you’re a fan of k-pop superstar group BTS, the BTS Cookbook: Authentic Korean Dishes Members of the World’s Biggest Boyband Adore is just for you.

This makes for a perfect gift for the BTS fan in your life, too. 

The BTS Cookbook is filled with Korean recipes loved and prepared by BTS members. Alongside detailed instructions for each meal, you’ll find stunning photos of Korean dishes. 

MODERN KOREAN COOKING: Simple and Delicious Step-by-Step Recipes for Complete Beginners

MODERN KOREAN COOKING: Simple and Delicious Step-by-Step Recipes for Complete Beginners isn’t just your typical cookbook.

This Korean recipe book shares almost 2 dozen recipes with detailed directions for each meal and excellent photos.

Best of all, the ingredients in Modern Korean Cooking are healthy, delicious, and easily found outside of Korea.

Youna Shin is an art curator and food and nutrition writer born and raised in Seoul. This book reveals her passion for Korean food writing and a desire to share healthy, authentic Korean cuisine with Korean expats and non-Koreans.

Beginners and pro chefs can easily follow the appetizing recipes in this book. Learn to prepare and make traditional Korean entrees, soups, and side dishes.

Korean Bbq: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces [A Cookbook]

If you appreciate grilling, you’ll love Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces [A Cookbook].

This is one of the best Korean cookbooks for grilling with Korean-American flavors and finding ingredients outside of Korea.

In Korean BBQ, chef Bill Kim has tailored 80 recipes for home cooks with appropriate substitutions for ingredients that aren’t always easy to find.

His recipes teach you how to make seven master sauces and three spice rubs to use with an assortment of food, including Kimchi Potato Salad, Kori-Can Pork Chops, and Honey Soy Flank Steak.

What’s best is that this cookbook takes it up a notch with fun snacks, sides, drinks, and dessert so you can have a memorable experience around the grill.

I hope you enjoy these fantastic Korean cookbooks and are inspired to prepare some tasty Korean dishes.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in reading 13 Japanese Cookbooks (for Inspiring Home Cooking) and 17 Best Asian Cookbooks for Delicious Home Cooking (2022).

You’ll find here something delicious for everyone, from spicy vegetarian ramen to meaty, bold noodles, and much more, from beloved brands like Samyang noodles and Shin ramyun.

Korean ramen (ramyun) can be a filling snack or a tasty meal, and you can even jazz it up by adding eggs, vegetables, spring onions, and extra spices.

Ramen or Ramyeon?

Before we get into these must-try Korean instant noodles, let’s take a look at how brands spell ‘ramen’ differently.

You’ll often notice that Korean ramen is spelled ‘ramyun’ and ‘ramyeon.’

Originally from China, ramen gained worldwide fame thanks to Japanese marketing and branding, and in Japan it is called ラーメン (ramen).

Meanwhile, in Korea the food is called 라면 (ramyeon). Korean brands usually spell it ‘ramyun’ or ‘ramyeon.’

While all of these spellings refer to a tasty noodle dish, Japanese and Korean noodles aren’t the same.

Japanese ramen, as we tend to think of it it, isn’t an instant noodle and is usually more brothy than Korean noodles, which are also known to be spicy.

Though, of course, Japan also has many brands of delicious instant noodles and ramen to enjoy.

The Best Korean Ramen (Ramyeon)

Now that you understand the key differences between Japanese ramen and Korean ramen (ramyeon) below, you’ll find the best Korean ramen. Let’s take a look!

Kimchi Ramyun

Korea’s iconic ramen, Kimchi Ramyun is a delicious spicy noodle. Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish that consists of salted, fermented vegetables. The vegetables usually also have a savoury mix of spices.

Jongga is Korea’s leading Kimchi brand, and their instant Kimchi Ramen is delicious. It comes with authentic, fresh kimchi to add to your noodles.

This Korean instant ramen is full of flavours, with an abundant spicy taste and crunchy texture.

Buy Jongga Kimchi Ramyun here.

Jajangmyeon (Black Bean) Instant Noodles

If you prefer something less spicy, Jajangmyeon Instant Noodles is another traditional Korean noodle dish. This tasty noodle is topped with a semi-sweet black bean sauce made with pork and vegetables.

Most Jajangmyeon Noodles come with soy sauce and a crunchy fried onion to add to your meal. And although this noodle doesn’t have heat, it boasts intense flavours. You can also add extra spices if you want to take it up a notch. 

Buy Jajangmyeon (Black Bean) Instant Noodle here: US; UK

Hwa Ramyun

We’re bringing the heat back with Hwa Ramyun. You’ll notice the packaging of this noodle has the Chinese symbol for fire to represent its spicy flavour. This is the perfect dish to warm you up on a chilly winter day!

Hwa Ramyun is also a tasty choice for vegetarians. It’s packed with veggies, including red peppers, mushrooms, and carrots.

Buy Hwa Ramyun here.

Shin Ramyun

Another popular Korean ramen, Shin Ramyun is a classic that’s known around the world. In fact, it’s one of the easiest to find at local markets or online.

Shin Ramyun has is made of a thick noodle, a beef broth base, and a bit of spice. It’s filled with vegetables and beef, creating a delectable taste.

Buy Shin Ramyun here: US; UK.

Read More: 12 Best K-Pop Books (For Stans Everywhere)

Paldo Cheese Noodles

This tasty Korean ramen is a bit different than the others. It’s vegetarian and has a delectable and robust cheese taste. If you’ve never tried cheesy ramen, we highly recommend this one!

Paldo Cheese Noodle contains a cheese powder and dried vegetable pack that you mix into your noodle and soup base. It also has a spicy kick to add to its flavour without being too overpowering.

Buy Paldo Cheese Noodle here.

Nongshim Soon Vegetable Ramen

If you enjoy a savoury vegetable noodle soup, you’ll love the Nongshim Soon Vegetable Ramen. It’s 100% vegan and even registered with the Vegan Society. It’s so good that even meat lovers enjoy it.

The Nongshim Soon Vegetable Ramen is filled with vegetables and a hearty vegetable broth. It makes for a simple yet filling snack or small meal that’s full of flavour.

Buy Nongshin Soon Vegetable Ramen here: US; UK.

Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup Spicy Seafood Flavour

This Korean ramen is for seafood lovers! Nongshim Champong Noodle is one of the most popular Korean dishes you can order. 

It’s a robust soup that’s made of noodles, a red hot soup base, vegetables, and seafood. You can also expect a spicy kick that adds to its fantastic taste.

Buy Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup here.

Rabokki (Teokbokki and Ramen)

This unique dish is easily one of our favorites! The noodle has a deliciously soft texture, and the sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy.

We definitely recommend trying this one if you’re travelling to Korea, and it’s also easy to find in markets around the world.

Buy Rabokki here: US; UK.

Read more: 18 Best Korean Snacks (& Where to Buy Them Online)

Best Samyang Ramen Noodles

Samyang Ramen Noodles are some of the best instant Korean ramen made by a well-known Korean grocery company.

Since the iconic Nuclear Fire Noodle challenge about 10 years ago, Samyang has come out with many variations. 

There are endless flavours from the original fire noodle to cheese hot chicken and so many more. Best of all, you can find these in many grocery stores worldwide.

Here are the 5 best Samyang Ramen Noodles:

• Cheese Hot Chicken: a somewhat spicy, deliciously creamy cheese noodle (buy here: US; UK).
• Carbo Hot Chicken: a pasta-like noodle with a light spicy, mouthwatering carbonara and parsley taste (buy here: US; UK).
• Kimchi Spicy Chicken: a mix of spicy, sour, and sweet creates an excellent flavour, and it’s so close to kimchi, you barely know it’s instant ramen (buy here: US; UK).
• Light Spicy Fire Noodles: a lighter version of the basic fire noodle; worth trying for those who want to try the Samyang fire noodle but have a lower spice tolerance (buy here: US; UK).
• Hot Chicken Curry: a delicious curry flavor and smell that offers a sweet and savoury experience (buy here: US; UK).

Best Korean Cup Noodles

Korean cup noodles are another quintessential staple. These noodles are typically thinner than ramen, and they’re just as flavourful.

There are so many tasty options, including a beef soup and a cold, dry soup that’s a fan-favorite. 

Here are our favourite Korean Cup Noodles:

• Yuk-gae-jang sa-bal-myun: Korea’s most famous cup noodle that offers a mild spice and delectable taste (buy in Korean food markets).
• Nongshim Shin Noodle Soup: a noodle in savoury, rich broth with a veggie-packed topping to add for extra taste (buy here: US; UK).
• Nongshim Soon Kimchi Noodle Cup: a satisfying vegan kimchi soup with a mild kick (buy here).
• Teum-sae-ramyun: one of the spiciest Korean cup noodles that boasts a powerful flavour (buy in Korean food markets).

Where to Buy Korean Ramen

If you’re craving some Korean ramen, you’re in luck! No matter where you are in the world, you can enjoy the taste of Korea.

In Korea

If you have the opportunity to travel to Korea, consider yourself lucky! Not only can you experience a rich culture and beautiful country, but it’s also where you can find all of these incredible Korean ramen dishes. As we shared above, you can find instant noodles in just about every market, too.

Shop Online

If you’re somewhere else in the world but want to try some mouthwatering Korean ramen, you can always order online. Most of these noodles can be ordered on Amazon, so that you can try them no matter where you are in the world.

Subscription Box

Are you interested in trying various new-to-you Korean snacks? Consider a subscription to SeoulBox, where you have a Korean experience delivered right to your door!

Each month, you’ll receive a box of authentic snacks and goodies, and you may even find some of these delicious Korean instant noodles.

If you enjoyed learning about the best Korean ramen, you might be interested in reading a culinary guide to South Korea or how to drink like a Korean.

I have tried to include some of the most popular and best Korean snacks with some that don’t get quite as much love internationally as well as some famous street food snacks, hopefully, you will find something new here.

You should be able to find most of these snacks at your local Korean store or online — if they are the kind of snacks that you can make at home then I will also link to a good recipe.

I have also suggested a favourite Korean snack box — Seoulbox — at the end if you would rather the snacks come to you as a monthly surprise.

If you are lucky enough to be in Korea or travelling to Korea soon then these are all easily accessible, most likely at your local convenience store.

Tip: Some of the harder-to-find and healthy Korean snacks can be bought from the Jeollanamdo: Kitchen of Korea online store who are both US and Europe based. They also have a store on Amazon. Sources directly from Jeollanamdo province in South Korea.

Famous Korean Snacks to Try Now

Here are some of the best Korean snacks that you need to try right now.

1) Dried Sweet Potato (고구마말랭이)

A healthy and filling chewy, sweet treat. Sweet potato (goguma) is a popular snack in Korea that you can pick up ready-roasted at street food markets and stalls, especially in the winter. This Korean snack is a great way to enjoy that sweet potato flavour, conveniently, wherever you go.

Resembling dried mango strips, these potato strips are full of fibre and protein and perfect for a lunchtime snack. They can seem like they’re coated in white powder but that’s a natural part of the oxidization and has no effect on the taste.

They are also gluten-free and vegan so this is one of my favourite Korean snacks for keeping in my bag just in case I can’t find anything suitable to eat. You can also chop them up and combine them with nuts for a kind of trail mix.

The JeollaNamdo brand is my personal favourite as they have the best flexible yet chewy texture and are packed with flavour.

Buy dried sweet potato snacks US/ UK.

2) Pepero (빼빼로)

One of the most popular Korean snacks with a whole day dedicated to them — Pepero Day falls on November 11th and involves simply eating and gifting Pepero — perfect!

If you have tried the Japanese snack Pocky, then you will know what to expect here. Pepero differs from Pocky by being slightly thicker with chunkier, more indulgent toppings. Delicious biscuit sticks dipped in flavoured chocolate and topping like almond or cookies; what more could you need?

Pepero is particularly great for carrying around with you in your bag for a sweet treat whenever or sharing with a friend or loved one. They’re one of the most famous Korean snacks (and therefore one of the best Korean snacks) for good reason!

Buy Pepero online here.

Read More: 12 Best K-Pop Books (For Stans Everywhere)

3) Shiitake Mushroom Chips (표고버섯 스낵)

If you can’t get enough of that umami mushroom flavour then these low-fat mushroom crisps are it. They are slightly sweet, salty, and surprisingly addictive plus full of protein so they are much more satisfying than your average chips.

This brand is my personal favourite and made using natural practices i.e. no artificial or chemical fertilizers. Don’t mix these up with dried shitake mushroom which is widely used in Korean cuisine for making flavourful broth.

Buy shiitake mushroom crisps US/UK.

Read More: A Culinary Guide to South Korea

4) Choco Pie (초코파이)

A truly famous Korean snack, get ready for the ultimate squishy indulgence treat. This is essentially layered marshmallow and biscuit coated in chocolate — it’s similar to the British snack Wagon Wheels but five times as dense, and that’s a very good thing.

This Korean snack goes perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. They are usually sold in a box with lots of individually-wrapped Choco Pies inside. This is easily one of the best Korean snacks, and easy to find online or at your local Asian store.

Buy choco pies US/ UK.

5) Samgak Kimbap (삼각김밥)

The ultimate hunger-buster, these triangle rice balls wrapped in seaweed are the Korean version of Japanese onigiri and are widely sold in convenience stores in the same way.

Samgak kimbap comes in a wide array of fillings, including the immensely popular tuna mayo flavour, but there are also bulgogi, plain salt, and spicy chicken flavours (among many others).

The wrappers for these snacks are clever, though difficult to master at first, as there is a way to pull the plastic off, which is layered underneath the seaweed wrapper to keep it crisp, without disturbing the rice ball at all. The first time you get it right is so satisfying.

Your local Asian store may have these in the fresh area but they are also easy to make at home so there’s no need to miss out. You can also make or buy roll versions, called kimbap, which are typically packed with ingredients.

6) Honey Butter Chips, Shrimp Crackers, Onion Rings, and Beyond

Coming from the UK, a country known for its wide range of chips/crisps, South Korea genuinely rivals the crisp-loving nation with their array of weird and wonderful flavours.

Interestingly, Korean chips tend to err on the sweet or spicy side so you can try some truly unique offerings here. This is a controversial choice from a Western perspective, but I think Honey Butter chips is one of the best Korean snacks out there.

Perhaps most famous amongst Korean snacks are the honey butter chips which are melt in your mouth sweet crisps which you either love or hate, I’m firmly in the love camp.

If you love fish flavours, then you will be very happy with shrimp crackers or the huge selection of other seafood crisps. If you prefer a more traditional flavour then onion rings are a savoury and addictive corn snack with a subtle onion flavour.

Buy Korean chips online.

7) Korean Instant Ramen: Shin Ramyun, Soon Veggie Cup, Samyung, and More! (라면)

Whether you’re eating ramen as a meal or as a snack, there’s no doubt that it hits the spot and the insane amount of Korean instant ramen flavours is truly worth exploring.

For its range of flavours, its versatility, and for how much it fills you up, this is one of the best Korean snacks you can enjoy.

The flavours in South Korea tend to go big or go home compared to their ramen-loving neighbours in Japan, meaning if you love spicy ramen, then you will meet your limits here from the iconic spicy Shin Ramyun to the fiery Samyang Hot Chicken.

Even the pink creamy favourite Samyang Carbonara Hot Chicken has a sachet of spicy sauce included that can take it to truly devastating levels of spicy.

If you would rather skip the heat then the Soon Veggie ramen is ideal and very customizable if you’d like to add your own toppings due to the mild vegetable flavour.

Another option is the Ottogi Jin Ramen which is mildly spicy with a satisfying mushroom, meaty flavour.

Buy Korean instant ramen online.

8) Lotte Ghana Milk Chocolate (가나 밀크 초콜릿)

Popular across Japan and Korea, this creamy chocolate has four varieties which come in red, black, white, and beige wrappers. Class-wise, these are some of the best Korean snacks.

The name is a homage to the country Ghana which is one of the world’s largest exporters of cocoa beans. If you need your chocolate fix then this is it. This chocolate is also very popular in Japan.

Buy Ghana milk chocolate US/ UK.

9) Fried Seaweed Crisps and Sheets (김스낵)

Seaweed snacks can be a bit controversial from a western perspective, you either love them or hate them. As someone who can be a bit iffy with seaweed depending on how strong it is, I’ve always loved seaweed snacks so it’s definitely worth a try!

There are typically two types of seaweed snack: the flat sheets of seaweed which come in a number of flavours such as spicy kimchi, salty soy, or nutty sesame and the chip style which also come in a variety of flavours and will be smaller and crunchier.

As snacks go, this is a very healthy source of iron and antioxidants so a good one if you have those salty cravings.

Buy Korean seaweed snacks US/ UK.

Read More: An Introduction to Korean Vegan Temple Food

10) Korean Jelly Candy (젤리)

There are so many fun and fresh styles and favours of jelly sweets in South Korea that it’s impossible to keep with all of the new options.

If you love your sweet chewy then there’s plenty to enjoy, some must-try classics include the Lotte Jellylicious Watermelon Gummies, the creamy Lotte Yoghurt Jellies, Petitzel Lemon Gummy Jelly, the marshmallow-like Lotte Soft Malang Cow Chewy Candy, and the Orion My Gummy Jelly Peach.

Buy Korean candy US/ UK.

11) Korean Hard Candy (사탕)

Korea has some truly unique flavours of hard candy, so if you enjoy hard-boiled sweets then don’t miss out on some of the truly infamous offerings such as the Lenith grape and plum candies which can be bought in huge bags and last forever.

For those that prefer a minty flavour then Lotte Anytime Crown Mint Candy are ideal and if you prefer lemon and herbal flavours then you will find a wide selection including ginseng flavour, lemon and mint, and straight-up citrus which are all perfect if you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Buy Korean hard candy US/ UK

12) Egg Bread (계란빵)

A cheap and popular Korean street food snack, typically sold around universities for hungry students. It’s sweet and fluffy and extremely satisfying with a waffle flavour and an egg inside.

When looking at street food, instead of convenience store packaged food, egg break is one of the best Korean snacks you can ever enjoy.

While it may be difficult to find this snack outside Korea, it’s very easy and quick to make at home and uses typical storecupboard ingredients. Here’s a great gyeran-ppang recipe.

13) Hotteok (호떡)

Another delicious warm, and incredibly popular Korean street food snack. These sticky filled pancakes are particularly enjoyed in the winter and are typically filled with gooey brown sugar syrup and can also contain honey, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon.

They are made on a griddle similarly to pancakes meaning that they are easy to recreate at home (here’s a great hotteok recipe) but can also be found frozen at Asian stores, in a ready-made mix, or freshly made at Asian bakeries.

14) Yakgwa: Korean Honey Cookies (약과)

A beloved traditional Korean snack, these fried chewy cookies with a subtle ginger flavour are dipped in honey and are extremely moreish.

They are typically served on special occasions, alongside traditional teas which can be bitter or simply served as a dessert. They come in a number of shapes like flowers, diamonds, and squares.

You can find yakgwa boxed ready-made but it’s also possible to make them yourself, here’s a great Yakgwa recipe.

Buy yakgwa online US

15) Dalgona: Korean Sponge Candy (달고나)

A retro snack that recently captured international attention thanks to the Kdrama Squidgame, this Korean dessert (also known as ppopgi) is easy to make at home and holds nostalgia for many Koreans.

You will very likely see street vendors selling dalgona in Korea, this cheap and fun snack originated in Busan in the 1960s and was popular throughout the seventies and eighties.

16) Korean Fish Shaped Pastry (붕어빵)

Similar to Japanese taiyaki, introduced to Korea around the 1930s during the Japanese occupation, a Japanese adaptation of Western waffles that were introduced to Japan in the 18th century.

A fun way to differentiate the two pastries is that Japanese taiyaki are shaped like a sea-bream whereas the Korean bungeo-ppang is shaped like a carp.

This famous snack is known for its fish-shaped soft and spongy cake shell which holds one of a number of fillings inside.

Traditionally, it is filled with sweet red bean paste but you will also find custard, chocolate, and even savoury pizza fillings. You will notice that they are most commonly sold in the winter because they are a truly warming street food snack.

These are best tried fresh but you can also find packaged commercial versions (like the Samaco version from Binggrae) which are filled with red bean paste and vanilla cream, strawberry and cream, and even chocolate and cream.

If you’d like to have a go making them at home, you can buy a fish-shaped pancake pan online, here’s a great bungeo-ppang recipe.

17) Maxbon Cheese Sausage

This iconic yellow sausage snack, that pops up so often KDramas, is great if you prefer your snacks savoury or need something to keep you going on the go.

It’s a spongy texture with a creamy egg flavoured centre, it’s slightly cheesy, and quite sweet. It’s a very much, you either love them or hate them situation and I fall into the latter but it’s still a popular Korean snack so very much worth a try. Note that they aren’t vegetarian.

Buy Maxbon cheese sausage online.

18) Gilim Tom’s Farm Seasoned Almonds

This was one of my favourite Korean snacks while working in Korea, I’d always have a pack in my bag to keep me going through the day.

These flavoured almonds come in a few flavours, the iconic sweet honey butter flavour, spicy wasabi, hot chicken flavour, and the extra sweet and salty almond & pretzel flavour to name a few. They come in smaller packets and larger tins and be found online, at your local Asian store, and in convenience stores in Korea.

Buy seasoned almonds US/ UK

Best Korean Snackbox — Seoulbox

If you fancy being surprised by authentic Korean snacks once a month then a subscription to SeoulBox could be exactly what you are looking for.

You will receive a box of curated Korean snacks and other Korean treats. They also have other themed boxes including great options for Kpop and Kdrama fans.

If you enjoyed this best Korean snacks article, then you may also be interested in our favourite Japanese and British snacks.

While Korean cuisine is strongly associated with meat and fish dishes, it’s certainly not the case that vegans will miss out when visiting Korea. And when it comes to cooking Korean vegan food at home, you have some wonderful options to try out.

Many Korean dishes which are typically associated with meat can be easily adapted for vegans so you can still enjoy those delicious umami, nutty, and spicy flavours that make Korean cooking so special.

One of the most exciting aspects of veganism is the temple food culture, dishes typically made by Buddhist nuns in Korea, which demonstrate a great understanding and respect of seasonal and organic ingredients with a history spanning almost two thousand years.

Read More: Best Korean Ramen (Ramyeon)

Best known for sharing these temple dishes outside of Korea are two Korean nuns: Jeong Kwon and Wookwan. They both quickly gained popularity when the Netflix Show Chef’s Kitchen illustrated the beauty and meditative state that comes with the cooking of temple food. We’ll share some of their dishes and recipes below and our experience learning with Jeong Kwon.

If you’d like to learn about Korean vegan dishes you can try at home or the world of temple food, then read on.

Vegan Korean Food to Make at Home

Here are just some of the typically vegan Korean dishes you can make at home or try at your local Korean restaurant or while visiting South Korea. We’ve shared some Korean vegan cookbooks at the end of the article that will help you get started with these wonderful dishes if you’d like to give it a go yourself.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a naturally vegan Korean staple. It’s a side dish made up of salted and fermented vegetables — typically cabbage and radish. A number of different seasonings can be used in the cooking process, so it can have a number of different – though unique – flavours.

As a fermented food, it’s good for your digestion and promoting healthy bacteria in your gut like sauerkraut and kombucha.

Braised Tofu

Tofu is a wonderful vegan ingredient that is often eaten in Korean meals. Braising tofu involves flash-frying it in an incredibly hot pan, and then allowing it to finish cooking slowly in a sealed pot – typically of stew or soup. Tofu and Kimchi Jjigae is a wonderfully spicy soup that combines both of these vegan dishes.

Kongguksu (Chilled Soy Milk Noodle Soup)

This is a unique seasonal dish that is served in Korea, though often not in many other places around the world. It is made up of wheat-based noodles and soup made from ground soybeans.

Japchae (Korean Sweet Potato Noodles)

Originally, this Korean classic was just vegetables, but through time it has come to be appreciated most when served with glass noodles. The glass noodles are uniquely prepared with sweet potato to give a completely unique flavour, texture, and aesthetic.

Tofu Bibimbap

Bibimbap is a great example of a running theme in Korean food – the fusion of many ingredients makes a meal greater than the sum of its parts. Typically, bibimbap is served as a bed of rice topped with various vegetables and seasonings. In tofu bibimbap, tofu is served on top, typically along with vegetables and assorted sauces.

Hobak Juk (Pumpkin Porridge)

Hobak juk is a simple pumpkin porridge made up of glutinous rice flour and, unsurprisingly, pumpkin. It is a very smooth and comforting dish, and as a result, is often served to recovering patients and the elderly. It’s very easy to find ready-made versions of hobak juk porridge in your local Korean supermarket but it’s also easy to make at home.

Pajeon (Green Onion Pancake)

Pajeon is a type of pancake that predominantly features spring onions. The batter is traditional made using eggs, though vegan versions are very common. While they are sometimes served with beef or pork, kimchi or tofu is often used in vegan versions. It’s very easy and versatile dish to make at home.

Kimbap (Veggie, Rice, and Seaweed Roll)

Kimbap is a sushi-style meal which is often served as part of a packed meal to be eaten at picnics or outdoor events. Often, it serves as a light lunch, with kimchi as a side dish. Found everywhere in Korea from street food stalls to your local convenience store, cheap and loaded with filling.

Read More: Take a Culinary Trip Around South Korea

What is Vegan Temple Cuisine

Temple cuisine is a beautiful concept that is often practised in Buddhist temples in Korea. Essentially, the idea is that a temple has a small garden in which they grow a number of vegetables. These vegetables are, when ready and in season, harvested, cooked, and eaten by people in the temple. It’s a simple concept designed to help you consider the origin of all the food you eat.

Typically, Korean temple cuisine is entirely vegan as veggies are simply easy to grow on a small plot of land.

Beyond that, temple cuisine often deliberately avoids garlic and onion because of the effects that they’re supposed to have on someone’s personality. When raw, they are believed to incite anger, and when cooked, they are believed to arouse libido.

The lack of garlic and onion may worry you, as they often are a main source of flavor in Western food. However, through a thorough understanding of the flavors that vegetables and spices can have, temple cuisine produces wonderful tasting food without the need for onion and garlic.

Our Experience Trying Vegan Temple Food at Sanchon in Seoul:

Seoul’s famous temple food restaurant in the cultural area of Insadong. Sanchon offers a rich experience for anyone interested in delving into Korean culture and indulge in delicious vegan food.

Owned by a former monk who still works at cooks at the restaurant, you are treated to multiple courses of banchan (wide selection of small dishes) which feels like a real feast and dishes are constantly taken away and added as you eat.

The interior is lavish with seating on the wooden floor with period decoration round you. Music and dance performances are put on while you’re eating making this an all-round special experience that you must have if you’re in Seoul.

Learning to Make Vegan Temple Food with Jeong Kwan:

We were lucky enough to take a cooking class with esteemed Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwon, thanks to a collaboration between The Culture Trip and Korean Tourism London.

Kwon is best known for her appearance on the Netflix show Chef’s Table but has long been an advocate for spreading Korea’s healthy vegan temple food with the world hosting classes in Korea from Baekyangsa Temple where she practises.

South Korea’s successful Templestay program means that anyone visiting or living Korea has the chance to stay and take part in daily life within a Buddhist Temple with many beautiful stories emerging from those who have taken part. Many of the temples in Seoul allow you to learn the art of temple food cooking.

During our class with Jeong Kwon, we learnt how to make braised lotus root which took flavours of soy, walnuts, chilli, and syrup to greta a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and earthiness. A clean dish that kept us full for the day.

We also learned how to make potato pancakes which took a simple finely grated potato to a new level by frying it and adding forest mushrooms and finally a spiced apple sauce.

It was amazing how quick and simple these dishes were to make compared with the intensity of the flavours and how at all times Kwon shared the zen experience and connection with the food and ingredients which can get lost in day-to-day cooking.

Some Korean Temple Food You Can Make At Home

There are endless simple dishes for making your own temple food at home below you’ll find some helpful cookbooks plus some recipes below which were inspired by dishes on the Korea Temple Food site where you can find a number of dishes to begin your Korean vegan food journey.

Grilled mushrooms

Mushrooms of assorted types are a staple of temple food, with shiitake mushrooms being predominantly used due to their numerous health benefits.

Typically, mixed mushrooms will be grilled with gochujang (fermented spicy chilli paste), ginger juice, and perilla seed oil. This wonderfully delicious recipe often helps the monks that live in the temples keep warm even during the winter.

Shiitake & tofu in green tea sauce

The green tea sauce may sound odd at first – but the fragrance and aromatics mix well with savoury vegetable stock, Korean red pepper powder, sesame seeds, and salt. This sauce is a powerfully aromatic broth which is then boosted with shiitake and tofu in a slow infusion. Overall, this soup is packed with nutrients and is wonderfully delicious to boot.

Kimchi buckwheat crepes

Kimchi is a big part of Korean temple life, and great jars of it are prepared for the coming winter season. In this annual tradition, the kimchi is prepared on one great occasion in the autumn and then eaten in the spring. During that time, the kimchi will have fermented powerfully, to become deliciously sour and crisp. The kimchi can then be eaten as a side dish or within some simple and delicious buckwheat crepes.

Korean Vegan Cookbooks to Inspire You Further

Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food: The Road to the Taste of Enlightenment: Like Jeong Kwon, Buddhist chef and nun Wookwan has dedicated her time sharing magnificent temple cuisine with the world and also appeared on the documentary Chefs Table.

Her cookbook is the first English language temple food cookbook and features forty-one recipes which include western ingredients as options. She also has two other cookbooks available in Korean.

Bonus: If you’re interested in learning about Japan’s temple food recipes than Just Enough is another great cookbook.

Vegetarian Dishes from My Korean Home: While not entirely vegan, these vegetarian recipes are easily adaptable for vegans and offer a great basis for learning Korean flavours and simple dishes.

Read More: Health and Wellness Escapes in South Korea

We hope you enjoyed this exploration of South Korea’s vegan food and temple cuisine – if you’d like to learn more about the country then head to our South Korean Travel and Korean Literature sections.

Here we share the best Korean comfort food in London that will make you roll your eyes in pleasure and kickstart your addiction.

Zipbap 

(51 Red Lion Street, Holborn, WC1R 4PF)

Zipbap puts smiles on faces. Foodies flock here aching for a taste of its authentic and frighteningly fresh Korean cuisine. Its Korean-style ramen noodles in warm broth is a particularly cosy option for those cold, winter nights.

The bibimbap (served in a sizzling hot stone pot) is a firm favourite among Zipbap regulars. Finger-licking gochujang (made from spicy red pepper paste) and soy sauce serenade crispy white rice, vegetables and either beef, seafood, tofu or chicken – resulting in something so tasty you’ll be scrambling back to this London haunt for more 24 hours later.

Read More: A Culinary Journey Around South Korea

Bento Bab

(4 Commercial St, Spitalfields, E1 6LP)

Tucked away in Spitalfields, popping into Bento Bab is a guaranteed pick-me-up. Look forward to prices and portion sizes that lift your mood. The dumplings are a big hit, and spice-fans will like the jjigae (hot stew served with rice).

You can’t leave without tucking into the mouth-watering Korean fried chicken – best appreciated with side sauces of soy garlic and sweet chilli, and some cheeky kimchi fries. K-Pop music and neon signs add a really cool vibe that removes you from the day’s stresses.

Bibimbap & Chimaek

(160 High St, New Malden, KT3 4ES)

Life will never be the same again after you try the Korean Fried Chicken (also known as ‘chimaek’ as it’s often combined with beer). Crunch on incredible, crispy chicken skin before sinking into the juicy, moist heaven of the chicken. Let your choice of sweet chilli, soy sauce, or spicy sweet chilli caress the crispy skin and flood your mouth with even more moist flavour.

For ultimate authenticity, choose the chicken with bones to eat like a true Korean: the juice from the bones makes the chicken delightfully soft and moist.

The bibimbap more than holds its own also, with spicy pork the variation taking review headlines. And mention must also go to the cheese balls with their melt-in-your-mouth moment of pure ecstasy. This really is the ultimate comfort food for any occasion.

Hozi

(25-27 Theobalds Rd, Holborn, WC1X 8SP)

Surrounded by the buzz of Korean conversations, stepping foot in Hozi plants you in the heart of Korea. Everything on their menu is a flood of flavour.

For ultimate comfort, descend into the comforting ambience of the downstairs basement seating and let yourself unwind as your lips touch authentic dishes like the kimchi jjigae, octopus stir-fry and spicy beef soup. Authenticity at its finest. A definite must-try.

Read More: The Best Japanese Restaurants in London

Sarang Restaurant

(887 Finchley Rd, Golders Green, NW11 8RR)

Found on Finchley Road, Sarang Restaurant is a cheap and cosy Korean paradise. Watch in awe as your BBQ meats sizzle sensually in front of your very eyes.

Fast and attentive service throws hot Korean dishes on your lap at a rate you can hardly keep track of and leaves you licking your lips as you walk away through the night. Proudly the best in the area… what are you waiting for?

Hana Korean Restaurant

(60 Battersea Rise, SW11 1EG)

Battersea’s Hana Korean has the cosy mood and full range of Korean comfort food to be the highlight of your week. Complete with high taste, low price and quick service – Hana is a great spot to meet with friends.

If you’re stuck on what to choose, Hana’s fried chicken, vegetable japchae, pork bulgogi (expertly grilled and marinated thin meat), and teokbokki (stir fried rice cakes) are huge hits. Hana really is the definition of comfort. Get ready to eat, sink back in your chair, and smile.

Read More: The 5 Best Asian Cooking Classes in London

CheeMc

(310 Walworth Rd, Walworth, SE17 2NA)

This is authentic Korean comfort food at welcome prices. A cute corner of deliciousness on Walworth Road for real foodies. Feel life’s problems subside as your lips touch heavenly Korean fried chicken and the succulent beef japchae (a sweet and savoury vegetable-packed stir-fry). Famed for its massive portions and authentic taste – CheeMc surely seems too good to be true. Until you try it.

Kalbi Korean BBQ

(Rosebery Ave, Farringdon, EC1R 5HP)

Kalbi Korean prides itself on its calm and homely vibes. Their BBQ buffet is talk of the town – making hungry Londoners appear with empty stomachs drooling at the prospect of devouring juicy meats, fish, kimchi, and more until they can hardly move.

Hidden away in a pretty pocket of Farringdon, there is no such thing as a one-time visit to Kalbi. And with their Eat Out To Help Out active all week long until the year’s end, it’d be rude not to visit.

Read More: The Best Asian Cookbooks for Amazing Home Cooking

Bibimbap Soho

(11 Greek St, Soho, W1D 4DJ)

As you’d expect, Bibimbap Soho do their bibimbap well. Very well. In fact, it’s so scrumptious you’ll be calling up your friends with the news the moment you try it.

This is genuine Korean food at affordable prices with a menu full of enough mouth-watering options to spend hours poring over it. Also delicious is the spicy pork with brown rice and chilli chicken ramyeon (Korean noodle) soup, complete with an egg stirred in. If you haven’t been yet, the time is now.

Masigo

(29 Chapel Market, The Angel, N1 9EN) 

Just a stone’s throw away from Angel station, Masigo gives off a tranquil, homely feel, perfect for indulging on comfort food. The oxtail soup, bibimbap, and prawn katsu are some of the stand outs, and to quote one reviewer – ‘If you don’t order the sweet and spicy chicken, you’ve not lived’. You know what to do.

Yokoso Korean

(Orion Point, 7 Crews St, Isle of Dogs, E14 3TU) 

This hidden gem in the Isle of Dogs serves some of the best comfort food in the capital.

The succulent samgybsal is to die for (grilled BBQ pork belly and lettuce leaves, with chilli, garlic and Korean soy bean dipping), as is the soondubujjigae (Spicy silken tofu soup with mix seafood, vegetable and eggs), and tofu & vegetable vegan bibimbap (above). With a relaxed and quiet vibe, humungous portions and reasonable prices – Yokoso Korean definitely warrants a visit.

On The Bab

(305 Old St, Hackney, EC1V 9LA) 

Comfortably Shoreditch’s best Korean food, On The Bab’s popularity comes with justified reason. Gorge on crispy fried chicken, pillowy Bao buns and kimchi fried rice, or be outrageous and try the aromatic octopus salad.

The mood here is comforting and celebratory – with the restaurant’s belief in ‘anju’ (the Korean tradition of drinking with food) in full flow. Fancy a Friday night beer with finger-licking food to match? You have just found the place.

Written by Ollie Poole.

Ollie writes to share his love of unique cultures and creativity. Bookworm, foodie, and Japan enthusiast. Content enquiries welcome via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Most of Korea’s most famous foods come from all over the country, with most towns and cities having their own proudly local dish. Taking a culinary trip around South Korea to learn the origins of these dishes, and to sample the best local Korean foods, is one of the best ways to explore South Korea.

While travelling to South Korea isn’t possible for many of us at the moment, this culinary journey will give you some ideas for a food themed road or train trip once travel gets back to normal. South Korea is such a diverse and beautiful country that we had the pleasure to call home for a year and we can’t wait to show you why a visit to South Korea should be your next trip.

Read More: Best Korean Ramen (Ramyeon)

A Culinary Guide to South Korea: What to Eat and Where

Here is your full and complete culinary guide to South Korea: what to eat and where to find it. We’ll explore the country’s biggest and best culinary locations and what each place has to offer in terms of local cuisine.

Incheon: Jajangmyeon

We begin our culinary journey around South Korea in the town of Incheon. Perhaps most famously known as the Seoul satellite city where the nation’s international airport is found, Incheon has a long and fascinating history as a port town, and so the airport only continues that trade and travel tradition.

Because of its history as a port town, Incheon is home to a thriving Chinatown – the most famous and thriving Chinatown in South Korea. And it’s in this Chinatown that many Chinese-inspired Korean dishes first originated. The most popular and celebrated of these is, without a doubt, jajangmyeon.

Jajangmyeon is a filling and satisfying dish of Chinese style noodles, diced pork, and a thick black sauce known in Korea as chunjang and in China as tianmian. The sauce is made from sweet bean paste and has a very mild flavour. While the dish was first brought to Korea by a Chinese chef living and working in Incheon, it can now be ordered at any local restaurant in Seoul, but Incheon Chinatown is still the best place to try this fantastic dish.

Seoul: Bulgogi, Bbudae jjigae, & Dakgangjeong

Seoul is a city that needs no introduction. The capital city of Korea is also the largest and most populous city in the Korean peninsula. Being the capital city, Seoul naturally has a wealth of its own local dishes. What’s surprising, however, is how many of these dishes are either fairly modern inventions, or have very unique origins.

A little history is needed to appreciate some of the dishes we’ll talk about here. After the Korean War ended in 1953, Seoul was heavily occupied by American military forces (it still is to this day, in fact), and those soldiers had a considerable impact on the local cuisine.

On top of this, Seoul’s proximity to the new and dramatic border between North and South Korea means that it is a refuge for many escapees from North Korea. What is considered by many to be Korea’s most famous dish – bulgogi – actually originated in North Korea (or, rather, the northern parts of Korea from back when it was still one complete nation).

Refugees from North Korea helped to popularise the dish and, today, it is a celebrated and dish in South Korea.

Bulgogi is a dish of barbecued strips of beef or pork (the name literally translates to “cooked meat”) similar to Japanese yakiniku. Various cuts of beef can be used, and it is often served with leafy vegetables that can be used to handle the meat. Rice can also be served as a side, and bulgogi is best enjoyed with a few cold beers.

As for how the American military, and western cuisine in general, has influenced Seoul’s local cuisine, look no further than dakgangjeong. This is a dish of sweet, crispy fried chicken. The young people of Seoul wholeheartedly adore fried chicken, and it’s in Seoul that you’ll find the biggest variety of fried chicken in the whole world.

It’s hard to overstate just how delicious, and how popular, dakgangjeong is in Seoul. There are countless dakgangjeong restaurants in Seoul alone, and all of them offer a huge variety of dakgangjeong dishes.

You have fried chicken on or off the bone, and the sauces/toppings range from cheese to sweet or spicy sauces, soy, garlic, and more. Seoul is the true home of fried chicken.

Finally, Seoul is also where you can find the origins of bbudae jigae (army stew). The stew perfectly combines Korea’s most popular food — kimchi — with American pork staples like spam and sausages. Bbudae jigae was created after the Korean War by mixing surplus army rations with locally sourced foods.

To this day, spam is considered a kind of strange delicacy in Korea and is given by bosses to workers as a thank-you gift.

Read More: Enjoy the street food of Myeongdong in Seoul

Sokcho: Fresh Seafood

Sokcho is a port city that has its ancient roots in a fishing village. Today, it’s a natural tourist spot in South Korea thanks to its close proximity to Seoraksan National Park. Seoraksan is home to South Korea’s tallest peak, and is an endless, rugged wilderness of wild, craggy peaks and lush vegetation: a hiker’s paradise.

Sokcho itself is famous for its fresh seafood, caught by local fishermen just offshore. In fact, Sokcho offers visitors a colossal seafood market known as Sokcho Jungang Market. This heaving marketplace has more than four hundred seafood stalls, each serving up enormous, freshly-caught squid, crabs, shrimp, and so much more.

If you’re looking to get a vivid image of Sokcho before visiting, definitely read Winter in Sokcho by French author Elisa Shua Dusapin, one of the best books to read before visiting South Korea.

Andong: Soju & Jjimdak

Andong is a beautiful, peaceful town on the east side of central South Korea. If you’re looking for a place in Korea that really celebrates its folk traditions, Andong should be at the top of your list. Andong Folk Festival, for example, is a yearly tradition, held during October, that celebrates the local art history of the region. The local university even specialises in Korean folk history.

One of the coolest culinary aspects of Andong is its soju. While soju is the staple alcohol of South Korea (like sake in Japan and baijiu in China), the Andong brand of soju is considered the finest in all of South Korea. If you want to experience soju at its finest, you need to visit Andong.

As for the food, Andong has a culinary history to match its folk history. The town’s most famous and celebrated dish is easily jjimdak: a Korean stew made from steamed chicken and mixed vegetables marinated in a soy-based sauce (known in Korea as ganjang). This local chicken stew is an absolute delight, full of subtle flavours and extremely nourishing.

Jeonju: Bibimbap & Kalguksu

Jeonju is a small city near the West coast of Korea. The city is predominantly known to tourists for its Hanok village. These are vintage villages populated by traditional Korean-style houses, sort of like Japan’s Edo period buildings found in the Gion district of Kyoto.

Hanok villages are gorgeous, and they can be found in multiple cities around South Korea, including Seoul. But the most impressive Hanok village is to be found in Jeonju. Jeonju is also the home of Korea’s most famous dish: bibimbap. Bibimbap is to Korea what a roast dinner is to the UK: a rounded, wholesome meal of meats, vegetables, and sauces.

Bibimbap is a hefty rice bowl topped with mixed vegetables (kimchi, radishes, carrots, etc), a generous helping of meat (traditionally beef), and a raw or fried egg.

Bibimbap is also flavoured with a chili pepper paste known as gochujang. Needless to say, there’s never a better place to try a dish than its own home, so trying bibimbap in Jeonju is a necessity and a privilege. Jeonju even hosts a yearly Bibimbap Festival to celebrate the national dish.

It’s fairly unclear where kalguksu originates from, but the most famous version of this dish comes from Jeonju. Kalguksu is one of the very best Korean noodle dishes.

For comparison, you can think of kalguksu as Korean ramen noodles, though they are still very much their own thing. Kalguksu is made from wheat flour noodles served with a seafood broth made from anchovies and kelp. The dish is often finished off with potatoes or scallions.

Daegu: Dongindong Jjim galbi

South Korea’s fourth-largest city, Daegu, is a thriving metropolis that combines traditional Korean culture with the most exciting aspects of modern Korean life. Since the Korean War, this city has been the hub of Korea’s electronics and textiles industries, making for a rich and thriving metropolis and one of the best cities to visit in South Korea.

Daegu also has a fairly secretive culinary history, with local dishes that many people have never heard of. One of these dishes is dongindong jjim galbi, a mouth-watering dish that will excite the taste buds of any ambitious carnivore. Dongindong jjim galbi is essentially a large metal dish filled with beef ribs. The ribs are seasoned with pepper and garlic, and the dish is traditionally enjoyed with a generous amount of Korean soju to really elevate the spices.

Gwangju: Ori-tang

Gwangju is a name that may be familiar to many people with a passion for Korean cinema or an interest in Korean history. The nation’s six-largest city was home to an enormous and transformative pro-democracy uprising in the 1980s.

This uprising was captured amazingly in the fantastic Korean film A Taxi Driver. Today, the legacy of that uprising, which changed the future of South Korea, can be seen in Gwangju’s 5.18 Memorial Park.

As for the city’s local cuisine, Gwangju is perhaps best known for its ori-tang, a kind of Korean duck stew. With duck being one of the softest and most flavourful meats, this is a true local delicacy in Gwangju. Ori-tang is often spiced with chili powder and the broth thickened with perilla seeds.

Boseong County: Green Tea Specialities

One of the natural wonders of South Korea is, without question, Boseong County. This area of South Korea on the nation’s south coast is home to a seemingly endless sea of tiered green tea fields. A mountainous region at the edge of the sea, populated by green tea fields: there may not be a more picturesque place in all of Korea.

Naturally, it should come as no surprise that Boseong County’s culinary speciality is green tea. Both Korea and Japan are famous for their green tea-flavoured products, and in Boseong County you can find everything from ice cream to noodles flavoured with green tea. If you’re a fan of green tea and its flavour, you’ll be in heaven when visiting Boseong County.

Busan: Dwaeji Gukbap & Ssiat Hotteok

Busan is the southern capital of Korea: a thriving, bustling city on the southern edge of the country. A place of iconic beaches, fantastic bars and restaurants, and a temple that hangs over the rocks at the edge of the water (see photo). There is so much to love about Busan, and one of the many things to enjoy is the city’s cuisine.

Dwaeji gukbap is a soup local to Busan, with its primary ingredients being pork and miso, flavoured with soy and sesame oil. It’s a soothing, flavourful, and friendly dish that almost anyone can enjoy. It’s a favourite amongst locals and one of those dishes that isn’t overly popular across the country, so you really do need to visit Busan to get the true dwaeji gukbap experience (like you needed another reason to visit Busan).

Visit any street food market in Seoul, and you’ll have plenty of chances to try hotteok: sweet Korean pancakes. But the city of Busan has its own unique take on hotteok, known locally as ssiat hotteok. The only real difference is that ssiat hotteok are filled with local seeds that are extremely healthy and add a welcome texture to the hotteok.

Jeju Island: Black Pork

Jeju Island is a popular tourist destination for locals and foreigners alike. In many ways, this island off the south coast of Korea is a land and culture all its own. In fact, ask anyone native to Seoul and they’ll tell you that it’s far easier to understand the modern North Korean dialect than it is to work out what the islanders of Jeju are saying.

Jeju is a perfect island paradise, and home to an enormous wealth of unique local foods. The most well-known and beloved of these dishes is easily Jeju black pork.

This is a local kind of pork sourced from Jeju black pigs (heuk dwaeji). The meat is traditionally barbecued in the same way as beef is in a traditional Korean barbecue. Jeju islanders and mainlanders alike all attest that Jeju black pig pork is the finest pork in the entire Korean peninsula.

Cooking classes usually treat people as a total beginner unless said otherwise and at a good London cookery school, if you do want to keep improving on those skills you’ve learned then you absolutely can! We’ve tried some of the best Asian cooking classes in London and have learnt to make sushi, udon, tempura, and fantastic curry as a result.

Many of those skills are transferable too, once you’ve got the basics of a particular cuisine you can get a good cookery book and go from there. From intimate kitchens to bigger groups, there’s something to suit everyone here. Here are some of the best cooking classes in London.

Chinese Dim Sum and Bao Cooking Class

What else to start with on Books and Bao than a bao making class? Borough Kitchen is a fantastic London cookery school which offer a wide range of interesting cooking classes (their fermentation and pickling cooking class looks wonderful too).

The Dim Sum and Bao cooking class is one of the very best cooking classes in London for people looking to emulate real, authentic East Asian cooking. Bao and dim sum are traditional Chinese dumplings. Bao are steamed, large, soft dumplings filled with various hot meats and vegetables, while dim sum are smaller, bite-sized, and far thinner. At this London cooking class you’ll learn how to make both using traditional methods.

Beyond that, you’ll also learn how to use authentic Chinese condiments and seasonings to make sure you learn perfectly how to recreate that exact flavour you’re going for. Learning at this London cookery school isn’t just about the technique of making the bao and dumplings, but also about developing your general knife skills and cooking prowess, as well as knowing the right ingredients. Familiarity with Chinese ingredients, spices, seasonings, cooking styles, and more only helps to broaden your mind and open up new, exciting culinary avenues.

Read More: Best Asian Cookbooks for Great Home Cooking

Try a Sushi Making Class in London at Sozai Cooking School

This sushi class at the Sozai Cooking School is effectively set up into three sections, one for each type of sushi: hosomaki, futomaki, and uramaki. You’ll gather around Izumi as she shows you and explains how to roll the sushi, as well as what ingredients and tools you’ll need.

She also discusses where to buy the tools (such as a bamboo mat) and how to properly prepare and clean the sushi rice beforehand. Once Izumi has explained the process and prepared an example in front of you, she then gives you time to make your own at your own station of the sushi workshop.

Read More: Best Japanese Cookbooks for Inspiring Home Cooking

What makes this Japanese cooking class, in particular, such an enjoyable experience is mostly down to Izumi herself. She’s a fantastic teacher – helpful, clear, supportive, instructive, everything a teacher should be.

She will also email you after the class with a detailed PDF of the recipes you’ve just learned, in case there’s anything you forget after the sushi workshop is over. This is easily the most enjoyable sushi making class in London and if you want to learn more than she has advanced sushi making classes too!  Of course, this isn’t all she offers and you can learn everything from knife sharpening to ramen making.

Read More: Sushi Etiquette: How to Eat Sushi the Right Way.

Read More: Read all about our experience at Sozai Cooking School

Make Udon, Tempura and More at Yuki’s Kitchen

Are you ready to learn the fundamentals at this Japanese cooking class in London? Originally from a little outside Tokyo, and having spent some time working in Chicago, Yuki offers tempura and udon making classes. At Yuki’s London cookery school you can learn to be a master of both tempura and udon, two of the staples of Japanese home cooking.

They’re also two styles of cooking that are easy to grasp but are still very much an art form. Tempura, put simply, is fried vegetables, fish, and tofu (battered deliciousness), but there’s a true craft to it which Yuki can help you hone. Udon is a style of rustic, thick noodle from Japan that are wholesome a versatile.

You take away a recipe booklet so that you can easily make your tasty recipe at home with your fresh hand-made dough. This also helps in case you forget any of the steps that Yuki teaches you during one of the most thorough Asian cooking classes in London.

Read More: Read all about cooking at Yuki’s Kitchen.

Take an Indian Cooking Course at Cooking with Monisha

Monisha Bharadwaj is one of the most celebrated chefs and food experts in all of the UK. She’s an award-winning food writer and historian, and a professional chef with accolades to spare. And you can take a cooking class with her!

Appropriate for both complete beginners and experienced cooks, the cooking courses offered at Cooking with Monisha aim to teach students of the courses how to prepare and cook healthy, varied, and delicious traditional Indian meals.

There’s a huge variety of cooking course to choose from, including all-day courses which aim to provide one-day students with all the information, equipment, ingredients, and skills to produce a specific style of Indian cooking. These include seafood dishes, vegetarian dishes, home-style curries, and more.

The one-day courses offered by Cooking with Monisha also include a shopping trip, showing London residents how they can find and purchase everything needed to make these same traditional Indian meals at their local London supermarkets.

Read More: How to Make Katsudon

Learn Traditional East Asian Cooking at School of Wok

School of Wok is the best London cookery school if you love Asian food since there’s such an overwhelming amount of choice here. You can learn something from essentially every country in Asia and thus fulfil all your culinary dreams.

They’ve also won multiple awards which cement them as one of the very best cookery schools in Europe, which is a huge badge of honour. Their classes are a perfect size, always guarantee students from all walks of life have a ton of fun while they learn, and that they are taught by people who are incredibly passionate about the skills they’re teaching.

The courses range in length, price range, and what they actually cover. If you have the time and the commitment, for example, you can enjoy a full five-day course that covers a range of East Asian cuisine for £750. If you’d prefer to simply dip your toe in the water, they offer such things as an hour-long bao making class for an affordable £30.

There really is such an astonishing range of food to learn to cook with School of Wok, from sushi to Japanese curry, from traditional Thai cuisine to a wealth of Indonesian dishes. If you’re a fan of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine in general, this is the ultimate London cookery school for you.

If you’re wondering where to buy foodie gifts and anything you might need for any of these cooking classes then consider Sous Chef, a UK based shop which offers sets, food items and will even teach you techniques. We bought the bibimbap making kit and included it on our great gifts for travellers. Get £10 off with Sous Chef.

Read More: Best Japanese Restaurants in London

Nonetheless, if you’re taking a trip through this caffeine wonderland then I hope a few of my favourite cute cafes in South Korea to brighten up your trip. If you’re interested in food then take a culinary trip around South Korea with us.

Cafe Onion | Seoul

A wonderful bakery and a rooftop to enjoy in the Summer, Cafe Onion offers artisanal coffee and desserts in a converted metal factory. Seongsu is a really fun part of Seoul and I discovered it way too late into my time there despite living next to the area dubbed ‘the Brooklyn of Seoul’. You can walk to Seoul Forest, exploring the street art on the way, after visiting.

Address: 8, Achasan-Ro, 9-Gil, Sungdong-Go, Seoul | 55, Solme-Ro, 50-Gil, Gangbuk-Gu, Seoul, Seongsu Station, Line 2, Exit 2.

Prama Coffeehouse | Daegu

With a llama logo, you already know this is going to be a cute stop for coffee when in Daegu. The desserts here are outstanding and so many of them are shaped like the resident coffeeshop doggy. With super friendly staff and delicious coffee, this is a favourite stop in Daegu.

Address: Daegu, Jung gu, Dongin Dong, 4 Ga, 197-1 

Dreamy Camera Cafe | Yangpyeong

A little bit outside Seoul and not the easiest to get to on this list but very worth it if you can get there. Always check on their Facebook/Instagram first as they announce sudden closing times on there. Its owners, two former military pilots, opened the cafe to celebrate the pursuit of dreams and can always be found ready to greet with you a smile and a menu.

Address: 341-13, Jung-won-ri, Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Read More: Discover South Korea’s Health and Wellness Spots

비루개 (Biluge) | Namyangju

A little difficult to get to but so worth it. A beautiful greenhouse cafe in Seoul. Such an amazing design and overlooking the mountains. There’s plenty of nature to enjoy in the surrounding area if you’re hoping to make a day of it.

Address: 227 Yongam-ri, Byeollae-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Fat Cat Neighbourhood Bistro  | Seoul

We sent far too much time in this bistro while we were in Seoul. From pumpkin spice lattes to kombucha, there extensive drinks menu will keep anyone satisfied and the European style food is always welcome. There are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options here.

Oat Cafe | Jeonju

Oat Cafe may be small in size, but it packs in tons of charm with its beautiful and cosy interior. Stripped of pretences, this incredibly simple yet gorgeous coffee shop sits in front of an intersection, where you can people-watch all day long. It’s warm, homely, and its coffee and cakes will surely bring you comfort.

Scoff Bakehouse | Seoul

This bakery is helmed by a British chef turned baker, together with his Korean wife. Immensely popular they’ve now opened their second branch. The Seochon bakery is take-out only but the Buam branch has a lovely sit-in area.

Address: Scoff Bakehouse Seochon, 90-2 Nuha-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | Scoff Bakehouse Buam ,278-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Ordinary Flower & Cafe | Busan

One of the most well-known cafes in Busan among the locals, Ordinary Flower & Café serves as a flower shop/design studio/workshop space and café so you can anticipate a lovely, dreamy floral interior.

Address: 35-1 Jeonpo-daero 77beon-gil, Munhyeon 2(i)-dong, Nam-gu, Busan

Read More: How to Visit Bosudong Book Alley in Busan.

La Mia Emily (라미아에밀리) | Daegu

A beautiful and tranquil cafe located down an unassuming alleyway in Daegu. It opens up to picturesque, traditional garden seating that’s perfect for autumn weather. They also offer fantastic coffee, brunch and desserts. In particular their bingsu which is to die for.

Read More: 7 Amazing things to Do in Daegu (By a Local)

Address: 2061-2 Dalgubeol-daero, Seongnae 2(i)-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu

ZAPANGI (자판기) | Seoul

This striking café takes its name from the Korean word for “vending machine” – and it’s obvious why since your entrance to the goodies within lie behind the shocking pink machine in front of you. Inside is equally quirky with unicorn and pink themed desserts that change seasonally, adorable decor, and delicious coffee.

Learn More About Korea:

How to eat Korean BBQ like a local

How to enjoy yourself at the jimjilbang sauna

Learn about alcohol etiquette in Korea

Discover South Korea’s best tattoo artists

Find out where to drink in Seoul, and then how to get home safely afterwards

You can even take the Oh my Oppa tour and hang out with a local.

First! If you’re in Korea looking to eat barbeque, look for a restaurant with air vents! A traditional Korean barbeque restaurant will have air vents over each table. You can use them to suck the fumes out when you are cooking meat.

Sitting Down for Korean Barbeque

All cutlery and dishes are stainless steel, including the chopsticks. You can put your spoon and chopsticks on a napkin. In a Korean restaurant, if you want to get a waiter’s attention, you should call them over by saying “Yogiyo! (요기요)” which means “Over here”.

Some restaurants may have a button you can press to call the staff if the restaurant is really busy. If it is empty, it is considered more polite to call the waiter over. If you see tin-shaped chairs, this means they are hollow. The top is a lid which you can take off and put your bag inside.

Read More: Take a Culinary Journey Around South Korea

Cooking the meat

The most popular type of meat at a Korean restaurant is pork. Some restaurants also offer beef, but this may be more expensive. You should use scissors to cut it into smaller pieces. This helps to cook it faster. For the best taste, flip the meat once. When it is cooked, push it to the edge of the grill. You can also cook garlic and kimchi.

Read More: Best Korean Ramen (Ramyeon)

Expert tip: flip the meat once only for pork and for beef several times so the outside is cooked but the inside is slightly rare.

The grill burns out frequently so remember to replace it often. You can ask the server to do this for you, but if they are attentive they will do it without being asked. Or sometimes they’ll just do it anyway even if you want to give it a go yourself.

Side dishes in Korean BBQ

Banchan (반찬) means side dishes, and they come at no extra charge. However, you should order rice separately. Side dishes include:

• Kimchi
• Various Sauces
• Dwenjang Chigae Soup
• Omelet
• Garlic
• Onion
• Salt
• Salad
• Lettuce

Feel free to ask for refills!

Making the wrap

Using chopsticks, place everything you want inside the lettuce. You should dip the meat into your favorite sauce. You can also add garlic or anything else inside the wrap. Use your hands to hold the lettuce wrap and eat it in one bite.

Alcohol

Soju and Makgeolli  are the most popular drinks to have with barbeque. You can also order beer. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can make somek, which is soju and beer mixed together. If you mix it well, you won’t taste the soju. Be careful not to overdo it!

Read More: Koreans have a lot of rules when it comes to drinking, so read about them here.

Paying

The restaurant will give you a bill when you sit down, and add to it as you order. When you are finished eating, bring your bill to the front to pay. This covers the basics of eating Korean barbeque in a restaurant. Next time you are out with your friends, enjoy this popular Korean meal .

Some Great BBQ Restaurants in Seoul and my personal favourite Sodojeok 소도적in Songpa. In between National Police Hospital and Garak Market Station. Behind all the shops and next to the post office. It’s an all you can eat steak bbq. Help yourself to sides and you’re generally left alone to get on with it. Also, just around the corner is (새마을식당), also fantastic and with lots of options.

While you’re there, Garak Market has an awesome foreign food store inside if you’re looking for some western supplies and don’t want to go Itaewon.

With cheap flights, Airbnb, multilingual signage, and easy-to-obtain visas, many of us in the western world have the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, and the Burj Khalifa before we hit thirty.

But this freedom can leave a sour taste in your mouth when the tourism industry has milked these iconic landmarks and locales dry; automating our experiences and creating a kind of museum glass box atmosphere. There is also the issue with treating the most wonderful parts of world history and geography as checkboxes.

Korean Cooking Classes: A Different Kind of Tourism

Fortunately, there is an alternative for those wanting to dig beneath the surface and experience the beating heart of a culture: Airbnb Experiences (Use our code at the bottom of the page for a discount). Booked through the usual Airbnb site, it’s a way to do something more personal on your trip.

We’re writing this as we had such a great time, we went for Jess’s birthday and were not sponsored to take part or paid to write this review.

How Was Cooking with Airbnb Experiences?

We are very pleased to say that our first Airbnb Experience was perhaps the best thing we have done in Korea: Korean Home Food Cooking At Home (incidentally I’ll get over the only negative of the entire experience right now: bit of a clunky name, isn’t it?).

Run by an incredibly gracious host, Hogan Park, Korean Home Food Cooking At Home (henceforth known as KHFCAH) is a day of his own design, wherein you and Hogan will do as follows:

1. Book the experience online
2. Hogan will contact you with a suggested place to pick you up in his car. For us (and likely for you too) it was Mok-dong station (exit 5) on line 5 at 10:40am.
3. If you are alone or with a friend/partner you may be joined by one or two other people. For us, it was two kind and wonderful women from Macau.
4. Once at his home, you will be greeted by his lovely wife and beautiful daughters.
5. You get stuck into some cooking! You’ll prepare a huge spread of traditional Korean dishes over the course of about two hours, all of which you then get to sit down and eat together.

How was the Host?

Easily the best part of KHFCAH is Hogan himself. He speaks perfect English and has both an enormous passion for cooking and hosting (he is also a food blogger of ten years), and a deep well of ambition which feeds into everything he does.

He will make you feel very much at home in his beautiful apartment, tell you about all of his hobbies and crafts, his family and the things he loves.

He will ask you about your home country, your job, and the things you love. He very much wants to be your friend, and you really should let him. Hogan and his wife are kind people full of love and warmth, and they make the experience what it is.

They even said that anyone who wants a repeat experience will come as guests and not pay. Literally come as friends. He also presents you with a wonderful gift to take away with you.  We were truly touched by his generosity.

How about the Food?

Of course, the other thing that makes the experience unique is the food itself. During your two-or-so hours of cooking and preparing, you’ll be introduced to ingredients and sauces that Hogan, his wife, his mother, or his wife’s mother prepared, sourced, farmed, and fermented themselves.

You’ll learn the history of such traditional Korean staples as kimchi, glass noodles, sesame oil, and even why Koreans use metal chopsticks as opposed to wood or plastic.

You’ll walk away from this experience with not only a full belly and some new friends, but also a far richer understanding of Korean food culture and history, and the ability to apply what you’ve learned to your own kitchen.

In Hogan’s Korean Cooking Class, you’ll learn how to make such dishes as:

Kimchi pancakes

Bulgogi

Jabchae (glass noodles with veg)

Doenjangguk (soybean paste soup)

Sauteed tofu

The atmosphere of the whole experience is very much one of cooking with friends. If you’ve ever been invited to a friend’s house, and they’ve cooked you something you’ve never tried before, showing you how it’s done and having fun in the process, this is pretty much that.

Our family for a day.

Would I take Hogan’s Cooking Class again?

Absolutely! What Hogan offers is for outsiders to become insiders of Korean culture. The best way to a culture’s heart is through its stomach, as I believe they say; Hogan and his wife know this and they are very excited for you to become a part of their culture through their cuisine. And what a cuisine it is.

You can sign up for Airbnb and get a discount here or find out more about Korean home cooking here.