Travel guides › A First-Timer's Guide to Korean Food: Choosing Dishes and Ordering
A First-Timer's Guide to Korean Food: Choosing Dishes and Ordering
Korean food comes in a huge variety and some dishes are quite spicy, so at first it can be hard to know what to eat. This article covers dishes that are easy for first-timers to start with and the ordering steps that often cause confusion in restaurants.
Classic dishes that are good to try first
- Bibimbap: rice topped with several seasoned vegetables and meat, mixed with gochujang. You can control the heat by adding only a little gochujang.
- Bulgogi: beef marinated in a soy-based sauce and grilled. It has some sweetness, so it is an easy start for beginners.
- Gimbap and bunsik: gimbap, tteokbokki, sundae and fish cake are light and inexpensive. Tteokbokki is fairly spicy, so ask about the heat.
- Grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal): you grill the meat yourself and wrap it in lettuce with ssamjang and garlic. It is a classic Korean meal to share with companions.
- Cold noodles and kalguksu: cold noodles or warm knife-cut noodle soup are easy to enjoy according to the season.
- Fried chicken: you can choose between plain fried and seasoned, and it is popular even with first-time visitors.
How to order at a restaurant
In Korean restaurants you usually sit down and then call a staff member to order. If there is a call button on the table, press it; if not, raising your hand or calling out lightly is common. If the menu has no photos or English, the camera function of a translation app helps a lot. To order, tell the staff the dish names and number of people, or just point to the menu.
Many barbecue restaurants take orders for two portions or more rather than one. If you are eating alone, it is easier to use places that serve single portions, such as bunsik shops, gukbap restaurants, gimbap shops and food courts.
Side dishes, water and paying
- Side dishes: many restaurants bring small dishes such as kimchi and seasoned vegetables as standard when you order a meal, and in most you can ask for more once you finish. Some places may charge extra, though.
- Water: in many places you get water yourself. Check whether there is a water dispenser and cups beside the table.
- Tipping: Korea has no tipping culture. Service is usually considered to be included in the price.
- Paying: some places let you pay at the table, but at many you pay at the counter after the meal. Take the bill to near the entrance.
Spice, allergies and vegetarian needs
Korean food often uses a lot of chili and chili powder. If spicy food is hard for you, ask for it not to be spicy when ordering, or choose a dish that is not spicy. Options include bulgogi, braised short ribs, bibimbap without gochujang and choosing the spice level of sundubu-jjigae. If you have an allergy, write the allergens in a translation app in advance and show them. Broths and seasonings often contain meat, seafood or salted fish, so strict vegetarians need to check ingredients carefully. Temple-food restaurants can be an alternative for vegetarian travelers.
Enjoying market food
At traditional markets you can easily try snacks such as bindaetteok, tteokbokki, sundae, hotteok and gimbap. Many markets are more convenient with cash, and seating can be tight, so use it without getting in other people's way. Check prices before you order, and it is polite to ask permission before taking photos of the shop staff. Popular shops can have long lines at midday, so allow plenty of time.
Official sources
Rules, fares and opening hours change often. Check the latest details on the official sites below.